Senior Living Blog by UMH | Elizabeth Bemis (14)

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.

6 Sleep Tips for Seniors

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 6th, 2013

Are you getting your ZZZZs? Sleep is important for everyone's health! A good night's rest can lower stress, help maintain a healthy weight, and overall increase happiness. Even with all of these wonderful benefits of sleep, the average American gets less than 7 hours a night, which is less than the recommended amount of 7-9 hours a night.

Wesley Village Gives Thanks to the Hands that Care for Us

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 1st, 2013

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Pet Therapy At Middlewoods of Farmington

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 27th, 2013

When we think about pet therapy, we often think of our four-legged, furry friends. But what about the joy many derive from birds? A number of our residents have their own birds or enjoy caring for the “community” birds. At Wesley Heights, checking up on the zebra finches is a popular activity! They hop around in the cage, responding to residents. Residents and staff alike take responsibility for caring for the birds. It is nice for residents to have something to care for; to be needed.

Senior Living 26 Acts of Kindness

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 25th, 2013

With so many tragedies happening in the world, it is important to take a step back and remember the good things people do. The tragic event at Sandy Hook Elementary School has led to the creation of the “26 Acts of Kindness”. These acts were created to honor the twenty-six lives that were lost and to spread the importance of being kind to others. The acts began with giving sweet notes of encouragement to strangers, giving cookies to first responders, and donating to “Toys for Tots”. The “26 Acts of Kindness” can be as simple as saying thank you, or purchasing someone’s coffee for them in the morning. By passing on kindness, the world is reminded of the good in people and not just the tragedy in our world.

Tips for Transitioning to an Assisted Living Community

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 20th, 2013

Moving your loved one into an assisted living community can be a challenging time for any family. This is especially true for the person who will be making the move. A new place, new neighbors and new caretakers can be a lot for someone of an advanced age to think about. Here are some tips on how to make an assisted living transition a little bit easier on your loved one.

Friendship at Assisted Living Communities

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 18th, 2013

As people age, it's a sad fact of life that some of their friends and family members will move away or die. Someone who might've had many familial and friendship ties is suddenly left with a sense of loss and loneliness; coupled with the fact that older people may have trouble accomplishing tasks that were previously easy for them; one can see how quite quickly this can lead to a state of sadness that is hard to break. So how do you help a loved one? Encouraging them to develop new friendships is one way. When your loved one moves into an assisted living facility, they will hopefully find a wealth of new potential friendships that can really help boost their spirits. Here's a look at the benefits of your loved one forming new friendships.

Valentines Day at Assisted Living Communities

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 14th, 2013

While many may view Valentine’s Day as a day of flowers, chocolates, cards and teddy bears, it is much more than that. Valentine’s Day is truly a time to celebrate the importance of relationships; with our parents, children, family, friends and significant other. It is a time to tell those you care about and those who have made a difference your life how much they mean to you.

Bishop Wicke Health Center Renovation!

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 8th, 2013

In keeping with the UMH value of “Excellence; improving quality by empowering our associates to continually improve our outcomes of service, encouraging innovation by seeking, listening, and responding to new ideas”, our Bishop Wicke Health Center is embarking on a $1 million renovation project!

Short Term Rehabilitation Patient Satisfaction Results

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 6th, 2013

Bishop Wicke Short Term Rehabilitation Center One of the Values of United Methodist Homes is Excellence. It is very important to us that we provide the highest quality of care and survey our patients and residents to find out how we are doing. The results of the Bishop Wicke Health Center Short-Term Rehabilitation survey last quarter were stellar! Bishop Wicke is a five-star rated rehab and long term care facility in Shelton, CT that is part of the United Methodist Homes Assisted and Independent Living communities.

Heart Awareness Month

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 4th, 2013

Heart Awareness Month Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention. It is important to educate yourself on the disease and make sure you are on track to maintain a healthy heart.

The Importance of Senior Caregiver Breaks

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 4th, 2013

How many of you remember the old McDonald’s ad… “You deserve a break today”? Those caring for their elderly loved-ones need to take this advice to heart! Caregivers are the overlooked victim in any disease. Everyone relies on them for just about everything and to always know what to do.