Leslie Newlife

Pension vs Property in the UK: Should I Invest My Savings Rather Than Put Them in a Pension Pot?

For decades people have put their monthly earnings into a pension pot for when they retire. This may seem like the only logical explanation for many people, but there are others out there too. Rather than putting your savings into a pot and allowing the savings to collect dust until your retirement days arrive, you can invest that money into a stable and secure asset such as property. The decision to invest your money rather than allowing it to only gain interest through an account is often deemed a huge one. Understandably you’re taking a risk with any investment type, but if you do your research first, then you’re sure to feel more confident with your choice.

In this quick guide, we will address saving for your pension in a traditional way, using a pension pot. However, the decision is ultimately up to you, whether you choose to invest your savings before you retire or you want to be more traditional is entirely your choice and should not be taken without serious consideration. Below we are comparing the two and what might be best depending on your financial situation.

Investing in Property

Out of the two choices, investing in property is the one that is going to get you the biggest and best return. If you’re a savvy investor and choose to invest in a high yielding area, not only will your property appreciate in value over time, it will also give you a steady secondary income that you can either reinvest or save up. Plus, when it comes to retiring, you can either sell on your asset or pass it down to your children. With many property investments, you will make returns from day one.

Like the properties offered by RWinvest, there are hundreds of modern, off-plan or refurbished buy to let opportunities across the country, but you must do the research first. Property investment can be a career option if you are wise with spending and build up your portfolio. This is why so many investors choose to invest in property rather than put their savings in a pension pot. If you’re lucky enough to have a large sum of money that would otherwise sit in a low-interest savings account, investing in property means you will get returns and also have an asset to your name too.

Before taking the plunge and investing, you may want to look at the market and decide which area is best for you. Northern UK cities have been known to offer investors better rental yields and capital appreciation and properties in the UK capital, London. However, you need to feel confident and believe in the property and the area to know you’re going to succeed with your investment.

Pension Pot

Investment of any type can be seen as taking a risk, which is why many people simply choose to put their retirement funds into a pension pot. There are two main issues with this; you’re not going to make big returns so, therefore, whatever you put in you won’t get much more out, and also, you will need to think about whether putting money into a pension pot suits you financially.

Compared to owning a buy to let property, with pension pots, you don’t gain any interest (or whatever interest you do get will be minimal) which is why people choose investment rather than saving. However, if you are going to save for your pension, it is recommended you put your money into the likes of a Lifetime ISA which allows individuals between 18 to 50 to put away £4,000 (almost $5000) per year and receive £1,000 ($1250) as a bonus. It is worth noting that while this ISA is useful for getting a bonus every tax year, you can only open it until you’re 39 (despite being able to save until you’re 50).

Why It’s Important for Seniors to Stay Active and Physically Fit

As older adults, we hear it all the time—exercise, exercise, exercise. But is it really that big of a deal if we don’t get the recommended amount of exercise each week? Well, we’re here to say that, indeed, staying active and physically fit is one of the most important things you can do to live a long, healthy, and happy life. When we hear it over and over again, sometimes it’s easy to forget why getting routine exercise is so important. Here are the reasons why your doctor demands that you get active.

  1. It Prevents Heart Disease –  The number one reason why older adults need to exercise is because it prevents the leading cause of death in America, heart disease. Exercise gets your heart rate up and strengthens it while also helping to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.  When you have these things under control, you’ll be much less likely to experience heart attack, stroke, and other fatal cardiovascular episodes. Interestingly, research shows that exercise even helps the heart’s arteries dilate easier and helps manage your sympathetic nervous system, which controls heart rate and blood pressure.
  2. It Keeps Extra Weight Off – Exercising burns calories and aids in regulating blood sugar, which will help you lose weight and keep it off. And, while we still don’t know all the ways carrying a few extra pounds can affect us, there is research indicating that it’s one of the worst things for our health and well-being as we age. Being overweight or obese can seriously increase and exacerbate health risks in seniors, as it’s linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, and more.
  3. It Lowers Blood Pressure – High blood pressure (hypertension) leads to heart disease because it puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, but there are more negative ways it impacts your body. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that high blood pressure can cause serious damage to the brain, including dementia, transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, and cognitive impairment. It also has a worrying effect on the kidneys, eyes, and sexual organs.
  4. It Strengthens Your Muscles – While cardiovascular activity is good for the heart, you also need to incorporate strength training and stretching into your complete fitness routine for full-body health. Stronger muscles scaffold the entire body, helping to mitigate back pain, keep your spine straight, and support your hips and knees. If you have chronic back pain, incorporating strength-building into your routine may seem like a challenge. We recommend using a laser light therapy belt to temporarily relieve and relax muscles after a strenuous workout.
  5. It Protects Your Bones – Did you know that working out can improve bone health? Yep! In fact, bones are similar to muscles in that they respond to exercise by becoming stronger. Keeping your bones strong into old age can help prevent injury while improving coordination and flexibility. But exercise is both good and bad for the bones and joints, so you need to make sure you’re doing the right kinds for your age and body. Low-intensity activities such as swimming can help build muscle and condition the heart without stressing the joints.
  6. It Makes You Happy – Who can deny the pure, natural joy of runner’s high? The chemicals released during a good workout session are second-to-none, and there are few other ways you can get such a guilt-free thrill! Working out makes you happy because it releases endorphins that reduce your perception of pain and makes you feel happy, but it also just feels good because you know you’re doing something great for yourself and your health!
  7. It Encourages Socialization – Working out doesn’t have to be a solo activity and, in fact, it’s actually better when done with others. Exercising in a group is an awesome way to stay accountable and connect with others. Some of the best ways to do this are through fitness classes and clubs, such as hiking or running clubs. One of the most overlooked ways to enhance physical and mental health is spending time with friends and family. Being around others can make you feel happy, confident, loved, and self-assured, which is important to good health.
  8. It Boosts Your Energy – There’s no denying it: We get more tired as we get older, so anything we can do to ward off fatigue and feel more energetic is worth a try. Exercise is one of the best ways to improve energy levels because it delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, helping the heart and lungs work more efficiently and giving the whole body a big-time boost of oomph.

9. It Helps You Sleep – Yep, exercise does it all—boosts energy and improves sleep. The truth is that, by the time you’re ready for bed, the body will be more tired and ready for deep sleep                when you’ve spent a portion of your day working out. Like diet and exercise, sleep is a crucial pillar of good health in older adults, as it helps reduce fatigue, stress, depression, and anxiety.                And, of course, poor sleep has been linked with serious health issues such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

 

You probably already know why working out is essential, but sometimes it’s nice to have a reminder and remember exactly why we do what we do. At the end of the day, if you log some quality fitness time, you will undoubtedly see for yourself why it matters so much! The reward comes in the form of a longer, more enjoyable life!

5 Effective Ways to Help Take Care of Your Grandparents

When it comes to taking care of your grandparents everyone wants to be sure that they are handled with good care, patience, and love. While at times it may be stressful, you must also keep in mind that it is not easy for them to become dependent on others. It is also difficult for them to ask you even for a single small thing, they need your help in moving from one place to another, they need you to get their food and for many other things. This sometimes makes them insecure and they feel down. So this is where you need to cheer them up to enjoy their old days.

It is also crucial that everyone become familiar with ways to provide their elderly loved ones with the best possible care and love.

1.      They Need Social Interaction

The first thing that makes your grandparents happy is social interaction. Being old and living alone is the toughest thing that becomes life challenging and hard for old people so visit them often. Spend some time with your grandparents. They want you to listen to their stories and when you sit with them it assures them that they are healthy, safe, and doing well.

2.      Make Sure to Provide Them with Medicines

Be sure that your grandparents are appropriately supplied with their medications. It is essential that all their prescriptions are refilled. If your grandparents are on several medications, it is always a good way to purchase a pillbox and label the compartments with the days and time. This will simplify their medicine taking process. Moreover, if a new medication is prescribed, ask the pharmacist or doctor about the possible side effects.

3.      Use Tracker Apps

Almost all of us have grandparents at home and sometimes with our jobs it can be hard to take care of them. Nowadays, with modern technology it is not difficult to track those at risk of wandering. Your parents and you can install a phone tracker to follow them. These tracking apps cannot replace you but help you to keep a good eye on your grandparents if needed.

4.      Plan a Day Out With Them

Planning a day out with your grandparents is a fun way to keep them engaged. According to few researches, when teens or young people plan days out with old people they feel more energetic and healthier. So ask them to tell you what they have in their bucket list, where they want to go, what they love to do, and plan accordingly. In this process you may come across some resistance but with some efforts you should be able to convince them to share their plans and wishes with you.

5.      Exercise and Diet

It is always good to accompany your grandparents for morning or evening walks. It will make them feel refreshed and also provide you with an opportunity to spend time with each other. On the other side, paying attention to diet is also important. They may not be able to consume any heavy diet at this age hence it is crucial to feed them a healthy and nutritious meal.

Doing all of these things will not only be good for your grandparents, but good for your relationship with them!

How to make sure an elderly loved one is safe during the COVID-19 crisis

Caring for Elderly Loved Ones during Covid-19
Free image taken from https://unsplash.com/photos/UrcuFgKfSS4
In all the whirl of uncertainty and conflicting statements that dominate the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that one thing is for sure: the virus is particularly dangerous for the elderly and people with preexisting conditions, which have a high incidence among the elderly anyway. Data from China, Europe, and the US, all shows that people over 65 have an increased risk of contracting the virus and experiencing health complications. As a result, one of the first recommendations from the World Health Organization was to keep senior relatives inside as much as possible and take extra precautions to protect them. If you have elderly loved ones living alone or in a care home, you may be feeling anxious or scared about their future. Fortunately, you’re not completely powerless and, by following a few precautions, you can help your senior relatives stay healthy and safe throughout this pandemic. 

Avoid unnecessary visits 

In this period, you may be anxious and feel the need to check on your loved one more than usual, but health experts say that this could do more harm than good. Because some cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic and the virus has a relatively long incubation period, there’s a chance you may have it and not know. Yet, the virus can be passed on to someone else. 

If your loved one is in a nursing home, they may have already adjusted visiting hours or started lock down to limit exposure and protect the seniors, so make sure you call to inquire about their policy before coming. Restrictions don’t necessarily mean that you have to stop visits but rather that you have to stop unnecessary contact. 

This advice also applies if your loved one is at home. As difficult as it may be to see them less often, it’s for their own good.  

Safety precautions 

If you feel that you’re being paranoid and taking too many precautions, you’re doing the right thing. Whether your parent or grandparent lives at home or in a care center, you have to establish some ground rules and precautions: 

  • When visiting your loved one to check on them or deliver groceries, stay outside and avoid physical contact. No hugging, kissing, or handshaking. 
  • Reduce contact between grandparents and grandkids. Preliminary research shows that children are less likely to display symptoms once infected, but they can spread the disease. 
  • Always sanitize your hands before visiting. If you’re worried that you might have the virus, wear a mask. 
  • Tell them not to leave their home unnecessarily and avoid contact with neighbors
  • Tell them to postpone any travel plans, such as cruises and trips, until further notice 
  • If possible, arrange that someone else delivers their groceries and runs their errands
  • If your loved one lives at home but is looked after by a home carer, make sure they practice excellent hygiene and take the right safety precautions 
  • If your loved one is in a nursing home, call them to make sure they have a protocol in place to prevent infection
  • Make sure that your or another emergency contact can reach your loved one or their family doctor quickly 
  • Give your loved on a list of contacts that they can reach out to if they have an emergency or are worried that they’re getting sick

A healthy lifestyle is more important than ever for seniors 

Chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma can increase the risk of complications and cause an aggressive form of the disease, so apart from taking all the safety precautions above, it’s essential for your elderly relative to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. 

When doing their groceries, make sure they have a bit of every food group and that their meals cover all their nutritional needs. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and healthy fats are essential in strengthening their immune system. The experts at Mind Your Head York also recommend adding supplements into their diet because seniors tend to have a lower calorie intake, and their bodies are less efficient at absorbing essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, folic acid, and calcium. 

If your loved one is still in relatively good health, encourage them to stay active by doing light exercises, gardening, or cleaning the house. Physical activity not only boosts the immune but also promotes a positive state of mind and helps reduce anxiety. 

Practice physical distancing, not social distancing

Recently, experts have changed the term “social distancing” to “physical distancing” because the former was rather misleading and gave people the impression that they had to avoid each other entirely. Social distancing isn’t about this – it’s about reducing physical contact, but that doesn’t mean we should be disconnected and stop all forms of interaction with loved ones. On the contrary, this is the best time to come together as a society and show support even if we’re not physically there. 

Studies show that one in three seniors struggle with loneliness, and, most of the time, they feel isolated. The current pandemic can amplify the effects of this loneliness and cause a worrying series of health hazards: altered brain function, decreased memory, higher stress levels, and even faster progression of degenerative brain disease. So, while you’re social distancing to protect your loved one from the novel coronavirus, stay mindful of their needs and don’t shut them out of your life. Your visits, afternoon visits from neighbors, daily trips to the grocery stores may have been their only occasions to socialize, so when these are taken from them, they can feel sad, angry, and confused. 

To help your loved one feel less lonely, schedule daily video calls, let them talk to their grandchildren on Skype and read them bedtime stories, tell them about your day, and take the time to answer their questions. It seems that the current state of events had the roles switched, and you may feel that your parent is now the teenager and you’re the overprotective one. As tempting and understandable as it might be to lose your patience and shout as you’re coming to terms with your own anxiety, we could all be a little more patient and compassionate with our elderly loved ones. 


Life Plan Communities: 4 Different Levels of Care

If you’re a baby boomer, chances are you’ve been planning for your sunset years for sometimes now. You’ll be pleased to learn that senior living has advanced considerably over the years to include many new options. As you grow older, you’ll naturally become more curious about senior care services. Some of the questions you’ll ask regularly include:

  • What particular services will I require as I gradually advance in age?
  • Which senior community best serves my needs?

To answer these questions, let’s learn more about Life Plan Communities.

About Life Plan Communities

Life Plan Communities, also referred to as Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), offer you various types of care, ranging from independent residential accommodation to nursing care that assists you as your needs evolve.

It’s essential that you understand how supportive a Life Plan Community can be as you age. This removes any concerns you might have about future health issues, such as memory loss and failing health. The following are the various types of care you should expect from a Life Plan Community, as well as some common differences:

1. Independent Residential Living

As is the case with most seniors, you probably started considering retirement living years before you needed constant care. Independent residential living is convenient because it offers you cottages and apartments in a secure community of your peers.

In this environment, you’ll have grounds care and maintenance taken care of. This gives you ample time to enjoy social and fitness activities with your fellow citizens. Such communities also provide standard on-campus amenities. These include beauty parlors, fitness centers, medical services, transportation, and therapy services. With these essential services always close, you’ll achieve peace of mind in no time.

2. Personal Care

Personal Care offers you extra services if you need help with daily living. As a resident, you’ll still be independent, but have ready access to skilled staff who will assist you in performing activities of daily living (ADLs). These services include grooming, performing household chores, medication administration, running errands, and incontinence management.

The support and pricing you receive will depend on the amount of assistance you’ll require. Standard Personal Care packages have a minimum of three daily meals, linen service, housekeeping, and access to social amenities.

Personal Care units can vary from little efficiency apartments to single-room units equipped with a full bath. In some communities, you might be offered Assisted Living Services. This resembles Personal Care but includes medical support.

3. Memory Care

As a senior, you might suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory loss complications. Memory Care aims to provide you with a tranquil, self-reliant environment that is both secure and comfortable. Memory Care is designed to preserve your self-dignity even if you’re battling memory difficulties. Personnel is particularly trained to handle members who are undergoing brain change.

Starting with prepared meals, to customized support from staff members, the whole environment is meticulously designed to offer ready assistance if you suffer from memory loss. Each activity is set up to fit your individual needs. Memory Care can either be a dedicated section, or a part of Personal Care and Healthcare facilities.

4. Healthcare Center

Healthcare Centers offer you high-quality nursing and suitable custodial assistance, whether you’re in for long-term or short-term rehabilitation. The medical treatment plan also includes care delivered by licensed nurses. This is a higher quality of care provided as an answer to one-off or recurring medical conditions.

Short-term rehabilitation refers to a limited stay you undergo in a skilled nursing facility. This commonly occurs after a stroke, surgery, or other exceptional health problems. The temporary care is meant to ensure you receive both treatment and crucial support you need before going back to your home.

Long-term care is a more exhaustive treatment choice. It’s best if you have chronic ailments or progressive conditions like dementia, strokes or long-term disabilities. As a member, you get immediate access to medical professionals any time you need them. Such highly trained personnel can respond quickly to any health issues you raise.

Healthcare Centers also offer end-of-life care during the final chapter of their members’ lives. The care that’s administered includes hospice care for those suffering from terminal illnesses. At this point, the focus shifts to making their final days as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

The United Zion Retirement Community & the Life Plan Difference

At United Zion Retirement Community, we have all the answers to your senior living-related questions. We offer high-quality care from our scenic hilltop location in Lititz, Lancaster County, PA.

Our full-range of services are designed to maintain your health, dignity, independence, and passion for life as you age. For more on the advantages of Life Plan Communities in general and United Zion’s services in particular, contact us today.

Four Ways to Make Your Senior Community Feel More Like Home During a Crisis

Do you manage a senior community or home? If so, one of your goals is to make sure your residents feel at home during their stay. Read here to learn some ways to make your retirement community feel more like home.

Regardless of someone’s age, people should always feel at home wherever they reside, even if that’s a retirement community. As staff members at a senior facility, you should foster a place of comfort to keep your residents feeling at home and safe, even during the COVID-19 crisis. Keep reading for some ways to make a retirement community feel like home.

Follow the CDC’s guidelines

Staying active is important for everyone regardless of age, even if it’s just a daily walk. Just ensure that you’re following social distancing. Unfortunately, at this time. residents must be kept safe and that forces many retirement homes to suspend several activities, since the elderly are the most vulnerable to COVID-19. As staff, you have a duty to keep elderly residents safe during this pandemic. You can keep your residents, your employees, and yourself safe by following the CDC guidelines.

Encourage meaningful relationships

Both the residents and staff should always have positive relationships. Your staff should feel connected to each resident; they become family over time. Again, these relationships look a little different right now with COVID-19, so you can encourage relationships through social distancing.

Give them the freedom to customize their room

Many residents are going to feel most comfortable when they’re in their room, so you should encourage them to personalize their room during this time of social distancing. Many older folks have their favorite chair from home, or perhaps they prefer all-white walls. Whatever they prefer, allow them to add in that element if possible.

Make their downtime enjoyable

Seniors rightfully love their downtime, and downtime will be even more prominent with the pandemic we’re facing. Many seniors enjoy watching television, whether it’s the news, Jeopardy, or their favorite movie, they need to be able to watch their favorite shows. That said, you need to ensure that TVs throughout your facility work properly. One of the most common reasons a TV isn’t working is a damaged HDMI cable, so keep an eye for some of the signs the HDMI cable went bad.

These are just a few things we can do to help make residents feel at home in their new home. If you incorporate these tips, you’ll be on your way to having even happier residents!

Pros and Cons of Starting a Business in Retirement

Starting a business in retirement may seem daunting, but there can be many benefits as well. As with any new venture, the most important thing is to think carefully and not jump into anything unprepared. The most important thing is to start a business you know you’ll enjoy. If you’re retired, now is the time to think about doing something new and exciting, and a retirement business can be just that. Here are some important pros and cons to consider.

Pro: Earn Extra Income

Saving for retirement can be tough, and not everyone wants to sacrifice their lifestyle to make do. Starting a business in retirement is a great way to supplement savings and retirement pensions by doing something you love. Not only will the extra income help maintain your lifestyle, but it can also be a great way to add to your retirement savings in case you decide to hang your hat down the line.

Con: Liability

Owning or operating a business enterprise can sometimes be scary. If you have a physical storefront, someone may get hurt on your doorstep. If you sell products, occasionally a hard to notice mistake might cause issues. In many cases, you may be exposing yourself to liability. While there are liability risks in almost every business, this can be remedied by getting commercial general liability insurance. While the threat of liability can be intimidating, factoring liability insurance into your plan should ease most of your concerns. In fact, many landlords require it for any tenant renting commercial space.

Pro: Keeping Busy is Healthy

Going from working five days a week to having almost no structure to your day can be a huge culture shock. A key part of staying healthy in retirement is keeping busy with hobbies and other activities. Running a business, while certainly a lot of work, is a great way to keep your days structured and stimulating in retirement. Engaging with customers or suppliers will keep your mind sharp, and having a schedule is a great way to maintain healthy sleeping and eating habits.

Con: Startup Costs

If you’re retired, that means that you’ve worked your whole life to save for retirement. Starting a business will always require laying out money for initial investments, and that can be scary when you’re living on a fixed income. The key to success is to put together a strong, comprehensive plan for your business. Think about what you love to do and build from there. Be sure to consider any potential startup costs like rent, supplies, or inventory. While startup costs can be significant, they can be managed with careful planning.

Pro: You Can Leave a Strong Legacy

A retirement business is a great way to build a financial and community legacy for your family. Whether you’d like to leave a business behind for your children or want to make a lasting impact on your community, going into business in retirement can help you leave the legacy you want. You’ll be able to forge new friendships and networking connections and even teach your close friends and family about running your business. If you have grandchildren, teaching them about business is a wonderful way to spend time.

Con: Less Leisure Time

Running a business is time-consuming. Many people want to spend their retirement vacationing or sitting by the fire with a nice book. When starting a business in retirement, be sure to consider the time you’ll have to spend keeping things running. Consider a business you can run part-time if you aren’t ready to have a second career so soon after retiring.

It’s important to consider all of these things and talk to your family before deciding if you should start a new business after retirement.

Five Tips for Healthy Golden Years

Living as a senior doesn’t mean you have to stop living. In fact, one report from the Postgraduate Medical Journal states, “With increasing age, there is an increased risk of developing non-communicable chronic health conditions.” Inactivity, they say, can result in many medical problems and certainly contributes to mortality.

Seniors have spent a lifetime doing and being all manner of things and this does not have to change in their golden years. There are many things – active and proactive – that our elders can do to ensure they live a fulfilling life.

Stay On Top of Medical Care

Regular check-ups are important to monitor any possible problems that may arise. Be sure your seniors are visiting their doctors and/or specialists regularly to ensure illness or complications don’t sneak up on them. Make sure all contact numbers are easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Keep the Environment Safe

A preemptive way to prevent accidental falls or slips – which accounts for millions of non-lethal injuries in the US every year and can lead to more complications – be sure you have the right safety equipment in bathrooms and other tricky areas of the home.

Volunteer

From pet shelters to schools to senior living facilities, there are ample ways a senior can use their experience and wisdom to not only help others but themselves. There are multiple benefits to volunteering for seniors including mental health, physical activity, and fun.

Eat and Sleep Healthy

Even for the most finicky eaters, a healthy diet can be accomplished. Being aware of specific medical needs can help guide you in determining the best supplements (if necessary) for your senior as well as dietary restrictions. Make sure, as well, your senior is getting the right amount of good sleep.

Be Social

Being retired does not have to mean solitude. See if there are local groups that can host your senior. Whether it is a book club, a game of gin rummy, or knitting, these activities can help seniors feel less isolated. Especially if they live alone. Even if your senior has problems with mobility, receiving visits from friends, family and neighbors can significantly improve the quality of life for seniors.

It is important that seniors stay active and engaged as much as possible during their golden years. Search our database of senior centers and communities to find local activities for seniors.

3 Tips for Hiring a Senior Caregiver

It can be hard for some children to accept when their parents get older. Suddenly, the roles are reversed. Children must take care of their parents instead of the other way around. Yet, there are options out there for children who are overwhelmed. If your aging parent needs more help than you can give at this time, consider hiring a senior caregiver. This article will overview three tips for hiring a senior caregiver. If you follow this advice, your parent will surely have the best help out there.

Hire Through a Trusted Company or Agency

When hiring a caregiver for a parent, it’s important to remember you aren’t on this journey alone. There are tons of amazing agencies out there that’ll help people find caregivers for seniors. Please, do your research and only work with an agency that has good reviews from past clients. Meet with higher-up officials within the agency to get a feel for what they value most. Also, inquire about their hiring process. Make sure that the company performs background checks and random drug testing on every employee they hire, like the tests offered in drug testing Lorain Ohio. Ensure that you understand how employers handle the drug testing process and what steps are involved. That way, you can get a grasp on how rigorously these caregivers are vetted and you can be confident in the person you choose to hire. Again, hiring a caregiver for your loved one can be a challenging task. Make sure you’re working with trusted professionals throughout the process. New LifeStyles lists all state licensed home care providers nationwide, providing a good place to start.

Make Sure the Caregiver Is a Good Fit

An important tip for hiring a senior caregiver is to make sure the two people mesh well together. The caregiver and the person who needs care will be spending a lot of time together. As the person hiring them, you must ensure the two get along. Perhaps do a trial run. Give it a week or so to see if the two get along. Make sure everything’s going smoothly before you hire them permanently. Also, make sure the prospective caregiver knows about any health issues or illnesses, so they know how to best care for the person.

Be Communicative with Both Parties

One of the best things you can do if you’re hiring a caregiver for a senior is to communicate with both people involved. First, make sure the prospective caregiver engages with your parent or the senior they’re taking care of. Ensure that they’ll really take an interest in your parent and let them know what your parent likes and doesn’t like. Please, don’t just have the caregiver walk into things blindly. Also, talk with your parent about what’s going on. Don’t leave them in the dark about the situation. Tell them why you’re hiring a caregiver and let them ask any questions they want. The more open everyone is with one another, the smoother the transition will be.

How to Improve Care in Your Senior Care Home

When someone transitions to a nursing home, or any other senior community, they and their family entrust future care to that staff. After so long living autonomously, this is a significant change for an individual. When they make this change, they are often in a vulnerable state, which means that they need those involved in assisted living support to be consistent and caring. Following are three tips that will help give residents a high quality of life.

Simplify Communication

It’s not uncommon for emergencies to occur in a care home, or similar environment. Your facility must establish emergency protocols and ensure staff can communicate easily with one another. One way to do this is by using a simple communication system. A two-way radio network is a particularly streamlined option. Some two-way radio distributors, apart from just the quick push to talk features, can even educate your team on how to use features that check in on your staff when they work alone, plus many other helpful features, like emergency buttons and more.

Promote Residents’ Activity

When many people summon an image of a senior home into their mind, they think of seniors lounging around a lobby or hallways and either dozing, playing a card game, or watching television. This is not good for anyone! Instead of one or 2 set activities each day, consider implementing sustained programming throughout the day that combines many different facets of life. For those who enjoy games, help organize board and card games with stretch breaks between games. This helps residents keep their brains & bodies fresh. If you have residents who enjoy watching television, structure in a time for people to come together and watch something together, and then discuss it.  This allows for good social engagement. Squeeze in different kinds of exercise sessions too, like using commercial time for chair aerobics. Consistent but flexible programming prevents boredom and improves care.

Improve Oversight

To maintain accountability, make sure you offer a consistent staff oversight procedure. Communicate with your team about what you expect from them and how you will assess them, and then begin said oversight. Make sure expectations are clear, including unannounced checks on the quality of care. Be as systematic as possible to objectively measure care quality yourself, before anyone else does.

These three tips can help your senior care home thrive, even in uncertain times.