Senior Living Blog by UMH | Elizabeth Bemis (12)

Elizabeth Bemis

In 1998, I drove past an assisted living community construction site, learned that it was part of United Methodist Homes and realized the next stop on my professional journey was to work for a mission driven organization. Soon after, I joined the team as Executive Director of our Middlewoods of Farmington community and later served as Regional Manager for the Middlewoods properties before accepting my current role as Vice President of Marketing, Promotions, and Assisted Living Operations. I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, reading, walking, and love working alongside our staff, residents, and families to build strong communities that reflect the mission, vision, and values of United Methodist Homes.

60-day stay trial | Aging & Caregiving | assisted living | nurses week | skilled nursing

Celebrating Nurses in Skilled Nursing Homes and Assisted Living

By: Elizabeth Bemis May 6th, 2013

Families are often in the middle of a health crisis with their aging loved one when they have to sort out the difference between the care offered at skilled nursing homes and assisted living communities. Skilled nursing facilities are commonly referred to as nursing homes and are licensed healthcare facilities that are inspected and regulated by the state’s Department of Public Health and have nurses on staff 24-hours each day. Long and short-term care is available for those who need rehabilitation services or suffer from serious or persistent health issues that are too complicated to be tended to at assisted living.

Senior Living Homes Celebrate Older Americans Month

By: Elizabeth Bemis May 3rd, 2013

The Administration of Aging publicizes and celebrates “Older Americans Month” in May every year as a way to help organizations demonstrate our commitment to honoring the value that elders contribute to our communities. This year the theme is “Unleash the Power of Age!” This month celebrates the contributions that thousands of older Americans across our nation have made. Currently 52% of older Americans volunteer their time through unpaid community service. They bring not only their experiences, talents, interests and skills to the organizations they serve, but also their creativity and vitality which help to enrich the lives of those whom they work with as well as their own.

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When is the Right Time to Move into Assisted Living?

By: Elizabeth Bemis May 1st, 2013

Knowing when is the right time to move your loved one into assisted living is not easy. You may have seen warning signs that put you on edge, such as out-of-character behaviors and various odd incidents at home which planted the seed of alternative care in your head. The fact that you are having this mental conflict in the first place is a sign in itself to start the conversation with your loved ones.

How Assisted Living Gives Seniors More Freedom

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 29th, 2013

Assisted Living, Personal Care Homes or Board and Care Homes are different ways of saying: “don’t worry seniors, we’ll support your independence and offer assistance with your daily needs.” In an assisted living environment, routine activities that once took over an hour to accomplish, such as bathing, dressing or grooming, now take a fraction of the time because of the care and personalized attention residents receive. This means more time to pursue other interests like participating in a book club, becoming involved in community outreach, wellness and volunteer programs, just to name a few!

How Assisted Living Creates the Ultimate Sense of Community

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 26th, 2013

If you are sociable or private, opinionated or easy-going, these are the range of characteristics you may encounter in an assisted living community. In many respects, assisted living creates the ultimate sense of community; it’s where you’ll likely garner that sense of belonging and comfort as you intermingle with a diverse resident-group, and have access to a variety of built-in services.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Assisted Living

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 24th, 2013

Assisted living is still the new kid on the block having only emerged in the 1990s. This relatively new market has been afflicted with a number of misnomers and misconceptions about its core services. It is useful, therefore to put some perspective on what you can expect from assisted living communities, and these five (5) facts may just surprise you:

Celebrate Earth Day - 3 Gardening Tips Seniors will Enjoy

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 22nd, 2013

What can you do to make an impact this Earth Day, April 23 and beyond? Going green at your assisted or independent living home is a great start to saving the planet. This can mean investing in energy-saving fluorescent bulbs, growing a self-sustaining garden, or simply planting flowers outdoors. For seniors, the latter may hold a special appeal in several ways:

Satisfaction Results of Residents and Families of UMH Communities

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 19th, 2013

The Results Are In! Residents and Families of UMH Communities Are Happy! United Methodist Homes recently conducted a Resident and Family Satisfaction Survey, and were we ever pleased! On average, 93% of participating residents and families responded they were more than satisfied with the care and services provided at the following communities:

Medical Fitness Week - 3 Cardio Exercise Tips for Seniors

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 15th, 2013

April 22 to 28 is Medical Fitness Week! So what does this mean for you? Well, the “National Walking Challenge” is one of the events planned for the week, and everyone across the country is encouraged to walk, that includes you! Walking is the best cardio exercise for seniors. It improves blood circulation, it’s easy on the joints and it’s not complicated to do. If you can still move, you can perform a variety of heart-engaging activity. It’s not too late to improve your fitness level and your quality of life.

10 Things You Should Have in Place for Your Aging Parents

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 12th, 2013

Watching your aging parent’s health decline is heart wrenching, especially when you feel like a helpless bystander. It’s during this time; however, you can show your loved one that you are their greatest fan! Start to ‘clean house’ by overseeing the affairs of your aging parents, ideally with their approval, and before a health crisis develops.

9 Do's and Don'ts When Choosing an Assisted Living Community

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 10th, 2013

Choosing an assisted living community is one of those decisions in life when you need to get it right the first time. After all, it’s a long-term commitment and you want the best fit for maximum comfort over the long term. So, what should you look for? What must you avoid? Here are a few do’s and don’ts from the experts you might want to consider: