Leslie Newlife

Retirement: Are Your Finances Ready for the Next Stage of Your Life?

By the time you reach your 50s, retirement is something you look forward to. You long for the days where you can stop working so hard and just enjoy life. After decades of giving your best self to a company, you’re excited about the idea of walking away from it all. Though lots of older adults dream of retirement, less than half of them across the US are actually ready. 

Unfortunately, most seniors reach retirement age and aren’t financially prepared for all it entails. As such, they end up struggling financially or having to return to the workforce when they should be living out their years peacefully. To avoid such circumstances from happening to you (or a relative), review your finances while asking the question, are you really ready for this next stage in your life? 

You Have Little to No Debt

During retirement, you’ll receive a considerable amount less income than you did when you were working. Therefore, you don’t want to take old baggage with you into this phase of your life. Having a lengthy mortgage, credit card debt, medical bills, and outstanding personal loans dip into your monthly retirement income reducing the amount of money you have for current bills and other interests you may have during retirement. 

If you’re still struggling with debt as you’re nearing retirement it is best to clean it up now. Pull all three credit reports and review all the information. Contact creditors to set up arrangements or negotiate settlements. Even if you have to find ways to earn extra money to get those bills paid down before you retire, it’s worth it. 

You Know What Your Future Expenses Are

When you’re living on a fixed income budgeting becomes essential to survival. Though there are a lot of expenses that will decrease or be eliminated once you’ve retired, there are other expenses that will increase. As such, you must make sure that you’re aware of what you’ll need to survive the next 20 or 30 years. Beyond factoring in the mortgage, utilities, groceries, and insurance, you also need to plan for things you might want to do during retirement like traveling. 

If you have no idea what you’ll need on a regular basis to live comfortably during retirement then it’s time to do some research and create a budget. Write down all of your bills and the average monthly cost. Then, factor in things like going on trips, entertainment, shopping, and more. Now that you have this information, you can compare your finances to your budget to see if you’re really ready for retirement.

You Have a Plan for Financial Emergencies

As you very well know, life has a way of throwing things at you that cost you a lot of money. A home repair, the car breaks down, the heating prices rise, there’s a loss in the family, an adult child has fallen on hard times, your health fails, any of those things can happen, leaving you financially drained if you haven’t properly prepared. 

It is important to know how you will handle emergencies and unforeseen circumstances after you’ve retired. This is where having a significant nest egg comes in to place. However, there are other solutions like having a credit union certificate that you only use for emergencies. 

You’re Prepared for the Future

Planning for the future is still necessary for retirement. Right now, you may be an able-bodied, healthy individual. Yet, in the future, you could develop an illness, disease, or condition. Do you know how you’ll cover the medical costs? Do you have adequate health insurance? More importantly, do you have the financial means to cover long-term care should you need assistance? 

These are things you don’t want to think about, but the truth is that as you age your health declines and the increased need for medical services and assistance is likely. These things all cost money that you will have to come up with. Therefore, you want to be prepared or else the responsibility falls on your children and other relatives. Look into healthcare policies for seniors and start creating a long-term care plan. 

If you’ve answered no to even one of the above factors then, unfortunately, you are not ready to retire. As retirement is a significant transition, it is imperative that you do more than dream about the day you don’t have to work and start planning for it. Going into retirement with little to no credit, a sound budget, decent savings, and a plan for the future provide you with peace of mind and the means to live out your years as you please. 

5 Astonishing Benefits of Regular Exercise

Lots of people pound the pavement or hit the gym in order to improve their cardiovascular health, build up some muscle, and to basically make their bodies better, but working out also has a few benefits above the neck. Let’s take a closer look.

Reduces Stress

If you had a tough day at the office, take a stroll or head to your gym for a quick workout. You can even stop and pick up your parents and workout while you’re waiting for them to do their silver sneakers classes. One of the most commonly seen benefits (mental) of exercise is the relief of stress. Exercising also increases your concentrations of norepinephrine, which is a chemical that can moderate the response of your brain to stress. That means it’s a good idea to go ahead and work up a sweat because your body will appreciate the stress relief while also getting a boost for its ability to deal with any existing mental tension.

Boost Your Happy Chemicals

Slogging through those miles on your treadmill can be a tough but great way to stay in shape as a mom. Exercise also releases endorphins, and these can create feelings of euphoria and happiness. It can even alleviate symptoms of depression, and for this reason, some doctors recommend exercise for people suffering from anxiety or depressions. You don’t even need to be a gym rat for this to work. Working out for a mere 30 minutes as little as 3 times each week can give your mood an instant boost.

Improve Your Self-Confidence

If you want to look and feel like a million bucks, just hop on your treadmill. On quite a basic level, exercise can boost your sense of self-worth and give you a more positive mental image. It doesn’t matter your age, gender, size, or weight, exercising can quite quickly elevate your perception of how attractive you are. How does that sound for feeling the love?

Enjoy Outdoors

For even more of that self-love, workout outdoors. Benefits of exercising while you’re outside include an increase in the self-esteem area. Find an outside workout that will fit your style, like jogging in the park, canoeing, hiking, or rock climbing. Also, all of that essential Vitamin D that you’ll soak up with the sun can lessen the symptoms of depression. 

Prevent Cognitive Decline

It isn’t pleasant, but it’s true – as we age, our brains can become a bit foggy. As age, along with degenerative type diseases such as Alzheimer’s work to kill off our brain cells, your brain can actually shrink a bit, and when this happens, many critical brain functions can be lost. While a healthy diet and exercise can’t cure this, what they can do is to assist with shoring up the brain against things like the cognitive decline that can begin as early as age 45. Working out, specifically between the ages of 25 and 45, can boost those chemicals in your brain that support the hippocampus and prevent the degeneration of it.

Working out, whether in the gym or out of it, can have quite a few different positive effects – both on the body and on the mind. The positive effects on the mind will help you in more than just the swimsuit season too! Gaining a bit more self-confidence, thinking smarter, and even dragging yourself out of that funk are just a few of the motivations you might use to finally take a bit of time for exercising on a regular basis. Just keep in mind that it will only work for you if you work at it!

3 Tips for Choosing a Nonprofit Organization to Work With

Doing charity work is good for the soul. People are usually happier when they have a purpose and volunteering or working for a nonprofit organization is a great way to increase fulfillment in your life. But choosing the right nonprofit organization to work with can be a bit tricky. Here are some things you should consider before committing.

Whether the Organization Has Basic Foundations in Place

It’s common for small nonprofits and charities to lack funding for basic operations. However, it’s really important for them to have all their ducks in a row because if they don’t, it could cause a lot of problems down the road — and you don’t want to be associated with a nonprofit organization that comes under fire for mismanagement.

The organization you choose to work with should have processes in place. They should have a working relationship with non profit lawyers who help them review the fine print of contracts, decide on what’s a reasonable amount of pay for employees, and help them put board and committee members in place who are trustworthy. 

Basically, you need to make sure the charity you work with has processes in place designed to keep itself out of trouble.

Additionally, consider how professional their signup process is. Do they have a streamlined professional process that uses an app, such as SignUp, to recruit volunteers or was the process chaotic and unorganized? If signing up to volunteer isn’t easy, there’s a good chance the rest of the organization’s processes are a mess too.

The Type of Volunteer Work You Want to Do

Not all volunteer programs are the same. There are several different options from which to choose. 

  • Short-term volunteer programs typically last between one week and three months. They don’t normally require volunteers to have professional qualifications, and you can find several overseas options.
  • Long-term volunteer programs are usually focused on empowering and assisting people in the local area. They often require you to have professional skills or degrees and may offer you a small wage in exchange for the work you do.
  • Conservation volunteer programs are ideal for people who are passionate about conservation or environmental work. The positions are typically very hands-on and give you the chance to work with endangered animals or threatened environments. Sustainable farming projects and clean-up efforts are also common.
  • Relief or emergency volunteer programs recruit people to work in disaster areas, directly with people who need it the most. Typically, they work in areas affected by natural disasters to help local people get necessities and rebuild their lives.

Whether the Organization Is a Good Fit for You

When deciding whether an organization is a good fit for you, the main thing you need to consider is its main aims and goals. To find this, you can check out the organization’s website or social media pages to see if they have a mission statement, beliefs, or values posted. 

You should also consider how the local community is involved in the local organization, especially if it’s an overseas opportunity. Sometimes, there are capable people who live locally who could assist with the organization’s efforts, but they either aren’t willing to get involved or the organization decided to seek out volunteers in an effort to find free labor. 

Vetting nonprofit organizations may take some time, but you’ll be a lot happier with your efforts if you choose a charity that’s trustworthy and well-operated. Not only will your experience likely be better, but you’ll also have the chance to make a bigger impact on people’s lives, the way animals are treated, or the environment — and really, that’s what working with a nonprofit organization is all about.

Amenities and Services to Offer at Your Assisted Living Community

Assisted living communities provide seniors with a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment to live when they’re no longer able to live alone. When searching for the best place to reside, most seniors and their families are looking beyond medical assistance and support. They’re essentially leaving their homes and want to find a place that makes them feel just as comfortable. That’s why it is extremely important for assisted living facility owners to invest in quality services and amenities to meet their target clients’ needs.

Medication Assistance

For seniors who are required to take medications to maintain their health, keeping up with the schedule isn’t always easy. Assisted living facilities should, therefore, offer medication management or assistance services. This service should include trained medical staff helping seniors with taking prescribed medications as instructed on a regular basis. 

Housekeeping

Mobility is another issue that seniors commonly deal with. So, getting around the house or apartment to sweep, dust, mop, and vacuum isn’t so easy. A quality assisted living facility will have cleaning services available for their residents that will take care of all the household chores on a regular schedule. These services might also extend to laundry services ensuring that seniors have clean clothes and linens. 

Activities Room

Socialization is imperative for seniors and their overall quality of life. As getting out and about is likely not as easy as it once was, having a place where residents from the community can come together and have a good time is recommended. These activity rooms can have board games, cards, standing games (pool, ice hockey, etc), a television, and should also include activities like bingo, exercise classes, dance classes, and live events from musicians, bands, speakers, etc. 

Parcel Lockers

If there’s one thing seniors love doing, it’s buying things for themselves and their families. Though the internet makes it easy for them to shop for what they want and have it shipped to their door, these packages can easily be stolen. You can help to safeguard your seniors by investing in parcel lockers. These electronic locker systems make it easier for your residents to receive their packages. They receive updates and notifications of when the packages arrive and can visit the lockers to retrieve the items when it is most convenient for them. 

Computers

In a digitally inclined era, it is important for seniors to have access to computers. They use them for shopping, keeping in touch with relatives, and in some cases, for communicating with their doctors. Having a computer room, a few computers, and laptops, or at the very least, free internet access that seniors can use at their discretion is highly recommended. 

Pet Services

Many seniors have dogs and cats that they can’t imagine parting with when they relocate. Offering a pet-friendly environment at your assisted living facility makes the transition a lot easier. If there are going to be animals on the premises, however, you’ll also want to provide convenient services to make caring for them easier. A grooming or dog walking service, for example, would be greatly appreciated. 

Transportation Services

Not all seniors are able to drive themselves around anymore. However, they still need to get out on occasion. Whether it be to a doctor’s appointment or to a shopping mall for exercise and recreation they need a reliable means of transportation. Having a van that seniors can schedule trips with is the perfect way to meet their needs. Also scheduling monthly events for seniors like shopping trips, trips to museums, casino ventures, and more adds to their satisfaction.

Security Services

Unfortunately, seniors are the perfect targets for thieves and criminals. Home invasions and burglaries are very common. You want to make your residents feel like they’re safe in your community. One way of doing this is by installing a security system in the facility. Another option would be to hire security guards to stay on watch around the clock. 

As the owner of an assisted living facility, you want your residents to be safe, happy, and healthy while living in their units. By adding services and amenities such as those discussed above to your facility make that possible. Having such things available at your facility can also increase occupancy rates by leaps and bounds.

Aging Well: Helpful Tips For Keeping Your Mind and Body Healthy As You Get Older

By 2060, the number of citizens over the age of 65 is expected to reach nearly 100 million. Some people dread the aging process because they think all it brings is routine aches and pains. In reality, getting older allows you to gain wisdom. Once you retire, you will have all the time in the world to pursue your passions.

Instead of going into your golden years with several health problems, you need to keep your mind and body healthy. Read below for some help tips on aging well.

Make Time For Daily Walks

The biggest misconception people have about staying fit is that it requires lots of time and effort. Walking 30 minutes a day is one of the best things you can do to keep your body healthy. Not only is walking easier on your joints and muscles, it is also an excellent source of cardiovascular exercise. Walking more will also help you increase the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain.

This increased blood flow will help keep your brain cells healthy. Recent scientific studies show that routine aerobic exercise can help in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Walking daily can also help you lose weight and strengthen your muscles.

This exercise can reduce your chances of getting diabetes and even heart disease. Finding an enjoyable area to walk in can make this exercise fun and relaxing.

Stay Socially Active in Your Senior Community

Moving into a senior community is something millions of elderly individuals do. Not only will you need to keep your body healthy as you age, you should focus on keeping your mind engaged as well. If you live in a senior community, staying socially active is a good idea. 

A recent study found that seniors citizens who classified themselves as lonely were nearly 60 percent more likely to experience a decline in mental and physical functionality. This study also showed that seniors who were always alone were at a 45 percent greater risk of death. Often times, moving into a community with other seniors is a great way to solve problems with loneliness. 

Generally, these types of communities will host activities for residents aimed at getting everyone together. Participating in these events is a great way to create relationships with people around you. Senior citizens living at home will also need to stay social. The best way to do this is by forging a relationship with your caregiver or inviting friends and family members over for a night of socializing. 

Follow Your Doctor’s Orders to the Letter

As you get older, you will spend more time at the doctor. Most seniors visit their doctor every couple of months to ensure they have a clean bill of health. If your doctor instructs you to increase the amount of exercise, you are getting or to try a healthier diet; you need to take these recommendations to heart.

Usually, a doctor will give this advice to seniors who are showing early warning signs of serious health problems. Sometimes, changing up your diet or increasing the amount of physical activity in your life can help delay or even prevent these health issues.

Are you looking for a health insurance plan to make going to the doctor more affordable? If so, visit the HealthMarkets website. On this site, you can browse available Medicare Advantage plans on the market. Once you look at the details of these plans, choosing the right one will be a breeze.

Add the Right Supplements to Your Diet

Keeping your body healthy as you age is no accident. It requires both hard work and the right supplements. While many of the nutrients your body needs to thrive can be found in healthier foods, you will need to use supplements as you age.

An aging body needs more vitamins and minerals to maintain functionality, which is why using supplements is a good idea. One of the best supplements a senior citizen can take is calcium. With the right amount of calcium in your body, you will be able to keep your bones strong. You may also want to think about taking B12 and vitamin D supplements.

The only way to figure out exactly what nutrient deficiencies you have is by getting blood work done. Your primary care doctor should be able to perform these tests and go over the results in detail. With their guidance, getting the right supplements in place will be less challenging.

Getting the Right Amount of Sleep is Vital

Another important thing you need to focus on when trying to age well is getting the right amount of sleep. When you sleep, your body is able to relax and regenerate. Seniors can experience a host of sleep issues that may prohibit them from getting the rest they need.

These issues can be caused by things like medication side effects, depression or even chronic diseases. As soon as you experience sleep-related problems, you need to take action to get them fixed. Usually, this will require you to go to a sleep clinic for observation. Once this observation is completed, your doctor will figure out what is wrong and how to fix it.

Aging Well Requires Effort

If you want to age well, prepare yourself for lots of work. While staying healthy as you age is challenging, the effort you invest will pay off in the long run.

Best Sunday Brunch Recipes for Senior Residents

When senior citizens are making the transition from the home that they’re used to, to a brand new living arrangement, it can be hard. The new residents will likely be scared, lost, or even depressed. There’s a lot you can do to help them feel more comfortable with the senior living facility that has been chosen for them.

You may find that some residents are more accepting than others are. Some residents may need extra patience and compassion, but they’ll start coming around. One way to focus on improving their overall experience is by serving quality food. You can help start their day off right with quality breakfast and brunch options.

Egg Variations

Eggs are amazing because there’s so much you can do with them, and they’re very inexpensive. You can make basic scrambled eggs or loaded breakfast casseroles. If you’re serving a late breakfast, you’ll likely have some more time to put effort in to make something really tasty. Breakfast casseroles are good because they feed a lot of people and they are usually filling. Some breakfast casserole options include:

  • Spinach, mushrooms, and cheese
  • Panettone French toast casserole
  • Lumberjack breakfast casserole
  • Denver egg casserole
  • Sausage hashbrown breakfast casserole

If you’re not in the mood to make a casserole, or if you just want to try something else, some other brunch options with eggs include:

  • Pimento, cheese, and ham scramble
  • Stewed peppers, tomatoes with eggs
  • Scrambled egg tacos
  • Sweet potato kale frittata
  • Mexican breakfast chilaquiles

When you use eggs in your recipes, you need to ensure you follow proper safety protocols to prevent salmonella.

Different Types of Waffles and Pancakes

Chances are, if you’re thinking about breakfast or brunch, you already have pancakes and waffles in mind. There’s nothing wrong with the classic stack of pancakes or waffles, but there’s also so much more you can do with them to mix things up a little bit. Find some quality pancake mix, or get adventurous and whip up your own. If you want to experiment with waffles and pancakes, some great ideas you can try are:

  • Belgian waffles with fresh fruit and whipped cream
  • Cinnamon sugar churro waffles
  • Pumpkin spice pancakes
  • Coconut banana yogurt waffles
  • Fried or grilled chicken waffle sliders
  • Oreo pancakes
  • Cranberry walnut pancakes
  • Captain crunch berry pancakes

If you’re cooking for residents of a senior living facility, you’ll likely need to keep things plain, but you can offer different toppings or flavored syrups to add variety.

Brunch Meats

Your brunch should also include different types of meats to add to the variety of foods you offer and to keep everyone full. Bacon is one of the most popular meats you can serve for breakfast, but you can also fry up some ham slices and/or sausages.

Quiches

Quiches work well for brunches because there are many ways you can make it. You can stuff your quiche with different veggies, meats, and cheeses to make it however you want. Some popular types of quiches you can choose to make are:

  • Turkey, bacon, and broccoli
  • Cheddar, thyme, and pancetta minis
  • Ham, tomato, and swiss
  • Red pepper
  • Cowgirl quiche with ham and onions
  • Spinach and mushroom minis
  • Caramelized onions, mushrooms, and gruyere with oat crust

When it comes to quiches, you’re able to experiment until your heart’s content to find the best flavor combinations.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. If you’re not an early riser, or if you don’t like eating early, you can choose to make a good brunch instead. Weekend brunches are a great way to get everyone together to socialize and have a good time.

How Important Are Photographs For Someone Living With Dementia

Dementia can sometimes have an impact on cognitive ability and result in difficulty recalling memories. Whilst there are many different factors to consider in order to live a happy, healthy and active life with dementia, along with everyday physical needs, mental well being should also be at the forefront of care.

Here we will discuss how photographs can provide an excellent basis for reminiscence and help to spark memories in those living with dementia, which can in turn help to improve mood and overall well being.

What is Reminiscence

Reminiscence is the act of sharing life experiences and stories from the past and can include anything from thinking about a certain time, to openly discussing and talking about it. Those living with dementia can often benefit from reminiscence based activities, as whilst they may find difficulty in recalling recent memories, it is often the case that longer term memories can be triggered. The act of sparking these memories and encouraging conversations surrounding them can be highly beneficial for boosting mood and improving mental well being.

Why Photographs

There are many different reminiscence based activities which are designed to help spark memories in those living with dementia, but one of the most effective tools is to actively ‘show’ a memory. The ability to actually see a particular time from the past is unique and ideal for evoking thoughts and memories, which may not be achieved just by conversation alone.

By using photographs, you can transport someone back to a particular time, open discussions about the photograph and what it depicts, and help to encourage conversation. Memories from a long time ago may have a lot of emotion associated with them, which is why they remain in our mind the longest. When conducting a reminiscence based activity utilizing photographs, why not select the ones which have positive memories associated with them, such as a wedding, birthday, holiday or celebration.

Along with exploring emotions with photographs, they can also be highly useful for recalling a particular point in time, place or person. Whilst it can be difficult to describe these things to someone living with dementia to aid them in memory recall, by providing a still image of the place or person, it can help to take them back and encourage conversations surrounding the image.

Activities Using Photographs

The photograph can be utilized in many different ways, from simply choosing one meaningful image such as a persons wedding day and asking gentle questions surrounding it to encourage conversation to incorporating images into activities. Below are just some excellent activities which are ideal for someone living with dementia, to aid in reminiscence, whilst utilizing photographs.

Scrapbook

A great activity utilizing photographs is to create a scrapbook together. Why not photocopy the originals so you can do this activity time and again, whilst keeping the originals intact. The act of creating the scrapbook can be interspersed with questions about each photograph which can help encourage conversation. Creating a scrapbook is an excellent engaging and creative activity which is highly suited for someone with dementia.

Memory Box

Memory boxes can be brilliant for looking back on over time and aiding with sensory exploration. Choose some objects which can go alongside the photographs such as a loved ones perfume, an item of clothing or jewelry or anything else which may have significance for your loved one. The sensory aspects alongside the photographs can greatly help to improve memory recall, as often our memories can be linked to particular sounds, smells or tastes.

Making a memory box can help to spark memories, inspire conversation and can involve both the person living with dementia and their carers and loved ones.

Magazines

Should your loved one not have any photographs, or perhaps you want to encourage conversations surrounding other images, why not use other resources such as magazines or postcards. Cutting out and showing the person living with dementia an image which may have meaning to them, such as someone doing a hobby they enjoyed, a particular place they visited on holiday or a sport can all help to spark memories, encourage conversations and boost mood.

 Timeline

Another great activity involving photographs is to create a timeline together. Gather a series of images of your loved one or family members and put together a timeline of their life. The act of seeing photographs from different times can help to spark memories.

 

There are many more activities which would be highly beneficial for someone living with dementia and can help to spark memories, conversation and improve mood. When considering which activity is most suited to your loved one, think about the things they enjoy doing and try to incorporate them. Remember when conducting a reminiscence activity not to pressure your loved one in to remembering a particular time or person, as this may cause agitation; keep questions and statements gentle and be patient, and the activity can prove highly rewarding for all.

Entertainment in Nursing Homes

Many older nursing homes are looking for new and interesting additions to attract residents to their facilities and boost morale in their current residents. Refurbishing the paint or replacing the carpet seems to only gloss over the issue. More nursing homes are offering amenities such as an in-house theatre, viewing popular movies from the resident’s past and new movies sure to tickle a funny bone. 

Adding entertainment adds an aspect of community to the facility and it becomes more than a place for them to live. Building a quiet library, craft room, sports bar, and garden are a few takes on making the residents at home. Activities are then planned around then new features giving the residents the ability to socialize. 

Does mom or dad enjoy playing cards? Some nursing homes hold game time in their larger dining rooms with roaming activities aids to help keep the games rolling. Games such as bingo lend a competitive and sometimes rewarding aspect to social time. 

Would they rather watch the game? A sports lounge with snacks and drinks can lend comfort and fun to the sports enthusiasts day. Watching the game on a larger television with other residents who are fans of their favorite teams add more smiles to their day. 

A community garden can add many different activities to the resident’s daily routine. Cultivating the plants gets those who love the outdoors out to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Garden parties, picnics, and a good old fashioned BBQ brings out those who don’t want to go outside often. 

Nursing homes with a higher functioning resident group may also include a swimming pool or optional gym. Some physical therapy groups open their equipment at certain times to allow non-skilled residents to maintain their strength and balance. 

Senior Communities or all types have found addition focusing on the social, emotional, and physical aspects of a resident’s well being has raised the general health of the residents.  Catering to the whole resident, rather than just healthcare, has to lead to more residents calling their facility “my home”.

The Unique Needs of Someone With a Respiratory Condition

Respiratory illness is the most common affliction in the world. Conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma affect millions of people and they’re especially common in the elderly. So, if you’re considering assisted living, respite care, hospice care, or any other type of senior accommodation for your loved one with chronic respiratory illness, it’s important to understand their unique needs.

First and foremost, you should know that chronic respiratory disease is treatable, but not curable. What this means is that you can take steps to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life of a respiratory patient, but you won’t be able to reverse the progression of the disease. Preventing exacerbations (flare-ups) of respiratory symptoms will be a key part of caring for your loved one. 

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Most people don’t have to worry about getting enough air when they breathe, but for someone with COPD, it’s a constant concern. COPD is characterized by inflammation in either the alveoli (tiny air sacs) in the lung or the bronchial tubes, both of which lead to a significant decrease in lung function over time. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the best ways to slow the progression of COPD and improve lung function.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are overseen by a pulmonary expert and include activities like exercise training, breathing techniques, and lung education. While some components of pulmonary rehabilitation can be done at home, for the most part, you’ll be working with a professional who will ensure exercise is done safely and effectively. As a result, if you’re considering senior living options like independent living or assisted living, you first need to make sure you have access to these programs.    

Diet

A healthy diet promotes full-body wellness. But for someone with COPD, it’s not so much about a “healthy” diet as it is the “right” diet for your needs. Breathing is part of a vital process in the body called metabolism. This is when your body uses the oxygen you inhale to break down the food you eat and turn it into usable energy while releasing carbon dioxide as a waste product. Because metabolism of carbohydrates produces a lot of carbon dioxide, many dietitians will recommend a diet high in healthy fats which produce less carbon dioxide.

There are many other things to take into consideration when creating a diet plan like weight management. Many respiratory patients lose weight because the simple act of breathing can take 10 times as much energy as a person with healthy lungs and loss of appetite due to resulting mental health issues. When you choose a senior living facility, you should ensure it can meet these unique dietary needs.

Exacerbation Prevention

Last, but certainly not least, elders coping with respiratory illnesses need a program that accommodates their exacerbations. An exacerbation is a sudden worsening of respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness, coughing, or wheezing. Exacerbations can be triggered by either an infection or an environmental factor like car exhaust, pollen, or cigarette smoke.

Wherever your loved one ends up, you should make certain they are in a place that’s sanitary and has limited air pollution. Rural areas are usually best because they have better air quality and you should take steps to ensure their indoor air quality is safe as well. Avoiding acute illness like the common cold is imperative for someone with COPD because the increased congestion can trigger a severe exacerbation. What’s more, following your oxygen therapy treatment plan will help you breathe easier and put you at a lower risk of experiencing an exacerbation. 

Conclusion

Chronic respiratory disease is a reality for millions of people around the world. But taking the time to find the right living environment for your loved one will significantly reduce the burden of the disease and allow him/her to live a fulfilling life. If you have any questions about respiratory symptoms, pulmonary rehabilitation, diet, or exacerbations, be sure to consult your doctor.

3 Steps to Increase Revenue

If you are a senior care business owner or marketing director, you’ve probably realized that marketing today is a lot different than it used to be. The days of being able to increase residents – and revenue – merely by referrals from healthcare facilities, medical professionals, and community events are long gone. So, what do you do to ensure that you attract more residents and boost revenue? Well, here are the 3 steps to increase revenue for your community:

Enhance Your Image

First impressions always matter. Since prospects will be judging your book by its cover on their first encounter, it’s imperative that you package your community in an attractive way. One area you have to work on is the building. Not only does it need to be beautifully and tastefully decorated and furnished, but it also needs to have all the features and amenities that seniors really want and need. Working on your image will motivate prospects to come onboard.

Hire the Right Staff

You could have the most beautiful community in the world, but if you don’t have the kind of staff that retains customers, then it will be all for nothing. You don’t want to hire family members, friends, or just anyone who needs a job. What you needs is kind, compassionate, friendly, and hardworking staff. In other words, you need staff members that know what senior care entails. You have to be willing to train them and pay them well to keep them. Make sure they are a fit for your residents.

Stand Out from the Competition

A Forbes report reveals that in 2014, there were 30,000+ assisted living facilities in the United States. That number has obviously risen since then. This goes to show that there’s a lot of competition to consider. To stand out from the competition, you need to identify a number of things that make yours truly unique. Be creative with your service offerings, pricing, and other features that will distinguish your home from other communities around.

You can boost your revenue by making sure that you are offering something that the competition isn’t, and then marketing that unique selling point. Present a top-notch senior living facility, hire diligent staff and offer a high level of care, and ensure that prospective clients hear about it.