Senior Living Blog by UMH | Aging & Caregiving (33)

Veteran's Day Celebrations for UMH Residents

By: Marissa Salvesen November 11th, 2013

Celebrating our Veterans At UMH, it is our honor to be a place many veterans call home. We can never show enough gratitude for their service to our country. One day of celebrations is never enough to acknowledge the sacrifices our veterans have made for our freedom. Here are some of the ways we are honoring our veterans:

“Angry Old Ladies” & “Cranky Old Men”

By: Jim Stinson November 9th, 2013

Caring for a Loved One with Depression By: Jim Stinson, Director of Spiritual Life for United Methodist Homes The Reality of Aging In her mid-eighties, not given to morose thoughts and always life affirming, my mother startled me one day with her comment. She said, “I know more people up there than I do down here.” She gestured toward the sky as she said “up there” and toward the ground as she said “down here” making sure I got the point she wanted to make. Now while I could argue with her cosmology about the location of heaven, I could not argue with her observation. The fact was she had outlived most of her family of origin; and she had outlived most of her friends. Indeed her life had changed dramatically over the previous decade. Her friends were dying with increasing frequency, as were her children and their spouses. She was speaking to a reality of aging. If we live long enough we inevitably watch many of our loved ones and friends die. “Angry Old Ladies” and “Cranky Old Men” This fact can, and often does lead to depression, an often overlooked and under diagnosed illness, among the aging. When it is overlooked and under diagnosed we are often confronted with older adults who exhibit behaviors we would recognize more readily in younger people. We meet “angry old ladies,” “cranky old men,” older adults who “just sit home and do nothing,” mothers and fathers who “do nothing to help themselves,” and so on. When we deal with these people we discover how difficult it is to care for them. In fact we often tell ourselves “there is no talking to them, they just don’t want to be different,” and other self-protecting reasons not to try.

Not sure what senior living and care solution is best for your loved one? Start making sense of your options.

Get the award-winning guide and subscribe to our blog.

Aging & Caregiving | assisted living | senior living ct | senior living tn | united methodist homes

Values in Action… The Difference a Mission Makes!

By: Marissa Salvesen November 4th, 2013

United Methodist Homes Recognizes 2013 “Values in Action” Winners! Caring Relationships, Enriching Lives…. those are not just words on a paper. Those words reflect 140 years of developing a mission that defines the integrity of our work. Our staff lives and acts upon those words each day as we care for the residents who live in our assisted and independent living communities and the patients at our short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing homes.

Seniors and Depression: Education and Awareness

By: Marissa Salvesen November 1st, 2013

Depression is common among the elderly. However, it’s not a normal part of healthy aging. A major problem that stands in the way of treatment for seniors is that families often confuse the disease with signs of grief, which is natural in the face of major life changes. For this reason, it is not uncommon for seniors to struggle with depression and receive no medical attention. Or if they are seen by a physician, depression can often be misdiagnosed for a similar reason altogether and no treatment is administered.

Massage Therapy Benefits for Seniors

By: Marissa Salvesen October 28th, 2013

Massage therapists are recognized for the invaluable work they do using skilled touch to bring relief to many who suffer from pain - without the need for surgery. In support of this event, assisted living communities are taking this opportunity to educate communities on ways seniors can benefit from massage therapy.

Helping Seniors Breath Better—Respiratory Care Week 2013

By: Marissa Salvesen October 24th, 2013

October 20th – 26th is Respiratory Care Week, a week set aside to recognize respiratory therapists for their hard work and dedication. In support of those who “help others breathe better,” assisted living communities are helping to promote respiratory health by raising awareness in the community about lung health issues--particularly as they affect older adults.

The Benefits of Working with a Geriatric Nurse

By: Marissa Salvesen October 21st, 2013

If you have been caring for an aging loved one for any length of time, you have probably experienced the frustrations that come with managing their changing health needs. Visits to the doctor’s office, trips to the hospital, short-term rehab stays, changes in medication…….these are the events that often make caregiving such a stressful process for adult children. Whether your loved one lives alone at home or in an assisted living community, working with a nurse who specializes in the care of older adults can be a great help to any family with aging loved ones.

Seniors: Dealing with Hearing Loss

By: Marissa Salvesen October 18th, 2013

Dealing with hearing loss is never easy, especially for an aging loved one. If you are dealing with hearing loss yourself, you have probably noticed how easy it is to withdraw when it becomes difficult to follow a conversation at a family gathering or any social event. Listening to a speaking presentation, many seniors have experienced confusion, embarrassment, or loneliness in trying to catch all of the words that are being spoken. In addition, as the aging process moves along, it is not uncommon for many families to view certain behavior as signs of depression, moodiness or disinterest rather than a hearing problem.

Activities Across the Generations...Enriching the Lives of Seniors

By: Marissa Salvesen October 8th, 2013

Celebrating Relationships! Celebrated on the first Sunday of October, Intergeneration Day provides a great opportunity to celebrate relationships between seniors and younger generations. When most people think of intergenerational activities, they typically envision children and seniors together in that picture. We invite you to pause for a moment and expand that picture and remember that activities that bridge generational gaps reach out to a wide variety of different age groups. In honor of Intergeneration Day, think about how you can help connect your aging loved one with meaningful intergenerational experiences.

Tip to Touring a Senior Living Community

By: Elizabeth Bemis October 4th, 2013

While making the decision to transition into a senior living community can be difficult for individuals, once the decision to move is made, the next step is finding the perfect community to move in to. Selecting the perfect senior living community can prove to be a bit of a challenge based on specific health care needs and personal preferences for community atmosphere and amenities. The following are 10 categories you should keep in mind when touring senior living communities.

7 Reasons to Consider Assisted Living

By: Marissa Salvesen October 2nd, 2013

There are many valid reasons to consider assisted living, with each holding a different value depending on your personal journey. Assisted living communities provide a broad range of services and your decision to consider making a move will depend on both your present and future needs and the timeline in which those needs must be met.