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The 6 Health Benefits of Moving to a Senior Living Community

March 6, 2020

<!–[CDATA[Health care professionals who work with seniors have long suspected loneliness plays a role in aging. Recent research shows they were right. Isolation has been identified as a serious health risk for our seniors. It contributes to a variety of health problems ranging from diabetes to high blood pressure, cardiac disease, depression and obesity.

Seniors who make a move to an independent living or assisted living community have greater opportunities for staying mentally, emotionally and physically connected as they age compared to adults who choose to stay in their private home.

The 6 Benefits of Senior Living

A few of the many benefits adults enjoy when they move to a senior living community include:

1. Good Nutrition

Planning menus and grocery shopping can become more of a burden with age. Senior living communities have in-house chefs who prepare healthy, nutritious meals three times a day.

Residents also have the advantage of having friends to dine with. It helps make mealtime a social event to look forward to each day.

2. Companionship

Being surrounded by like-minded older adults to share the events of the day can have a tremendous impact on senior’s mental and emotional well-being. The informal conversations and gatherings that happen every day give senior living residents an opportunity to build their circle of friends and feel less alone.

3. Life Enrichment Programs

Activities that take place in senior living communities all day every day are designed to engage the body, mind and spirit.

For instance, Five Star Senior Living’s Lifestyle360 helps our residents live healthier, engaged lives. They have the opportunity to participate in activities that range from book clubs to billiards to arts and crafts.

4. Wellness Opportunities

As we learn more and more about how to age successfully, wellness programs continue to be an important piece of what attracts older adults to senior housing communities. Today’s wellness programs are much more comprehensive than the blood pressure clinics of the past. Residents now have the opportunity to participate in Chair Yoga, attend a strength training class or talk with a wellness professional about living their best life.

5. Safer Facilities

Older adults who move to a senior living community are often coming from older homes. They frequently trade this outdated environment for one built with the safety of seniors in mind.

A few of the common features include:

Handrails in hallways
Good lighting Grab bars in bathrooms No-step showers Emergency call systems

6. Lower Stress

Ask any senior who lives alone in an older home, and they will tell you it can be stressful. Even if they hire someone to help with housekeeping and maintenance, keeping everything coordinated is a lot of work. Giving up these responsibilities and moving to a senior living community can help decrease an older adult’s stress and improve their quality of life.

Take a Tour of a Five Star Community

The benefits of moving to a senior living community above are incredibly important, and we hope you take them to heart. But we also encourage you to explore a community for yourself. Find a Five Star Senior Living community near you and schedule a tour today. We can’t wait to meet you and discuss your loved one’s needs.

Wellness Check-up Schedule for Seniors

When our children are young, we can find dozens of resources suggesting the best vaccination schedule. Those early years seem to be filled with countless trips to the pediatrician.

But as we age—or if you’re caring for an aging loved one—it may be more difficult to know exactly when to have certain check-ups, tests, or vaccines.

Five Star Senior Living put together this handy Wellness Check Up Schedule for seniors based on information provided by Medicare, the CDC, and other authoritative resources.

Wellness Visits After 40

Doctors recommend a wellness visit every two years for seniors over the age of 40. During this visit, the doctor will review your personal and family medical history and conduct a basic check-up, which may include:

Height, weight, and blood pressure measurements
Vision and hearing tests
Assessment of your overall health

At this time, you should discuss other necessary medical care, screenings, or preventative health measures.

Preventative Care and Screening Schedule

There are some health screenings both men and women should have, and others that are gender specific.

Men over 35 and women over 50 should have their cholesterol checked every five years.
For women a doctor may recommend a PAP test every five years and a mammogram every one to two years, depending on a woman’s risk factors and family history.
Similarly, men over 50 should have a prostate cancer screening as often as their primary care physician recommends.

Other Important Health Screenings

Depending on risk factors and family history, physicians may recommend a number of additional screenings for older adults. These might include:

Colon cancer screening
Hepatitis C test (for individuals born between 1945 and 1965)
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
Bone density scan (for women over the age of 65)

Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Seniors

Vaccines are another important health tool. Here are a few the experts say are important:

Every 10 years, men and women should receive a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine.
Flu shots are recommended annually for seniors and other at-risk individuals.
Seniors over the age of 60 should receive a one-time Shingles vaccine
Adults over the age of 65 likely need a pneumococcal vaccine at least once in their life.

Individuals who are immune suppressed or have allergies should speak to their physician before receiving any vaccinations.

Don’t Forget Your Free Annual Wellness Visit

Seniors on Medicare are entitled to an initial “Welcome to Medicare” visit. Your primary care physician will spend time getting to know you, your medical background, and family history through a Medicare-approved questionnaire.

Seniors are also entitled to one free wellness visit a year with no co-pay or deductible through Medicare Part B. Although adults of all ages should visit their doctor at least every two years for a wellness visit, this Medicare-approved annual visit is a good opportunity for seniors on Medicare to ensure their health is on track.

Five Star Makes It Easy

Seniors in a Five Star Senior Living community can enjoy convenient transportation to their physicians, as well as benefit from on-site rehabilitation and wellness services. Contact the community nearest to you to learn more!

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Loved One Moving to Senior Living? Here’s How to Start the Search

What are the next steps? How do you find the best senior community?

The following tips can help you or your older loved one find a senior living community they will be happy to call home.

What to Consider in the Search for a Senior Living Community
Here’s what you should consider in your search:

Be Realistic about the Senior’s Budget

Before you actually start the search, take an honest look at your aging loved one’s finances. How much they can afford to spend? And how will they be paying for senior living?

Determine What Type of Care They May Need

Does your loved one already require assisted living services? Do they need dementia care? Are they healthy and active but want to be prepared for a day when they might need some extra help?

Their requirements for care combined with their budget will help you determine whether they need assisted living, memory care or a continuing care retirement community.

Location, Location, Location

Realtors are right. Location matters. For convenience, you’d probably prefer your loved one to be close to you. So that’s a factor to consider.

But don’t search for a senior living community based solely on proximity to your house. Ideally, the community will also be centrally located near their preferred doctors, shops they frequent, and other amenities.

Relocating When Your Loved One Lives Far Away

If you are relocating a senior loved one who lives far away from you, there are other factors to consider. Do they want to stay in their hometown? Be near their church or synagogue? Move closer to you? Or do they want to relocate somewhere else entirely, such as to a warmer climate?

Consider the climate, convenience to transportation services (so you can visit easily), and, of course, the safety of the surrounding neighborhood.

Pinpoint Your Loved One’s Likes and Dislikes

There are senior living communities today that cater to nearly every lifestyle, from green communities for those concerned about the environment to golf communities for seniors who love to hit the course every day. Talk to your loved one about what they like to do and how they’d like to spend their retirement years.

Don’t make assumptions about what is important to your family member. Your outdoor-loving dad might have recently developed an interest in art or photography since his hip replacement. Or maybe your mom, who spent her life behind a desk, has been waiting for retirement to start hiking and bicycling.

Discuss Their Preferred Styles

Again, don’t assume you know what your aging parent would like based on their current home’s décor. Moving into a senior community is a great way for an older adult to reinvent themselves and their sense of style.

From glamorous luxury to a comfy traditional setting, there is a senior community to appeal to every taste.

Ask Around for Reviews and Feedback

Just as you would if you were searching for the best doctor or home contractor, ask people you know for recommendations in senior living. You can also visit online review sites to see what other families have to say about a community you are considering.

Visit Communities

In-person visits are a must before you make a decision. Tour the community at least twice and ask lots of questions. Spend some extra time driving around the neighborhood. Especially if your loved one is considering a place outside of their current town, you’ll want to assess the area.

Start Here

Once your loved one knows what area they would like to live in and what amenities are important, you can start the search for a senior community right here at Five Star Senior Living.

With more than 270 senior living communities in over 30 states, you will likely find exactly what you’re looking for at Five Star.

The History of Older Americans Month

<!–[CDATA[Did you know May is Older Americans Month? That’s right. Seniors have their very own month – and we’ve been celebrating it here in the U.S. since 1963.

Why?

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens met to address the growing concerns of America’s 17 million individuals ages 65 and older. At the time, one-third of all seniors lived in poverty with few social programs available to help support them.

To raise awareness of the problems facing seniors and to honor them, then-President Kennedy and the Council proclaimed May as Senior Citizens Month.

Senior Citizens Month Becomes Older Americans Month

Two years later, in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Older Americans Act of 1965 and formally declared May as Older Americans Month. But the act did much more than raise awareness or encourage community involvement – although it did both of these things well.

Johnson took Kennedy’s proclamation and intentions a step further by taking action that resulted in positive change, financial assistance and federal support for older Americans.

The Older Americans Act:
·        established the Administration on Agency, the first federal agency designed to address the struggles of older Americans
·        introduced nutrition programs, transportation assistance, federally funded adult day care, legal assistance and other services for seniors
·        paved the way to passing the Medicare program to offer health care to seniors

Older Americans Month in the Recent Past

The proclamation didn’t end with Johnson, either. Every president since has offered a formal proclamation declaring May as a time to remember and honor older Americans. Communities organize events, fairs, and fundraisers focusing on seniors.

Each year, the Administration on Aging (AOA) and the Administration of Community Living (ACL) establishes a theme for Older Americans Month and encourages communities to organize events based on the theme.

For instance, in 2014, Older Americans Month focused on injury and fall prevention for seniors with the theme “Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.”

Last year marked the 50^th anniversary of the Older Americans act. The year’s theme, “Get into the Act,” encouraged seniors to take action in a number of ways including:

·        getting active in their communities
·        taking charge of their health and wellness
·        making a difference in the lives of others through mentorship, community involvement and volunteerism

Celebrating Older Americans Month

Activities for the month may focus on empowering seniors to become trailblazers in ways big and small – from managing their finances better to taking charge of their health and wellness. Join Five Star Senior Living in saluting older adults through the month of May and every day after!

The Differences Between Independent Living and Assisted Living

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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10 Ways Senior Living Communities Improve Older Adults Lives

June 28, 2019

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) reports that more than 20 percent of the population will be age 65 and older by 2030. As a result, more older adults will be moving to a senior living community.

While some seniors may be hesitant to move into an independent living community or assisted living community, there are a surprising number of benefits associated with the transition.

Here are ten ways senior living communities improve the lives of older adults.

Exploring the Benefits of Senior Living Communities

Socialization Social isolation leads to detrimental health consequences including depression and disease. When seniors move into an assisted living community, they are encouraged to participate in planned social activities that relate to their favorite hobbies and interests. Life enrichment is a key to successful aging.
Physical Activity Living in a senior community presents older adults with opportunities to engage in fitness classes like Zumba and Chair yoga. The best part is these activities are a short walk down to the activity center. No transportation required! These convenient exercise opportunities are great options for older adults with limited transportation options.
Healthy Diet Adult children have peace of mind knowing their aging parent is eating a well-balanced diet while living in a senior community. Residents enjoy restaurant-style dining with an opportunity to socialize with friends at each meal.
Independence As we age, the fear of losing our independence looms large. But moving to a senior living community is one of the best ways for an older adult to receive the support they need to maintain their independence. Individual apartments or suites in a senior living community allow seniors to live independently knowing assistance is nearby if needed.
Safety There are many safety benefits to consider when thinking about moving into a senior living community. They range from personal security to health management support. An attentive staff ensures older adults are healthy and mobile while giving family members peace of mind that their loved one is safe.
Transportation A significant factor for maintaining independence is transportation. Most senior living communities provide transportation to and from errands, appointments and shopping centers. Transportation services also take stress off of family caregivers who may be juggling a full-time career and family of their own with the needs of an aging parent.
Improve Caregivers’ Health Adult children can hand over some of their responsibilities to the staff at the senior living community including meal preparations, medication management and housekeeping. When their senior loved one moves into an independent or assisted living community, the family caregiver often feels less stressed and weary. It allows them to regain their own health and to more fully enjoy the time they spend with their loved one.
Health Management Senior living communities offer a variety of wellness programs in-house. From fall prevention programs to weight monitoring and medication management, these services help residents stay active longer.
Memory Care According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans lived with dementia in 2015. If your aging loved one is affected by the disease, a memory care community may be the ideal solution. These communities provide the necessary stimulation, nutrition and security for older adults with cognitive loss.
Personal Care As we age, it’s harder to pay proper attention to our personal hygiene. The staff at a senior living community can provide personal care for older adults in the comfort of their rooms. These communities also offer in-house beauty salon services on a weekly basis.At first glance, encouraging a loved one into a senior living community might feel frightening. But the big move will likely turn out to be the best move to help them to live a longer and healthier life.

Contact Us Today

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Living option of interest*

My reason for inquiring:*

I'm inquiring for:*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

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Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

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Should You Choose Assisted Living Near the Senior's Home or Near Adult Children?

<!–[CDATA[The decision to move a parent, grandparent, or any senior loved one into assisted living is never an easy one to make. It’s not always simple after you’ve made the decision either, especially when you and your family are trying to determine where the senior should move to.

Broadly speaking, it comes down to two choices—should your senior loved one stay close to their home or is it better for them to move near a family member?

4 Factors to Consider When Choosing an Assisted Living Location

Take the following four factors into consideration and you’ll make a tough decision much easier:

1. Which Location Offers the Highest Quality Care?

This is clearly the most important consideration. After all, extra care and support are why you decided on assisted living in the first place, so quality and fit have to be at the top of the list.

Though there are assisted living communities in virtually every region of the country, there may or may not be one that’s a good fit in every city. Find the community that offers the highest quality care and the right location will follow.

2. Where Will They Have the Most Companionship and Support?

This question might require some soul searching but the answer will get you much closer to a decision. Everyone wants to be close to their loved ones as they grow older. However, moving them closer to you may or may not be the best solution.

It’s a matter of quality over quantity. If your senior loved one has a wide circle of friends that they see frequently, the most loving decision might be to keep them closer to their current home. If they don’t have this kind of support and love nearby, relocating them closer to family might be the best move.

3. Where Does Your Senior Loved One Want to Live?

This almost goes without saying, but it’s still a good reminder. Your loved one will be the most affected by your decision, so it’s only right to take their wishes seriously. Many seniors fear that they’re losing their independence already. Giving them the deciding voice in such an important decision will help to counter this natural fear.

4. There’s Comfort in Familiarity and Change Can Be Scary

This means you’ll need to weigh the positives of moving your senior loved one to a brand new location against keeping them close to home. In other words, there should be enough benefits to offset the loss of familiarity if you choose to move them closer to an adult child or other family member.

The Hardest Part is Behind You

We know how difficult this process might be for you and your family. You’ve already taken an important first step toward improving the life of your senior loved one. That happened when you decided on assisted living in the first place.

Yes, there’s still some uncertainty ahead but you can rest assured that things will fall into place now that the hardest part is behind you.

Five Star Senior Living is Behind You, Too!

You don’t have to make any of these decisions all on your own. We’re behind you with whatever information or support we can give. Contact us at any time if we can be of assistance to you and your family.

Better yet, let us arrange a personal tour of one of our communities. Call us to set up a time!

Can a Senior Living Resident also Receive Hospice Care?

<!–[CDATA[It’s a common misconception that seniors who call an independent living or an assisted living community home can’t take advantage of hospice services. Many people think that this end-of-life care option is only available for adults who live in a private house or at an in-patient hospice care center.

The truth is hospice providers in Indiana can deliver care and services in whatever setting the patient calls home. It might be their private residence, an adult child’s home or a senior living community they reside in. This type of care allows the senior to remain in their own comfortable, familiar environment.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is a special type of care provided to people with a life-limiting illness. It’s typically provided at the end-of-life. Hospice care is covered by Medicare and other private insurances. Some not-for-profit providers also care for those without coverage regardless of their ability to pay.

A hospice team is made up of a number of important members, including:

Social workers and spiritual counselors to support you and your family.
Home health aides who will assist your aging loved one with personal care needs.
An on-call nurse who is available 24 hours a day for any emergency that comes up.
Volunteers to provide support and companionship to patients and caregivers.
A physician to oversee the patient’s plan of care.

The goal of hospice care is to optimize each patient’s comfort level and focus on the quality of life. This type of treatment does not try to find a cure for your loved one’s illness.

How Does My Aging Loved One Receive Hospice Care in an Assisted Living Community?

Seniors that live in assisted living community and need end-of-life care do not need to leave the apartment they call home. In fact, according to the Assisted Living Federation of America, nearly one-third of seniors in a senior living community receive hospice care in their apartments.

If you’re considering helping your loved one move into a community like Five Star Senior Living, you can have peace of mind knowing your family will be able to work with a hospice provider of your choice if the need arises.

5 Tips for Finding a Senior Living Community You Feel You Can Trust

You’ve probably watched news reports talking about trouble at a nursing home or senior community at some point. While the kinds of issues these news reports spotlight are rare, they can make families worry more when it comes time to find a senior living community that is a good fit for a loved one.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to feel more confident that you are making an informed choice.

Making an Informed Choice about Senior Living

Here are a few suggestions to help you focus on what is most important in making a decision about senior living:

Personal recommendations: Talking with people you trust who have been through this process can really help. Do you have any family members, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances who have a loved one living in a senior living community? Ask if you could sit down with them over a cup of coffee to talk about what they do and don’t like about it. An insider’s honest perspective can be very valuable as you make this decision.
Read community reviews online: There are several online review platforms that you can visit to read what residents and families have to say about the community. Caring.com, for example, has a directory that allows you to read reviews about specific assisted living, memory care, and other types of senior living in your local area.
Review state survey results: Learn what agency has oversight for any senior care option you are considering and then take time to read what regulators have to say about them during their annual visits. If you are considering an assisted living community for example, know that they are regulated at the state level and laws vary state by state. Contact your state’s department of health if you need help determining how senior living is regulated near you.
Make personal visits: Nothing can replace visiting and touring senior living communities in person. Take your time. Ask good, solid questions. Talk with staff, residents, and their families. Visit more than once and do so at different times, including making at least one weekend visit. Be sure to take good notes that you can refer back to as you work your way through each community you are considering.
Consider a short-term stay: If you are still a little hesitant, take advantage of respite care programs. While many think these short-term stays at a senior living community are just to give the caregiver a break, they can also be utilized as a trial run to see how your loved one likes it. Just make sure their stay is at least a few weeks so you have time to objectively assess the community.

Call Five Star Senior Living Today

If you have questions about moving a senior loved one, financing senior living or senior care in general, call the Five Star community nearest you. One of our team members will be happy to set up a time to meet with you in person, answer all of your questions, and help connect you with the resources you need!

Finding an Assisted Living Community for a Senior in the Midst of a Crisis

An ideal time to move to an assisted living community is when an older adult is still active enough to participate in the process. The senior can visit communities and select the one that meets their needs and feels most like home. Moving before a crisis also gives the older adult time to settle in and get to know the team members at the community.

Sometimes, however, something unexpected occurs. A medical emergency or a change in circumstances requires the decision to be made in a hurry.

As an adult child or close family member, what can you do to make an informed, thoughtful decision about which assisted living community is best amid a crisis?

We have a few tips that can be helpful during this stressful time.

Helpful Tips for Choosing an Assisted Living Community in a Hurry

Confirm the type of care: Before you begin the search, talk with your senior loved one’s physician or the discharge planner at the hospital to make sure you understand just what type of care is needed. Families sometimes assume that a nursing home is their only option when an assisted living community is actually a better choice.
Determine a budget: If your family hasn’t discussed senior care before, you may not have discussed the older adult’s finances either. You’ll need to have some idea about how much money they have. While you can usually get a bridge loan to help pay senior living expenses until assets can be liquidated, it is helpful to know about their financial situation.
Start the search online: Most assisted living communities have websites. Going online to learn more about the company’s mission, services, and amenities can save time. Create a list of questions that arise as you work your way through the websites. Once you have a few communities that look promising, start making phone calls. Ask about pricing, required contracts, and other items on your list.
Check review sites: There are a variety of websites dedicated to reviewing senior living communities. While reviews shouldn’t be your only criteria, they can help you get the perspective of other residents and their families.
Review state survey results: Assisted living communities are regulated at the state level. That includes complaints received from families. This is typically done through the state Department of Aging or the Department of Health and Human Services. Many states now publish survey results online. Before you move forward with personal tours, take time to review the state survey results for the past few years.
Visit the top choices in person: Once you’ve done your homework, pick the top two or three communities to visit in person. Schedule an appointment to see the campus and meet the team. This is the best way to determine if the assisted living community is a good fit for your loved one. If you aren’t able to make personal visits yourself, enlist the support of a friend or even consider hiring a geriatric care manager.
Try a short-term respite stay: One final tip is to consider a short-term respite stay. When time is short and a decision must be made, you can take advantage of an assisted living community’s respite care program. This short-term arrangement allows an older adult to stay at the community for a few weeks or up to a month. Your loved one will have access to the same care, services, and amenities as a permanent resident. It’s a great way to try out a community without making a long-term commitment.

Call the Five Star Senior Living community nearest you to learn more about assisted living or short-term respite stays!