Jennifer Campbell

Senior Living in Fort Worth, TX

forthworth

Fort Worth offers activities and care services for aging residents. New LifeStyles can connect you to local events and care service providers local to you!

Ft. Worth and the surrounding area is a great place to age. Seniors have many living & care options, events, resources, and more. At New LifeStyles, we promote local events and care services so seniors in Fort Worth can get out and socialize in addition to knowing where and how to contact the top care facilities.

  • Senior Care in Fort Worth

Ft. Worth, with its friendly downtown area, Arlington and the surrounding mid-cities and suburbs boast numerous senior living options, from high end CCRC’s and retirement communities, affordable independent living, assisted living in a large community or small home, nursing care and rehabilitation, and Memory Care for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia related illnesses. If a senior chooses to age in place, help in the home is available thru home care, home health care, sitter services and respite care thru a day program or short visit at a community. Finally, there are many hospice care providers to help the patient and family when the end is near.

  • Activities and Things to Do for Seniors in Fort Worth

Ft. Worth is known for its famous Mayfest and Stock Show & Rodeo, but there are also many expos, seminars, health fairs, and more for seniors in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Hood Counties, from the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and many seminars hosted by the local Alzheimer’s Association, to the annual Empowering Seniors and Senior Synergy Expos. And don’t forget that you can watch the Rangers & Cowboys home games in Arlington.

  • Senior Services for Aging Adults in Fort Worth, TX

Like most major cities, Ft. Worth offers a host of award winning medical facilities and doctors. There are numerous senior programs at local hospitals like JPS and Baylor Scott & White. Tarrant County also boast many great non-profit associations to help seniors and their families, including Meals on Wheels, The Parkinson’s Association, the above mentioned Alzheimer’s Association, and more. There are about 50 senior centers in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Hood Counties. The Tarrant County Area Agency on Aging & the long term care ombudsman are there to hhttps://www.jpshealthnet.org/location/john-peter-smith-hospitalelp answer questions and get you the information you need.

Seniors considering retirement in Fort Worth will enjoy the warm weather, low costs, and wide selection of active adult communities. Retire in Fort Worth where you get the friendly old west feeling, with all of the amenities of a modern city. Browse our local listings today!

Distribution in Boston & Eastern Mass. – New Location

We are excited to announce that from the beginning of March thru the beginning of June, the New LifeStyles guide to Senior Living and Care will be available at Shaw’s, Stop & Shop’s and Market Basket locations throughout Boston and the surrounding areas. 

This pushes the number of guides distributed this edition to 47,000, plus digital views.

Where else is the Boston area guide to senior living distributed? Take a look at our interactive distribution map. Just click to drill down to see specific locations utilizing our guide to senior care.

Where else should our guide be distributed? Do you or your group need some as a resource or for an upcoming event? Please let us know so we can get this free and useful guide into the hands of those that need help finding senior living and care options in Eastern Massachusetts.

Thank you for your support.

Online Traffic on the Rise

Surfing Seniors

 

Sessions in March were up 10% over last month to almost 52K.

 – Organic traffic is 77% of it (up 12% M/M)

 – Links to client sites were up 3% M/M

 – Views to digital guides were up 18% M/M

 – Mobile traffic up 12% M/M

 

So get your ad online today, and make the most of it by adding a link. All online ads  include an email form for leads, and a traffic report any time you need.

 

Click to view Online Options for Communities & Online Options for Home Care/Hospice Providers or email us for specific traffic & pricing for your area.

Thursday Links

 

https://www.nextavenue.org/millennials-wish-boomer-parents-tell/

 

 

 

http://senior-care-central.com/caregiver-burnout/

 

 

 

https://www.mylifesite.net/blog/post/for-profit-or-not-for-profit-ccrcs-whats-the-difference

 

 

 

https://www.ecarediary.com/Blog2734/Discussing-End-of-Life-Choices-with-Your-Doctor.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://thecaregiversvoice.com/tips-caregivers/time-out-to-reduce-caregiver-stress/

 

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month & The Longest Day

Have you seen Facebook profile picture “Going Purple” and wondered what it’s all about? 

Today also marks the Summer Solstice or The Longest Day of the year.  Thousands of teams are doing everything from playing bingo to silent auctions to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

New LifeStyles supports & applauds all of our clients and distributors helping in this cause and we love your color choice!

The Pros & Cons in Home Care

I’ve read so many good and bad things about home care, such as recent posts like:

Home Care Helping to Reduce Readmission Rates for Hospitalization

9 Reasons to Care for Aging Parents at Home

Boston Area Home Care Agency Cuts Most Staff Amid Fraud Investigation

Charges Filed in a Case Involving Murder by a Home Health Care Aide

Just like most things in life, there are positives and negatives in any situation; and this is true in home care. As a professional in the senior living industry, it is my job to make seniors and their families aware of these things and help them make an informed decision. The US News & World Report recently published a great article entitled 5 Steps to Selecting a Personal Care Aide for Mom and Dad. Which features great advice on how you and your family can get started in making an informed decision!

What level of care do you need?

Deciding on home care for you or your loved one can be confusing. Often, the term home care is used to distinguish non-medical care or custodial care, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel, as opposed to home health care that is ordered by a physician & provided by licensed personnel. Below are definitions of the two forms of care.
Home Care  – Home Care Agencies provide personal services to elderly or disabled clients in their residence. This includes non-medical assistance in the client’s home, including help with cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, transportation, and companionship.
 
Home Health Care   – Doctor ordered medical services for patients recovering from an illness or surgery or those needing medical attention while at their home. Home health agencies, provide a wide range of health and social services delivered at home to people recovering from an illness or injury, or persons who are elderly, disabled and/or chronically ill. Home Health Agencies provide “skilled services” such as nursing, social services, and therapeutic treatments (physical, speech, occupational therapy). Each state may refer to home care or home health care by using different terms. To find the term that your state uses view our state licensing page.

Research

One of the first steps in making an informed decision about anything is research. You’ve made the first step in deciding which type of care is needed, now it is your job to find home care agencies in your area. Click to find all licensed care providers. After finding some options, call or schedule a visit to interview the potential provider. Most agencies also offer an in-home evaluation free of charge.

Trust your instincts

You’ve done your homework before hiring any caregivers, but don’t let your guard down after that. You must make sure that anyone coming in the home is not taking advantage of the situation. There are wonderful caregivers out there that only have the best intentions, but there are also people just working for an hourly wage and companies looking for more. If something sounds “off” or feels “off”, do some investigating of your own, talk to a local ombudsman and remember that you are not “stuck” in a situation. There are always other options, no matter what “they” tell you. On the flip side, if you find a wonderful provider &/or caregiver, show your appreciation & let them & others know. Word of mouth is a powerful tool!

I hope that someday soon the positive news will outweigh the negative. But until then, do not be afraid to pursue home care or any other senior living options out there. With an organized plan and research, you and your loved one should have no problem finding the care services you need.

Guest Bloggers Wanted

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Do you offer a senior living or care product or service unique to your area? Do you wish more people knew about it? Let us help you spread the word!

New LifeStyles is looking for guest bloggers for 2015 for our end user blog as well as our industry blog.

Tell seniors and their families how you can help them in our end user blog or share with senior communities and care providers what you have to offer them and how it will improve on their services in our industry blog.

Submit your fresh content (no infomercials please) to newlife@newlifestyles.com.  Posts must be no more than 500 words, informative (not a sales piece), unique (not posted elsewhere), and contain less than 4 no-follow links.

Blog posts also help with SEO so take advantage of this offer to help your company succeed.

To say thank you, we will reward the first 5 submissions. Start Typing!

Substance Abuse Awareness For Seniors

Substance abuse problems often go unrecognized by seniors or their family. It is extremely important that seniors carefully monitor the use of both prescription and non-prescription medicines and strictly limit their alcohol intake. Keeping a list of all medications that includes the dosage requirements can help seniors and their physicians keep track of their medications. This list should be with you in case of an accident that may require hospitalization. Consult a physician or your pharmacist concerning potential interactions between prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs. Be responsible for your own health and don’t be afraid to ask questions about your medications.

Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to drink alcohol. Alcohol can interact dangerously with many prescriptions and over the counter medicines. Because metabolism changes with age, seniors are unable to process alcohol as effectively as younger people. Although alcohol on special occasions or in moderation may be fine, it is a risk for people with dementia, diabetes, liver disease, and high blood pressure or combined with certain medications. Many people use medications and alcohol to help them cope with depression. Research has shown that alcohol and medication abuse is responsible for falls, insomnia and heart problems. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults 60 years and older limit their drinking to one drink per day providing your healthcare provider approves.

The Substance Abuse Awareness for Seniors (SAAS) initiative was created by the District of Columbia Department of Health, Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (DOH/APRA). SAAS offers education, referrals, advocacy and training for providers of elder care services on assessing and addressing chemical dependency issues with seniors.

If you or a loved one are a senior living with chemical dependency, SAAS can help you find resources to face the problem and develop a plan of action. When confronting a loved one about their problem, be sure to explain to them why you feel that they need help and let them know how much you care about them. It is important for individuals to know that alcoholism and drug addiction is a disease and that there is a wealth of community resources available to help them.

Community Resources for Seniors with Chemical Dependency:

Substance Abuse Awareness for Seniors (DOH/APRA Office of Special Population Services)
202-442-9171

National Drug and Alcohol Referral Line
1-800-821-4357

DOH/ APRA
1-888-7WE-HELP /1-888-793-4357

Important Questions You Should Ask

When selecting a nursing home, assisted living facility, or any type of elderly care, we recommended that you ask the following questions of the administrator or admissions coordinator:

  1. What levels of care do they offer?
  2. Do they accept Medicare or Medicaid?
  3. Are there any restrictions on the type of patients they admit?
  4. What is provided for in the basic daily rate?
  5. What services cost extra?
  6. Is there a volunteer program?

We also recommended that you visit the facility and observe the following:

  1. Is there adequate staff? Check on how long nurse call lights stay on.See if the patients look clean and if they are dressed in clean clothes. Observe if staff members are kind and responsive when they talk to residents.
  2. Is the food good? Ask a resident how it tastes. See if it looks good and if it is served hot. Do the patients seem to get enough to eat? Are they offered second servings, diet permitting? Does the home serve snacks? Is the dining room clean and well furnished? Are patients assisted with eating when required?
  3. Is there an activity program? Ask if a full-time activity director is employed. Is a list of activities posted? Is there something for patients to do who are confined to their rooms? Are there many patients sitting around with nothing to do? Does the facility have community TV with good reception? Is there a volunteer program?

Based on the above factors, your choice of a senior/elderly care facility should include the following:

  1. Good visible resident care.
  2. Convenient location.
  3. Friendly, competent staff.
  4. Good food, well prepared, attractively served, in adequate portions.
  5. Clean facilities, free of unpleasant odors.

Choosing an Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia Community

Knowing what to do and where to turn for help when our loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or related memory impairment/dementia can be very confusing. Due to the progression of the disease and the symptoms that typically accompany it, more help may be required than can be provided at home. The physical strength of the primary caregiver, the demands of work and family, the availability of financial resources and the ability of the caregiver to provide security and stimulation to the person with Alzheimer’s are all factors that must be weighed carefully. Often the choice to place the individual in a care facility is made at the last minute in a crisis situation. But with proper planning and the use of a few guidelines, you can make the decision that will best suit you and your loved one’s needs before the situation reaches a crisis level.

Today there are a variety of programs designed specifically to meet the needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and related memory impairments. These include adult day care, assisted living, home health care, skilled nursing care, and special care units within nursing homes. It’s important to assess your senior loved one’s requirements prior to beginning your search, and we recommend that you visit at least three programs to determine which option is right for your particular situation. As you visit each facility, weigh the factors listed under each of the following categories.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS:

  • Encourages resident independence and functioning
  • Ensures dignity and individual expression
  • Ensures resident safety
  • Provides peace of mind
  • Reduces confusion and agitation
  • Minimizes the use of physical restraints and medications
  • Promotes family involvement

INDIVIDUAL PLAN OF CARE:

  • Comprehensive assessment addresses the resident’s current and changing needs
  • Personalizes a plan of care for each resident
  • Planning process involves resident, family, interdisciplinary care team, and physician
  • Regular reassessment of needs

STAFF:

  • Full-time program director
  • Staff well educated in Alzheimer’s disease process and care techniques
  • Ongoing specialized staff training and education
  • High staff-to-resident ratios on all three shifts
  • Consulting psychiatrist, medical director, and other specialties
  • Interdisciplinary team approach
  • Licensed nurses direct care

STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING:

  • Individually tailored activities scheduled seven days a week
  • Activities focus on resident’s strengths
  • Active and passive program from life skills to exercise, music, art, current events, and social activities
  • Short, flexible and success-oriented activities
  • Large group, small group and one-on-one activities

ENVIRONMENT

  • Self-contained, secure, cheerful yet calm atmosphere
  • Enclosed courtyard/backyard
  • Dedicated dining, activity and private areas
  • Uncomplicated floor plan and visual cues to help residents stay oriented
  • Easily accessible bathrooms in common activity area
  • Simplified, soothing and homelike atmosphere

RESIDENTS

  • Engaged in activities
  • Appear comfortable
  • Well-groomed
  • Settled, well adjusted

FAMILY SERVICES

  • Family support group meetings
  • Ongoing education, support and counseling
  • Family conferences and involvement in care planning
  • Opportunities for families to socialize

DINING AND NUTRITION

  • Individually tailored food and nutrition plans created to individual’s needs and capabilities
  • Modified menus
  • Between-meal snacks and drinks
  • Innovative food presentation techniques that ease and encourage eating
  • Family-style dining
  • Special adaptive utensils
  • Family welcome to eat with resident

For a brochure containing this information, please contact Arden Courts Alzheimer’s Assisted Living
Austin (512) 918-2800 and San Antonio (210) 408-9100.