Organizing Your Elderly Parents’ Paperwork

Many adult children who live a distance away from elderly parents often feel there is not much they can do to help with day-to-day care.  However, one of the things experts suggest that can be done long-distance is to help mom or dad get their paperwork organized.

Initially the job requires more time and energy, but once you have everything gathered together, you will just need to make sure to keep it updated.  In fact, having all of your parents’ pertinent information up-to-date and in one place, will make caregiving long-distance much easier as it allows you to more quickly make decisions and respond to a crisis. 

Paperwork should include maintaining and managing current information about your parent’s health and medical care including the type of medications and the dosage they are taking.  Other important information includes details regarding sources of income and assets, i.e. bank accounts, pensions, life insurance policies, IRAs, 401(k)s and other investments, their home and monthly liabilities. 

To do long-distance, it may be easier to schedule a visit or two to their home to begin the process.  Also, if you do not already know, ask if they have a will, and if so, make sure it is in order.  Furthermore, discuss with them the benefits of drawing up a durable power of attorney, which legally gives the person named on the document the right to handle their financial decisions should the need arise.

   

Sometimes older adults can be protective of their financial and personal information.  You will need them to understand that you are not trying to invade their privacy or take over their personal lives but rather want to be prepared to assist in the case of an emergency.   

At MorningStar of Sparks, our goal is to provide the best independent and assisted living Reno or Sparks offers, and we are ready to care for your parent’s physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs.  Amenities and services include wellness programs and activities, three tasty, daily meals and a staff that feels privileged to serve seniors.  Contact us to set up a tour of our beautiful community.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. We encourage you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the finest independent and assisted living Reno-Sparks has to offer.

Doctor Visits for Those with Alzheimer’s Disease

It is important to schedule routine doctor appointments for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease.  The Mayo Clinic explains that checkups ensure health and behavioral issues are regularly addressed and provide tips for caregivers accompanying the person to help them get the most out of the limited time spent with the doctor.  Also they suggest that while your loved one is still able, to have them sign a privacy release form at the doctor’s so their medical condition can be freely shared with you. 

You should try to schedule appointments during the person’s best time of day, and if you can, coordinate it with the doctor’s least busy time.  You should bring along snacks and water as well as an activity you can do together.  If your loved one has been uncooperative about going to the doctor’s in the past, wait and let them know about the appointment that day.

The Mayo Clinic says the caregiver should prepare a list of things they wish to discuss with the doctor including medication side effects or issues with aggressive behaviors.  Also have a list of medications the person is taking and include over-the-counter medications and other supplements.   If your loved one is in a memory care community, ask the staff about any concerns they would like you to relay to the doctor. 

If a new medication is prescribed, ask questions about the side effects.  Also be ready to answer questions regarding any changes in their memory and mood as well as their diet and sleep habits.  Write down significant information including recommended follow-up appointments with specialists.  Most importantly, if you feel you need help, your doctor is a good source for referrals to various community resources and care providers. 

At MorningStar of Sparks, our mission is to provide the best senior living Reno or Sparks offers, which includes specialized, loving memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  As dementia care specialists, we consider it our calling, and privilege to walk alongside the memory-impaired and their families on this unexpected journey.  Please visit our website to learn more.

MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest senior living Reno-Sparks offers.

Health Concerns for Seniors

Statistics indicate we are living longer, and if you do reach the age of 65, you can expect to live on average another nearly 20 years.  Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 percent of those over the age of 65 reports they are in very good or excellent health. 
Experts recommend that older adults should be aware of chronic health conditions common to seniors and make lifestyle changes that may help stave off those diseases and improve their quality of life.  Some of the things they suggest are to eat a healthy diet, stay physically active, quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight. 

If you are already coping with a chronic medical condition, following those suggestions can help you to better manage your disease as well as improve your quality of life.  Experts also recommend if you do not already have a geriatrician on your healthcare team, to add one, as they have a special understanding of what seniors are going through. 

The three most prevalent diseases affecting older adults in order are arthritis, heart disease and cancer.   The CDC estimates arthritis affects almost 50 percent of all adults over the age of 65, and can cause pain and a lower quality of life.  While the disease can “discourage you from being active, it’s important to work with your doctor to develop a personalized activity plan that, along with other treatment, can help maintain senior health.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults over the age of 65, and an estimated 37 percent of men and 26 percent of women over 65 are afflicted with chronic heart disease.  Doctors say it is important to exercise, eat well, get a good night’s sleep, and maintain a healthy weight in order to stave off heart disease or to better manage it.

Cancer is the next most common disease in seniors and the second leading cause of death in adults over the age of 65.  CDC statistics show 28 percent of men and 21 percent of woman over 65 are living with cancer. It is a disease that if caught early, is often treatable so be sure to get routine screening such as colonoscopies, mammograms, and skin checks.  

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Albuquerque, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer.

Source: everydayhealth.com/news/most-common-health-concerns-seniors/   

Study Shows Those in Senior Communities Require Less Hospitalization

A Place for Mom posted the results of a study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, which was published in the journal, The Gerontologist.  The study focused on “vulnerable” seniors, who were defined as older adults with moderate or low incomes who lived alone. The purpose of the study was to “understand how the senior living environment can mitigate the effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalizations.”

Hospitalization information from participants in the Health Retirement Study was compared with the results of the question, ““Is your home part of a retirement community, senior citizens’ housing or another type of housing that offers services for older adults or someone with a disability?”  Results showed that older adults with multiple chronic conditions in senior living communities were less likely to experience high levels of hospitalization than those who lived alone.  Researchers believe there are positive effects accrued from the various support services available in senior housing environments, which help vulnerable elders to better manage their health conditions. 

At MorningStar of Sparks, our goal is to be the best independent and assisted living Reno-Sparks offers, and we provide all the services needed to support and enhance our residents’ physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing.  Services available to residents (depending on lifestyle option) include 24/7 Care Managers, access to licensed nurses, Medication Managers, care plan reviews, scheduled health and wellness evaluations, scheduled physician visits, pharmacy services, transportation to doctor appointments and much more.  In addition, we offer a wide range of wellness programs and activities that are sure to keep you as busy as you like. 

Please visit our website to learn more about our “passion to serve seniors.”  While you are there, use our convenient online links to inquire about availability and pricing or to set up a tour. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. We encourage you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the finest independent and assisted living Reno-Sparks has to offer.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/better-health-lower-levels-of-hospitalization-in-senior-living/    

Our Many Resources Include FAQ’s

If you have started the search for senior living in Santa Fe, NM, we encourage you to take a look at the gorgeous MorningStar of Santa Fe assisted living and memory care community.  While we opened to residents in January of this year, we are proud to say we have already earned a reputation as one of the top senior living communities in the area.

We always suggest that families schedule a tour of MorningStar to get a firsthand look, but as a way to get you started; our website contains lots of information about our community as well as more general information.  Among our Family Resources, which include a Decision Guide and information on Affordability and Veterans, we also provide a comprehensive FAQs section.       

Here you will read about our unique brand of “senior loving homes” as well as learn a little something about our mission.  We explain how it is our privilege - our calling, to love all those beneath our roof, which starts by hiring team members with servants’ hearts who are drawn to the idea of working with seniors.  In addition our service is guided by Radiance, and designed to foster a culture where kindness and authenticity are paramount. 

Within our FAQs, you will also find answers explaining what assisted living is, the type of services we offer, and how your level of care is determined (it is based on a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director).  This information allows us to set up a customized care plan that is review periodically to keep up with any changing health needs. 

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, we believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless.  Each day we strive to provide seniors an environment where they can be productive and engaged.  Please visit our website to set up a tour or to request information on pricing and availability on compassionate senior living in Santa Fe, NM.          

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Please contact us for more information as you or your loved one deserves the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.   

A Consistent Social Life is Important for a Senior’s Wellbeing

Just because someone is older, it doesn’t mean the need for company, support and love lessens any.  Studies have found a consistent social life is particularly important to seniors’ emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.  However due to lifestyle changes many seniors experience such as retiring from the workplace, the death of a spouse and/or other close family and friends, and no longer driving, older adults can find themselves socially isolated. 

Having a healthy social life alleviates feelings of loneliness as well as helps to reduce the likelihood of depression, which is common among seniors.  It also helps to stave off cognitive decline and lessen anxiety.  

Seniors with a more robust social life have been found to exercise more, which in itself can lead to better mental as well as physical health by strengthening the heart and immune system.  Researchers have found longevity to be another benefit of socialization, and maintaining a healthy social life is believed to improve seniors’ self-esteem and sense of worth. 

Committed to be one of the best assisted living homes Phoenix AZ offers, MorningStar at Arcadia provides a true home for our residents with a mission of building a “Family for Life.”  Our team consists of compassionate, loving individuals who have a felt calling to serve. In addition, we offer a wide range of onsite amenities and services to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of our residents. 
Our monthly calendar is loaded with meaningful wellness programs along with fun, entertaining activities. Moreover, both assisted living and memory care residents can participate in scheduled outings and special events. 

Please visit MorningStar at Arcadia’s website to learn more about our loving community.  Offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community along with beautifully appointed common spaces and well-designed suites, we are confident you will be impressed.

MorningStar at Arcadia’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  Set in a loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia invites you to schedule a tour of one of the best assisted living homes Phoenix AZ offers.
Source: healthfully.com/543831-the-importance-of-elderly-exercise-socialization-programs.html

What You May Not Know about Our Senior Population

Many people make the mistake that they know everything there is about a senior and that one elderly person is much the same as another.  We are here to say nothing could be further from the truth.  As a company with a mission statement that reads to: value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals, and a commitment to creating a community that promotes a healthy, engaged lifestyle, while providing security and independence; it our calling to provide loving homes for our residents.

As we know that older adults are living longer than any other generation in the past, it is not surprising to hear that the numbers of seniors over 65 years of age is growing.  In fact in a 2016 study, it reports that one of every seven Americans (49.2 million) was 65 years or older, and the number of seniors 65 or older is expected to almost double to 98 million by 2060.  By 2040, the number of seniors from 2000 will double up to around 82.3 million.

Moreover it is true that women make up a larger portion of adults 65 and older with 12.6 women to every 10 men, and the statistics grow as seniors’ age.  By the time seniors reach the age of 85, women outnumber men two to one. However elderly women are more likely than men to suffer from functional limitations according to the Institute on Aging.  A 2009 study reports, “About 46 percent of female Medicare enrollees age 65+ had difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) or were in a facility, compared with 35 percent of their male counterparts.”  Also in 2016, 82,000 seniors had reached the age of one hundred or older. 

The Albuquerque Journal reported in 2014 that the state’s number of individuals over 65 years increased by 12 percent from 2010 to 2013, compared with a national increase of 10 percent, according to estimates from the Census Bureau.  By 2030, the 65+ population will more than double to become the 4th largest percentage of individuals 65 years and older in the nation.  

At the MorningStar of Santa Fe senior living community, we provide residents with compassionate assisted living and memory care.  Our beautiful community offers all of the amenities, care services and wellness programs residents need.  Please visit our website to learn more about the unsurpassed senior living in Santa Fe, NM’s newest luxury community.    (MorningStar is a private pay community and we do not accept Medicaid). 

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  We encourage you to contact us for more information regarding unparalleled senior living in Santa Fe, NM.