Deciding to leave your family home and transition to an independent living community is a big adjustment. Not only can it be emotional for your senior loved one, but there also is the challenge of downsizing from a big home filled with years worth of belongings to more conservative apartment living. No matter the circumstances, it’s going to take time for mom or dad to realize this move is in everyone’s best interest, and to settle into their new home and life. Fortunately, as their child and support system, there are things you can do to help them transition to independent living more successfully.
Be completely honest. Sometimes it doesn’t help to be overly positive at the expense of truth about the change. Instead, let them know that they can be honest with you about their emotions at all times, and in turn be honest and empathetic with them. Validate their feelings when they express how sad they are to leave the home they raised children in. But also remind them that it’s a part of life to keep moving forward and that independent community living will relieve a lot of the stresses of homeownership and provide them social outlets they may be lacking.. Tackle packing together. Putting emotions aside for a minute, packing in and of itself can be a chore. And taking on packing up and moving an entire house is almost impossible to do alone. To help mom and dad transition easier to independent living, offer to help them pack up (and get rid of) their belongings. We recommend starting with the smallest room in the house and working your way up, making “yes” and “no” piles only – no maybes! This could also become a more positive, bonding experience with the whole family by letting mom and dad reminisce about each belonging, and even pass on some beloved heirlooms to each family member. Encourage them to get more involved. After the dust has settled and mom or dad has moved into their new independent living apartment, it’s important that they establish a new routine. Schedules are important to helping someone transition into a new life. The beauty about community living is that there are tons of new activities that your loved one can get involved in. Remind your senior parent that without the stresses of homeownership they now have more time to pursue their hobbies and even try something new that they always wanted to do. If your parent needs a little more of a push to get involved, reach out to their community’s activity director and ask for help. They will be more than happy to provide mom and dad with an activity schedule and even escort them to fun events happening around the community. Independent Living Community in New Jersey Our collective aim at Lester Independent Living is to ensure that each of our residents maintain their dignity, quality of life and independence, no matter what. Our wonderful activity directors encourage residents to get involved with social activities, clubs and events on-site, while receiving the level of care they require. Personal care services can also be scaled so that each resident gets the help they need to live independently and happily in our welcoming community. For more information about how we can help your loved one transition to independent living, please call us today or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org The original blog is posted on: https://jchcorp.org/helping-a-parent-transition-to-independent-living/
0 Comments
Growing older doesn’t have to be hard, in fact growing older can come with the best years of your life! There are small changes you can make now that could really benefit your health in the future. These healthy lifestyle habits will also ensure you stay independent for much longer, whether you’re living at home or in a senior community. Adopting just a few of the tips our independent living team has compiled below will make you feel great as you grow older.
Get enough sleep! Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Getting a solid 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep is proven to have positive effects on your memory, focus and concentration. If you’re having trouble sleeping soundly at night, try to establish a consistent bedtime routine and make your environment optimal for sleeping by keeping it cool and dark. Limit alcohol consumption. Drinking too much alcohol on a weekly (or worse, daily) basis, can negatively impact your sleeping habits and your health. More specifically, consuming too much alcohol can lead to the following issues: high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, learning disabilities and memory problems. Go for regular checkups. Scheduling regular checkups with your doctor and other medical professionals can help you catch health issues early and treat them before it’s too late. Another important factor to consider is to start seeing a geriatric doctor who specializes in treating older people with more complex, chronic conditions. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Coupled with daily exercise, the single most important lifestyle habit to adopt is eating healthier as you age. Eating whole foods that are high in fiber and low in saturated fats will ensure your body receives the proper nutrition it needs, while also lowering your risk of developing chronic conditions. Manage your medications. This may seem like common sense, but we’re here to remind you of how important it is to take medications exactly as prescribed by your geriatric doctor. Overdosing or skipping medications will only put your health in more jeopardy. It’s also worth it to schedule monthly medication reviews with your doctor, to keep track of what medications are still necessary for you to take. To help you better keep track of correct doses, you should also think about downloading a medication reminder app. Healthy, independent living at JCHC At JCHC’s senior living communities in New Jersey, our aim is to ensure that each of our residents maintains their health, quality of life and independence. Our social programs encourage residents to get involved with the communities at a level they are comfortable with, while our personal care services ensure each resident gets the support they need every single day. For more information about independent living in Morris County, visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org/ Original blog is available on: https://jchcorp.org/growing-older-and-feeling-great/ Selecting an assisted living community for your loved one is a challenging process. After all, it’s an important decision which places the care of mom or dad in the hands of people you do not know. Understandably, this is a major concern for a lot of children of senior parents. How do you know if you can trust an assisted living facility with your loved one? And more importantly, how do you know if you’re making the right choice for everyone involved? In this article, our care team at Lester Senior Living discusses four common mistakes that can easily be made while searching for an assisted living community, and how to avoid them:
Assisted living communities that prioritize independence At JCHC’s Lester Senior Living, we’re all about keeping seniors as independent as possible, while supporting them with personal care services to make their lives easier. Additionally, we are able to scale these services at any point if they require a higher level of care, including professional memory support for Alzheimer’s and dementia residents in our specialized memory care suites. We also offer social programs to encourage residents to get more involved with community life and make new friends along the way. The top priority at all JCHC communities is to ensure each resident gets the help and support they require to live a full and happy life with us. For more information about our senior living communities across New Jersey, please give us a call today or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original content posted on https://jchcorp.org/mistakes-to-avoid-when-looking-for-assisted-living/ Core strength exercises improve the fitness of the stomach, back, hips and pelvis. These muscles are important for improving balance and stability, as well as posture. For seniors, these exercises are a good way to help reduce risk of falls and make walking and other daily tasks much easier. Which, might we add, is key to retaining independence in your golden years. With that said, here are some easy core exercises for seniors from our independent living coordinators at JCHC.
Safety note: If you are unsure of how to do the exercises or require assistance in performing them correctly and safely, please speak to your doctor or physical therapist before attempting any new movements.
Fitness programs for independent seniors in New Jersey If your loved one in independent living would like to improve their quality of health and wellbeing through fitness, our dedicated team at Lester Senior Living is here to assist them. We have a community calendar filled each month with different fitness classes to satisfy every resident’s mobility, such as “Stretch & Flex,” “Sit and Be Fit” and “Cha Cha Chair Dancing” – just to name a few. Our trained instructors are ready to assist or modify each exercise for your loved one to ensure their safety is the top priority at all times. In addition to our fitness programs, our communities also offer more advanced senior care services like assisted living and memory support for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. To learn more about our senior health and wellness programs in New Jersey, contact JCHC today or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original content posted on https://jchcorp.org/core-strength-exercises-for-seniors/ When your parents first start showing signs that they need support managing their day-to-day lives, family members sometimes choose to help out – becoming knowledgeable and competent caregivers. However, there often comes a point at which you can no longer keep up with the duties of a full-time caregiver, especially when managing your own family, career and other extracurricular activities.
One of the best ways to ensure uncompromised quality of care for your loved one, is to make the move to an assisted living community. While this is a difficult choice for everyone involved, it can be made easier by finding an assisted living community which offers the following:
Visit Our Beautiful Assisted Living Community in New Jersey Lester Senior Living is a JCHC senior community dedicated to helping older adults live full, happy lives as they age. With an active community spirit, great amenities, spacious residential apartments, and personal care services designed for assisted living, we’re a welcoming space for seniors to really feel at home. All our support services are available on an “as-needed” basis, allowing your loved one to continue living as independently as possible even as his or her needs change. We are also able to provide care for Alzheimer’s and dementia residents through our designated memory care suites. For more information about our assisted living facility in Morris County, please contact us today to schedule a tour or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original blog posted on https://jchcorp.org/when-caregiving-becomes-too-much/ Staying healthy isn’t just about living longer, it’s about living better too. Keeping active as we age is directly linked to maintaining our quality of life, as well as fighting mental and physical conditions that could limit our abilities. Unfortunately, it can become more and more of a challenge as we get older with family responsibilities, mobility issues, stress and lack of motivation. With that being said, our senior living teams at the JCHC communities have put together a list of tips to keep seniors healthy and motivated.
Lester Assisted Living, for a Healthy Life Lester is an assisted living community dedicated to helping older adults live full, happy and healthy lives. With an active community spirit, spacious apartments, great exercise programs and support services designed to maximize independence, we’re a welcoming space for seniors to really feel at home. For more information about our assisted living and senior exercise programs in NJ, please contact us today to schedule a tour or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original blog posted on https://jchcorp.org/senior-health-tips-easy/ |
AuthorWe offer seniors a range of options in terms of housing, services, amenities, location and cost, all within the Jewish tradition: independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite, affordable housing, enriching programs, and on-site services for our residents, many of whom have special needs. Archives
May 2023
Categories
All
|