Senior Living Blog by UMH | Aging & Caregiving (41)

Aging & Caregiving | assisted living | bishop wicke

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.

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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.

Independent Living | Healthy Living Event Recipes

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 2nd, 2013

Cooking is often an activity seniors love to do with their friends and loved ones. There is something about being in the kitchen that brings people together. As part of our healthy senior living initiative, we recently hosted an event, “Healthy Eating in the New Year” where we prepared and shared several recipes with one another. Below are the recipes which were enjoyed by all.

Choosing the Right Short-Term Rehab Facility for Seniors

By: Elizabeth Bemis February 1st, 2013

When researching short-term rehabilitation and senior care facilities, whether for yourself or an elderly loved one, it is important to know what to look for to minimize your concerns about the healing and rehabilitative process. Understanding the difference between short-term rehab and long term care is an important first step. Short-term rehab facilities are typically the place aging adults go to recover from health issues in a professional, caring environment. They can receive a variety of therapy and nursing services during their stay as they heal and make progress with the peace-of-mind of having nursing staff available to meet their needs 24-hours a day.

The Importance of Fiber in a Senior Citizen's Diet

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 30th, 2013

Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, beans and peas, grains, nuts, and seeds. High fiber foods are usually low in calories and fat, but packed with vitamins and minerals. It is recommended for men 50+ years old to get 30 grams of fiber per day and for women 50+ to get 21 grams of fiber per day.

Diabetes Tips for Seniors

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 28th, 2013

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death and the number one cause of blindness in America. Often caused by obesity or being overweight, diabetes affects the body’s ability to use the sugar produced from breaking down carbohydrates. An estimated 18 million people in the United States have diabetes and the numbers keep increasing. Risk factors include being obese and overweight, age, immediate family member with diabetes, ethnic background, history of gestational diabetes, and physical inactivity.

Senior Living Communities 60 Day Trial Stay

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 25th, 2013

So often we hear from the caregivers of prospective residents that their loved one just isn’t ready to commit to moving into an assisted or independent living community. They don’t want to be the “bad guy” and push to make a decision. Their loved one is not convinced it is the right time and other family members may feel guilty even suggesting it. This always begs the question “What other decisions have you or your loved one had to make that you weren’t ready for?” That really gets them to think. Change can be hard – but it doesn’t have to be.

Calcium Content Tips for Seniors

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 21st, 2013

“Got Milk?” What a great way to start getting people thinking about calcium! Calcium is important for every age and stage of life. Getting enough calcium helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Calcium also helps your blood clot and keeps your muscles and nerves working properly. Calcium may even play a role in preventing high blood pressure and some forms of cancer.

Nutrition Benefits at Senior Living Communities

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 18th, 2013

At UMH communities, meal time is not just a time to eat. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are major highlights in the day! These are times when residents gather together to eat and visit with other residents and staff. Our dining areas are designed to be conducive for conversation and easy to navigate around. Our menus are planned using input from our residents and staff. We encourage residents to complete food comment cards and speak with any of our food service staff to share any compliments or concerns they have.

8 Tips for Seniors Medication Management

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 16th, 2013

Managing medications can be one of the most challenging tasks for aging adults and their caregivers. It is a complex process and oftentimes medications and quantities change. It is critical that older adults take only the medications prescribed, exactly as prescribed and to have confirmation from their physician and pharmacist that there will not be potentially dangerous drug interactions and complications. Senior care communities have resources to help residents manage these medication needs.