Senior Living Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Senior Living Services

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Written by craig braddick

1 October 2020

Independent Living Benefits

Benefits-of-Independent-Living

Living in an independent living community is a perfect option for seniors who can still do their daily tasks but who are looking for added benefits that are found in senior living communities. Here are some examples of the benefits independent living communities has to offer.

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Maintenance-Free Living

One of the greatest upsides of independent living is freedom from the day to day tasks associated with homeownership. Your loved one will no longer be responsible for taking care of the yard or repairing a running toilet. Maintenance and housekeeping employees are available to take on these and other tasks so they can focus on other aspects of their life.

All-Inclusive Rent

Days of numerous bills are long gone. In an independent living community, every bill – think utilities, rent, and even the cable bill — are combined into one, easy, monthly payment.
The general cost of moving into an independent living community can additionally be financially beneficial. If your loved one is downsizing from their present home, independent living can help decrease their monthly spending and allow them to use their money in other ways.

Proper Nutrition

One of the greatest concerns as people get older is not eating right if it is from the food quality or from not receiving the right nutrients.
It could be for dietary reasons because they don’t want to cook, or both, seniors in independent living can add on meal services. Specifically, Canyon Winds Retirement Community is staffed with a high caliber chef who prepares fresh meals every day. In addition to cooking with quality ingredients, dietary requirements – like low sodium – can also be fulfilled. A lot of independent communities also employ dietitians with an emphasis on senior nutrition and can be an invaluable resource to guarantee that they are eating healthy.

Private Living, With A Community Setting

An additional benefit of independent living is the harmony between enjoying their privacy but also participating in an active community. From joining the multiple activities taking place around the community every day to being involved in on meal service, to taking advantage of exercise rooms and other amenities, they can take advantage of everything the community has to offer as little or as much as they like.

Social Interactions

Getting older comes with uncommon challenges – One of them is making new friends. But living in an independent community means they’re surrounded by others in similar stages of life. And without additional responsibilities like home upkeep or grocery shopping to be concerned about — plus a team of employees who are committed to planning daily activities — making it easy to connect with like-minded people and take in the benefits of continual social interactions.

Source:

“Benefits of Independent Living: Senior Living Options.” StoryPoint, 15 Mar. 2019, https://www.storypoint.com/benefits-independent-living/.

Find Quality Assisted Living Care With SLS Communities

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If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help! We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

23 September 2020

Strength Training For Older Adults

From time to time we feature an interview that is worth quoting in full. Such an interview is one with Dr. Roger Fielding on Strength Training for Older Adults. Below is the text from the interview at the News In Health website. You can find the original at: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2020/03/dr-roger-fielding-strength-training-older-adults

Disclaimer: You should speak with a medical professional before undergoing any exercise regime. Use proper safety precautions and have assistance available when you exercise.

NIHNiH: Are the benefits of strength training different for different age groups?

Fielding: The benefits of strength training across the lifespan are relatively similar. But as people get older, there’s a progressive decline in the amount of muscle mass and muscle strength.

So as we age, I think it’s even more important to consider incorporating some strength training into our physical activity routine, to either slow down the progression of that decline or to some extent prevent it from occurring.

NIHNiH: How does strength training help older adults live independently?

Fielding: There’s a very close relationship between the loss of muscle strength with aging and the development of mobility limitations and poor physical functioning. As people lose muscle mass and muscle strength, they begin to develop problems with their ability to walk, their ability to get up from a chair, to climb a flight of stairs. And those changes can reach a point where people lose their ability to be living independently.

Interventions that can prevent that loss in muscle mass and strength as people age may be able to delay or prevent people from losing their independence.… The most robust type of exercise training to prevent the loss of muscle strength and the loss of muscle mass is strength training.

NIHNiH: What would you say to an older adult who feels unsure about how to start strength training?

Fielding: The first thing to remember is that some exercise or a little bit of exercise or physical activity is better than no exercise and no physical activity. So anything you can do is going to have benefits that are real and sustainable.

More and more, there are programs at local gymnasiums, local health clubs, and accessible gyms like the YMCA and other organizations that are very targeted for older people. So if people are intimidated, I would suggest they look to see if there are programs like that in their community that might be more friendly and more accessible and welcoming to their age and their demographic.

There are also some strength training activities that can be done with things like ankle weights, or using your body weight and a chair. So there are some strength training activities that don’t really require specialized equipment or going to a gymnasium, that people can do to start off with.

They may ultimately progress to getting strong enough that they might want to go to a gym or a community program where there’s a bit more challenge. But there are certainly things that you can do in your home that are very scalable and accessible that don’t involve going to the gym.

NIHNiH: What are some tips for staying motivated with a new strength-training program?

Fielding: Ask yourself: Why do you want to do this? Like, you want to go on a four-mile hike or be able to play in the yard with your grandchildren or start playing a sport again. Goal setting can be really useful in trying to keep people motivated to stay with a program of physical activity.

It’s also important to find something that you really like to do and can make part of your daily routine, activities, or behaviors. If you’re somebody who absolutely loathes going to the gym, signing up for a gym membership is not going to be the right strategy for you. But getting some hand weights and some ankle weights that you can use at home, in a place where you’re very comfortable, may be something that’s going to get you motivated to start.

Some people really like to exercise with a friend or partner, or with a group of people. In that case, finding someone that you want to embark on a strength training program with can also be a really good way to keep you adherent and keep you motivated. The important thing is finding something that works for you.

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Activities for Seniors, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Senior Living, Uncategorized

Regular Post

Written by webtechs

13 August 2020

Physical Games For Seniors

Most seniors love to stay active. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, activity is vital in independent and assisted living facilities. With a plethora of exercises and games available across the state, we’ve hand-picked some of the best physical games for seniors.

Yoga

Yoga is the perfect activity for the indoors or outdoors-man. This is a highly effective practice for senior citizens. Yoga is comprised of controlled body positions and stretches, with a goal of physical and mental well-being. The activity is perfect for participants looking to attain deep spiritual tranquility. This is one hobby that is great for the body and soul!

Health Benefits

There are numerous health benefits for yoga participants. Weight loss is, of course, at the top of the list. With the possible weight loss comes a more balanced metabolism, with a lowering of blood sugar and blood pressure. But, that’s not all! Yoga can result in increased muscle strength, flexibility and better balance. Yoga, which is a practice believed to be more than 5,000 years old, has been shown to improve cardiovascular and blood circulation, as well.

Shuffleboard

Beginning in 15th century English pubs, this sport has constantly changed over time, but the goal has remained the same. This is one of the most popular sports to play for seniors because of its competitive, yet lighthearted nature. A player wins in shuffleboard when reaching a score of 15, but some bigger tournaments could require 21 points for a win. Alternating turns, each player slides four weights across an opponent’s board. Sliding your weights to the highest available scoring area is the objective here. Players can also knock opposing weights off the board with their own weights or use them to protect their current score.

Health Benefits

Shuffleboard increases heart rate and reduces stress at the very same time. Another benefit is the obvious workout for various muscle groups.

Line Dancing

A simple way to take part in the recommended 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day is by partaking in line dancing. The sport is great for the heart and it keeps its dancers healthy and in shape. If you’re intimidated by dancing, there is no need to worry because line dancing is the perfect exercise for beginners.

Health Benefits

There are many health benefits in the world of line dancing. Improved stamina, posture and balance are just some of the benefits. The exercise can lower stress and improve stamina in the process. Avid dancers may see a lowered risk of osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, as well.

Bocce Ball

This sport’s history is fascinating! Dating back to ancient Egypt in 5200 B.C., bocce ball’s popularity began to soar in Greece hundreds of years later. The sport made its way to Belgium, Flanders and Holland after that. Bocce ball took center stage during the first Bocce Olympiad held in Athens in 1896. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that the sport officially took off in the United States, though. Open Bocce is the most played version of the game. Eight balls, plus a smaller ball (pallino) are shared between 2, 4, 6 or 8 players. A random player is chosen to throw the pallino first, then all participants try to get their ball closest to the pallino. The closest to the pallino receives one point after each round. Additional points are awarded when the leader’s ball is closer to the pallino than any other opponent’s shots. Once a total of 13 points is attained by one player, a winner is crowned.

Health Benefits

Ideal for stress relief, bocce ball can also improve mental stimulation and overall flexibility.

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Activities for Seniors, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Senior Living, Uncategorized

Regular Post

Written by webtechs

4 August 2020

12 Card Games For Senior Citizens

Playing card games is a healthy exercise for people of all ages, especially senior citizens. These activities keep the mind active and involve much-needed social interaction. Here’s a look at 12 of the best card games for senior citizens to play.

Gin Rummy:

All the cards in your hands need to be turned into sequences. Example: the cards in your hand turned into consecutive orders, depending on their ranks, and/or pairs of the same ranked cards before your opponents do the same.

Cribbage:

Use a special board called a pegboard to keep track of scores.
Players race to win the game, with a score of 121 finishing as the winner.

Crazy Eights:

All players must get rid of their hand by placing eights down or specifically suited cards.

Spades:

This game requires a team so partner up before beginning play.
Players bid on how strong the cards are in your hand.
The goal is to get as close as possible to the estimate and whoever is closest wins “tricks.”

Canasta:

This game is quite similar to Rummy and played with a partner.
You score points by gathering sets of cards with similar rankings.

Pinochle:

The way to play this game is to collect all multitudes of card combinations to score as many points as possible.
This should be aligned with the “opening bid.”

Snap:

Collect cards from the deck by yelling “Snap!” first.
Pile the cards in the middle with cards in the starting hand.
When a player turns a card face up and they match the players, collect the cards and keep moving to go.

Euchre:

This game is very similar to bridge in that it is very fast-moving.
Again, you will be required to partner up for this activity.
The goal is to win three out of the five “tricks” to finish on top.

War:

Collect cards and win battles by fighting against an opponent and outranking their cards.
Card play is based off top deck cards.

UNO:

Classic household UNO just becomes the first person to remove all the cards from your hands by matching them with the card color in the middle, one at a time.
Match the card in the middle by either color or number and keep going until UNO is finally reached.

No Thanks!:

The goal is to achieve the lowest score possible by weighing the cons of scooping up specific cards or playing into chips that have been dealt.

Phase 10:

The overall goal is to complete 10 hands of “rummy-like” play style.
You want to collect unique groups of cards or else you run the risk of being left behind by opponents.

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

card games, senior citizens, senior games

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

22 July 2020

Music Seniors Love

According to Carelinx, many seniors love music and their tastes can vary. Here are some of their recommendations for different age groups.

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For Those In Their Nineties

For Those In Their Eighties

For Those In Their Seventies

Connie Francis
Elvis Presley
The Everly Brothers
The Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr.

For Those In Their Sixties

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

7 July 2020

Five Tips For Seniors In Arizona Summers

How Seniors Can Keep Healthy This Summer

Read on to learn of some ways Arizona Seniors can stay healthy in summer!

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Alcohol Avoidance and Prescriptions

Sitting poolside in Phoenix is always fun with a cocktail in hand, but it may cause dehydration. Also, it’s important to remember that dehydration is a side effect of many common prescription drugs for seniors.

Limit Use Of The Oven Or Stove

During the summer months your air conditioner probably runs all day long. However, when cooking in the stove or oven heats the surrounding environment, regardless if the air conditioner is on. Try to eat raw foods, salads, or even microwaved foods, in order to avoid overheating your home.

Sunscreen

Sunburns last longer than heat exhaustion because they physically alter your body and can easily result in a heat stroke, especially when located in areas around the head and neck. Be sure to wear higher SPF sunscreen and reapply often.

Inside Parking

Try and park in a garage, or at the very least, under a shaded area. Heat strokes can occur among the elderly in a matter of minutes. We also recommend running the air conditioning for at least 5 minutes while the car is in park, and before you steer out on the hot black asphalt.

Diet

Food with heavy salt levels such as nuts, processed foods, pretzels, and tortilla chips, can increase the chance of dehydration. Stay away from salty foods during the hot summer months.

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

4 May 2020

Video Games Seniors Like

Incredibly the first generation of video gamer’s are now in their 60’s and 70’s and up to 25 percent of current seniors enjoy playing video games of various sorts and that number continues to grow. Read on to learn more.

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AARP says that 38 percent of all 50-plus adults play video games. And 43 percent of gamers over the age of 60 play video games every day. So there’s clearly a lot to love about this type of entertainment, regardless of your age.

Video games offer a form of visual and auditory engagement that most other kinds of games can’t match. Many of them provide truly thrilling experiences as well as opportunities to connect with other players (of all ages). They are downright fun.

But here’s something you should definitely know: Some electronic game developers claim that their “brain training” products can improve your brain health and cognitive performance. However, their marketing is often misleading. The science behind brain-training games is controversial at best. Many of the world’s top psychologists and neuroscientists say that there is little or no solid evidence to support claims that certain kinds of video games can improve a senior’s overall mental faculties.

The truth is that so-called “brain games” may not actually boost your cognitive abilities for everyday life nor prevent or slow down any brain-related diseases. Rather, by playing a game repeatedly, you’ll get better at the particular tasks for that game (and possibly other tasks that are very closely related to them). But you won’t necessarily get better at doing unrelated tasks in the “real world” outside of the game. If you really want to improve your brain health, you’re better off exercising, getting good sleep, and learning new things.

That said, if a video game is completely new to you, then your brain may benefit from the challenge of learning how to play it. And you can’t overlook the pure enjoyment factor. After all, having fun should be your top reason for playing any video game.

According to AARP, the most popular types of video games among older adults are card, tile, puzzle, and logic games. But a lot of seniors also enjoy strategy, role-playing, and action-oriented games. So try out several different kinds and see what you enjoy.

Most seniors play video games on their laptops or desktop computers. But you can also play games on a smartphone, digital tablet, handheld game console, or TV game console (such as the Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation, or Microsoft Xbox). Games for computers and mobile devices can often be downloaded for free or played online at no cost.

Source: https://www.greatseniorliving.com/articles/games-for-seniors#video-games

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

8 April 2020

Eight Birthday Tips For Seniors In Assisted Living

Read on to learn more about how to celebrate birthdays with loved ones or friends in assisted living.

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Singing

Singing can be fun for many people. Whether, Happy Birthday or just old favorites, getting a few people together to sing can often help everyone have a good time, even if they can’t physically join in.

Favorite Foods

Bring favorite foods for the occasion, even if the facility is loaded with treats. Each elder has favorite treats from home. Try to provide some for the elder and some for her to give as snacks to residents, staff and visitors. Many elders enjoy a chance to be a host or hostess.

Connecting With Other People

Hopefully, you already have made friends with staff, other residents and their families. That connection helps your loved one feel a part of a whole rather than left out of life. If your loved one is new to the center, this is a good time to get to know other families.

Rest

All of this celebrating doesn’t only wear down your elders. It can also be exhausting for the caregiver. You found help by choosing a good care center because your elders need more help than you, alone, can give. When party time is over, give yourself time to regenerate. You should be a better caregiver if you do.

Music

It’s great for setting the mood. It also relaxes tension or promotes a festive feel, depending on the music chosen and the direction you need to go with the elder. Keep a CD player or an iPOD (with speaker) around so you can play their favorites.

Photos

Photos are wonderful for stirring memories. If you print copies of old photos, you won’t have to worry about loss or damage. If some can be enlarged without undue distortion, so much the better. Hang them on walls or put them in an album.

Over Stimulation

Be careful to not over stimulate someone with dementia. Keep an eye on the elders’ moods so you know when to stop the party or when you should help a particular elder back to his room if he needs a break. Too much commotion can get confusing and stressful for anyone in ill health, but particularly for someone confused by dementia. Celebrating should preferably end before stress is evident, but be alert in case you need to assist someone to a quieter area.

Participation

Join in the fun as much as your loved one can handle, but remember your own needs as well. If you have family members at home that need some of your time, then you have to balance both worlds. Give your loved ones in the care center your attention and contribute to their good time, then leave them in the good hands of staff and go back home to finish celebrating with the rest of your family.

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

19 March 2020

Coronavirus Advice For Seniors

Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 is currently impacting the entire world. But older people are especially at risk. Here is some advice from the American Red Cross. Read on to learn more.

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Limiting The Spread Of Germs

The Red Cross recommends the following steps to help prevent the spread of germs during this situation:

Stay home if you can and avoid gatherings of more than ten people.
Practice social distancing by keeping a distance of about six feet from others if you must go out in public.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; throw used tissues in the trash. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve, not your hands.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, computers, phones, keyboards, sinks, toilets, faucets and countertops.
If surfaces are dirty, clean them – use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Full information on how to disinfect found here.
Wear a face mask if you are sick. You should wear a face mask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 symptoms include fever, shortness of breath and a cough. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Call your doctor for medical advice if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms.

Are You At High Risk?

According to the CDC, early information shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this virus. This includes older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or a serious medical condition, it is extra important for you to take actions to avoid getting sick.

Stay home as much as you can and avoid crowds as much as possible. Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.

When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
Stock up on supplies.
- Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
- If you cannot get extra medications, consider using a mail-order option.
- Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
- Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.

For More Information

You can find more information on COVID-19 safety here. For the latest information, please visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/covid19.

What Seniors Should Know About The COVID-19 Vaccine

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Assisted Living, Senior Living

Regular Post

Written by craig braddick

25 February 2020

Best Board Games For Seniors

Best Board games For Seniors

Read on to learn more about board games seniors can enjoy playing!

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Cards: A deck of cards provides an array of games to enjoy, from Go Fish to poker and everything in-between. A standard deck offers 52 playing cards with four suites.
Scrabble: Scrabble is a great game that requires critical thinking and blends it with the entertainment of a word puzzle. Enjoy the clack of tiles as you pass on your vocabulary to your grandchildren — and learn theirs. This game is especially fun for seniors who enjoy crossword puzzles and word searches.
Chess and Checkers: Everyone has some experience with one or both of these games of wit. Chess and checkers are great games to play with the elderly. Both games are easy to learn and highlight creative problem-solving and strategy as fundamental portions of the game.
Monopoly: This timeless board game of fast deals and property trading is a classic for sure at 8 years old, no matter what pieces are included now. The game has undergone minimal changes in its lifespan, with the most recent one ousting the boot, wheelbarrow and thimble for a T-Rex, rubber ducky and penguin. Remember fighting over the Scottie, hat, car, cat and battleship?
Ticket to Ride: Ticket to Ride is an award-winning game where players collect color-coded cards to claim train routes and connect one city to another. The game features the competitive fun of Monopoly with simple rules that will have you chugging along to famous cities in the U.S. or across the country. Ticket to Ride uses replica maps of real countries, which can inspire memories of past travels.
Suspend: Similar to Jenga, Suspend takes the same concept and replaces stacking blocks with a series of metal rods. This game is fun to play with the whole family and blends creative problem-solving and fine motor skills.
Incan Gold: Take classic card games such as poker and blackjack, add Indiana Jones and you’ll get Incan Gold. Travel to an ancient temple and collect treasures along the way, but make sure you make your escape before traps close in on you. This luck-based game exercises creativity and critical problem-solving.
Qwirkle: Qwirkle is a tile-placement game where players match colors and shapes, just like dominoes or Uno. The game uses pattern recognition, basic mathematics and strategy to exercise the brain, keeping it happy and healthy.