Blog
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Memories Worth Remembering: An introduction to the Activ-8 Your Brain Health Series
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What Is It Like to Move into an Assisted Living Community?
Moving into an assisted living community is a great way for your loved one to live a fulfilling life within a safe setting. Not only will an assisted living community help maintain your loved one’s health, but it will also encourage them to remain active and foster a sense of independence during their later years. While moving into a new environment can understandably cause confusion for some, the assisted living community at Encore at Avalon Park offers both a welcoming and comforting transition. A Helping Hand When your loved one moves into an assisted living community, they get the benefit of having a helping hand that doesn’t limit their freedom.…
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The Difference Between Assisted and Independent Living
As adults, we value our independence and take pride in handling our own affairs. Elderly adults are no different and will likely dismiss offers of assistance or stubbornly refuse help with any growing health problems, memory issues, or other factors may necessitate they receive additional care and attention. Fortunately, assisted living communities can be a satisfactory caregiving solution for those who are no longer capable of living independently and do not have a family member who can assume the responsibilities of becoming their primary caregiver. That’s because assisted living communities don’t really differ all that much from independent living. In fact, the goal of assisted living communities is to restore…
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The Golden Years: How to Age the Healthy Way
The golden years are a period of your life post-retirement in which you can enjoy free time, leisure and relaxation. This is a time when you can explore new hobbies, travel, or enjoy a nap. However, your golden years won’t be all fun and games if you don’t make an effort to take care of yourself. Healthy aging is crucial in order to preserve your physical and mental health, as well as maintain your ability to learn, grow and meet your most basic needs. The following tips will help you transition gracefully into this next stage of life so that you can enjoy all it has to offer. Create a…
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How to Talk to a Loved One About End-of-Life Planning
Talking about death is never easy, but putting end-of-life arrangements in place before a loved one passes makes the process easier for everyone. The aging or ill person has the peace of knowing their loved ones are cared for and their wishes carried out, and surviving family can spend less time making end-of-life arrangements and more time grieving their cherished relative. Because it is a sensitive topic, it’s important to broach the conversation carefully. These tips will help you take a compassionate approach to discussing end-of-life arrangements. Starting the Conversation Due to the sensitivity of the topic, an end-of-life discussion should be limited to the people closest to the aging…
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The Importance of Experiencing Culture for Seniors
As our loved ones age, and because many develop varying degrees of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the need for both new and familiar cultural exposure becomes even more important. As they make the transition from living at home to living in an assisted living community, your loved one may feel confusion, stress, or isolation without some cultural familiarity to comfort them. Here are some of the reasons it is important for your senior loved one to experience culture after making the move to assisted living. Culture Enhances Brain Function As memory and cognition begins to decline, being in completely unfamiliar surroundings can make things worse. For those with dementia or…
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Volunteering at Encore
One of the most rewarding things a person can do is volunteer their time to help another. And few people deserve a kind, caring hand more than our beloved elderly population. In addition to providing an invaluable service to our seniors, volunteering offers an immense sense of pride, satisfaction, and community service. Giving back to your community and making a real difference in someone’s life is a feeling that is hard to match. Here are some great reasons to volunteer at an assisted living facility like Encore: • Expand your horizons through volunteering. Seniors have life experiences and wisdom to share that you can’t get anywhere else. When you spend…
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Aging Well: Health and Safety Tips for Seniors
Aging well comes in many forms, from staying healthy to keeping your mental health and agility a priority, and for many seniors, it’s a daily challenge. Your mind and body need several things to function well, and as you get older, those needs will change, so it’s important to stay on top of them. Whether you require help with balance and mobility or just a way to reduce stress and keep your mind strong, there are many ways to age well that will keep you feeling good for years to come. Daily exercise and a healthy diet are a priority, as is an active social life. When you have a…
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How to Deal with Senior Negativity and Complaints for Caregivers
Guest blog by Matt Boyle Sometimes, working hard to improve the quality of your senior’s life can be underappreciated. Maybe they complain or act annoyed when you make a mistake, despite the fact that you have dedicated so much time and effort to helping them throughout their day. There are a number of potential causes for why a senior could be acting ungrateful, treating your poorly, or constantly complaining. For many seniors, constantly complaining may just be a permanent facet of daily life. If they have always been the bickering type, then it may be the only way that they know how to communicate.. They may not even be aware…
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3 Things to Look for in a Quality Assisted Living Community
Finding the right assisted living community to take care of a loved one can be a daunting process. You want to make sure your loved one is in an environment they will enjoy, surrounded by residents and staff they can build a relationship with, in an environment with plenty of amenities to nurture their spirit. It can be difficult to know where to start when assessing the quality of an assisted living community, so allow these factors to serve as a guide: Individualized Care – No two people are exactly alike, and no two care requirements are exactly alike either. A primary point of interest for those looking for the…