Senior Living Blog by UMH | Elizabeth Bemis (13)

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.

Aging & Caregiving | Senior Living Communities CT | assisted living | senior care | senior caregiving

7 Things You Need to Know about Senior Caregiving

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 8th, 2013

Does this sound familiar… Mom needs to get to the doctor’s for an urgent medical concern and you are stuck at work, Dad just fell and needs help so someone has to get over to the house, or Auntie’s prescription has just run out and she doesn’t have medication to get through the rest of the week.

World Health Day: Control Your Blood Pressure

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 5th, 2013

Every year, The World Health Organization declares a day to be World Health Day, to bring awareness to health issues faced by many people around the world. Millions of people are affected by the same disease everyday, and the World Health Organization wants to bring awareness that no one is alone.

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The Essential Guide to Touring a Senior Living Community [Free Offer]

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 3rd, 2013

As one ages, the thought of moving into a new home can be daunting. This needn’t be the case. These days senior living communities offer activities, trips, transportation, on-site health services and medical staff, nutrition and dining services, and varied design options to cater to one’s needs and much more.

The Importance of Diabetes Care

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 2nd, 2013

Diabetes can be a very confusing and overwhelming condition. It is important as you manage your health that you become aware of ways to prevent this disease and manage it if you are diagnosed. People who are overweight, inactive, and over age 45 are at a higher risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes prevention is a huge factor in positive senior health outcomes.

Bringing Awareness to National Public Health Week

By: Elizabeth Bemis April 1st, 2013

Every year, the American Public Health Association names the first week in April to be National Public Health Week, highlighting an issue that is important to improving the public's health. This year's theme is "Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money." This week will focus on the importance of public health to prevent disease, save lives, and maximize your 'Return On Investment' to your overall health.

7 Eye-Opening Facts You Didn’t Know About Medicare

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 28th, 2013

How much do you really know about your Medicare program? Since the many hot-media-debates, the dust is finally settling on the real facts. Medicare is the premier healthcare coverage for seniors with over 47 million enrollees and growing rapidly; yet its coverage is like a puzzle with many moving parts. Just when you thought you had it figured out, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) comes along and throws you back off track. The thing is, Medicare is not just a government hand-out you accept at age 65--it’s something you’ve earned--and can claim based on facts. Here are seven (7) surprising facts you may not have known about Medicare.

7 Terrible Pieces of Advice When Caring for Elderly Parents

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 25th, 2013

At times rewarding and other times downright frustrating, caring for elder parents can be quite the challenge. Reaching out for advice from uncensored, untrained sources may not give you the solution you crave. Why? Because most often the perception surrounding what older folks can and cannot do are wrong—much like a generation gap—you feel you’re speaking another language and they feel misunderstood.

Why We Love Companies That Care Day

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 22nd, 2013

Why should you care about March 21st? Because yesterday was “Companies that Care Day”; a day which according to Companies that Care, an organization that raises awareness for the appreciation and fair, equal treatment of employees at every company "encourages employers to highlight and expand their employee and community initiatives, and recognize the people who make their companies successful."

What the Assisted Living Boom Means to You

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 15th, 2013

In the period immediately following World War II, the United States experienced an increase in its birth rate. This period came to be known as the "baby boom," with those born during that time being known as "baby boomers." While this was a prosperous period in American history, we are beginning to face one of the unintended consequences of the baby boom… a large aging population. As baby boomers are getting older, many will be facing the decision to move into assisted living or other kinds of senior housing.

10 Useful Apps For Seniors in Assisted and Independent Living

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 13th, 2013

Apps for Tech-Savvy Seniors (And for Those Who Aren't) When picturing tech-savvy smartphone and tablet users, people often think of hip youngsters-largely thanks to the influence of media and marketing. However, thanks to mobile devices' user-friendly interfaces and versatility, senior citizens and their families constitute a quickly growing demographic for functional apps that can improve their quality of life. Listed below are our top 10 picks for senior apps that can benefit those in assisted living facilities or independent living facilities. Many of these programs also apply to nearly anyone who wishes to remain in good health.

The Importance of Socialization at Senior Living Communities

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 11th, 2013

Socializing: It's for Kids, Ages 2 to 102. Most people understand the importance of encouraging young children to socialize, but it's easy to overlook the importance of socialization for older adults. Human nature leads us to crave fulfilling relationships with other people. As we age however, life circumstances may push us toward loneliness and isolation unless we take proactive steps to cultivate new relationships. This applies regardless of whether someone lives alone or in an assisted living community. Consider some of the benefits of socialization for your aging loved one…