Senior Living

What is Respite Care?

Many seniors who are not ready for full-time assisted living may still benefit from respite care. But what is respite care? Often, seniors and their families or caregivers don’t really understand what senior respite care is and miss out on taking advantage of this wonderful option.

Unlike assisted living, memory care, or other kinds of residential living options, respite care is short-term. A respite stay can be as short as a day or as long as several months, or anywhere in between. Seniors enjoying respite enjoy the same perks as long-term residents, including delicious food, socialization and activities, and 24/7 access to help and support.

Benefits of Respite Care for Seniors

Many families learn about respite care after a senior family member develops a medical need. Recovery from an illness, injury, or surgery can take longer for seniors, and self-care may be more difficult.

Respite care in an assisted living residence is a good way to get short-term help with activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing, dressing, medication management, and handling mobility challenges. Once a senior has recuperated enough to manage these things without help again, they return home. There’s no long-term commitment; just the confidence and security of having an extra helping hand while it’s needed.

For other seniors, these challenges with ADLs are usually met by a family caregiver. When that caregiver needs to travel or take a break, respite provides a worry-free, safe place to go.

Benefits of Respite Care for Caregivers

Sometimes, a senior isn’t the one who needs respite. Respite is a resource for family caregivers. Sadly, many families aren’t aware that respite is available to them.

Home caregiving is often like a full-time job that you take on in addition to all the other responsibilities of life. No matter how willing you are, how much you love your parent, and how sure you are that it’s the right thing to do, the extra stress is real.

One of the most important things that family members can do to make sure that they are able to continue to provide top-level care for their parents is to care for themselves. While it may seem that you should never take a break, keeping your own stress and fatigue under control is key. Senior caregiving is a marathon, not a race, and it’s important to pace yourself.

Family caregivers may use respite to:

Complete home or work projects that require unbroken focus or attention
Rest and rejuvenate with extra sleep, spa time, exercise classes, or a night out
Travel for business
Take a relaxing vacation
Spend time with friends

Taking the time to enjoy these kinds of activities helps maintain energy, motivation, and a sense of identity while caregiving. Good mental health care, rest, and regular breaks help prevent caregiver burnout, which is a serious problem for family caregivers to be aware of.

Are you interested in learning more about respite or scheduling a respite stay at New Haven? Click here now to get started.

Why the Flu Shot is Extra Important for Seniors This Year

With all the talk about Coronavirus, sometimes you can almost forget that other diseases still exist. However, flu season is still on its way just like every year. And in fact, it’s more important than ever for seniors to have their flu shot this 2020 season.

What is the Flu?

A lot of people think of the flu as a stomach bug, or maybe a bad cold. Actually, the flu (short for influenza) is a specific virus that affects the lungs. Flu usually hits hard and fast, coming on quickly and making most people feel quite ill with symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches.

Even a mild case of the flu can last for a few days to a couple of weeks of sickness. In severe cases, flu can last longer and hit harder and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and even death. Seniors are especially at risk from the flu due to age-related changes in the body’s ability to fight off disease.

Although the flu is a single disease caused by a single type of virus, the flu virus changes and mutates every year. This is why the flu can make you sick over and over instead of being an illness that you get once and never get again. Even if you had flu once, by the next season it will have changed so much that your body doesn’t recognize that it’s the same disease and won’t protect you.

What is the Flu Shot?

The flu shot is a vaccine that protects against the flu. It does this by exposing your immune system to a small amount of dead flu virus in order to teach your body how to fight it off.

Because the flu virus changes so much from year to year, the vaccine needs to change as well. This is why getting a new flu shot every year is so important. Last year’s flu shot cannot protect you from the kind of flu going around this year. Doctors and scientists work throughout the year to analyze the newest strains of flu and create a vaccine that will protect against those they think are most likely to be a problem during each flu season.

It’s important to know that the flu shot does not have live virus in it. It cannot make you sick or give you the flu. You may feel unwell for a day or two after getting the shot because your immune system is learning how to fight off the flu virus. This is not the same as having the flu.

Why is the Flu Shot Extra Important in 2020?

Many symptoms of the flu are similar to symptoms of COVID-19. Often, the only way to tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 is through medical testing at a doctor’s office.

It is possible to get sick with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. This is an extremely dangerous situation, especially for seniors who are already at higher risk from both diseases. There is evidence that having flu and COVID-19 together can make you sicker than either virus alone.

Many seniors who get the flu need hospital treatment. In fact, most flu-related hospitalizations are patients over the age of 65. Right now, because of COVID-19, the doctors and nurses who treat respiratory disease are already under a heavy caseload. One way to help reduce the burden of caring for COVID-19 patients is to help reduce the number of flu patients coming into the hospital. Getting a vaccine is the best way to do this.

Who Should Get the Flu Shot?

All people over the age of 65 should have a flu vaccine, as should caregivers and family members who see them regularly. Remember that it is easy for friends or family to catch the flu somewhere else and pass it on to a senior during a visit before they even realize they are sick.

No vaccine is 100% effective. Because of this, some people feel that it is not worthwhile to get the vaccine at all. However, the more people who are vaccinated, the fewer people will get sick at all. In addition, if you get the flu after having the vaccine, you are likely to be much less sick.

Want more information about senior health and wellness? Check out these other recent posts from our blog:

The Top 3 Fears About Assisted Living

Just like any other big life change, a move to senior living can be scary and hard to imagine. Stepping out into the unknown is hard for all of us. Aging, with all its challenges, makes it especially difficult. It’s not surprising if you’re having some fears about assisted living. We’d like to help dispel some of the worry by talking about the top three fears that we hear about most often from seniors considering assisted living.

Fear #1: Will I Lose My Independence?

The “assisted” in assisted living feels like a loaded word for many seniors. A little assistance is good; in fact, it’s great. Giving up the stress and hassle of home maintenance or cooking, having someone there to help you get to the bathroom at night without falling down, or an extra set of eyes on your daily pills to make sure you keep them straight–it all sounds just fine. But some seniors worry it won’t stop there. Does assisted living really mean that you’re giving up control over your life?

On the contrary, assisted living is about restoring independence, not taking it away. Seniors who go without the help that they need often end up trapped and limited. Mobility problems, driving issues, and the rest make it hard to live like you used to. In assisted living, you get as much help as you want or need, not more. And, when the difficult things are handled for you, you can focus on friends, family, hobbies, or anything else that has been getting harder.

Fear #2: Will Assisted Living be Depressing?

Isolation is another great fear for all of us as we age. In previous generations, nursing homes had a bad reputation and often seemed like places where the elderly went to be forgotten and ignored.

Fortunately, assisted living is not the same as a nursing home. Many seniors who move into assisted living find that rather than being lonely, they are more socially engaged than they have been in years. How could you not be? With the option to share meals every day, take classes together, and visit without even having to go outside unless you want to, keeping your social calendar full has never been easier.

With opportunities for entertainment and enrichment available throughout each day, there’s no worry about being bored or left to yourself. In fact, many seniors find their mental well-being improves after a move to assisted living.

Fear #3: Is It More Expense Than it’s Worth?

It’s true that assisted living has a price tag that can make some folks nervous. But remember that the cost of assisted living represents nearly 100% of all your living expenses, including professional caregivers. Add up the costs of owning or renting a home, groceries, utilities, car maintenance and so on. When you combine these with the cost of full-time home health care, you may find that assisted living may actually cost less than staying home.

This doesn’t even take into account the price of the additional amenities available in assisted living, from hair salons to health and fitness and more.

Still feeling like there are too many unknowns to make a decision? Why not come visit? Click here to schedule a virtual tour today and see for yourself.

Staying Fit in Your Senior Years

Senior living doesn’t look like it used to. Gone are the days when retirees were faced with day after day of wheelchairs and television reruns. Today, even in assisted living, age doesn’t need to be a barrier to staying active and healthy. Staying fit in your senior years may not look like it did when you were in your prime, but there are more options out there than you think.

We’ve gathered some of the simplest and easiest ways for you to stay in good physical health as you age. It’s never too late to improve your fitness levels. Regular exercise can help improve your mood, reduce muscle and joint pain, slow down osteoporosis, and even boost your memory.

Always Talk to Your Doctor First

Remember to check with your doctor before you start any new diet or exercise program. If you have a chronic condition such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or pulmonary disease, you may need to take extra precautions to exercise safely.

Your doctor can also likely recommend specific local resources such as physical therapists or personal trainers who specialize in working with senior citizens.

Low-Impact Exercise for Seniors

When you’re choosing an exercise program to try, the key phrase to look for is “low impact.” Low-impact exercise is still healthy but puts less strain on your heart, joints, and muscles. Because low-impact exercise typically involves having at least one foot on the ground at all times, it is also a better choice for those with balance or mobility problems.

Even low-impact exercise can get your heart pumping enough to make a big difference. Just taking a simple walk every day benefits your heart, lung, and joint health. Evidence suggests that even brain health and memory improve with regular low-impact exercise.

Other forms of fun, low-impact, senior-appropriate exercise that you may want to explore include:

Water aerobics or synchronized swimming
Dance lessons
Cycling on a stationary bike
Swimming laps
Gardening
Resistance training (weight lifting or resistance bands)
Golf
Tai Chi (shadow boxing)

Remember that if any of these are new to you, it’s important to start by getting help from an experienced teacher. Even with low-impact exercise, it’s possible to injure yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Mobility Considerations

If you use a cane or walker, or even if you’re in a wheelchair, staying fit is still for you! While mobility limitations do put some forms of exercise beyond your reach, you may be very surprised by what is still feasible.

Often, seniors with mobility issues enjoy what is called chair exercise. Chair exercise means an exercise routine that you do while seated.

Many assisted living residences and senior centers offer chair-based exercise classes including aerobics, yoga, pilates, and sometimes even weight lifting or dance. No matter what your level of fitness, you can find a way to get moving and start reaping the benefits today.

Exercise for Mental Health

In senior living, our watchword is always to promote the greatest level of independence possible. Strengthening your muscles, bones, and joints through a regular fitness program helps extend your years of mobility and overall health.

But on top of all the physical benefits, exercise has major mental health advantages. Seniors with a fitness routine have lower rates of depression, better brain health, and fewer feelings of isolation. Even some dementia symptoms improve with appropriate exercise.

Are you interested in learning more about how assisted living could help you improve your physical health and fitness? Contact us today to chat about physical enrichment at New Haven Assisted Living.

FAQ: Understanding Remote Health Care

What is Assisted Living Really Like?

One of the first questions you may ask when you start thinking about changing your living situation is “what is assisted living really like?”

If you haven’t visited an assisted living residence lately, your ideas of what to expect might be out of date. In recent years, assisted living has changed radically. So, if you expect it to resemble the nursing homes and retirement communities of decades past, get ready for a surprise.

It’s All About Independence

For seniors, independence is a precious commodity. We recognize that, and that’s why assisted living is all about supported independence. Most residents need some help with a few things, like getting up to use the bathroom at night without falling, or dressing with mobility problems. Our staff provide the help that each resident needs but the rest is up to you.

Unlike a nursing home or medical long-term care facility where you may have a single or even a shared room, assisted living is more like having an apartment or a condo. You can decorate how you like. And you can set your own schedule. We offer a variety of amenities and activities throughout the day but whether you participate is up to you. Want to spend a lazy day reading in your favorite easy chair? Go for it. Feel like taking a drive, or puttering outside in the garden? Nobody’s going to stop you!

What Does the “Assisted” in Assisted Living Mean?

With all the talk about independence, you might wonder where the assistance comes in.

Assisted living is best for seniors who don’t need 24-hour help but do need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs are things like bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed safely, preparing meals, shopping, driving, or keeping up with housework.

Just because help is available doesn’t mean it’s in your face. Staff are on site and available around the clock to help. Buildings are safely locked and protected at night. Each resident gets help that’s personalized to their needs.

Have trouble staying on schedule with your medication? Someone will drop by just on time to remind you. Wake up in the night and worry that you might fall on the way to the toilet? With the push of a button, someone will always be there to make sure you don’t.

During the day, help might look like having someone there to teach you a new hobby, troubleshoot a technology problem, or fix your hair for you. While you’re chatting with friends in the courtyard, help might mean laundry service, or housekeeping staff making your bed and vacuuming. And if you have errands to take care of, help might mean a ride to the store or assistance taking care of things at the bank or paying a bill online.

Daily Life in Assisted Living

Each resident in assisted living makes each day what they want it to be. Here are some broad strokes; the rest is for members of our community to fill in for themselves!

Three times a day, our residents gather together for a shared meal prepared by a chef. For those who miss a mealtime or who enjoy cooking, a shared kitchen space is always open.

Throughout the day, residents enjoy outdoor courtyards, garden space, walking trails, and shared lounge areas. Interested in a class? From yoga to painting, each member of our community chooses to participate if and when they want to.

One of the things our residents tell us they love best is the community atmosphere and social environment. Before moving into assisted living, many seniors experience increasing isolation and loneliness. After moving into assisted living, they find a network of like-minded friends just a few steps away any time.

In assisted living your life is entirely your own; we just want to help keep it that way.

Do you want to find out more about what assisted living is really like? You can get a bird’s-eye view from the safety and comfort of home by scheduling a virtual tour today: just click here to get started.

Resources for Seniors in Quarantine

As the Coronavirus crisis continues, many of us are living under stay-at-home orders or are choosing to voluntarily self-isolate for safety reasons. But isolation is hard for everyone, and it is especially hard for seniors. You may already have been managing age-related changes in your social habits and relationships, and now this. What can be done to help deal with the struggles of isolation? We’d like to share these resources for seniors in quarantine with you.

Dealing With Boredom During a Pandemic

Boredom is a major problem for anybody who is newly homebound, and it seems like it only gets worse with time. Staying entertained at home can improve your mental health and morale.

Explore a new hobby. It’s a great time to try something new. Simple crafts like bead making, soap carving, or painting are simple and inexpensive for beginners. If a craft doesn’t sound like your thing, try gardening or tending houseplants, doing jigsaw puzzles, or listening to audiobooks. You can even get free audiobooks from your library on your phone or computer.
Go digital. The world online has more than ever to offer to those stuck at home. With a computer, iPad, or smartphone, you can access a wealth of free entertainment and enrichment resources. Try everything from home workout programs to podcasts to new communities of like-minded friends.
Make a call. If you can’t visit with friends or family, why not arrange a video call? You can even organize a game night! From bingo to cards to classic board games like Scrabble, pull out your smartphone and join the fun with old friends or new ones.
Enjoy some culture. The internet also offers arts and culture experiences, from YouTube videos of live theater and dance to digital tours of museums around the world. You may not be able to get on a plane right now but it doesn’t need to stop you from seeing the sights!

Dealing With Stress During a Pandemic

Beyond boredom, isolation can lead to sadness, stress, and anxiety. When your routine is suddenly changed, it’s hard to find ways to keep going at home.

Keep up with exercise. Even if you can’t get to the gym or your exercise class, you can stay active. From home videos and DVDs to free and premium options on digital streaming services, home exercise instruction has never been easier to find at every level of ability. Just remember not to undertake a new exercise routine without consulting your doctor.
Keep up with nutrition. Low blood sugar can make you irritable or anxious. To avoid this, keep a regular routine with meals. Making a meal plan or trying new recipes can help prevent food boredom.
Treat yourself to something nice. When stress starts to get to you, try conscious steps to lift your mood. A new book, a walk around the block, or a phone call to a loved one can all help chase the blues away.

Dealing With Practical Needs During a Pandemic

Sometimes the hardest needs to meet are practical ones. For seniors newly stuck at home, there may be a learning curve for meeting daily practical needs.

Try food delivery. There’s been a boom in food delivery service recently and they’re extra helpful now. Grocery delivery services like Instacart and Dumpling are easy to set up on a basic smartphone and most stores now offer curbside pickup so you can fill your pantry without ever leaving the car.
Protect yourself and others. If you’re out and about, wear a mask and wash hands often. Keep physical distance from others. Use sanitizing cleaners to wipe down surfaces in your home after you have a visitor or bring something in from outside. Remember not to mix different kinds of cleaning products as this can create toxic fumes.
Take your finances online. There’s never been a better time to go paperless. If you usually bank and pay bills by mail or in person, consider switching to online banking online banking and bill pay. Reach out by phone to your bank or utilities companies for reliable and secure help.

Life is certainly upside-down right now. But quality of life, mental health, and physical safety don’t need to suffer. Taking care of yourself is more important than ever.

If managing life at home without the help and community you’ve been used to is feeling like too much, assisted living may be a good option for you. To learn more about assisted living and how it can lighten your load, why not visit us for a digital tour today?

The Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

What’s the difference between assisted living and nursing homes? Choosing from all the senior living options available today is hard, especially if you aren’t really sure what sets them apart.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a lifestye choice a lifestyle choice for seniors who are mostly independent but want a little extra help and peace of mind. For example, they may feel tired of managing their own home. They may be lonely and looking for a more social environment. They may want help with transportation, house cleaning, and laundry.

Assisted living gives supported independence to seniors and others who are mostly able to care for themselves but looking for a helping hand. Unlike a skilled nursing facility, which mainly focuses on medical needs, assisted living offers personalized help for tasks like cooking, driving, life enrichment, and social support.

Most assisted living residents live in a private apartment. A helping hand is always available to them if and when they need it. Buildings are beautiful, accessible, and safe so that seniors living there can have not only independence but peace of mind.

Assisted living is a good choice for seniors or others who are mostly independent but worry about things like falling, missing medications, forgetting bills, being alone, or falling behind in home maintenance or self-care.

What is a Nursing Home?

Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, provide care for seniors or others who need daily, hands-on medical care. This may mean major care needs like daily therapy, IV medications, or even being on a ventilator. Skilled nursing is also for people who can’t perform activities of daily living (ADLs) without help, like knowing what medication to take or finding their way home after a walk.

Fortunately, some people who require skilled nursing care only need it for a short time. This is true for people recovering from an injury or illness. Others may require long-term skilled nursing, such as those who are mostly confined to a bed or wheelchair due to illness.

Skilled nursing is a good choice for seniors or others who need around-the-clock medical help.

Skilled Nursing for Dementia: What is Memory Care?

One special kind of skilled nursing is memory care. Memory care staffers like aides and nurses provide special care for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other kinds of dementia.

Dementia is a serious condition that usually gets worse over time. Though most recognizable as memory loss or confusion, it causes other problems as well. Memory care plays an important role in managing dementia. A memory care residence is staffed by experts who understand the unique needs that come with a dementia diagnosis.

A memory care residence is a comforting and reassuring place for someone who may not always remember why they are there. Special security measures, targeted therapies, and enrichment options all make these living spaces a better choice for Alzheimer’s care than a traditional nursing home.

Memory care is a good choice for seniors experiencing memory loss or confusion that interferes with their daily life.

How Do I Choose Between Assisted Living and a Nursing Home?

There are so many options to choose from for senior living today that it can be overwhelming. From assisted living and nursing homes to independent retirement, making the right choice is key for a senior’s health and happiness.

You can start by considering activities of daily living (ADLs). These are things like paying bills, taking medications on time, dressing, eating, and taking care of personal hygiene. Someone who needs some or little help with ADLs is likely to do well in assisted living. By contrast, someone with a major medical condition they can’t manage alone may do better in a skilled nursing facility.

Additionally, many seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia choose assisted living as a transitional option. It forms a bridge between fully independent life and the memory care they will likely need in the future.

Are you interested in learning more about assisted living or memory care? Click here now to schedule a digital tour of one of our residences today.