by Shelley | Jun 1, 2024 | Dear Donna, Healthy Aging
Dear Donna:
I’m writing in hopes that you can answer a few questions for me. I’ve been living alone the past three years since my husband lost his battle with cancer. We had purchased a condo about two years before he got sick, and it’s been an easy place to maintain by myself. However, I’m ready for a change.
Many of my friends have passed away or moved to be closer to their children, so my social circle has decreased. While both of my kids are great about checking in on me and helping when I need them, I don’t want to be a burden.
I’ve been seeing ads for independent living communities, and it sounds like they might be a good option for me. However, I want to make sure I’m on the right track before I make any major life changes. Can you tell me how a single woman might benefit from moving to one of these communities? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Barb in Omena, MI
Understanding the Benefits of Independent Living
Dear Barb:
It sounds like you are on the right track! I’m happy to share some of the ways independent living communities benefit active older adults. They include:
- A variety of different services
Independent living communities offer a wide range of services designed to make it easier for you to live a more independent, carefree lifestyle. These vary from one community to another, but often include housekeeping/laundry, meal plans, transportation services, and access to fitness facilities and daily life enrichment activities. Residents also leave worries about lawn care and maintenance behind when they move.
- Access to more care if it’s needed
Your move may also take care of your future needs. For example, some independent living communities are part of a campus that includes assisted living and/or dementia care. If your need for care and support changes down the road, you’ll be able to remain part of the same community.
- Around-the-clock safety and security
Independent living communities offer a safe and secure living environment. In addition to on-site staff around the clock, most individual apartments or suites have emergency call systems. This can give seniors and their loved ones greater peace of mind.
- Flexible, maintenance-free living
Residents usually have a choice of floor plans, and some communities even offer different housing options for independent living. For example, it might be a stand-alone villa, an apartment, or a suite. What they all have in common is maintenance-free living. By moving to an independent living community, you’ll leave behind worries about furnace repair or tracking down a trustworthy contractor to install a new roof. That’s in addition to not having to concern yourself with lawn care or snow removal.
- Formal and informal ways to socialize
Independent living offers a variety of opportunities for socializing, entertainment, and fun. This is often one of the primary reasons older adults make this type of move. Each community has a calendar of daily activities for residents to enjoy. They typically range from fitness classes and movie nights to outings to a local mall or museum. On an informal basis, you’ll find residents enjoying a cup of coffee together in the lounge in the morning or working on a volunteer project together for a local nonprofit organization.
I hope this gives you a better idea about what a day as a resident of an independent living community looks like, Barb!
Please call a Heritage Senior Living community near you to schedule a tour at your earliest convenience. One of our experienced team members will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you have about independent living.
Kind regards,
Donna
by Shelley | Apr 30, 2024 | Healthy Aging
Loneliness and isolation are more common as we grow older. A decreasing social circle, being out of the workforce, and mobility challenges are just a few contributing factors. Research is clear about the health risks linked to senior isolation. Some experts go as far as to liken these dangers to those associated with smoking and obesity.
Socially isolated older adults are at higher risk for:
- Depression
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Dementia
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Premature death
So, what can you do to prevent spending too much time alone? We have a few suggestions.
Combatting Isolation in Older Adults
- Explore transportation options: If you only drive for necessary outings and avoid asking loved ones for rides, you might be spending more time at home. A couple of avenues to explore are ride-sharing services and senior transportation companies. Check with your local senior center or agency on aging to see if they are aware of any local options. Many maintain lists of reliable transportation providers who cater to older adults.
- Volunteer your time: Another way to prevent isolation as you grow older is to volunteer for a local nonprofit organization. You’ll likely find a variety of opportunities close to home. Some may even offer transportation to and from their office. Check with your favorite organizations to see if they need volunteers or call the closest United Way office for suggestions. If in-person volunteering isn’t possible, you’ll likely still benefit from connecting with a virtual project. This article can help you find one.
- Adopt a senior pet: Depending upon your situation and budget, you might find adopting an older dog or cat can help boost the spirit and prevent loneliness. Check with a local animal shelter to see what older animals are looking for a forever home. Younger adults and families with young children typically don’t rescue senior pets. That means older animals often spend longer amounts of time in shelters.
- Explore senior centers and clubs: It’s common for older adults to find their social circle decreasing over the years. One way to remedy that is by joining or participating in senior groups and organizations. If you aren’t aware of any in your neighborhood, start by searching online for senior centers and senior fitness clubs. For those who belong to a religious institution, call and ask if they have any retiree groups.
- Consider moving to senior living: One more solution to combat isolation and its associated health risks is moving to a senior living community. These communities are designed to promote connection and healthy aging. You’ll benefit from shared meals, daily life enrichment activities, and outings to nearby shopping centers, restaurants, and other popular destinations. Residents also find the daily informal gatherings that take place around the community to be a great way to develop new friendships.
Visit a Heritage Community This Summer
Summer is a great season to start your search for a senior living community. It will give you an opportunity to tour the community and take a stroll around the campus. Call the location nearest you to set up a time!
by Shelley | Mar 24, 2024 | Healthy Aging
The price of hearing aids has been a much-discussed challenge for years. In fact, the high cost of these devices has kept many older adults from making a purchase. The struggle it causes for couples and families isn’t always obvious.
Partners may not be able to watch television or listen to music together because of disagreements over volume. Even carrying on a conversation can be difficult. This situation is fairly common.
The Statistics on Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be caused by many factors. They range from working or living in a loud environment to trauma, age, nutritional deficits, or an infection. Here are a few things to know about hearing loss:
- Trouble hearing is fairly common. Almost 15% of American adults ages 18 and over experience some problem with their hearing.
- Men between the ages of 20 and 69 are twice as likely to have hearing loss as women of the same age.
- Age is the leading indicator of a decline in hearing. People between the ages of 60 and 69 experience the greatest amount of hearing loss.
- About 28.8 million people in the U.S. could benefit from using hearing aids.
Until recently, cost was a significant barrier to purchasing hearing aids. The process required multiple appointments with a licensed hearing professional followed by a purchase price of as much as $6,000. Few health insurance companies even covered the expense. Then a new rule went into effect in the fall of 2022 that made things easier and less expensive.
What to Know about Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids
In 2017, a new law was passed that made hearing aids more accessible and affordable. It went into effect in the fall of 2022. The new law is for adults only and includes standards for safety and effectiveness. It also includes limits on how much the sound can be amplified (to avoid further damage to hearing), as well as stipulations related to the severity of the hearing impairment.
The good news is OTC models cost significantly less. They range in price from $200 to $1,000. As you are deciding which one might be a good fit, experts say to keep the following in mind:
- Customization: While the preset OTC hearing aid model works for an estimated 68% of people, others will need one that is customizable. The self-fitting style is more expensive but allows the wearer to finely tune settings like amplification and frequencies.
- Shape: OTC hearing aids come in two styles. One is placed inside the ear, and the other goes behind the ear. Each has its own pros and cons. It’s a good idea to experiment with each one to see which is a better fit for you. That includes trying to manipulate features.
- Customer service: As is true of any new device, customer service can play a role in how well it works for you. Be sure to ask each company you are considering what days and hours their customer service is available. Also ask about how much support you will receive during the initial set-up and in the future.
- Return policy: While no one goes into a purchase like this thinking it won’t work, things sometimes go wrong. Make sure the company has a good return policy and offers a warranty.
Shopping for an OTC hearing aid can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a variety of credible organizations that have reviewed products and shared their findings. Consumer Report’s “Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for You” is one you may find useful.
Tour a Heritage Community This Spring
Spring is a great time to begin the search for a senior living community for yourself or a loved one. With communities throughout Michigan and one in Indiana, Heritage is likely to have a location that meets your needs. Call today to schedule a private visit and tour!
by Shelley | Mar 24, 2024 | Caregiving, Healthy Aging
Online shopping has become a convenience many people rely on and take advantage of almost daily. It’s so easy to order whatever you need from the comfort of your sofa and have it all delivered right to your front porch. As more shopping malls and discount stores are shuttered due to decreasing foot traffic, online bargain hunting has become a necessity. That means learning how to shop safely online is important.
For those who are less tech-savvy, it’s easy to fall into traps that can cost you a lot of money. Research shows as many as 50% of Americans who shop online have experienced a cyber hack. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center estimates people over the age of 65 lost $3.1 billion in 2022 alone.
What can you do to protect yourself while shopping online? We have a few tips that might help you stay safe.
Be On Guard Against Online Shopping Scams
- Use credit cards, never debit cards.
Debit cards might help you avoid overspending, but they can also put your bank account at risk for hacking and fraud. This is especially true when shopping online. If you pay for an order by debit card and the site is a scam, a thief can empty your financial account before you realize something is wrong. While your bank will usually return the funds eventually, your accounts may be frozen until the investigation is complete. In contrast, when you use a credit card to make a purchase from an illegitimate website, the credit card company will usually take quick action to protect your account.
- Stick to stores you know and trust.
Social media is another way criminals target people for fraud. Scammers buy ads featuring attractive clothing, vacations, and household items for too-good-to-be-true prices. People click on the links not realizing they aren’t legitimate companies. Shoppers’ products never arrive, their credit card numbers are stolen, or both. Avoid this problem by making online purchases only from stores you know and trust, such as those you’ve visited in person. Also, be sure you go directly to the store’s website using a Google search. Never click on and follow links you receive via email or on social media, no matter how realistic they look.
- Check site security before ordering.
Another essential safety tip for online ordering is to verify the website is secure. It’s fairly easy to do. Check to make sure the site’s web address begins with “https” and has a tiny icon of a lock next to it. That combination signals a site is secure. If you don’t see that lock or the “s” after “http,” it’s best to avoid shopping on the site. Doing so might put you at risk for identity theft or other types of financial scams.
- Monitor financial accounts.
Finally, make it a habit to check your financial accounts regularly. That might mean not setting up your accounts to pay bills automatically. When you do so, it’s tempting to skip routinely reviewing online statements. That could lead to fraudulent activity being unnoticed for months. Apply this practice to credit cards, investment accounts, and banking. It’s also a good idea to take advantage of alert systems most financial institutions have available. You can set up notifications so you are contacted by phone or text when a major charge is made, an account balance reaches a pre-set limit, or there is a login from a new device.
Bookmark the Heritage Blog
If you found this article to be of interest, we encourage you to bookmark this blog and visit often. Each week, we share a new post on topics ranging from caregiving and healthy aging to dementia and senior care.
by Shelley | Feb 6, 2024 | Healthy Aging
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Research shows one person in this country loses their life to a cardiac-related disease every 33 seconds. That translates to one in five people for an estimated 695,000 deaths each year.
While genetics can play a role in your risk for developing heart disease, so can lifestyle choices. In honor of National Heart Month, which takes place every February, we are shining a spotlight on the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Know Your Genetic Risks for Heart Disease
When a doctor assesses a patient’s genetic risk factors for a heart-related disease, they’ll usually start by asking questions related to family medical history. These are some examples of what they’ll look for:
- Relatives with heart attacks or heart surgeries: Has a first-degree relative (a parent or sibling) had a heart attack or required stents or bypass surgery at a younger age? This includes men who are under the age of 55 and women younger than 65. If so, you may have a higher risk for heart disease.
- Family history of heart abnormalities: Certain types of heart-related abnormalities and conditions can be genetic, too. Those include amyloidosis, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and bicuspid aortic valve disease. Being diagnosed with some connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan Syndrome, can also impact risk. If you aren’t sure of your family medical history with regard to these conditions, talk with loved ones before your doctor’s appointment.
- Loved ones with certain health conditions: There are some medical issues that can make you predisposed to cardiac disease. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are a few of the most common ones.
While the conditions outlined above can increase a person’s likelihood of experiencing heart disease, lifestyle factors can also play a role.
Lifestyle Choices Linked to Heart Disease
Here are some of the steps you can take to lower your risk for heart disease:
- Control cholesterol: An estimated 86 million adults over the age of 20 in the U.S. have high cholesterol, a leading contributor to heart disease. A healthy cholesterol can often be maintained with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Unfortunately, for some it will take more than healthy lifestyle choices. Work with your primary care doctor on a plan to regularly monitor and manage cholesterol.
- Avoid tobacco smoke: Lung cancer is the disease most closely associated with smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke. But experts at the CDC say tobacco use is also linked to heart disease. Living with or being around smokers on a regular basis can be dangerous too. If you are a smoker or live with one, talk with a doctor about a cessation program.
- Limit alcohol consumption: This is another lifestyle choice that many people are unaware is linked to heart disease. Consuming more than moderate amounts of alcohol increases blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiac disease. It also adds empty calories to your diet. That can lead to weight problems and obesity, which also raises the odds for heart disease. If you aren’t sure what constitutes a safe amount of alcohol, check with your doctor or the CDC’s Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol.
- Be active: Exercise plays a key role in heart health, as does staying active throughout the day. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and more. By limiting the amount of time you spend sitting, you may be able to protect your heart’s health. If you have a job that requires you to sit, try to get up and move around at least once every hour. Do some simple stretching movements, make a lap around your office, or even march in place. Just keep moving.
Enjoy a Healthy Retirement at Heritage Senior Communities
From well-balanced meals and daily fitness opportunities to life enrichment programs that promote activity, we strive to create a healthy environment at Heritage. The best way to learn more is by calling a nearby Heritage community to set up a time for a personal visit soon!
by Shelley | Jan 29, 2024 | Healthy Aging
Diet can impact how much age-related muscle loss we will experience as we grow older. Poor choices can cause a host of problems, including a loss of strength that leads to balance problems and falls. But a healthy diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and protein can lessen or delay a decline in muscle strength. That can help older adults avoid a disabling fall.
Research shows some people begin losing muscle mass as young as age 30. Each decade, we lose an estimated 8% of our muscle mass. It’s a condition known as sarcopenia. Because muscle burns more calories than fat, many people also begin to see their weight creeping up in their thirties and forties.
But there are steps you can take to minimize sarcopenia. In addition to adopting an exercise routine that includes weight training, eating the right foods can help. While it’s important to plan healthy menus for every meal, breakfast is the one many people skip. That can leave you feeling tired and less motivated to exercise and eat well-balanced meals the remainder of the day.
Protein Intake and Older Adults
The experts from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Nutrition suggest adults of any age should consume about 7 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of body weight. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed a Dietary Reference Intake calculator. You can use it to calculate how much protein you need in a day, as well as a variety of other vitamins and nutrients.
To help you determine the appropriate amount of each type of protein you should eat, here are a few general guidelines:
- 3 ounces of meat typically contain an average of 21 grams of protein
- 1 cup of milk will deliver 8 grams of protein
- 1 cup of dry beans equates to 16 grams of protein
Breakfast Foods with Protein
Some breakfast foods that can help seniors meet their recommended daily protein goals include:
- Low-fat yogurt
- Reduced-fat cheese
- Reduced-fat cottage cheese
- Nuts, such as almonds and walnuts
- Peanut butter
- Eggs
- Tofu and soy products
A great way to make the most of your breakfast is to combine several forms of protein with fruits, vegetables, fiber, and other essential elements. Here are a few options:
- Breakfast bowl: Create a breakfast bowl that contains Greek yogurt, fruit, and a fiber-rich cereal, like shredded wheat or raisin bran.
- Oatmeal: Top steel-cut oatmeal with an egg or nuts and yogurt.
- Protein smoothie: Whip up a quick smoothie with low-fat yogurt, peanut butter, fruit, and spinach.
- Avocado toast: Another suggestion is toasted sourdough or whole grain bread topped with smashed avocado and an egg or dollop of Greek yogurt.
Healthy Meals at Heritage Senior Communities
One reason many older adults choose to move to a senior living community is to have easy access to nutritious meals. At Heritage Senior Communities, residents have their choice of menu options at every meal. Each one is prepared on-site at our communities.
Learn more about our commitment to healthy meals by calling the Heritage community nearest you today. We’ll be happy to schedule a time for your personal visit and even invite you to join us for a meal!
