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Tips to Start Using Social Media for Your Retirement Community

You have decided that you are ready to get started on social media marketing. You want your retirement community to get noticed and hopefully bring in a few more residents. You also want to help families stay connected, even though they are separated by distance.

Social Media ImageUnsure of getting started? Here are some tips to help.

Choose one or two platforms to get started. Most marketers recommend starting with Facebook and Twitter, though there are many others to choose from, depending on your angle. However, the important part is to choose one or two and become active on them. Once you

have the hang of them, you can branch out to others. If you try to join too many at once, you will burn out trying to keep up with all of them.

Don’t forget to respond to any comments and messages. If you are on Twitter, thank your followers for any retweets that you get. This really puts you ahead of your competition because most don’t follow through.

Really show your followers that you care. Answer questions that they have. Thank them for any reviews that they give. If they need some assistance, do what you can to help. These people will remember you when they need something.

Come up with a marketing schedule and stick to it. Decide how often you want to post. Aim for at least one or two times a day, though if you have time, more would be better. Look through the calendar. Are there events and holidays that you want to emphasize in your marketing? Do you want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas on that day? Schedule posts and tweets about the holidays through the entire month of December?

Do you have a bingo night coming up? You can post weekly to remind your residents about the event, plus you can post bingo tips and much more. You can do the same with almost any event that may be in your calendar. You can even post summer and winter tips during those months. The choices are endless.

Getting started with social media can be very intimidating. While you may want to join every site, that is never a good idea. Stick with one or two until you get the hang of it and then add another one. Then, make sure that you come up with a marketing campaign and stick to it. The more often that you post (relevant things), the better off your business will be.

Balancing Caring for an Elder While Raising Children

Senior Citizen with child image

At some point in most people’s lives, you’ll have to care for a family member. Whether it’s becoming a parent and raising children or helping care for a family member who has a disease or disability, there are times where you may have to step up and be there for a loved one. But are you in a situation where you have a child who is 7 and a parent who is 70 and find yourself having to care for both?

People who fall into this category of having a living parent over the age of 65 and are raising a young child or supporting an adult child are nicknamed the “Sandwich Generation.” Being stuck in this position requires a delicate balance so you don’t become overwhelmed, allow your children or parents to not get the full attention they deserve, or forget to take care of yourself. Here are a few tips to take control of the “sandwich generation” role.

Plan Ahead

The first step before caring for both children and parents simultaneously is to do a lot of research and plan ahead. Whether you think you’ll have to deal with this situation or not, the earlier you begin thinking about it being a possibility the better. Sometimes life throws the unexpected swiftly into your lap when you least expect it and you’ll wish you considered the possibility sooner. Most of the major decisions will be centered around your parent as you likely already have your family schedule for you and your children set before taking on the care of a parent. There are many considerations when deciding how to take care of a parent:

  • Is your parent fit to live on their own or will they have to relocate to somewhere where they can receive care, whether by a professional or yourself? Look into home care options before deciding on moving your parent into an assisted living facility to see if that fits your family’s needs.
  • Why will they be needing care? Is it a physical disability, deteriorative brain disease such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, or are they just growing older and just need help with things they can’t handle on their own? Each case is going to be different and require different areas of focus, so it’s important to figure out these details early on.
  • If they aren’t already enrolled, find the insurance option that works best for the situation you have to set up for your family, whether it is the right type of Medicare coverage, or if their situation requires long term care insurance.
  • No doubt your parents will likely be on one or several medications as they get older, so staying on top of their health needs early on will help in the decision making process for caring for them when the time comes.
  • As far as their finances are concerned, you have to also consider if they are able to manage money-related decisions and pay bills on their own. If they cannot, then you have to look into getting power of attorney so you can handle affairs for them.
  • Lastly, consider your own financial situation. There are plentiful options out there for caring for or providing a home for you parent, but every option will have a financial consideration as well. Find out what you will have to pay for in order balance caring for your parent with your existing family situation.

Making it Work

Once you have weighed the options and pull the trigger on how to handle the situation, it’s all about managing your time, energy, and resources to pull it off. For families dealing with this every day (having children as well or not) it’s not a simple transition and requires diligent planning and execution. First things first: delegate duties where you can so you aren’t bearing the full burden. If you have siblings, talk to them in the planning process to decide who can do what and when. If you aren’t taking a parent into your home, having a sibling or two who can divide up visits to your parent who needs care and duties needed to be handled will solve several potential problem areas:

  • Your parent will have interaction with their kids more frequently than if you were solely trying to fit visits into your schedule.
  • You won’t have to take as much time away from your own family to manage parental care.
  • You will be less likely to overwhelm yourself or be stretching yourself thin.

When you are planning how to make your own situation work, consider investing in a babysitter or nanny depending on your financial situation. It could do wonders for balancing time as you’ll know your children aren’t being ignored in lieu of care for your parent.

If your parent continues to live on their own or you choose to set them up in an assisted living facility, set up regular schedules visits to see them so it gives them something to look forward to and bring the entire family so they can see their grandkids and vice versa. Back at home, the same goes for family time with your kids. Set up dedicated family dinners, movie nights, and other activities that are anticipated and solidified. Even if balancing the care of them and your parent gets a little hectic, you have some solidified plans that happen no matter what.

Nowadays, you also have the benefit of using modern conveniences and technologies to make your situation easier. Though it is often just assumed that seniors and new technology don’t mix, the number of seniors using smartphones and other technologies has been growing and this can benefit their situation greatly:

  • If your parent is unable to drive anymore, using travel apps like Uber and Lyft are affordable and easy to use to help your parent get around.
  • Ordering delivery through Grubhub makes getting food easier, and many grocery stores now offer delivery services as well.
  • Using smart home technology can empower an older parent by letting them take control in even more aspects of their lives and having family members just a video call away makes them feel less isolated.
  • If your parent is living with you while under your care, smart home technology can help you balance your role as caregiver and parent as well because there are so many technologies that allow you to observe your parent and children through cameras installed in your home, instantly viewable from your smartphone at any time.
  • Even light switches, outlets, appliances, locks, and more can be controlled via an app so you can rest easy if you are at work and worried where your parent or child is or dread that an oven or other appliance might be left on, presenting a fire hazard.

These technologies allow them to still have independence in decisions they make in their lives as well, even while needing care in other areas. Your personal care situation might involve a lot of travel on your part as well. If the parent who needs care doesn’t live near you or you share the burden with a sibling or other family member and have to visit them from afar, or even if you have to travel with your parent often, there are a lot of considerations. Look into different airports and what they offer and think about possibly getting a credit card that has benefits designed to make travel easier and might work for your financial situation:

  • Call ahead before your flights and find out if they have assistance options such as expedited screening for seniors or services like providing a wheelchair prior to boarding and after the flight for your senior parent.
  • Research ahead of time to find out about airport services such as family restrooms, play areas, and wi-fi access to help out while traveling with children.
  • Look into getting travel or airline specific credit cards that have benefits such as priority boarding, free lounge access, or even automatic trip-cancellation insurance, which can help financially and help you juggle your family duties during frequent travel.

Finding the Balance

There is a lot of work ahead of you if you’re part of the sandwich generation, but there’s also a silver lining as well. Many people who deal with handling this say that seeing their parent being able to spend more quality time with their children is a wonderful benefit that comes from this challenging circumstance. If you parent is suffering from a deteriorative brain disease, being able to spend time with their grandkids will help exercise their brains and keep their spirits high.

Also, by caring for your parent as they grow older, you’re teaching your children important lessons about the value of caring for family. And a piece of advice that goes for any mom or dad even before also caring for a parent as well is to always find a way to make time for yourself. A good way to keep from being overwhelmed is to always find time to enjoy a personal hobby, a date night with your spouse, pray or meditate, or other activity to keep from going under while you bear this burden.

4 Reasons Senior Care Demand is on the Rise

Senior caregiver imageby: James Fleming

If you are a caregiver or know a senior who utilizes caregiving services, you may have heard that the demand for senior care is not just on the rise, it’s on a very rapid rise. From 2006 to 2016 alone, jobs in healthcare settings grew a whopping 20 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that home health jobs will grow faster than any other industry in the entire country in the next 10 years.

The silver tsunami has begun to crest and huge demographic shifts are starting to take place as more Boomers age into the “senior” bracket. Advancements in research, medicine, and technology are also helping people live longer. Experts estimate about 1 out of 4 65-year-olds can expect to live past the age of 90.

So in addition to the increase in the sheer number of seniors, why is the demand for senior care so rapidly rising?

More Seniors Looking to Age in Place

Consuming healthcare services used to mean a trip to the doctor, a hospital visit to address an in illness, and eventually moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home that could better address your health needs. Nowadays, however, seniors want to do all they can to remain in their home for as long as possible. In fact, AARP found in a recent survey that 3 out of 4 adults over the age of 50 want to remain in their own homes and communities as they age.

This trend of aging in place goes hand in hand with the expansion of senior care demand as older adults are looking for more home-based care services to take advantage of. Personal caregivers, unpaid family caregivers, home health aides and nurses, even phlebotomists and x-ray techs can come into the home now to do everything from assisting with activities of daily living to drawing blood and conducting mobile imaging scans.

High Rates of Chronic Illness

Increasing rates of chronic illness among older adults naturally translates to an increased need for care services. Did you know that roughly 25 percent of all adults over 65 have diabetes? Or somewhere around 100 million adults have high blood pressure? Similarly, jaw-dropping rates of cardiovascular disease and obesity are robbing seniors of their independence and longevity.

Chronic disease requires constant coordination between patients, caregivers, primary care physicians, specialists, and insurance companies. Senior care plays an important role in helping older adults with chronic illness organize their care and treatment plans to improve their own health outcomes.

More Proactive Health Monitoring

Senior care in large part is about a care network advocating on behalf of a patient. Few actions are as significant when it comes to senior health as being able to monitor and track health metrics at home. That might include checking blood sugar regularly, measuring and recording blood pressure readings, over even cataloging daily exercises.

Not only does this empower seniors to do more for themselves when it comes to their health, but it equips them and their caregivers with the tools they need to take quick action if something comes up. Notice an upward trend in daily blood pressure readings? Is exercise dropping your blood sugar too low? It’s time to talk to a doctor and act on early warning signs before something worse develops.

Growing Prevalence of Alzheimer’s

If you don’t yet know someone affected by Alzheimer’s, chances are in the next 10 years you will. Almost 6 million adults currently live with this debilitating disease according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and between 2005 and 2015, deaths from Alzheimer’s skyrocketed over 125 percent. By the year 2050, they estimate that 14 million people will be diagnosed with it.

As the oldest demographic in America continues to expand, it’s only reasonable to expect that more and more people will need senior care services due to Alzheimer’s. Assistance with everything from getting dressed to grocery shopping, taking medicine, toileting, eating and more will be needed for so many seniors with this type of cognitive decline and there will be less and less family caregivers to pick up the slack.

In addition to these four major factors at play, a revamped healthcare industry that works towards providing more value-based care (instead of fee-for-service care) will also influence the rise in senior care demand.

Activities of Daily Living for Seniors to Help Keep Joints Mobile

by: Sarah Morris

When you’re at an age when you can call yourself a senior or if you know someone who might need the assistance Senior Reading Imagewhen it comes to helping their bodies adjust properly as they age, you might want to try out physical exercises. The physical changes as a result of aging can be a bit tricky to adjust to, but the changes can be bearable given enough preparation and time. There are activities for daily living for seniors that can help keep their joints mobile and let them continue and enjoy their daily life.

It might help to understand that injuries are common and can be fatal to older adults. For instance, numbers in the United States alone indicate that 20% of falls actually cause serious injuries, such as head injuries and broken bones. Not only that, over 3 million seniors are actually treated in the emergency room because of injuries from falls.

Senior Health: How Do You Keep Joints Mobile?

It’s important to remember that because older adults aren’t getting younger, their physical health should not be ignored. Mobility aids for disabled individuals and other assistive tools exist to make sure they have ways to keep themselves active despite existing physical conditions. Here are some examples of daily activities that will certainly help older adults to keep their joints mobile:Senior Activity Image

  • Do some raises to exercise the limbs every now and then: One of the best activities to help with joints is to actually do raises to help your limbs. Try grabbing a chair and stand behind it. Try raising your leg straight back without pointing your toes or bending your knees. Hold that position for a second and then gently bring the leg down. Try to do this with your other leg. Every few days, increase the second you hold that leg by a second, and repeat the process 10 to 15 times with each leg. You can also apply this to side raises, which works with the same principle.
  • Try a few finger and hand exercise: These exercises are extremely useful for flexibility. Try to pretend there’s a huge wall in front of you. Have your fingers climb up the wall until they’re above your head, and hold them together. Wiggle both sets of fingers for 10 seconds before walking them back down. Afterwards, try to touch your hands from behind the back. You can do this by trying to reach for your left hand with your right hand behind your back, and hold this position for 10 seconds before switching arms.
  • Wall push ups and shoulder rolls for chest and shoulders: Both these exercises are also very simple to do. For shoulder rolls, you can do this while standing or sitting. Simply gently rotate your shoulders up the ceiling, and then back and down. Afterwards, do the same but ending with a roll forward and then down. For wall pushes, stand in front of wall at arm’s length that doesn’t have any doors, windows or decorations. Slightly lean forward with your palms on the wall. Keep your feet firm as you bring your body forward slowly towards the wall. Keep this position for a few seconds before slowly pushing yourself back outwards.
  • Walk short distances every few hours: Don’t underestimate the power of walking! It’s actually a great way to make sure your muscles are active but not with intensities that are too high to maintain. Walking sessions are also extremely easy to organize, as there really aren’t as much tools needed – unless, of course, if you need a walker for assistance. Just a walk around the neighborhood every morning or evening or even just around the house to get basic things such as books to read or journals to write on are great ways of keeping joints mobile.
  • Try to use assisted living tools for assistance: If you can’t handle the physical strain of doing exercises for prolonged periods of time, make sure assisted living tools are close by so you can make sure you have assistance when you need it the most. This isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a lifeline to make sure nothing bad happens to you during the course of your living at home and keeping yourself mobile.
  • Stretching eases the muscles into working for the day: Stretching isn’t just done after a workout. Stretching sessions and easy body movements can help you ease your muscles into “working” for the day, so you won’t get them all tensed and hurting after a few minutes of walking around. Proper stretching techniques are geared towards relieving tension off your muscles and joints so you are feel comfortable. As such, these are also best done in the morning and before you sleep.

The Bottom Line: Daily Activities to Maintain Mobility


It’s important that older adults or seniors get opportunities to be mobile and exercise their bodies to avoid stress on their joints. Especially that their joints are extra sensitive at their age, motivating them to do these tasks every day can make their life easy and comfortable.

More Reasons Your Retirement Community Should Be on Social Media

Even though you might not think about seniors when you think about social media, the truth is that it can be a powerful method to reach new seniors to fill up your retirement community. You could really be missing out if your community is not active on at least one site.

Here are some more reasons why your retirement community needs to be on social media.

Social media is free to get started and use. Free advertising can only be a good thing. You can start your business profile for free to begin posting and tweeting away. In fact, you can even start to build relationships with others without spending a dime!

You should be on social media to stay ahead of the competition. If you are not on social media (and others are), you are going to lose out to those who are online. When making decisions, people are looking online for social media profiles, as well as reviews. This also helps to make your business look more legitimate.

If you decide to spend a little money with paid advertising, you can really target those that you want to. By targeting older people and their families, your advertising dollars can be spent more wisely. You may also want to advertise to caregivers who may be overwhelmed trying to keep their loved ones home. They just might change their mind.

Though social media marketing may feel like a waste of time, it is not. In fact, you need to be on it simply because your competition is. If you are not, your community won’t feel as real as some of the others who are posting things regularly!

The best part of social media is the cost. It is free to get started. If you do decide to try paid advertisements, by targeting the right people, you don’t have to worry about wasting any money. In fact, you will see results pretty quickly for even just a few dollars.

What Are the Advantages of Stocks for Retirement Living?

“If your retirement plan is to be financially secure and you don’t have generous pension income coming to you, you’ll probably want to learn how to invest,” writes Selena Maranjian for Motley Fool. Yet, most people are also aware that the older they get, the more they need to keep their retirement savings safe. So, over time, the typical person will gradually lessen the percentage they have invested in stocks and shift funds to bonds. This is because while stocks have the greatest potential for growth, they also hold a lot of risk. Therefore, while the returns on stocks will give you the best chance to beat inflation over time, it makes sense to accept less risk as a person moves toward retirement.

What are stocks? They are financial instruments issued by large corporations as a way to raise capital. When you hold shares of a company, you essentially own a right to a portion of that company’s future profits. However, the price of stocks do change continually, and sometimes there is a considerable amount of volatility. Nevertheless, the aggregate long-term returns from large corporations are roughly between 9 and 10 percent. Why aggregate? This is because different investors have vastly different experiences based on their individual investments.

Regardless, the ultimate question becomes, “Should investors assume more risk?” Typically, many investors will make use of a “three-bucket” strategy. Depending on their age, they will have their retirement savings spread across stocks, bonds, and cash. Since people are living longer, fear of risk could risk your future. For example, in the past, if you were 70 years old, you could have 30 percent in stock, and the remaining in bonds with enough cash to cover your annual expenses. Today, a better target may be to have 40 or even 50 percent invested in stocks.

Ultimately, if a person crowds around low-risk investments that cannot grow, there is a potential for running out of money. Therefore, the typical person will need sufficient equities to maintain their income for life. All that said, even if you consult a financial advisor, it is essential to learn all the complexities and risks of your investments, not just completely rely on the advice of someone else.

To talk about the advantages of stocks for retirement, or a related topic, contact a financial planner in your area.

4 Ways Caregivers Can Improve Communication Between a Client and Their Distant Loved Ones

by: Brent Scott

If you’re a caregiver, you see first-hand how powerful family interaction and support is on a client’s health and mental wellbeing. It’s been said that communication is key, and as we have shared in the past, effectively speaking to your senior client is the best way to build a professional relationship and earn trust. However, beyond the interaction you provide as their caregiver, you also have a role assisting clients with their outbound communication; including phone calls, emails, and video chats with long distance loved ones. Helping your senior client contact local and distant friends and family members is a great way to keep everyone informed and engaged. For help improving your client’s outbound communication, you should consider using these 4 safe and easy strategies.

1.Utilize Technology

             New device startup

You may be asked by a distant loved one to help setup an Internet connected device. Conveniently, most new computers, tablets, and smartphones have a guided setup procedure. They may also come equipped with advanced accessibility settings that simplify the interface and make it easier to use. Before exiting the settings, it’s essential you enable and customize the privacy settings to the needs of the primary user. When in doubt, consult the setup instructions that come with the device, or select the most strict security and privacy setting. This is also the optimal time to install or utilize existing antivirus subscriptions to further secure the device. If your client is subscribed to an antivirus or identity theft monitoring service, such as LifeLock, install them on all new devices.

             Communication applications

Skype, Google Hangouts, and Apple Facetime make face-to-face video communication possible. Although the interface is relatively simple, you may need to assist your client and help them navigate the device and make a call using an app. The next section shows how combined with an online schedule, this can become a simple part of your client’s weekly routine, and gives you time for handle other tasks.

 

2. Make an Online Calendar & Communication Schedule

             Google Calendar

Google makes it easy to schedule appointments and events. Beyond keeping everything in one location, those invited to your scheduled event can instantly access and request a video chat. Creating a weekly communication schedule with those who are far away allows client-family communication while answering any questions or concerns you may have.

 

3. Keep a Running List or Recorded Notes

Keeping accurate notes is a great way to stay organized. As a busy caregiver, attending multiple appointments and balancing schedules or clients can get confusing. Therefore, keeping a list of simple and precise notes can be extremely helpful. Whether you keep a notebook or use your phone for digital voice recordings, when used regularly, these methods keep your tasks and due dates in order. It’s also a great practice to note any physical or mental changes your client may be experiencing. In fact, your notes could then be used by doctors to pinpoint phases, trends, or developing issues.

 

4. Share News, Pictures, and Family Updates

Your client may ask for your assistance accessing, viewing, and posting things online. This is a great opportunity to show long-distance loved ones what’s going on at home, and the developing stories in the family. At this time, you’ll be teaching your client how to use the device or app while showing them how to post, share, and comment safely. Walking them through this process, show the user how public and private share settings are used to keep potentially sensitive content away from unauthorized viewers.

Preserving Your Legacy and Estate – Paying for Long Term Care Without Breaking the Bank

by: Harley Petrina

Many seniors in the United States will have to find ways to pay for long term care that they need, either in an institutionalized setting such as an assisted living home, or at home through a home health or home care service. Unfortunately, the cost of these services is generally high.

For many, the most frustrating aspect is not the loss of independence, but that fact that they worked hard to leave behind a financially beneficial legacy for their children. Indeed, the cost of long-term care, which typically costs between $2,000 and $5,000 per month for full time care, can quickly deplete most middle class Americans’ savings. Employing good strategies to maximize care and minimize expense can help alleviate the strain of this scenario.

The first thing that you should do is consider what kind of support system you would have if you had a need for long-term care. Do your children live close enough and are they able to take care of you? Assume that you will need the maximum amount of care since planning for the worst is often a good way to be prepared. Figuring out how much your children, other relatives, and friends can help you will allow you to understand a little bit more clearly what your needs will be in the future. People with very strong support systems get by a little bit longer without paid help. Additionally, in situations where there is not constant supervision, a medical alert system might be a good idea. Medical alerts allow seniors to stay at home longer because the effects of falling without quick assistance can negatively alter anyone’s health. It is important to be realistic about what your situation is and how it will affect your needs going forward.

Long-term care insurance is also a good option for those who are able to make the investment. Policies that are purchased before the diagnosis of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease are significantly cheaper in cost, so it pays to think ahead. It is important to know that you must continue to pay the premium or lose the investment in the plan. Budgeting in the premium monthly price prior to purchasing is a good idea. Never the less, this insurance will pay for skilled nursing care. Without long term care insurance, skilled nursing is funded on a limited basis by Medicare, with the rest of the cost coming directly out of your pocket. Sadly, many seniors choose to compromise their health and move to a lower and less costly care situation because of the cost of skilled nursing. Skilled care can cost up to $5000.00/month, varying from place to place throughout the United States.

For those who have high medical need, are already sick, and are denied long term care insurance, residential care homes provide a good alternative to paying for skilled nursing or paying for assisted living. For those who need the highest level of care and have a terminal diagnosis, hospice services can also be used to provide supplemental medical need. Home Healthcare may be an option for those who do not qualify for hospice. Both home health and hospice are paid for by Medicare, and the care lasts for a longer duration than skilled nursing.

There are circumstances where protecting your nest egg will be more difficult. For those who have Alzheimer’s disease, but very good physical health, long term care services will likely be a part of your life for quite some time. Someone who receives five to ten years of services will likely spend through most of their wealth unless they have been particularly frugal throughout life with immense savings. It’s important to get together your financial information to help you understand how long you can expect to be under the care of a long-term provider. Use this information to help you make a realistic decision.

Protecting your nest egg can be difficult, but by looking for creative and affordable solutions, you can actually save a lot of money. One thing to remember about long term care providers is that they function primarily off of referrals. They generally are not built to compete on price with anyone else, so you may find different price points for the same services from different providers. Many physicians, social workers, nurses, and other professionals who make referrals don’t actually know the different prices of care, so this is something that you might have to research. The time spent researching, however, is well worth it as the benefits can be great. Don’t be afraid to say that you want to pay less–sometimes you will able to.

Max Gottlieb is the content editor of Senior Planning and ALTCS, a long-term care-planning agency in Phoenix, Arizona that offers free assistance to seniors and their families.

Reasons Your Retirement Community Should Be on Social Media

Social Media ImageWhile the first thing that you think of when you think about seniors is not social media, the truth is that it can be a powerful method to reach seniors & their families to help in your goal of filling up your retirement community. If your community is not on at least one social site, like Facebook, Instagram, or You Tube, you are probably missing out.

Here are 3 reasons why your independent living community needs to be on social media:

Many seniors are online. You can reach seniors through social media. More and more seniors are using laptops, tablets, and smartphones to keep in touch with their families & friends, keep up with the news & medical information. You could be really missing out on all of these potential new residents for your community if they don’t see you when they are online.

You are not only marketing to seniors, you are also trying to catch the attention of their children who are on social media. Even if the seniors that you are trying to reach may not be on social media, their grown children are. These children are looking online for the best place for their parents to live out the rest of their life in safety and comfort. Be a source of information for them.

By placing events on social media, residents, their families and potential residents can join in on the fun. If you use social media as a way to keep your residents informed of the events happening around your community, you will also attract others who want to find a nice place to live socially. They will see all of the fun things that you offer so, when the time comes, your community might be the first place that they think of. Don’t just share events before they happen, share pictures after to show what a great time was had! This can also be a great way for relatives who don’t live close to stay connected. By posting pictures of the community, events & residents, relatives will be able to keep informed about what their loved ones are doing. They might even see pictures of them at the activities with a smile on their face, which can really make a big difference.

Though you might still think that the internet, let alone social media sites are the last place your retirement community can reach potential residents, the truth is that many seniors and their adult children are online. By posting events with pictures along with any other updates, information and specials, you are showing others what a great community you have, creating a bond, & increasing their interest over time!

Elevate a Good Nursing Home to a Great One

Your Nursing Home has top-notch staff, a well-maintained building, and excellent medical care for your residents. What are three things you can do to make your facility stand out and attract residents and families alike?

Provide a Caring Atmosphere from the Top Down 

Moving a loved one into a nursing home is usually a sudden decision, based on unforeseen circumstances often compounded by a medical emergency. In this stressful situation, the future resident relies on family members to decide which nursing home is the best fit. This could be the first time family members have ever toured a nursing home and the initial contact with admission administrators and staff will leave a lasting impression. A care-centered approach for both the resident and the family is standard, but each and every staff member should go the extra mile and develop a caring attitude. Each employee should show great care in interactions with everyone, including vendors, fellow employees, volunteers, and guests. People will notice and comment on the caring atmosphere and word will spread that your community is a place where residents and guests receive gentle care, and that is truly the greatest wish of families.

Provide a Lovely Garden Area

The outside garden area doesn’t need to be large, just inviting, with ample seating for residents and guests. This area is so important because it is the one spot that most closely resembles gardens and memories from the clients past. Sitting with a loved one in a garden with trees, shrubbery, and flowers, having a quiet conversation, or just sitting together, is an irreplaceable bonding moment for families. This spot needs to be well maintained with easy access and it will be a favorite.

Design ‘Homey’ Common Areas

The common areas should look like a family room, with couches, chairs, and decor that resembles a comfortable family room. A large television with an entertainment center and books is a great focal point for a common area. Clients can envision themselves sitting in these areas and being comfortable, which makes it easier for them to envision their loved one living there. Extend this idea into the dining areas as well, and the overall atmosphere of your community will be welcoming when clients take a tour.

These three elements make a big difference, not just for the resident, but for their family and friends who can find comfort in the excellent care provided by your community.