Leslie Newlife

How To Mentally Be Prepared For Aging and Supported Living

by: Sarah Morris

When you get older, the effects of aging can manifest in physical, mental, and emotional ways. Sometimes, these make doing tasks you can otherwise do everyday be a bit harder and complicated to accomplish. These tend to lead to instances where you need supported living, and it can be frustrating especially if you’ve gotten used to live independently. However, just because you may have to be under supported living doesn’t mean life is over for you. In fact, with enough mental preparation, you may grow to appreciate the kind of renewed perspective supported living can give you. This article will give you insight as to how to mentally be prepared for aging and supported living.

It might help to get a better understanding on just how aging and supported living works as a concept before people take steps to mentally prepare for Senior Caregiver image  it. In essence, assisted living can be availed for adults in need of assistance with tasks they normally do everyday – such as using the bathroom, eating, bathing, or dressing. This doesn’t mean all tasks need assistance, though, which means assisted living isn’t full-time nursing care. Rather, these are systems set up to help older adults with specific tasks they couldn’t otherwise do because of existing conditions.

Supported living facilities can sometimes be found in retirement communities, and other nursing homes have these nearby so people can easily move in. And while supported living does cost less than nursing home care, it can get costly depending on the needs required. Although some families and older people can find supported living part of things covered in long-term care and health insurance policies, which can help make the costs a bit more tolerable for the wallet.

Supported Living: How To Be Prepared For It?

When you think about supported living as you age, you can’t be blamed for being a bit overwhelmed and afraid to having to depend on new systems just for you to be able to function. After all, you were perfectly active and healthy before, so surely being “supported” means being “not” perfect, right? This isn’t exactly the mentality to follow, as systems from places such as TG Psychology are set up to ensure you can use supported living to continue being able to have an independent life, and not exactly become a “sign” that you’re no longer in control over your life. Here’s how to mentally be prepared for aging and supported living: Senior Caregiver Image

  • Assess and evaluate your body and mind’s condition as you grow: Perhaps one of the best ways to mentally prepare for aging and supported living is to be the best person who knows your body, aside from the doctor. When you do medical tests or check-ups with a physician, always take note of what they say and ask questions about your body whenever you have something to clarify. If you’re entitled to check-ups, don’t hesitate taking them and always be attentive to what doctors tell you. When they prescribe you medicine, always ask what exactly will this medication do and how they work. The more you know about your body’s current condition, the more you can be accepting of what needs to be done because you’re aware of what works and what doesn’t.
  • Develop an inquisitive point of view about your health and wellness: If you’re curious about something, especially related to your body, don’t hesitate to search for information and read up on various things. Always approach things with an open perspective, so you’re constantly going to learn about yourself and how your body works everyday. When something seems scary or confusing, don’t hesitate to consult your physician about it for clarification. It’s much better knowing you have a condition and knowing you actively research about it than to just wait for professionals to do things to your body without you knowing why, right?
  • Be aware of your body’s condition and its needs: While undergoing checkups and learning about your body and your potential conditions, always be aware of what you need over time and how you can achieve it. Always look for alternatives if what the doctors are suggesting can be frustrating for you. If there are no alternatives, then try practicing their proposed solution and look into the solution’s perks and advantages it can prove to you.
  • Remember that medical professionals are your best friends: When people tell you that you need to perhaps avail assisted living, remember that the individuals that will help you aren’t doing this because they pity you or think you’re weak. They’re helping you because they know you’re capable of overcoming your potential hurdles, you just need a bit of push to get where you need to go. The sooner you realize that they’re there for your benefit and growth, the better it will be for you. And if you do feel guilty that they’re helping you when you’re supposed to “help yourself,” remember that you’re helping them as well as they’re being paid to assist you. Think about it, they’re helping you be a better person by aiding you in tasks your body finds difficult. Likewise, you help them make a living by allowing them to help you. Seems like a nice exchange, right?
  • Try to find hobbies and passions to pursue while you’re getting assistance: One of the most important things to look forward to in order to better prepare yourself mentally during supported living is to check for passions and hobbies you want to pursue. If you think you’re not going to be able to pursue a hobby you like anymore, try to look for new ones either related to your original hobby or something completely new. If you want to take this up a notch, you can even involve the people aiding you to try it out with you as well.

The Bottomline: The Power Of Mental Preparation Even While Aging

Aging comes with a lot of benefits and caveats, and unfortunately the older we get the more we get to realize the need for supported living. Of course, given the various implications of supported living, a lot of older people do find the idea a bit dreadful and frightening. After all, this implies they can’t do the things they used to do when alone, right? Well, yes and no. If the above is taken into consideration, then you’re going to realize that supported living isn’t a bad thing – and given enough mental preparation, you’re likely going to be able to find ways to enjoy things you’ve usually done before even as you age.

How to Best Transition Seniors to an Assisted Living Lifestyle

Senior Citizens imageby: Olivia Parker

If you’re helping older loved ones prepare for a move to an assisted living community, you understand this time is full of emotions as your loved ones face a significant lifestyle change.

The situation can be challenging if your loved ones aren’t in favor of the move. Deciding to move from the home they have known for years is not an easy choice to make.

Assisted living housing allows your loved ones some degree of autonomy while providing you, and them, the comfort and security of knowing someone is there to help.

Your loved ones will understandably be anxious and somewhat stressed transitioning to an assisted living facility. They may be anxious about packing, sad to leave their home, and feel vulnerable about needing professional support for day-to-day living.

There are ways you can assist your elderly relatives and help alleviate the stress and anxiety.

Don’t Feel Guilty

As the responsible family member, you may be the one who has had to make this decision and help ease your loved ones into accepting it.

Don’t feel guilty. You have your loved ones’ best interests in mind. Feeling guilty will only make the process more stressful for you and your loved ones.

Avoid Procrastination

Once you realize it is time, don’t procrastinate. Discussing the need with your aging parents or relatives openly and honestly will minimize the stress for them and you.

It may be a difficult conversation to have, so include all your family members in the discussion, especially your elderly relatives. Remember, loss of control is one of the most often cited stressful factors to seniors at this time of their lives. Help them make the right choice, but do so in an inclusive way.

Ease into the Moving Process

Help your seniors ease into the moving process. Go with them to visit the assisted living community well before the scheduled move-in date. While there, introduce yourself and your family members to the staff. Perhaps you can arrange to visit at meal time and meet some of the other residents.

Review the rooms where they will be living. Discuss with them decorating ideas and where to place their possessions.

Cleaning and Repair

Don’t let your seniors shoulder the burden by themselves in getting their home ready for sale or rent after they move out. Start the cleaning and repair process early. Help them make a list of what needs to be done and help them find and manage the contractors or services that will do the work.

Paperwork

Another stressful part of moving into an assisted living home is completing the paperwork associated with their current home. Don’t let your seniors face this alone.

Help them make a list of things that need to be done, such as address changes, bank and credit card accounts, voter registration, and more.

Determining What and What Not to KeepMoving image

Your seniors’ home will likely contain a lot of heirlooms, keepsakes, and mementos. An assisted living apartment will not be able to accommodate everything.

Involve your seniors in the decision-making process about which possessions they will keep. Help them determine what items to take with them, and what ones to give away to other family members or to charity, or perhaps to put in storage temporarily. Letting go of a lifetime of possessions can be traumatic. Discuss storage options with a moving company if your loved ones can’t part with some of their belongings, but can’t take them to their new residence. Revisit the idea of getting rid of items in storage once they are settled.

When you use a professional moving service that is experienced in moving seniors and their possessions, you can assure them their belongings will be packed and handled with care.

Make Their Apartment Feel like Home

If possible, unpack their belonging before they arrive at the facility. Try to make your loved ones’ new living quarters as comfortable and like home as possible before they move in. Many assisted living communities encourage residents to bring their favorite furniture and other décor. Decorate their space with familiar objects, such as photographs, paintings, and throw pillows.

Keep their room well-stocked with snacks, books, and other entertainment. Arrange to have their newspaper and magazine subscriptions sent to their new address.

A favorite robe, a pair of slippers or toiletries are all things that can make the transition much easier and help preserve their dignity.

If your loved ones want to be there to unpack, make sure you are there, too. Learn about their new community and share their first meal with them to help smooth their transition to this new lifestyle.

Encourage Involvement

Encourage them to pursue their hobbies and interests. Learn what kinds of activities are available for residents and offer to participate in some of the activities with them.

Gently encouraging them to get involved by socializing can help them quickly adjust to assisted living.

Senior women imageTechnology Assists

Moving can be a great time for you to demonstrate to seniors the advantages of the digital world. Show them some senior-friendly technologies that will make their lives not only easier but more fun.

For example, showing seniors how they can receive photos of family members using an iPad or smartphone will make them feel less isolated from their relatives. Show them how to Facetime, Skype, play games, do puzzles, and download podcasts, books, and magazines.

This, too, will help them maintain some independence, knowing they can reach out at any time and contact a loved one.

Don’t Be a Stranger

When your seniors first arrive, although they will make new friends, it can be a bit intimidating. Don’t let them think you are abandoning them. Set up regular visits and use the iPad or smartphone to remain in contact. Send small gifts to let them know you are thinking about them. Ask other family members to reach out regularly just to say “hello.” Check in with the staff frequently to make sure your loved ones are adjusting to their new environment.

Final Thoughts

Once the process is over, you may be surprised at your loved ones’ reaction to their new home. Alleviating the stress of coping by themselves in their home and eliminating feelings of loneliness can have surprising benefits.

They may just say to you, “Why didn’t we do this years ago?!”

Scam Safety for the Caregiving Community

by: Brent Scott

Scam Safety for the Caregiving Community

This year marked the 30th celebration of National Senior Citizens Day. Today, August 21, we celebrate the achievements of our aging citizens; with this, we can also share valuable information that loved ones and caregivers can use to ensure the safety of their information and personal data. Unfortunately for the elderly population in the U.S., seniors are often targeted by scammers. In fact, one study concluded roughly 5% of the senior population is less perceptive than others to an individual’s intentions. Therefore, when an unknown individual calls or emails a vulnerable individual, it’s possible they could be tricked into handing over personal information, security codes, or verbal authorization.  As a caregiver, it’s important to stay vigilant of potential scams and help steer your residents towards safety and security.

What Scams Look Like to a Caregiver:

Your client receives urgent mail from creditors and insurance companies– Criminals frequently target the elderly and, after obtaining your publicly listed USPS mailing address, they can harass individuals with false notification, bills, or requests for contact. Stop by your local post office, like this post offices in Chelsea to get more information on how to protect yourself, your loved one or client.  Scammers who attempt to target a senior through the mail often target the individuals identity by exploiting their personal information, financial records, and medical data.

Your client receives harassing phone calls– When dealing with fraudulent phone calls, scammers often pose as representatives from insurance companies, debt collection services, or government offices. They pose as an individual with authority and claim that money is owed or personal information must be disclosed. Criminals prefer to target the 5% of senior citizens who are vulnerable to accepting false identification, meaning caregivers should answer all phone calls. Although it may seem strange to a client, proper education and a respectful perspective can help you navigate the conversation. Remember, this is an attempt to help your client formally establish the credibility of the caller, and is a formality that gives both of you peace of mind.

Your client becomes unable to access online accounts– Password theft, account hacking, data breaches, and viruses are common ways criminals disable user-access and obtain vulnerable data and personal information. In extreme cases, the fraudulently obtained information could be sold on the darkweb, or used by the thief to empty a bank account, apply for a personal loan, or accept benefits. If you suspect this, notify your client’s family immediately.

Your client stopped receiving government benefits or insurance coverage–

Social Security fraud occurs when an unauthorized individual or criminal fraudulently intercepts or collects the Social Security benefits of an unsuspecting individual. If your client stops receiving insurance coverage or government assistance, notify the client’s family and advise them to contact the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA) immediately. Following the event, make sure you document any suspicious phone or mail activity, as it could help your client’s family identify the source.

A surprisingly common occurrence among the elderly is the use of stolen information to request and receive medical coverage, treatment, or drugs. When a criminal targets medical information, including Social Security and insurance documents, and presents the information as their own, your client may be denied medical coverage. An insurance provider or government official could flag and temporarily suspended the account if suspicious activity is detected. If this happens, the individual will be notified that their service has been suspended. However, if you suspect potential issues, notify the family and advise they contact the client’s insurance provider and primary care physician to check for errors.

Top Tips for Caregivers:

  1. Regularly collect the mail for your client, and notify your client’s family of any new or suspicious mail or notifications, including those from creditors or the Internal Revenue Service. Recommend that family members contact these creditors, lenders, banks, or government agencies to report suspicions, enable alerts, or freeze activity.
  2. Never let your client give out sensitive information over the phone. Answering all incoming phone calls on their behalf is the best way to screen for potential scams. Be sure to report any suspicious requests or notifications to the family. For the more obvious telemarketing or donation inquiries, ask the caller to remove the number from their registry. If the calls continue, advise the family to join the National Do Not Call Registry.
  3. Notify the family of any suspicious online account activity or inability to access online accounts, insurance records, government benefits, or medical accounts. This could be an early sign that your client has had their information compromised. Caregivers should notify family members if the individual becomes unable to access their accounts. Reporting suspicions early can make a big difference when it comes to information recovery time.

As a caregiver, you have a direct influence on the safety and security of your client. Therefore, the ability to identify and alert a family member to a potential issue, which adds value beyond your training. If you’d like to learn more about the types of identity theft and the appropriate response strategies, read this article.

Growing Old in Atlanta: Tips on Finding an Assisted Living Community in Georgia’s Capital City

caregiver image

by: Olivia Parker

Whether you grew up in Georgia or are just looking to move to a sunnier climate, retiring in Atlanta gives you access to a lot of activities at an affordable price. Art museums, sporting events, botanical gardens, world-class restaurants, and more are accessible even if you’re not as mobile as you used to be. You also get to avoid the tourist frenzies and high prices associated with beachside living—all while still being close enough to for a weekend trip with family.

The Atlanta metro area is home to dozens of assisted living communities, but finding the right one for you can take some significant time and research. Asking the right questions of facility staff can make all the difference as you make this important transition. While many are transparent with the information available on their website or in brochures, think about your own priorities and needs and ask detailed questions before committing to your new home.

Look for Testimonials and Reviews

Website testimonials are a good place to start, and they often give a good list of the qualities of an assisted living facility. However, reviews on Yelp, Facebook, Google, and other platforms are just as important to check. An assisted living community may have a handful of glowing testimonials on their website, but it’s entirely possible that a hundred bad reviews are hiding in plain sight on Yelp.

Also, check to make sure the assisted living facility of your dreams isn’t hiding any dark secrets. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is responsible for licensing and monitoring assisted living communities and other healthcare facilities across the state. Ask to see the results of the latest inspection before signing any paperwork for your new home. If the facility you’re looking at doesn’t show up in DCH’s online database, that’s a big red flag—the facility may have lost its licensure or even never had it in the first place.

Consider Your Geographic NeedsATL downtown skyline

Two assisted living communities that offer near-identical amenities can offer vastly different levels of convenience and accessibility. If you have family who may fly in to see you from out of state, it’s wise to pick a community that’s on the south side, relatively close to the airport. If most of your relatives would be driving down from Tennessee, a property on the north side of Atlanta would be easier to access.

Of course, you may prefer to stay closer to the community you most recently lived in or be somewhere near a golf course. Take the time to weigh your hobbies and transportation needs and try not to end up in a community in the middle of nowhere, especially if you’re moving to Atlanta from out of state, you’ll miss all of the city’s fun happenings!

Ask About the Food

If you’re a picky eater, you may not mind a repetitive menu with typical Southern food seven days a week. If you’re adventurous, you may want Chinese food or unique dishes mixed in on occasion. Some communities offer more flexibility than others, so make sure to carefully compare meal plans.

If the facility offers you the option to forgo a meal plan and simply cook your own meals, make sure they’re able to accommodate a sudden switch to their meal plan in case your health and ability to cook start to decline.

It’s also important to consider food options if you’re on a restricted diet or may have to switch to one in the future. While most assisted living facilities are good about accommodating dietary needs, some may resort to serving you salad and a sandwich multiple days a week. People with substantial dietary needs should sit down with the director and ask what kinds of accommodations the facility can make.

Prioritize a Shuttle Bus

While Atlanta’s public transit isn’t bad, the last thing you want is to be waiting for a public bus in the heat on a summer day. Ask your prospective assisted living community about what shuttle services they offer, how many buses are available at any given time, what the reservation policy is, and what time it runs until.

While most assisted living communities are reasonably flexible and generous with their shuttle buses, make sure you pick one that can get you where you need to go. This may not be an issue if you’re still in great health and can walk to a train station, but keep in mind that you may want those shuttle services if you get injured or your health otherwise declines.

CaregiverFind Activities

Ask the director or staff member giving you a tour what kind of ativties and classes are offered on-site. Some will likely be offered for free, while some may require a monthly or per-lesson fee. Even if you don’t currently have many hobbies, you may find yourself wanting to pick some up, eventually, to make new friends.

If an otherwise perfect facility doesn’t have the exact activity you want, don’t give up—look for it nearby. If your facility has a good shuttle bus, then getting to and from the activity will be no problem. Trying a new hobby may be well worth your time, too, especially if it’s similar to something you’ve tried in the past.

Bigger May Be Better

While small communities can often offer personalized attention and care, larger facilities typically offer a broader range of room types and other services. This may be important to consider if you are currently in decent health. You may be able to take care of a small apartment on your own right now, but, once your joints get older or you begin to fall ill more often, you may want to downsize to a smaller unit. It’s easiest to move units within the same complex, so picking a large facility with flexible options from the onset may save you time and money in the long run.

Look for a Family or Resident Council

Resident councils are representative bodies that can make some decisions about their assisted living facility, as well as brainstorm solutions to any problems or grievances that arise in the community. Imagine them as a kind of school board for an assisted living community. Family councils are similar but are made up of friends or family members of residents. An active family or resident council is a sign of high engagement and, hopefully, indicates the facility is held to high standards.

Picking an assisted living community can be nerve-wracking, but the friendly and capable people of Atlanta can provide an astoundingly high level of care. No matter what assisted living community you choose, you’ll be in for some great adventures and new friendships as you take this next step in your life.

Change Your Vantage Point for an Empathy Infused Resident Experience

You know the importance of dazzling customer service throughout every engagement point of your business. But how well can you really tell how your efforts are impacting your clients directly? Sometimes it helps to change your vantage point and infuse your customer service efforts with empathy. Understanding how your residents or patients experience your community or service at every level will help you determine the success of your customer service training and initiatives. Here are three key business aspects in which you might gain perspective by being a guest in your business.

Problem-solving

Start with those aspects or situations that currently require solutions. Evaluate each instance from the seniors’ perspectives first. By understanding how they see mistakes, you’ll be able to cater the best solutions to impress them. How would a senior or senior’s family expect you to fix a problem? What extra steps can you take in providing remedies, to demonstrate exemplary care and service? For example, a resident complains of issues with an uncomfortable bed. You can provide a new mattress to solve the problem.  But as a resident with a bad back, maybe offering a free hour of massage for his trouble, a potential issue has now transformed into a rave review and customer service win. Obviously, this isn’t an option for every senior care company. The idea is to look inward at your service platform and review how your teams address problems. Then identify areas in which you can provide added value to enhance the seniors’ experiences.

Are your best practices good enough?

By taking a front row seat as a resident in your business, you can quickly ascertain the base level of service your seniors’ experience. You may have exemplary staff members who routinely go above and beyond in the name of service. But the overall experience is only as good as the weakest link. Determine and evaluate the basics to make sure your service teams are providing a consistent engagement.

Is your experience memorable?

Whether it’s a phenomenal staff member on your team or a favorite item on your menu, you know your company pursues efforts to be memorable to all seniors. Move through your process as a guest yourself and experience those memorable differentiators first hand. Are you creating a positive experience in the eyes of a resident/client? Is everyone on your team as passionate about being memorable? By inspecting your key features as a resident, maybe you can uncover areas for improvement or other hidden gem aspects of your business that can be a marketable, memorable experience.

Encouraging everyone in your business to engage seniors and families with an empathetic touch can be the impact you need to boost your service experience. Consider taking a walk through your services in the shoes of a senior. Use your findings to develop a platform that is designed around the empathetic evaluation that will help identify specific, senior-minded solutions to make the enhancements you need. You offer more than just care; you provide a lifestyle experience.

8% of Baby Boomers Confidently Get a Good Night’s Sleep

by: Alex Deckard

Your parents aren’t just tired. They may be suffering from  undiagnosed sleep apnea, a condition that is currently affecting 22 million Americans. However, as people age the risk for developing this sleep disorder increases. Know how to identify and help manage the symptoms to save your loved one’s life.

Recognition and Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Older Americans conducted a study that found only 8% of senior participants 65 and older had been tested for sleep apnea while 58% were at high risk.

As the aging population continues to grow older the rate of undiagnosed sleep apnea will also increase. Over the next 11 years, 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 every day, causing 18% of the population to be 65 or older by 2030. But why does it matter if your loved one has sleep apnea?

The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea For Seniors

Sleep apnea could lead to premature death as it contributes to a variety of health diminishing conditions. If your parent has sleep apnea, they may suffer from their upper airway becoming fully or partially blocked multiple times during the night. As a result, they are unable to pull in the oxygen their body needs to properly function.

When left untreated sleep apnea can lead to:

  • High Blood Pressure
  • Heart Disease
  • Dementia
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Traffic Accidents
  • Weight Gain
  • Stroke
  • Depression
  • Dementia

As your parent or patient experiences an apnea or event in which their breathing stops during the night, they may not even wake up or remember this event. This means that they can have sleep apnea without even knowing it. Oftentimes people are unaware that they are suffering in their sleep unless they are filmed sleeping or alerted by their partner that they are snoring very loudly. Keep an out for the following symptoms if you think your loved one may be at risk.

  • Waking up with headaches
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Irritability and Mood Swings
  • Weight gain
  • Trouble Concentrating
  • Waking with a sore throat or dry mouth
  • Gasping for air upon waking

Aging isn’t the only thing that increases your parent’s risk for sleep apnea. Other contributing factors include:

  • Obesity
  • Being male
  • Being post-menopausal (for women)
  • Having a neck circumference of 17” or more (16” for women)
  • Having a thin narrow neck or small jaw bone
  • Having a large tongue or tonsils
  • Drinking alcohol close to bedtime
  • Nasal obstruction caused by allergies, sinus issues, or a deviated symptom

 Caring For A Senior With Sleep Apnea

The most important thing to do if you think your loved one has sleep apnea, is contact their doctor for advice. Your parent may need to take a sleep study or sleep apnea test, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. Many providers offer a comfortable, at-home test they can take in their own bed.

If you find yourself helping manage sleep apnea for an older relative or as a caregiver, you may help them use a CPAP or continuous positive airway device to keep their airways open during the night.

Even Though CPAP machines are the most effective way to treat sleep apnea, they have the reputation among the older generation of being cumbersome. It may take some convincing to get your parent to use one, so be prepared to explain how important it is for their health.

They may need a little help getting used to the device as well, but will need to use it even during naps to comply with their treatment. You can have them try a few different types of CPAP masks to help them find the most comfortable option. A nasal mask is smaller and more lightweight than a full face mask. However, if your loved one is congested make sure they use their face mask to help break up congestion.

To make a CPAP more comfortable have your parent wear the mask for a few hours before bedtime at first. Start with a lower air pressure and gradually work their way up to the settings prescribed by their doctor.  Also, helping them sleep in a better position for breathing, such as on their side is extremely helpful.

Don’t Ignore The Signs

If your parent seems excessively fatigued, seems to be yawning all the time, is confused or forgetful, they may not be getting the rest they desperately need. Have them test for sleep apnea in order to take the steps towards getting their quality of life back.

Six Simple Money Management Tips for Seniors

by: James FlemingDollar Symbols

Unless you’re very lucky, you pretty much never reach an age where you stop worrying about money. In fact, retirement can often be a time when seniors worry about money the most. Because of this, about twenty percent of seniors are actually putting off retirement because they’re concerned that they don’t have enough money saved.

Whether you’re getting ready to retire or are already living on a fixed income and want to make the most of your savings, keep reading.

Listed below are six simple money management tips that will help you stay on top of your funds and feel confident that you’re covered no matter what comes your way.

1.Crated (and Stick to) a Budget

If you’ve never had a budget, now’s the time to start. It’s important to understand how much money you’re bringing in and how much you’re actually spending. This can be daunting at first, but it’s necessary if you want to really get a handle on your finances.

One of the easiest ways to establish a budget is to follow these guidelines:

  • Write down and put your values in order
  • Set financial goals for yourself
  • Figure out your monthly income
  • Figure out your monthly expenses
  • Allocate portions of your monthly funds to meet those expenses, starting with essentials like a house payment, car payment, and groceries
  • Make sure you’re setting aside money each month in a savings account — do this first so you’re not tempted to spend the extra cash on something else

2. Pay Down Your Current Debt and Avoid New Debt

If you have existing debt, paying it down should be at the top of your priority list. Make room in your budget to pay at least the minimum payment and make sure you’re making these payments on time.

It’s also important to avoid taking on new debt after you’ve retired. There are lots of companies that try to appeal to retirees and encourage them to borrow money or opt for something like a reverse mortgage or home equity loan. Resist these offers, no matter how appealing they may sound initially.

Taking on new debt when you’re already in a bind financially isn’t going to do you any favors.

3. Downsize

If, after writing down your expenses and taking of stock of your income, you realize that you’re spending more than your making (or don’t have as much to put in savings as you’d like), you may want to consider downsizing.

If you have an empty nest, maybe you can sell your home and move to one that’s smaller and easier to maintain? Do you have an extra car that’s always sitting in the driveway? Consider selling it.

You can also save a lot of money by canceling or downgrading your cable and cell phone packages and getting rid of unnecessary memberships and service fees.

4. Take Advantage of Senior Discounts

In general, when you’re trying to save money, it’s important to limit your shopping and eating out as much as possible. But, sometimes, you just need to take a break and do something fun.

The great thing about being a retiree is that it’s rare for you to have to pay full price when shopping or going out to eat. There are tons of senior benefits to take advantage of!

Before you plan a night out, search online or in the newspaper for coupons. You can also call restaurants and stores ahead of time to ask if they offer a senior discount. Utilize these offers whenever possible so you can still enjoy an occasional treat without it eating into your budget.

5. Take Steps to Save on Health Care

Depending on your current financial situation, you may qualify for Medicaid in addition to Medicare. This will help cut down on monthly deductibles and other health care costs that Medicare does not cover.

You can also ask your doctor to prescribe generic medications or cheaper equivalents to help you save on prescription drugs at the pharmacy.

6. Get Comfortable with Saying No

Finally, remember that there are probably going to be times when you have to tell your friends and family no when they come to your help with money.

While there are definitely emergency situations in which it’s fine to help out, remember that your financial health needs to remain a priority. If you truly can’t afford to give someone a loan, just say no.

Final Thoughts

Money management can be stressful, especially if you haven’t made a habit of keeping up with your finances as well as you should. You’re not destined to struggle with money, though.

By applying these tips, you can significantly improve your ability to manage money and make sure you’re taken care of when a ready day comes along.

 

Sustainable Adult Day Care is the Future

Research shows that as of 2015, the world’s geriatric population consisted of around 617 million people, roughly 8.5 % of the total population. This number is projected to grow to 1.6 billion people by the year 2050. This growth is driven by the increasing aging population, medical expenditures and increased affordability. With so much growth within the market place, adult day care providers can keep up with the demand and lower costs by making simple adjustments to their facilities to make them more sustainable and patient-friendly.

Simple Changes, Big Results

As the times change, the millennial demographic has demonstrated that sustainability matters to them. All kinds of businesses are accommodating that sensibility by making simple changes whether it be using more eco-friendly products, non-toxic materials or changing the way their facilities are being constructed with larger windows for natural light, better ventilation, water-saving fixtures and solar panels to store and apply power. Adult day care facilities will not only gain more business by applying these changes, they will lower their increasing operating costs as well. Sustainable, eco-friendly centers will create a clean atmosphere that makes millennials feel secure in leaving their parents in the center’s care.

Use Nature to Your Advantage

Simply put, everyone likes being outside, even the elderly. Providing a small community garden is a great spot for care receivers to gather and socialize. It provides them with a new hobby while getting fresh air and finding a new purpose. They feel a sense of pride when the vegetables they helped cultivate are able to be used for meals within the center. Having garden paths and walkways are great features for adult care centers to implement because it makes the facility more beautiful and provides a natural resource for the residents and staff to get exercise and sunshine. Transportation services are also a great feature for adult day care centers to have because it eases the burden for the caregivers while also being an environmental-friendly option.

Small Changes, Great Place

These minor changes will help lower costs while bringing in more business. The best part is that they reinforce the overall goals of the centers, to provide a safe and clean environment for elderly patients to socialize, receive health care and find recreation and companionship.

How to Prepare to Discuss Your Nursing Home Benefits to Potential Clients

When a potential client is coming for a visit, what types of things should you be prepared with to best market the benefits of your facility? Knowing information about the person or persons visiting, ahead of time, will help you to present a clear and helpful presentation. When a person calls to schedule an appointment have a form ready to try and collect as much information as possible. Having a form to collect the desired information will help to ensure a consistency of information regardless of who is answering the call.

Helpful information to include on the form:

Who is coming – Aside from getting important contact information like name, phone number, email, etc. it is also helpful to know their role in the decision making process. Are they the current caretaker, if so they will most likely be interested in determining if your facility is a safe place to live with a reliable staff. Are they a potential client, then they may be interested in hearing about available activities, the food, the cleanliness of the facility and the choices they have in making their rooms feel more like home.

Special Care Considerations – Knowing any medical or mental considerations ahead of time will also help you to personalize the visit to showcase how your staff will be able to help. These considerations can come from normal conversation about what they are looking for. For example, the caregiver says that her mother is falling more often, and she’s really concerned about her balance and frustrated about her not wanting to use her walker. Having a section on the form that these types of notes can be jotted down will allow you to be prepared to talk about the way that your staff interacts with people who have these similar concerns.

Unique offerings – Knowing what obstacles a potential client may have can give you room to talk about things that your facility offers that others may not. Suppose the client doesn’t want to go into a nursing home because they won’t live without their dog. If your advertisements show that you allow pets, that may be a big reason that they would like to come and visit. Knowing ahead of time that this could be a determining factor, perhaps the tour can include a visit with a client that is a animal lover and show how well the animal lives in their home space. Other offerings to showcase may include therapeutic programs, your special credentials, or types of extracurricular activities you offer.

Training your staff to be good listeners when taking potential client calls, can help you to make the sale easier by being ready with examples to fit the unique family needs. Then during the visit a continuation of active listening can really help you to understand what is important to them, and what is or isn’t a good fit and how you can help them to make your nursing home the right fit for them.

Senior Inclusion; Connecting to the Outside World.

Seniors often worry that when they retire and move to a Senior community, that they will lose their connections with others. To attract seniors to your community and show them that you want to soothe their fears of isolation, you can take the following steps to help them feel connected.

A Sense of Community

No one wants to live in an isolated setting. Show people that you are a community where they can have easy access to the outside world – plan events that include seniors and their families on a regular basis. Ensure that there is a feeling of effortless access; make it so that transportation, pick-ups and using their vehicles if they are still able to can be a simple process. Make sure that everything is user-friendly and handicapped accessible. If you are in areas that get cold and snow, have regular snow removers and ensure that the parking lots and paths to the community are well groomed.

Access to Technology

Seniors want all the comforts of home at their fingertips, and that includes items such as WI-FI and computers. Many people who live in senior housing do not have access to computers so a well-stocked computer lab would be very beneficial. Computer literacy classes on how to work Skype, email, and FaceTime would allow seniors to learn how to connect online. Social media classes explaining the different aspects of all the latest media would often be appreciated as well. Giving seniors access to the ability to contact family and loved ones all over the world will help to keep them happy as they age.

Include the Culture of the Local Area

People want to remain connected with the outside world when they retire into a senior community. There are several areas where the center can connect with locals to bring in some culture from nearby. Some of these ideas include talking to the following: schools, community centers, and local theaters. Many churches offer volunteer services to connect with the senior communities as well. All of these things help seniors so that they don’t feel isolated when they move into a senior community.

.Seniors want a place where they don’t feel isolated and alone. Make them see that your community stands out from the rest with innovative ideas that help them communicate and explore the world