Leslie Newlife

Website Essentials For Senior Care Providers

When it comes to selecting a care provider, today’s seniors and their families have an overwhelming number of choices. Many individuals and families begin the search for care online. This is an excellent opportunity for any company looking to market itself and grow its client base. Here are a few examples of necessary content on any senior care website:

Services

One of the first things seniors and their families will look for in a care company is services offered. Whether needing in-home care, memory care, assisted living or full-time nursing home care, each senior will require something different. Services should be easy to find from the homepage of the website and listed out clearly.

Options

Seniors and their families will look for things that make a particular provider unique. This is the area where a company has the opportunity to shine. Some examples that should be shared on a website: particular housing options in assisted living facilities, customizable services for in-home care, staff awards and accreditations, and insurance partnerships.

Cost

This is one of the most frequent concerns of families when searching for senior care. Most companies choose not to list expenses on their websites but add links to contact them directly. This often leads to a dialogue between potential clients and the company of their choice. These families then receive a more personalized summary of expected costs.

The decision to seek care for senior family members is often difficult and emotional for both the senior and their relatives. It is important to address these individuals with genuine compassion and caring, even online. This simple act could be the factor that sets one company apart versus another. As they are often the first line of contact with seniors and their family members, websites are important tools at care companies’ disposal.

Did you know that New LifeStyles builds, hosts & maintains websites specifically for the senior living and care industry? Let us give you a quote to update or build your mobile friendly website.

4 Behaviors That May Be Signs of Dementia

Dementia is a frightening, stressful, and often strange collection of behaviors that progress in severity over time. Caring for a loved one or being aware that you may have a genetic link to this frightening issue poses many challenges to the afflicted and the caregivers alike. For this reason, it is paramount to be on the lookout for the early signs and behaviors. This way all parties can plan accordingly.

Wandering

Perhaps one of the better known early signs, people with dementia will often start wandering seemingly aimlessly. This behavior arises because the sufferer will wish to run an errand or go somewhere but forget along the way. This can also involve wanting to satiate a physical need, like hunger or thirst and are typically preceded by a trigger. It is important to look for patterns in these occurrences to identify possible triggers.

Repetitive Speech or Behavior

Another early sign of dementia is the frequent repetition of a word, statement, question, or activity excessively. Though, usually annoying rather than harmful it is important to note that this behavior can be triggered by anxiety or fear and the situations in which repetition appears is important to note.

Paranoia

Among one of the most painful and frustrating for loved ones and caregivers, paranoia is another early behavior. Watching someone you love or care for become suspicious, accusatory, and reclusive can be very difficult. Simply, keep in mind that it is the nature of the disease and is equally distressing for your loved one, only they may lack the awareness to cope with it like a loved one or caregiver might. Don’t take it personally.

Difficulty Dressing

Subtle changes in the way a person suffering from dementia begins dressing is another early sign that something may be psychologically amiss. With advanced patients, this may look like wearing evening clothes like a gown or tuxedo to bed but as an early sign, it may appear as suddenly mismatching patterns when they were previously very coordinated or excessively layering clothing.

Keep these signs in mind if you suspect yourself or someone you love may be exhibiting the early signs of dementia. With preparation for what steps may have to be taken will make the transitions that may happen later a little easier for everyone.

What to Look for in an Adult Day Care

As some people age and no longer are able to care for themselves on a full-time basis, many people end up moving back in with their children or other loved ones. While this can be a good solution at night and on weekends, those that need to work are not able to care for their parents during the day. In these situations, going to an adult day care facility could be the best option. When you are looking for an adult day care facility, there are several different factors to take into consideration.

Ability to Meet Needs

The individual needs of someone who requires adult day care varies considerably from one person to the next. Because of this, it is important to confirm that the adult day care facility has the ability to provide the services you need. Some of the common services can include assistance with eating, light therapy, and other forms of care.

Quality of Staff

Since they are responsible for caring for your loved ones, it is also important to consider the quality of the staff at the property. You should focus on what the staffing ratios are to ensure that the staff will adequately be able to meet the needs of all people.  You should also confirm what the education and experience is of the staff members to ensure they are equipped to handle any emergency that arises.

Overall Atmosphere

Finally, you should try to get a feel for the overall environment at the property. Since the attendee will be spending up to eight hours per day in the property, it would be ideal to find one that is comfortable and fun to attend. Part of your review should include reviewing activity calendars, getting a feel for the energy in the property, and even tasting the food.  All of these factors can have a major impact on the overall experience that someone can have.

Click to find Memory Care for those suffering from dementia.

Developing SEO, PPC, & Social Media Campaigns For Senior Communities

In a world where digital communications and online communities help drive sales and admissions for senior communities and care agencies you must learn to evolve quickly with trends, as well as understand how to effectively communicate with your audience. Your tasks can be overwhelming when attempting to put together the puzzle pieces. SEO, PPC, & Social Media marketing are common buzzwords, and marketing firms will try and sell you on their expertise, but how can you be prepared to launch a digital marketing campaign, especially when you are new to the space? Read on…

Social Creatures

Humans are social creatures, and much of our communications are carried out online. Customers will seek out information, advice, and reviews online. The important thing to understand when setting up a Facebook, Twitter, or other social media outlet for your community or agency is quite simple: The customer is King.

You must provide your customers with relevant information that offers some value in their search for a senior community. This means that your online presence should be an accurate and positive representation of your real world self. Pictures of your facility and its amenities are valuable assets that should be displayed within your social accounts, as are positive reviews, and current information about activities you offer. Make sure you have these things ready before launching a social media marketing campaign.

Understand Thyself

SEO and PPC (Search Engine Optimization and Pay Per Click) marketing are powerful tools that can put your community’s online presence in front of your target market, but you must have a strategy. Before launching any type of digital marketing campaign for your community, you must have a solid understanding of how you want to present yourself to potential tenants, and you must know who your target audience is.

Ask yourself a few questions: What pages do I need to get in front of more visitors? What content do I want displayed on these pages? Do we have any important offers or key points that we need to get in front of more eyes? Creating the content that you want to promote online is the most important part of creating a successful campaign.

Step By Step

Don’t get overwhelmed with your tasks at hand. There is a wealth of information available online to help you craft the perfect campaign, and rushing things will not help you on your path to success. We hope these simple tips will help you get started!

5 Caregiver Tips for Communicating With Seniors Effectively

When taking care of an elderly person, it is important to know how to communicate with them properly. Here are some tips to help you communicate effectively.

Speak Slowly, Loudly, and Clearly ONLY If Needed

Many elderly people often have trouble hearing, but not all. First figure out if the senior you are caring for is hard of hearing. If so, make sure to speak loudly and clearly so that they can make out what you are saying. Do not speak too fast, and be prepared to repeat some things that you say. However, do not shout or talk to them in a condescending or patronizing way like you would speak to a child. Find out if English is their first language. A caretaker that speaks a senior native language might find communication easier.

Keep Things Simple

Explain new things in a simple manner. When talking with someone who is easily confused, stick to one topic at a time. Providing too much information to process at one time can cause confusion. If you aren’t sure if they understood, ask if they have any questions.

Speak Face to Face

It is a good idea to speak face to face while making eye contact. Body language and lip movements can help interpret what you are saying. Make sure to maintain eye contact when you speak and until you get an answer. I find this helpful when talking with my teenager as well : )

Listen

It is most important to listen to what they have to say. Make sure to be fully attentive, not just to what is being said but how it is expressed. Do they mean something else? Make sure your body language also shows that you are listening. Be patient; it might take them time to find the right words, or complete a story.

Be Respectful

Make sure to give them the respect that they deserve. Do not brush away their concerns or requests. Instead of ordering them to do something, ask them if they would like to do it and respect their wishes whenever possible. Pick your battles! Do not get into an argument over something that is not important. Treat your ward as you want to be treated.

Do you have any other communication suggestions?

The 3 Keys To Writing Better Ads

Today, we’re going to delve into the three key elements of crafting the perfect ad for senior living and senior care facilities: Problem-Agitate-Solve. These three elements, also known as PAS, are effective because it uses pain as a motivator to take action. And as we already know, humans are hardwired to do more to avoid pain than to seek pleasure. Let’s dive into the hidden secrets of building persuasive ads:

Structure Of A Well-Crafted Ad

What is equally as important is to always focus on the benefits of your offer, rather than the features. For example, if you provide a world-class meal plan for your residents you don’t want to simply boast that Gordon Ramsey himself is begging you for your recipes. Instead, you can tap into the pain of loneliness and say: “Enjoy five-star meals in the company of your newfound friends.”

Pain

First, it’s important to have a clear picture of your ideal resident or client. Give them a name if you have to, and pinpoint their pain sources. Common sources of pain for seniors living on their own are: commuting, safety, loneliness/lack of friends, housekeeping, meal preparation, and boredom. Simply focus your marketing message on the pain points you’re looking to tap into, and you will notice how much easier it is to build an ad.

Agitate

This is where you simply take those pain points and drive them home. If it’s loneliness you’re targeting, write about how your prospect is letting time slip away by watching the same old reruns over and over. To highlight an earlier point, this element is to simply make your prospect feel so much unbearable pain that they feel compelled to make a change.

Solve

Look at this element as the release valve. You’ve built up so much pressure within your prospect and now you’re giving them an out. Position your facility as the solution to all of their problems. They no longer have to deal with commuting with your concierge transportation system. Loneliness is now a problem of the past because their calendars will be packed with amazing events in which to indulge.

We hope we were able to provide you with some value, and give you an easy-to-follow formula to write better ads. Be sure to visit our blog to get some more valuable tips and information.

6 Important Questions to Ask When Looking For a Nursing Home

Looking for a nursing home can be one of the most daunting tasks you may ever experience.  Oftentimes judgment and emotions are running high during this time of transition for your loved one. Therefore, it is crucial to have an objective list of questions ready to guide you through this process.

1. How responsive is the administration?  Leadership starts at the top and should be evident from the first encounter with the nursing home. If there is a long lapse in communication at this point, look into it.

2. How clean does the environment appear & smell?  For an objective list comparing nursing homes and their inspection reports refer to Medicare or the Department of Health in your state.

3. What is the ratio of staff to residents?  This is usually mandated by the state, but make sure you are not seeing a shortage. Unfortunately there can be a high turnover rate in this industry particularly for CNAs.

4. What is the current occupancy rate?  Unless the facility is new it could be cause for concern if there are an abundance of available rooms.

5. What is the protocol in case of a medical emergency and what is the schedule with the attending physician? It is valuable to know how often team meetings between all staff occur as well as the scheduled rounds of the attending physician.

6. How active are the support services?  Are physical and occupational therapy readily available?  Ask to tour the therapy rooms.  Also look at the activities schedule to determine the level of social resources.

Although there are many other questions that will arise during this process these questions are a good way to start the evaluation process. This proper research in the beginning can alleviate many issues in the future.

Click to find nursing homes in your area.

Meeting the Demand for Technology in Senior Living Communities

People are enjoying longer fuller lives nowadays, and aging adults are seeking housing to fit their lifestyles. Senior living communities appeal to potential residents by offering various amenities and services. Today’s senior citizens are quite tech savvy. The PewResearch Center reports that 60% of seniors regularly use the Internet and 77% own cell phones. Retirees expect to find up-to-date technology in their housing options, but meeting these high-tech demands can be challenging for some communities. Housing developers understand this need and integrate technology into building plans. However, existing communities are faced with the challenge of upgrading. Here, we will examine which technologies seniors are seeking and how communities can meet these demands.

Wi-Fi

Internet access is a top priority for seniors who are evaluating their housing options. The web allows them to stay in touch with friends and family, shop, learn, and play. Community operators meet these requirements in a number of ways. Some have created dedicated computer rooms or Internet cafés within the community. This is a wonderful way for residents to gather and socialize while using the Internet. It also provides a space to offer tech programs that teach residents how to use computers, mobile devices, and the Internet. Some communities implement Wi-Fi access throughout the entire facility. It can become expensive for existing communities to upgrade and update their systems. However, with connectivity being in such high demand, Wi-Fi access has become a necessity in order to offer relevant services to potential residents. Other communities opt to let residents obtain and pay for their own wi-fi via the local internet/cable provider.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

While technology provides lots of fun and leisure, it also allows communities to function more efficiently and effectively. High-tech devices are used for many areas of senior care to improve services and in turn, improve the lives of residents. For example, skilled nursing and memory care communities use motion sensors to detect nighttime movement and help them determine if a resident needs assistance. Assisted-living communities use a variety of tech to record work flow and response times. Memory care operators use real time tracking location systems (RTLS) to keep residents safe by tracking their location within the community. Technology is also important for daily business operations, such as payments, billing, purchasing, marketing, medical records, medication management and more. Some communities even use an intranet to get feedback from residents & keep them apprised of events and announcements.

Making it Happen

Community operators know the importance of using current technology. However, in some cases it may be cost prohibitive. Some communities use financing options to afford the necessary upgrades. While the upfront cost may be substantial, community leaders understand the need for forward thinking tech solutions. Current and future residents expect cutting-edge technology and community operators must rise to the challenge.

There is no single, “cookie-cutter” solution. Every community is unique and has its own needs. It’s important to evaluate all the innovations and determine which ones will be most beneficial to the residents while remaining cost effective.

Legal Documents – Are you Ready?

There are so many things to do and factors to consider when a senior decides to move into a community, or needs care. From clearing a home and selling it or making it a safe place to age, to choosing the right senior community or caregiver. Your hands will be full. One thing that can make it all easier is having legal documents in place before there is a need. I’m not just talking about a Will, Power of Attorney, but also, a document outlining your wishes. Sometimes this is an easier approach than talking about plans.

Most people think they have to go to a lawyer to draw up the legal documents they need, but there are other options online now. Law Depot is one site that offers free legal documents, forms and contracts. There are also many examples online to help you make decisions and figure out how to draw it up.

There are also sites and associations like 5 Wishes, dedicated to communicating your preference for care & end of life. These are done in everyday language to help the process flow.

When my husband & I went to a lawyer to have all of my documents drawn up (yes, we did it the old expensive way), she asked so many questions I hadn’t thought of. Who should do what, when & how. This gets more detailed the more stuff you have to deal with (and the more relative there are). As an example, my husband has classic cars, so who has the know-how & time to sell them at a fair price? Many of the things we wanted done aren’t really covered in a Will, so she told us to write out our wishes, and give a copy to everyone mentioned.  This way everyone knows their part.

Make sure your family and those close to you know how and where you want to age. Personally, I look forward to moving into one of the beautiful senior communities I have visited and be surrounded by activities and amenities. I have even picked the Memory Care community I want to go to if I ever need it, and I’ve been sure to tell a lot of people, as I won’t remember by then : )  Things change, so remember to review and update your documents ever 2-5 years.

Do yourself and your family a favor and get your documents in order now. You are never too young. Things happen every day! Don’t make a difficult time even harder on your loved ones.

Understanding What Makes A Good Ad

Digital marketing is an effective and affordable way to gain more visitors to your website, as well as new clients for your business, but how do you attract your target market and close a sale? While the detailed answer to this question is different for everyone, the basic principles are the same. Read on….

Ability To Change

Digital marketing is a powerful tool that allows businesses of all types to create highly targeted and dynamic ads that can provide excellent returns on your investment. Too often, people abandon their ads due to lack of understanding. While the key factors in determining the success of an advertisement online are similar to that of a traditional print advertisement, there are still many differences.

Online advertisements allow a business to create ad campaigns that work within their budget, and target very specific demographics. Additionally, ads that you create with search engines like Google can be monitored 24×7 and changed almost instantly. Say goodbye to typos and the uncertainty of reaching your target market.

Things Change, Things Stay The Same

While online advertisements offer you the ability to make all types of changes as often as you like, they do not guarantee you conversions. Like traditional advertisements, you’re going to need excellent titles, strong calls to action, and you’ll need to understand your audience, but there is even more for you to consider.

Content Is King

An advertisement with weak content and no calls to action is going to see very low response rates, no matter what medium you select. You may know exactly what words to use to attract a client, but if you don’t offer up information that they consider valuable, your chances of success are slim.

Always consider giving your potential clients a wealth of information for free, before attempting to close a sale, this will make your advertisement valuable and more solid as a selling tool. In the digital world, you’re only going to have a limited amount of characters to use in an attempt to entice potential buyers to visit your website or page, and you’ll want to keep them around for as long as possible. Try seeing your advertisements as a free giveaway that will hopefully encourage a potential client to use your strong calls to action and take the next step in your marketing cycle.

Watch Closely

Whether you are opting for traditional, digital, or a combination of both marketing tools, the facts remain the same: You need to provide value to your base in order to see success. Crafting a good advertisement doesn’t need to be difficult, but you should consider a few things before launching your campaign. We wish you success!

Senior Living & Care: 5 Tips For Seniors To Keep Their Balance, and Stay On Their Feet

Keeping our balance is one of those things we often take for granted, just like walking, or breathing easy. However, as we get older, these things that were once easy can turn into chores. Or, in some cases, genuinely difficult tasks.

If falls are a serious risk for you, whatever the reason, then here are some simple things you can do to make sure they happen as rarely as possible in your life.

Tip #1: De-Clutter Your Environment

Take a moment to look around your living space. Are you one of those folks who has a place for everything? Or are you a little more free-form when it comes to your organization skills? Because if you want to avoid falls, then getting rid of clutter is the first thing you should do.

Some de-cluttering steps are obvious. Make sure dirty clothes are in a hamper or a basket, put books and magazines on tables or shelves, and keep your shoes in a cubby rather than on the floor. However, you should also get rid of things like throw rugs, runners, and any decorations that might get under your feet. This is particularly true on and near stairs, where a fall could lead to more than a bruised hip.

Tip #2: No More Slippery Socks

While the idea of house shoes might seem silly, it can be a life saver if you want to avoid falls. Because while fluffy wool socks and floppy slippers are undeniably comfortable, they are also a major tripping hazard. This is especially true if they aren’t on tightly, or if you have hardwood or tile floors in your home (or any of the aforementioned throw rugs that are prone to slip and slide across smooth surfaces). For some extra protection, wear slippers that fit like shoes, or the house socks that have rubber grips on the bottom. They’re just as effective for keeping warm, but they don’t have the risks of they’re smooth-soled cousins.

Tip #3: Listen To Your Body

One of the biggest mistakes we make is to ignore the warning signs when our body is trying to tell us something. If you’re out-of-breath, for example, take a moment to normalize. If you’re feeling dizzy or light-headed, there’s no shame in staying in your seat until the sensation passes. If you need a walking stick, or a brace, then use them. Even when you’re just going down the hall, or it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. It’s always the, “just this onetime,” situations that result in falls, so minimize those occurrences whenever you can.

Tip #4: Exercise Regularly

Exercise is one of those habits a lot of us just don’t bother with once we’re no longer in gym class, but you don’t need to be trying to impress someone to hit the gym. Regular exercise, in addition to just being plain good for you, also keeps your body in working order. Think of it as preventative maintenance. A regular routine will ensure your muscles are responsive, that your joints are in working order, and it will help make sure you have the necessary reflexes to catch yourself before you can fall. And, in the event that you do end up meeting unexpectedly with the floor, you’re likely to sustain fewer injuries if you regularly exercise than you would if you didn’t.

Tip #5: Turn on The Lights

One of the biggest causes of falls is walking around in the dark. While turning on the lights might seem like the most basic thing in the world, many falls are caused by unexpected trips to the bathroom, or short walks to get a glass of water. While it might seem like a momentary frustration when you’retired and used to the dark, just turn on the lights. It’s better to be safe than sorry.