What to look for in a retirement community

Where are you going to live when you retire? It’s an important question to consider now, but the answer can change over time. In your home? With family members? In a retirement community?

Many people plan eventually to live in some type of retirement community, and it’s helpful to consider the various options available, from special neighborhoods to high rises to communities that offer the full continuum of care.

Good planning also includes knowing what your limits are and what you can afford. What services will insurance pay for, and how much is covered? How much do you have saved? What are the out-of-pocket expenses?

It is important to find a retirement community that best suits your needs, and one important part of that decision is to visit, get a first-hand look and ask some questions.

Here are some questions to consider when visiting:

Does the community have a mission statement? If so, how does that statement fit into the community on a daily basis?

What kind of health care and personal care does it offer? Is it on- or off-site? What support services are available? Also, ask about the community’s medical emergency procedures policy.

Will the community allow you to stay a night or two? In order to determine if this is your new home, check out all the community has to offer during your stay. Do you like the living conditions and the surroundings? Visit with current residents and find out how they like it.

What activities are offered? Find out what group activities and cultural enrichment activities are available on a weekly and monthly basis. What volunteer opportunities are available in the area? Does the community provide a shuttle service? Does the community allow pets?

How healthy and appetizing is the community’s food quality? Visit the prospective community during lunch or dinner time and ask questions about dietary needs and food preparation.

Does the community offer a full continuum of care – from independent living to hospice? You may want to ask about the transition process to each stage should the need arise.

Mind Your Manners: Doing Business with Older Adults

Nearly one in every eight, or 12.6 percent, of the population is an older American. And, here in Texas, we have one of the fastest growing senior populations, with significant growth in San Antonio and the Hill Country. According to Senior Magazine online, seniors control 70 percent of the disposable income in the United States. That means one-third of the population controls two-thirds of the spending capital.

So, if you are a business owner, what is the best way to do business with an older adult? Well, the same way that you do business with anyone else. Courtesy and customer service is key. The business "best practices" are basically the same but there are some distinctive purchasing characteristics of seniors that may help you in your business. Seniors tend to be very brand loyal and rely on word-of-mouth recommendations to determine what services they will use or which items they purchase. Since many of today's seniors grew up during the Great Depression, these seniors need to see a good value for their money. And, maybe surprising to some, nearly half of all seniors use the Internet to do research before purchasing.

Face-to-face interaction is very important to seniors as is accessibility. Make sure your business is up-to-date with accessibility rules and regulations and make your business as easy to get in and out of as possible. Offer assistance if necessary. As any good business person, maintain honesty and fairness and if you know of or hear of any scams involving seniors, either local or from outside, be sure to alert local authorities to verify.

Renovations Underway at The Meadows

A new look is emerging at The Meadows Retirement Community and residents and staff are excited!  Originally built in 1984, The Meadows celebrated their 25th anniversary in late 2009. Only very small cosmetic changes have been made at The Meadows since it opened, so the building was ready for a major renovation.

Wood trim, warm golden wallpaper and paint, a new ceiling and new lighting have already been installed and are setting the stage for what is soon to come when the new art, carpet, flooring, draperies and furniture are added as the last finishing touches. 

The public bathrooms have been completed and look beautiful but they also still have some surprise finishing touches yet to be unveiled, as do the new display case and piano lounge. 

The main office has been completely reconstructed, with new windows in a design that creates an open, more inviting customer service area and includes all new granite counter tops, cabinets, ceiling, lighting and carpeting. 

The new marketing office is complete with a wall of beautiful custom cabinets and a built-in desk. New furniture and draperies will arrive at the end of the project and complete the beautiful new space. The new theatre/multi media room and the coffee café lounge area are undergoing major construction at this time.  

The 25-year-old plain, beige tile in the atrium will be replaced with lovely ceramic tile in tones of gold, rust and gray that will add a dramatic change in the final stages of the project. 

The construction crew has been most accommodating while working in resident spaces and residents have been so patient with the work in progress. The whole project is on target to be completed by the end of February. A renovation 

celebration is scheduled for April 9, 2010 when we will really kick up our heels and celebrate!

Ageless Love!

Last week, we had the honor of hosting a wedding of two residents at The Meadows Retirement Community. It doesn’t happen often but it is always an exceptionally happy and inspiring occasion. And the Hollar wedding was no exception . . .

Claire Dawson (84) and Homer Hollar (86) met less than a year ago at The Meadows’ Bridge Club. Homer began to walk Claire back to her apartment after the games and they began attending other activities together. He noticed her in the dining room ­ – how she would always help several other ladies who are in wheelchairs get seated and get their salads from the salad bar. He knew then that she was a terrific lady.

So, Homer began to seek advice on how to get better acquainted with Claire. He turned to an old classic movie, Sleepless in Seattle, to figure out how to get one-on-one time with Claire. In the movie, Tom Hanks invited a lady he was interested in back to his house to look at swatches. To his dismay, Homer didn’t have “swatches” but he now had a plan. He knew how to dance. And since Oktoberfest was coming up, and he intended to ask Claire to dance at Oktoberfest, he invited her over to his apartment for dance lessons. She agreed and after that first dance lesson in Homer’s apartment, they were officially a couple.

By December they knew they would be married. And on January 8, 2010 they made the official announcement and began planning their wedding – which was 3 weeks away! The couple decided to have both the ceremony and the reception at The Meadows because it is their home. They both love it there and have many friends there. So, staff at The Meadows kicked into high gear and began planning all the details of the ceremony and reception for them.

On January 29^th, the couple was married in front of a small group of family and close friends. Homer’s son flew in from Hungary and his daughter and son-in-law came from Honduras. Grandchildren from Michigan and Austin were also present to celebrate the happy occasion. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Harris Shinn, a fellow resident at The Meadows. In a flowing periwinkle dress with a small bouquet of pink and white flowers, Claire walked down the aisle with her son-in-law and met her groom at the altar. With their children attending, the couple happily exchanged vows during the intimate ceremony.

After a few photos, the bride & groom joined wedding guests and fellow residents for a reception in the Atrium area at The Meadows. They enjoyed cake and toasted with champagne and then they kicked up their heels for some dancing.

As they celebrate their first Valentine’s Day together, the happy couple says it feels so nice to be married and to not feel lonely anymore. So congratulations to Homer & Claire and best wishes on many years of happiness!

Understanding Your Senior Living Options

The holiday season was a time for most of us to spend happy moments together with family and friends, whether staying close to home or traveling far away. It was also a time when many adult children were confronted with the challenges their elder parents or family members are now facing and the idea that they may not be able to live alone anymore or without some sort of assistance.

Now that the holidays are over and a new year is settling in, many are wondering what to do or where to go to get family members the help they need. Every January sees an increase in calls from concerned family members about their loved ones here at Morningside Ministries. Many of them are just looking for help and don’t know where to turn.

Continuing care retirement communities are a great solution for many of today’s seniors. In a continuing care setting, many living options are offered on one campus, including independent living apartments or cottages, assisted living, nursing care, rehabilitation and memory care services.

It is, however, important to understand the different options when it comes to senior living and to make an informed decision for you or your loved one.

Independent Living covers a range of housing styles, from active adult apartments to individual homes that are designed for those who are able to care for themselves. An independent living lifestyle offers services such as social activities, chef-prepared meals, fitness programs, transportation and housekeeping. Specific amenities vary from community to community, and may include a clubhouse, library, activity and craft rooms, chapel, fitness center, walking trails and swimming pool. Independent living does not offer health care services and is not state-licensed or regulated. Most communities offer apartments on a rental basis, but some communities offer apartments for purchase, like a condominium.

Assisted Living is a state-licensed program within a community setting that offers assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and medication management. Services provided in assisted living usually include meals, laundry, housekeeping, activities and outings. Assisted living is designed for people who can no longer live independently in a private residence but do not need the 24-hour medical care provided in a nursing home setting.

A nursing care center is licensed by the state and provides services and rehabilitation to people with illnesses, injuries, functional and physical disabilities or cognitive impairments who require around-the-clock care. In the United States, nursing homes are required to have a licensed nurse on duty 24-hours a day. Most nursing homes offer services and staff to care for a resident’s every need including nutrition, activities, pastoral care, care planning and medical needs. Nursing care can be paid for in a number of ways: private pay by the resident or family; long-term-care insurance; Medicare or Medicaid.

Memory Care can be provided in an assisted living or nursing care setting and assists individuals who are experiencing memory loss, a decline in ability to perform routine tasks, impaired judgment and disorientation. Staff is specially trained to meet the specific needs of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

Are you visiting older relatives during the holidays?

The holidays are a time when families traditionally come together and, for many families who are spread out across the country, this might be the first time they have seen elderly parents or other older relatives in a year. It may also be a time when adult children begin to notice changes in their parent’s behaviors or quality of life.

During visits with these loved ones, family members should pay special attention to certain signs that could indicate a loved one needs more help around the house, may need to move to a senior living community or is suffering from depression.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

Is anything different about their appearance? Have they lost weight? Have their personal hygiene habits changed? Are they dressed appropriately?

Observe their physical condition. Can they still walk up and down the stairs or get around the house? Can they grocery shop and prepare their own meals? Do they remember to take their medications? Can they bathe and use the bathroom without any help?

Also, look around the house. Do you see mail that is unopened or bills that have not been paid? Or prescriptions that have not been refilled? Is the house in disarray or disrepair? Stacks of newspapers piling up around the house?

Do you notice any changes in their mental condition? Are they still connected to others? Do they continue to participate in activities that they have always enjoyed?

Depending on what you see during your visit, it may be time to assess your loved one's living situation and think about getting them the appropriate help.

Families should also keep an eye out for signs of depression in older adults, especially in those who have recently suffered with health problems, the loss of a loved one or the loss of their social networks. Symptoms of depression can include marked changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, loss of self-esteem, crying for no reason, social withdrawal and even an increase in physical aches and pains.

Older adults with depression are also more likely to be anxious, irritable or worried. Constantly wringing their hands, pacing the room or worrying obsessively about money or their health can also be signs of depression.

According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated 20 percent of older adults suffer from depression. Depression is not a normal part of aging, so if you sense that your older loved one may be depressed, give them support and get them the help that they need.

For more information about senior living options or the type of care given at retirement or assisted living communities, please call Morningside Ministries at (210) 731-1202.

The Inside Scoop . . .

What a joy it is to be around the staff who, one by one, understands how important autonomy becomes for those of us living in a “retirement setting.”

I appreciate everyone who classifies each one of us octogenarians as capable, talented, creative humans (even though legs, ears or eyes maybe less functioning than those around us to plan and execute the activities offered).

Especially sensitive for me are those who teach, handle the foods, repair malfunctions and provide security service. It would be disastrous to mention names because there are so many who boost my morale as an individual. They radiate acceptance and love daily.

Many Thanks!

Helen Edkins