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Category: Independent Living

The Difference Between Senior Apartments and Independent Living

 September 23, 2021

In the lingo-heavy world of senior living, it can be hard to know the difference between terms like “senior apartments” and “independent living communities.” Sounds pretty similar, right? Look a little closer at their definitions, though, and you’ll find one offers far more than the other. Here’s a breakdown of both senior apartments and independent living communities that can help you decide which is the best fit for you or your loved one. Can you spot the difference?

What are senior apartments?

In the same way that senior discounts are just discounts created for a certain age group, senior apartments are pretty similar to regular apartments, they’re just restricted to, and designed for, older adults. Most often the age requirement for a senior apartment community is 55 or 62. The complex will need to be compliant with the HUD regulations for age discrimination. The senior apartment buildings likely have no or limited stairs, are handicap accessible, and have handrails in the bathroom to accommodate the needs of older adults with limited mobility. Senior apartments differ from 55+ communities in that they typically do not have the amenities that a 55+ community offers. In some instances, senior apartments are subsidized based on income.

Like many things in life, there are also more upscale senior living options for those that can afford the high price tag. Luxury senior living apartments promise a premium lifestyle with floorplans featuring gleaming new surfaces and all the latest gadgets, along with access to exclusive amenities. It all comes at a steep cost, though. Luxury senior apartments can quickly eat away at a retirement nest egg but it is possible to enjoy luxury senior living.

What is independent living?

If senior apartments are like a hotel, then consider independent living communities (also called retirement communities) a resort. For example, accommodations in a Five Star Senior Living independent living community range from spacious, beautifully designed apartments to maintenance-free villas and cottages. They’re best for more active seniors who want to maintain their independence and don’t require the type of additional support you’d find in assisted living. Independent living communities offer everything senior apartments do and so much more.

What are the key differences between senior apartments and independent living?

Though both senior apartments and independent living communities offer senior living options for older adults, independent living communities offer so much more than just a place to live. They also welcome you into a tight-knit community where friends become family and everything you need is right at your doorstep. Here are a few other key differences between the two to remember:

Senior Apartments vs. Independent Living Comparison Table

Senior Apartments

Independent Living
What services are provided? Senior apartment complexes offer the convenience of providing maintenance of the building, grounds and apartment. Independent living communities offer a stress-free lifestyle where the hassles of life—like home upkeep, cooking and cleaning—are taken care of so you can spend more time enjoying all the activities and amenities your community offers.
What amenities are provided? There may also be a clubhouse with planned social activities. The availability and quality of amenities can vary widely by complex. Convenient access to on-site shared dining spaces, pools, libraries, game rooms and a wide variety of community activities ensures that there’s never a shortage of ways to spend your days in independent living.
How much does it cost? The cost to rent a senior apartment varies. There are, however, affordable options like low-income apartments that cap rent and utilities at about 30 percent of income. Market rate apartments with costs at or slightly below the cost of local all-age apartments and luxury senior apartments are other available options. Communities vary widely in terms of cost, which can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more a month. A number of factors determine what you pay, like the type of community and location. Download our FREE Guide to the Cost of Senior Living eBook to learn more and get the answers you need.
How do I find a community near me? Your best bet is to search online for senior apartments or contact your local housing authority and ask about senior apartment options in your area. The best place to start is to search online for “independent living communities” or use Five Star’s easy Find a Community search tool to discover select communities in your area.

The Five Star Difference: Stress-Free Independent Living, Reimagined

In an independent living community, you can truly leave your worries behind and focus on the things that matter most. Ready to experience the Five Star difference? See if there’s a Five Star Senior Living community near you and schedule a tour to discover just how much you have to look forward to.

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55+ Communities vs Independent Living: How do they Differ?

 May 19, 2021

You hear it all the time: Sixty is the new forty. Seventy is the new fifty. With people living longer, yesterday’s definitions of “old” no longer apply.

Today’s older adults are redefining what is possible later in life. More and more, stories appear in the news about people in their seventies and eighties—and even nineties—running road races, doing gymnastics, performing stand-up comedy, even going into the recording studio.

Perhaps that’s why, just as “old” no longer describes today’s aging adults, “retirement community” no longer describes the incredible variety of living options available to people in their later years. The range is remarkable. Some choose 55-plus communities that attract empty-nesters. Many prefer independent living communities that provide activities and dining. And others opt for assisted living communities, where residents need help with daily tasks such as getting dressed in addition to having access to nursing care. No matter what level of services and amenities offered, however, what these senior living communities have in common is that they are not about slowing down but ramping up—and living life to its fullest.

55+ Communities vs. Independent Living

For most healthy adults considering moving to a senior living community for the first time, the two most common options are 55-plus and independent living communities. Although there’s no hard-and-fast definition of either type, there are key differences in how they tend to be described or categorized. Understanding those differences and what is more typical of one over the other can help you evaluate which would better serve your needs.

55+ Communities vs. Independent Living Comparison Table

 

55+ Communities

Independent Living

What services are provided?

55+ complexes offer the convenience of providing maintenance of the building, grounds and apartment.

 

Independent living communities offer a stress-free lifestyle where the hassles of life—like home upkeep, cooking and cleaning—are taken care of so you can spend more time enjoying all the activities and amenities your community offers.

What amenities are provided?

There may be a clubhouse with planned social activities in a 55+ community. The availability and quality of amenities can vary widely by complex.

Convenient access to on-site shared dining spaces, pools, libraries, game rooms and a wide variety of community activities ensures that there’s never a shortage of ways to spend your days in independent living.
Own or rent? There are many 55+ communities where residents own their houses or condominiums, while others may offer rental properties. Bear in mind that 55-plus communities featuring home ownership are likely governed by a homeowners association (HOA) and include an HOA fee. Also factor into your decision-making the lack of flexibility when selling a house in a 55+ community. Often the choice is limited to approved realtors and the target population of purchasers is limited to the 55+ age range. Independent living residents generally rent their houses or apartments, although the “rent” includes much more than a roof over one’s head. Ownership is more typical of 55+ communities, while renting is more typical of independent living, but neither community type is exclusively one or the other.

How much does it cost?

The cost to rent a senior apartment varies. There are, however, affordable options like low-income apartments that cap rent and utilities at about 30 percent of income. Market rate apartments with costs at or slightly below the cost of local all-age apartments and luxury senior apartments are other available options.

Communities vary widely in terms of cost, which can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more a month. A number of factors determine what you pay, like the type of community and location. Download our FREE Guide to the Cost of Senior Living eBook to learn more and get the answers you need.

How do I find a community near me?

Your best bet is to search online for 55+ communities or contact your local housing authority and ask about senior apartment options in your area.

The best place to start is to search online for “independent living communities” or use Five Star’s easy Find a Community search tool to discover select communities in your area.

4 Important Questions to Ask When Deciding Between a 55+ Community and Independent Living

Are you a DIYer or are you ready to give up the to-do list?

People living in 55-plus communities can purchase housekeeping, lawn care and other services just as they could for their prior home. But that means managing various vendors and costs can add up quickly. Independent living residents enjoy the convenience of living within a community where services and amenities such as housekeeping, dining and transportation are included in the monthly fee. In some instances, independent living residents have the option of assistance with daily tasks and support services if needed, which is important for residents who have chronic or degenerative conditions.

Do you like an active social life?

While both options present opportunities for social gatherings, independent living communities typically have program directors who fill the calendar with game nights, happy hours and plenty of other ways to make new friends and have fun. With 55-plus communities, the level of social activity may depend on the particular character of the neighborhood, especially if the community lacks an in-house programming component. Another important difference is that independent living communities typically include dining services led by highly trained chefs, while some 55-plus communities may offer communal kitchen and dining spaces but no food services.

Another amenity offered by independent living is complimentary transportation within a radius. This is a popular feature for individuals who are experiencing diminished vision or simply prefer to be chauffeured.

Would you like to worry less about the future?

No one likes to admit it, but eventually our bodies wear down and need some tender loving care. Some independent living communities include access to onsite physical and occupational therapy, assistive services and nursing care, all to help residents maintain their highest level of independence for as long as possible. Availability of these services may vary widely in 55-plus communities.

How do you define “independence?”

For some, independence means doing everything or most things yourself, as is more likely in a 55-plus community. For others, independence may include finally being free of household chores, maintenance, grocery shopping and other tasks so you can do more of what you love or have been meaning to get to—such as traveling the world, visiting the grandkids or pursuing a hobby or passion that for years has been filed under “Someday.” If the latter, an independent living community may be for you.

Independent living communities: a greater value?

We’re biased, of course, but based on all these criteria, the scales seem to tip in favor of independent living communities as offering greater value—and a smarter long-term strategy—when considering options for a “retirement” community. If you would like to be freed of home maintenance, errands and obligations, and instead spend your time choosing from an array of activities and outings with a lively social circle of friends—what some might call real independence—take a look at independent living communities. There’s nothing retiring about them!

See the difference

Make your declaration of independence. Find out if there’s a Five Star Senior Living community near you. We’ll arrange a tour so you can see for yourself just how much you have to look forward to.

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How Often Does a Healthy Senior Need to See the Doctor?

 November 19, 2020

Let’s face it, few of us are excited to make a doctor’s appointment. If you feel well and consider yourself healthy, it’s easy to think you don’t need an annual checkup. So, is it really necessary to see the doctor when you aren’t sick?

How frequently you should see a doctor when you feel healthy is a question often debated by adults. This is especially true for those who suffer from white coat syndrome, a term used to describe anxiety experienced during physician appointments. For some, white coat syndrome can be serious enough to cause a rapid rise in blood pressure.

While there’s no hard and fast rule on how often a healthy senior should visit their doctor, at least one wellness visit a year is essential.

4 Reasons Seniors Need a Yearly Physical Exam

 

  1. Screenings: A yearly checkup gives your physician an opportunity to evaluate the need for and schedule routine health screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
  2. Bloodwork: This visit will also give your doctor an opportunity to order and review routine bloodwork. Cholesterol screening, vitamin deficiencies, and diabetes testing are a few common ones.
  3. Immunizations: Your doctor will likely discuss an immunization schedule with you. This can include when to get a flu shot and if you need a pneumonia or shingles vaccine.
  4. Early intervention: When you are feeling great, an annual physical lets your physician confirm there’s nothing wrong. It also gives the doctor an opportunity to identify small issues before they become big problems. For example, frequent headaches might be a symptom of seasonal allergies that can be managed without medication. Your physician can likely offer some suggestions.

Take Advantage of the Medicare Wellness Visit

Medicare Part B and many Medicare Advantage plans will pay for one physician visit each year to assess a senior’s health. If you’ve been participating in Medicare Part B for at least one year, you are entitled to a Medicare Wellness Visit.

Fortunately, your Medicare Part B deductible won’t apply to this visit. However, there may be a co-pay or deductible that applies to any screenings or tests your doctor orders. If you have questions, speak with the billing specialist at your physician’s office for clarification.

Health & Wellness at Five Star Senior Living

Seniors looking for other ways to stay healthy may also want to consider moving to a senior living community. Independent living often provides ample access to activities and facilities. For example, Five Star Senior Living communities prioritize wellness and many offer amenities like pools, walking paths, fitness centers, and more. Dining and nutrition is something we take pride in too.

To learn more about the the healthy lifestyles a senior living community can provide older adults, contact us today!

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The Differences Between Independent Living and Assisted Living

 March 6, 2020

Sometimes the search for senior living can leave an older adult and their family members questioning what type of community they really need. Is an Independent Living community, offering a wide variety of life enrichment programs and freedom from household chores, the best fit? Or does a loved one need the added support and care for activities of daily living (ADLs) provided by an Assisted Living community?

Although some senior living communities, including Five Star, offer both popular types of senior housing in one location, it can help to understand how they differ in meeting the unique needs of aging adults at different stages of life. Here’s a closer look.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living refers to a community for older adults who need a little extra help with activities of daily living to live their most independent life. This help may include:

  • Support with personal care needs, such as bathing, grooming and dressing
  • Medication reminders—coordination and supervision
  • Nutritious meals and healthy snacks, including the ability to accommodate special diets like low-salt, gluten-free and diabetes-related
  • Help with toileting and continence care
  • Housekeeping, laundry, trash removal and maintenance

Assisted Living Is Not a Nursing Home

Equally important is understanding what Assisted Living is not: It is not a skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing care center or nursing home. Nursing home residents usually have more complex medical needs. This generally means they require skilled care delivered by nurses, physical therapists and other medical professionals.

Some Assisted Living communities do offer the option to add additional services as needed. Within a Five Star community, you can scale Assisted Living services up or down as you or your loved one’s needs change.

Another type of Assisted Living community is called Memory Care. Memory Care communities support people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As with Assisted Living, Memory Care is not a nursing home; however, caregivers have undergone specialized training and there are targeted programs for residents, such as Five Star’s Bridge to Rediscovery.

Assisted Living Amenities

Assisted Living communities often provide transportation for residents to visit local attractions or to go shopping. The best Assisted Living communities also provide residents with a variety of educational, social and wellness programs, included as part of the monthly fee. Games, movie nights and exercise programs can be part of everyday life—just as they are in Independent Living communities.

What is Independent Living?

Independent Living communities, sometimes called retirement villages, are communities open to senior residents only. They are often a good fit for older adults seeking freedom from the burdens of homeownership. Because housekeeping tasks and maintenance chores are handled by team members, residents have more time to fully enjoy their retirement.

An Independent Living community nurtures an older adult’s interests and hobbies. These often include hosting travel groups, life-enrichment activities, continuing education classes and wellness programs. Many Independent Living residents spend time volunteering in the community or for area nonprofit organizations.

Independent Senior Living Amenities

Like Assisted Living, Independent Living communities typically provide a number of amenities and services for one monthly fee. For instance, electricity, climate control, television, phone and Internet access costs might all be included as part of the rental fee.

Some Independent Living communities, such as those within the Five Star family, provide many extras for residents. These includes housekeeping, laundry, on-site dining, and transportation as part of the monthly fee. Our Independent Living communities also provide the option of adding Assisted Living services as needed. All of this makes an Independent Living community a simple and cost-effective senior housing solution.

Comparing Independent Living and Assisted Living Communities

In short, an Assisted Living community may be the best choice if you or your loved one needs some help with daily activities but not continuous medical care or supervision. An Independent Living community may be best for those who don’t need extra help but are ready to move on from home ownership. Whether Assisted or Independent Living is the right solution for you or a family member, Five Star offers activities tailored to individual interests and ability levels—everything one could want to maintain a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.

Learn More About Senior Living Options

To learn more, visit our Senior Living Options page. You’ll find additional information and resources to help determine what type of senior living best suits your needs. Meanwhile, why not learn which Five Star community options are near you?

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5 Benefits of Moving to a Senior Living Community when You Are an Active Older Adult

You have a big, beautiful house. But since your adult children have moved out, it’s empty more often than not. As you and your spouse struggle to keep up with the housework, home maintenance, and landscaping, you might wonder if it’s time to move to a senior living community.

Moving to a senior living community before you need assisted living, nursing, or memory care carries many advantages, especially for active adults.

Why Move to a Senior Living Community?

Here are a few benefits:

1. Never worry about yard work or home maintenance
One of the key advantages of a senior community is saying good-bye to yard work, snow removal, and home maintenance. These things are included in your monthly senior living fees. You may even have the option to add housekeeping services.

2. Pay one monthly price for most of your expenses
We’re not going to tell you senior living communities are inexpensive. But when you add up your monthly living expenses from cable and internet access to your property taxes and everything you spend on entertainment, you’ll discover that senior living is more cost effective than you thought.

Most residents in a senior community don’t need a car, since almost everything they need is located on-site and transportation services are provided to get around town. That’s another cost savings you might not have considered.

3. Enjoy many amenities close to home
As you factor in the cost savings of having so many things you love to do so close to home, you’ll also want to consider the convenience. Fitness classes, adult education, special events, and entertainment are all located on-site, along with gourmet dining options staffed by professional chefs.

Whether you like hiking, cycling, golf, gardening or weight training, you can find a senior community that offers your favorite hobbies.

4. Make new friends with similar interests
While you’re out and about in your community doing what you love, you’ll meet other seniors who enjoy the same things. If you find your social circle has gotten smaller, you can join a music group, a yoga class, or take an on-site class to meet interesting people your own age.

5. Move while you’re healthy
It’s stressful for a senior who is experiencing changes in their mental and physical health to sell their home and move to assisted living. The burden of the sale of your home may fall on your children, who feel stressed to accept an offer so you can move.

Take Control of Your Future

Take control of your retirement and your future well-being by choosing the retirement community of your dreams now. Talk to a team member at the Five Star Living community nearest you to decide if it’s time to start enjoying your retirement in a whole new way.

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Why Are Retirees Returning to Work?

Why are so many of our nation’s retirees returning to work? If you’ve wondered what’s behind this trend, the answer is more complicated than you might think. Estimates show almost one in five adults over the age of sixty-five is employed. These adults have either delayed retirement or returned to work.

Researchers believe this trend will not just continue, but grow. While it’s easy to assume finances are the reason so many people of retirement age are still employed, older adults say there’s more to this lifestyle choice.

Reasons Seniors Continue to Work

Here are a few of the most common motivations behind a senior’s decision to stay employed:

  1. Avoid economic uncertainty: Financial fears are a leading reason seniors aren’t hanging up their briefcases. With stock market uncertainties, soaring health care prices, and fluctuating residential home prices, some older adults worry they will outlive their savings. Working, even on a consulting or part-time basis, gives them peace of mind.
  2. Launch a business: Another reason an older adult works when they could be enjoying retirement is because they started their own business. They may have put off their entrepreneurial dreams in exchange for a financially stable career while they raised a family. Retirement is finally their time to pursue this dream.
  3. Live a meaningful life: Sometimes a senior will retire from their lifelong career, kick back, and enjoy themselves. They finally have freedom to travel, reconnect with old passions, and pursue new hobbies. After a few years, however, they may become restless and bored. The desire to live meaningfully may lead them to work with a nonprofit agency. While the income is usually appreciated, the sense of purpose matters most.
  4. Help support loved ones: Another trend that keeps older adults working is helping support family members, especially grandchildren. Nearly 2.6 million adults are raising their grandkids, nearly double the rate from past decades. The expenses this creates, including food, clothing, and education, may force a senior to remain in the workforce much longer than they intended.

Whatever the reason an older adult has for continuing to work, there is another benefit to consider. Research shows seniors who work longer live longer.

Senior Volunteers Enjoy Better Quality of Life

Another way to live your best life during retirement is volunteering. Sharing your time and talent with others has proven health benefits for older adults. They range from lower rates of depression to decreased risk for illnesses like heart disease and obesity. Read Stay Young at Heart by Volunteering After Retirement to learn more.

If you have questions about senior living or would like to schedule a private tour of a Five Star Senior Living community, please contact us today. One of our experienced team members will be happy to help!

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5 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life in Retirement

Almost 20 percent of Americans age 65+ are still working. While financial concerns come into play, more than one-third continue working because they like their job and want to stay involved.

Whether you are working because you want to or because you have to, you presumably want to enjoy your retirement, as well. Regardless of whether it happens at 62, 65, or not until your 70s you can improve your quality of life in retirement with these tips.

5 Steps to a Successful Retirement

1. Make a Healthy Lifestyle a Priority

A vast majority of retirees say good health is crucial for a happy retirement. Eating right and exercising regularly are two ways to improve your odds for a healthy retirement, reducing your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a host of other illnesses.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. But with type 2 diabetes at epidemic levels in the U.S., we know diet plays a key role in staying healthy. Fill one-half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, one-quarter with a lean protein, and the other half with heart-healthy whole grains. Snacks should consist of dairy, protein, fruits, and vegetables without added sugars.

As for exercise, current guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week for older adults.

2. Create a stable financial situation

Money does, indeed, buy happiness in retirement. But only to a point. It’s actually the sense of financial security that improves a retiree’s quality of life. Rather than relying solely on investments that may cause fluctuations in income, look for ways to minimize household expenses so you can fully enjoy the money you have.

3. Keep your brain active

Just as your body needs exercise, so too does your brain. It needs to be exercised to stave off age-related memory loss and depression. Consider taking adult education classes. Or learn a new activity or hobby, such as how to play a musical instrument.

4. Surround yourself with people who make you happy

As we age, our social circles often become smaller. That’s okay as long as you are spending time with those who make you happiest. Find friends with common interests, who make you laugh and who stretch your mind intellectually.

You don’t have to spend your retirement around people who are younger than you. Just find a core group of companions who are young at heart.

5. Discover a greater purpose

Living better in retirement has a lot to do with your activities. But your thoughts are also important. Embrace retirement with a positive perspective on aging. And take advice from some of the world’s oldest people and find a sense of purpose.

Regions with the world’s longest-living people also happen to have some of the happiest. You might find purpose in a charity organization, mentoring young people, or creating art. Whatever it is, embrace it to enjoy a better quality of life.

With a vast array of classes, activities, and social events, Five Star Senior Living makes it easy to enjoy a better quality of life in your retirement. Learn more by scheduling a tour at a senior living community near you.

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How Older Women Can Beat Aging Stereotypes

The feminist movement has taken great strides since the 1960s, but older women still face a number of hurtful and harmful stereotypes.

Society may perceive older women as physically vulnerable, socially needy, unattractive, and less useful than their younger counterparts of childbearing and child-rearing age.

As a result, older women may experience self-esteem issues and even suffer from depression, which can then lead to physical ailments, reduced immunity, and diseases.

It’s a vicious circle.

Fortunately, women of all ages can beat the cycle by taking positive action against aging stereotypes.

Dispelling Common Stereotypes of Older Women

Let’s look at three harmful stereotypes of older women and healthy ways to defeat these perceptions and prove that older women are very capable.

Stereotype: Older women are not tech-savvy and don’t understand computers, smartphones, and other modern devices.

Most of us have, at one time or another, been in the position of explaining email to an aging parent or showing a senior how Siri works. But if you showed a five-year-old a record player, they probably wouldn’t have a clue how to use it, either.

It’s not that seniors can’t learn technology. It’s just new and unfamiliar to them.

However, most seniors are willing to learn. Older women can bust the tech-stereotype by taking classes in anything from graphic design to spreadsheets. They can be successful eBay sellers, bloggers, and even Web designers.

All it takes is some practice and patience.

Stereotype: Older women are frail.

It’s true that post-menopausal women are at greater risk of osteoporosis, or low bone density, which can increase the risk of fractures. But most senior women are anything but weak or frail. Osteoporosis risk factors may be reduced by a healthy lifestyle, which includes:

  • not smoking
  • reducing alcohol consumption
  • exercising regularly
  • getting a bone density scan annually after the age of 65

Hormone replacement therapy to replace estrogen lost during menopause may also help some women reduce their risk of osteoporosis.

Women in senior living communities may practice martial arts, Tai Chi, and yoga. They can take Zumba lessons or ballroom dancing. At Five Star Senior Living, our communities prioritize physical wellness and offer many opportunities for residents to stay fit.

Then there are 60-year-old women who participate in extreme obstacle course races like Mudderella, a 7-mile race with obstacles that test strength and endurance.

Many of these athletes are over 50 and anything but weak!

Stereotype: Older women are socially needy and clingy.

Sure, older women need companionship, friendship, and conversation.

But don’t we all?

A senior faced with moving from her lifetime home, saying good-bye to friends she’s known for years, and giving up her vehicle may feel lonely. But that loneliness doesn’t have to last.

Today’s senior living communities offer endless opportunities for socialization, enrichment, and physical activity. Older women (and men, for that matter) can connect with peers who share similar interests. They’ll also have the opportunity to discover new hobbies.

Senior life is anything but lonely in the right environment. It’s easy to beat aging stereotypes and feel good about yourself in a comfortable community where you feel as if you belong.

To learn more about what senior living has to offer or to find a Five Star Senior Living community near you, contact us.

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5 Tips to Help Seniors Prevent Fires

There’s more to fire safety than simply having smoke alarms, especially for seniors who may be hard of hearing.

Follow these fire safety tips to stay safe or to keep your aging loved one safe all year long.

Fire Prevention Tips for Seniors

1. Consider Alternatives to Smoke Alarms That Use Noise Alerts

Smoke alarms can help seniors escape a fire—if they hear the alarm.

If you or your senior loved one is hard of hearing, consider smoke alarms equipped with flashing lights to signal an alert. Or consider a smart smoke alarm that also sends an alert to a smartphone or wearable device, causing it to buzz while also providing a visual signal of danger.

Even better? A smoke and fire alarm connected to a home alarm system, which automatically alerts the fire department in the event of a blaze.

2. Use Caution Burning Candles

While many people like the calming scent and ambiance that candles create, seniors—or distracted caregivers—may forget about a candle and leave it burning. Unattended candles may cause a fire.

Consider electric wax burners as an alternative to open flames. Or use technology and set a reminder on your smartphone to check candles before leaving home.

3. Know Your Escape Route

Every home or apartment should have two escape routes, says the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In the case of seniors, both routes should be easily accessible. That is, no ladders to climb or challenging window exits.

Escape routes should be well-lighted, night or day. Consider motion sensor lights that can illuminate a path if a senior needs to leave in the middle of the night.

And, to prevent falls, ensure there’s no low furniture, loose rugs, or clutter in the path.

Finally, seniors should have a safe place to wait, such as a neighbor’s house, should their home catch on fire.

4. Keeping Seniors with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Safe from Fire

For seniors in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, review fire safety tips frequently so they will know what to do in the event of a fire.

Do not use door locks that will keep a senior with Alzheimer’s trapped inside a burning building. Instead, use GPS tracking devices and wearables to keep tabs on a senior prone to wandering, and use smoke and fire alarms with remote alert capabilities so caregivers will receive notifications in the event of a fire.

5. Use Technology to Stay Safe

From smoke detection systems to fire-safe doors and sprinkler systems, Five Star Senior Living communities have the technology and safety measures in place to keep you or your senior loved one protected from fire.

Why not schedule a tour to see if Five Star Senior Living is the right choice for the older adult you love? At Five Star Senior Living, safety matters.

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Mother’s Day for All Generations

The solution?

Plan an inter-generational Mother’s Day celebration. One that ensures you’ll see everyone who matters to you. Here are some ideas to help you plan a Mother’s Day to remember.

1. Host a tea.

Young or old can all enjoy a family tea party, complete with herbal tea and finger sandwiches on rye or whole grain bread (a healthier choice for diabetics).

“I invited daughters, moms, aunts, grandmothers, and even one mom-to-be, ranging in age from 4 to 74,” says Melissa Mazzarella, a mother-of-five from Patchogue, NY, who hosted her first Mother’s Day tea last year and hopes to do it again.

Mazzarella kept it simple, encouraging guests to catch up and re-connect through conversation.

To entertain a less chatty bunch, consider leaving conversation prompts in the form of interesting questions at each place setting. A few suggestions might include:

  • What did you want to be when you were growing up? / What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • What’s your fondest childhood memory / best day ever?
  • What was/is your favorite subject in school and why?
  • What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited or your best vacation?

You might also collect childhood and current photos of attendees beforehand and create a digital slideshow to share during the party.

2. Organize a multi-generational photo shoot.

Don’t have many photos of all the generations of your family together?

Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to schedule a photo shoot. Glam it up by scheduling a spa day right before the Mother’s Day photo shoot. You can help one another coordinate the perfect outfits.

“Ask the eldest family member to dress in something that will set her apart as the matriarch of the family,” says photographer Jennifer Mercurio of Lasting Impressions Photography in Bay Shore, New York. “You may put everyone else in the shot wear white or navy blue, while she wears her favorite color.”

Have the great-grandmother, grandmother and mother of a baby daughter hold their own baby pictures in a photo with the infant, suggests Mercurio. “Putting the infant in the hands of the eldest is very poignant, as well,” she says.

If your mother or grandmother lives in a senior living community, you might want to take pictures right on the grounds. Many of today’s senior communities offer park-like, picturesque landscapes. Then cap it off with a picnic to end your picture-perfect day.

3. Cook or bake together.

Are you a family of chefs? Or bakers? A day of multi-generational cooking could be a great way to celebrate. Younger children can pour and mix pre-measured ingredients, while grandmothers may opt to supervise in the kitchen.

Ask each guest to bring a classic family recipe or a new favorite. Old and young alike are sure to pick up cooking tips from each other.

Building Multi-generational Memories

The bottom line is to think about what bonds your family together.

Do you enjoy playing board games? Watching old movies? Scrapbooking?

Whatever it may be, make it the focal point of your celebration. Add your favorite foods and family-friendly beverages. Then don’t forget to take lots of photos to commemorate your multi-generational Mother’s Day celebration!

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