Nursing Homes|Nursing Home Abuse|Assisted Living Facilities

Family assisted living is called so, because your dear ones stay in a family-like atmosphere, while getting help with the problems they face in their day-to day life. The administrative staff of the assisted, living service stays in close contact with the residents and takes care of their individual needs.

Assisted Living Vs. Other Old Home Facilities

Assisted living is usually a preferred choice of residence for senior citizens, as compared to other live-in facilities such as a nursing home or old care home. While a nursing home is more suitable for people with medical complications, old care homes are very small set-ups with very few residents and limited amenities.

Most old age challenges do not require medical intervention but only physical support, with a large number of recreational and daily living amenities, which only Family assisted-living can provide. Such facilities give importance to self-sufficiency and privacy and offer little or no medical care. The may have some or all of the following features: emergency call, housekeeping, all meals, transport on call, day centers, health centre, year round workshops, activities, events etc.

Taking Special Care

There are many disorders associated with old age. Coupled with old age problems, these disorders can make matters worse for the elderly and their families. Several family assisted, living units have unique facilities for individual with special needs. They provide care to patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cognitive disabilities and terminal diseases.

Before, finalizing on a particular family assisted living, check for the following:

o That the neighborhood is planned in accordance with the needs of the residents.
o That the staff is pleasing and responsible.
o That the residents look to be satisfied with the services and friendly with each other.
o That the cost and charges are within your expectations and financial reach.
o That the meals are hygienic, nourishing, and appealing.
o That the atmosphere is like a family.
o That the staff is well trained, qualified and skilled to deal with the needs of the elders.
o And most importantly, all the facilities and services as promised by the community are available.

Making The Move

The main factors that influence the decision with regard to the choice of assisted-living facility are: location, type of facility and particular needs of the resident such as leisure facilities, nutritional needs etc.
The period of 25-30 days after moving your dear ones to family assisted, living, is very crucial for both you and them. You may suffer from a feeling of guilt for not being able to look after your dear ones on our own. The old relatives, on the other hand, will take some time to adjust to the new environment and may not feel comfortable, being away from home.

Seeing a love-one or close friend after they have suffered a stroke can prove intense. It's likely that you play a deciding role in how the elder receives care right away and further down the line. In the beginning, it may prove difficult to predict if the elder can return home or to a home-like setting. If they can, their ability to care for themselves will be in doubt. The need for assistance will be a genuine certainty. All this equates to a serious lifestyle shift. Quite often, these can lead to heightened emotions for the elder and those involved. Read on for a look at care options worth considering if some you know has become disabled due to stroke.

If a stroke victim can return to their house, home care aides provide care at an affordable cost. In fact, they typically offer less expensive care compared to other alternatives. Common roles include cleaning and doing laundry, assistance with bathing and grooming, plus they often help with medication as well as measuring vital signs. A home nurse is another possibility you may want to consider. They provide a higher level of care but at a heftier pay rate.

For a lot of people, work and family obligations can make caring for a love-one at home full-time flat-out impossible. Still, you'd like to keep them at home at least part time. If you find yourself between a rock and a hard spot like this, then you may want to consider an option like adult day care or a senior respite center. These provide care for elders recovering from a variety of setbacks, and offer personal care, therapy, and pastimes like arts and crafts. An adult day care center lets you tend to your responsibilities during the day or take a needed break from the demands of elder care. In the evening or otherwise suitable time, your loved one returns home with you. Quite possibly, an adult day care facility can deliver the ideal mix of personal care and urge to remain home.

Not everyone will have the good fortunate to receive home care after suffering a stroke. In this event, you may have to look at placing your parent or loved-one in a care facility on a permanent or part-time basis. An assisted living facility can offer a more affordable option for the senior capable of remaining semi-independent. Assistance often arrives in the form of meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, bathing, grooming, and dispensing medication. More than likely, you won't have on-site medical help at assisted living facilities. Residential care facilities offer a similar makeup, but the residents receive closer supervision and living style is more communal. Sometimes a nursing home offers the practical option if the stroke is a heavy one. Unlike an assisted-living facility, a nursing home provides skilled medical support 24/7. The care provided is more personal and more intense. Many stroke victims will experience changing conditions, for better or worse, in which case a continuing-care community may prove beneficial. Continuing-care facilities provide every type of care, from assisted living to full nursing within a single compound. This eliminates the need to move from one care facility to the next.

Are you worried about your aging parents? If yes, then you can opt for assisted living facilities for them. It is a place where the retirees live in a supervised community. Retirement Homes and Communities are suitable for the ailing retires who want some kind of support. These homes and communities offer assistance with activities of daily living, arranging for doctors and nurses, personal care by a trained staff person. Most of these assisted living communities are located in the sub urban areas free from the traffic noise.

Assisted living for retirees is normally meant for the seniors who cannot live independently. In other words, the assisted living retirement communities are a connection between nursing homes and living communities.

Assisted living for retirees are regulated and licensed at the state level. These homes are also known as Personal Care Homes, Enhanced care, Adult foster care, Adult homes, Residential Care Home and Assisted Care Living Facilities. However, assisted living is the most common term used in United States.

These living facilities offer the retirees with some personal care. The residents of these places are provided with some kind of facilities which include a trained staff who takes care of their bathing and dressing.

It gives the seniors a chance to live independently free from all types of hassles. These lodging solutions provide complete assistance to the seniors. These communities offer personalized care facilities and services to make the seniors feel special. They will get all the necessary facilities in these community homes.

The Retirement Homes and Communities arrange proper medical, health, and dental care services for each and every resident. One can also choose his or her medical practitioner and dental services according to ones preferences. Assisted living residences offer assistance to the retirees who have temporary incapacity due to illness, surgery or injury.

Nowadays, Retirement Homes and Communities are designed keeping in mind the requirements of the disabled people. Bathrooms and kitchens are designed in such a way that they are wheelchairs and walkers friendly. To accommodate the wheelchairs, most of the homes have spacious hallways and doors. Keeping in mind the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), these facilities for the seniors have been included in the assisted living communities. Moreover, these homes also offer recreational and leisure activities. The seniors can also avail basic health facilities and services in these community homes.

Apart from the Assisted living for retirees, there are also some Retirement Homes and Communities in US. You can opt for the luxury retirement community, to make your post retirement period a luxurious affair. The residential lodges of these communities have fully equipped air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. Most of the luxury retirement homes have swimming pools, gymnasiums, fitness facilities and walking trail to keep the retirees fit and healthy.

The independent living retirement community is another type of Retirement Homes and Communities meant for the retirees. These communities are best suited for those who want to stay alone in their post retirement period.

Retirement Homes and Communities give the retirees a chance to enjoy their live post retirement.

"The good news is we are living longer and the bad news is....we are living longer."
Michael Aun, businessman, author, and nationally recognized motivational speaker

You have done all the right things. You lived within your means and saved diligently. You have maintained a properly diversified portfolio through all the ups and downs of the market, you kept an eye on investment costs and used a variety of strategies to minimize taxes on your gains. As a result, you have accumulated a sufficient nest egg to fund your retirement income and provide a decent legacy for your children. Unfortunately, you could lose it all if you don't make the right moves to protect your assets. No, I'm not talking about the prospects of continued market volatility or a double-dip recession that usually dominate the news and everyone's minds. I'm referring to the three four letter words almost no one dares to utter.... long-term care which includes the expense for a nursing home stay, assisted living care, or home health care.

Why should this be a concern?

• According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people who reach age 65 will require some home long term care at some point in their lives> Of those who need the care, over 75% of them will need it for over a year


• Current Life Expectancy after age 65 is now 17.9 years, meaning that your chances of needing assistance due to chronic conditions is greater than it would have been ten or twenty years ago.


• The cost of nursing care is not cheap. According to American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, the average cost of nursing care is $73,000 a year. The cost of home health care can be considerably less or more depending upon on what services are needed and how often the patient needs care.


• The cost of care has been going up an average of 6% per year for a number of years. At that rate, in twelve years, the average cost of care will be twice as much of what it is today, which would bring it up to $146,000 per year. Assuming the cost of care continues to rise at the same rate, in another twelve years - twenty four years from now, the cost of care will be $292,000 a year.


• Medicare only covers the cost of the first twenty days of skilled nursing care that follows at least three days of hospitalization. Medicare and your supplement may pay for an additional eighty days of care but only if a medical professional says you need skilled care and again only after a three day period of hospitalization.

So, what should or can you do about it?

What you should do about it really depends on what you would want to happen if you needed any type of long-term care.

Would you want your spouse or your child to take care of you? If so, what impact would that have on their lives?

If you would rather have a professional provide you the care needed, how would you pay for the care?

• What assets would you liquidate?


• How much more in taxes would have to be paid?


• What affect would the loss of your assets and potential income have on your spouse's standard of living?

All of these questions must be answered before a plan of action can be drawn so you are not forced to make tough decisions under duress. Preparing such a plan can make sure that loved one's lives are not disrupted, family stress is minimized and the quality of all family members' lives are preserved.

The next question that needs to be addressed is what can you do to protect your assets from being depleted by long-term care.

If you do have substantial assets in addition to your home and you are in reasonably good health, one option that you should consider is long term care insurance. Claim proceeds are not taxable and in many cases a portion of the premium can be deducted from your federal income taxes..

The earlier you apply for coverage, the greater your chances of being approved for coverage will be. According to the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, the odds of someone in their 50's being approved for coverage is 86%. but declines to 55%. if they wait until their 70's. Naturally, the earlier you apply for coverage the lower your annual premiums will be.

Most of these plans cover care provided in a nursing facility, a place that provides assisted living care, and in one's home. However, the insured must either have a cognitive impairment, been approved by their doctor for care that is medically necessary or be unable to perform two out of six activities of daily living. Activities are bathing, dressing, eating, continence, toileting or transferring - going from a bed to a chair. These plans also can include compound inflation protection so after your first year of coverage, your daily or monthly coverage will increase 5% on a compound basis.

Many residential facilities are denying seniors their right to have sex, to have intimate relations with others and even the right for closeness!

Just because you are over age 50 doesn't mean you stop being a sexual being. People don't operate on an 'on' and 'off' switch for the need of sex and intimate closeness due to age. In fact, the need for touches of friendship and caring, and intimate contact and companionship as we age is great as seniors tend to have fewer opportunities for it.

Why I'm up in arms is because of how many residential facilities and even hospitals have set up rules or blocks for seniors on having sex, intimate relations with someone, companionship and so forth.

Example: Assisted Living - many facilities will not allow someone to stay overnight if a senior had a boyfriend or one-night stand. The doors are usually locked in the evening until morning too. If the boyfriend were a resident, there would likely be no problem but if the boyfriend is not a resident, it all of a sudden becomes an issue. How much time can he spend visiting, eating or participate in activities with his girlfriend can become an issue too?

Second example: husband dying in the hospital and wife by his side holding hands from her chair. Her need is for closeness but the hospital will not allow her (no medical reason why she can't) to get up in bed with her husband and just quietly hold him and sleep together as they had for decades. Fortunately, relatives took matters into their own hands and locked the door and helped their Mom up onto the bed where she slept and held her husband. Many believe her ability to live well after his death was because of that closeness at the end.

Third example: nursing home not allowing residents to have sex together or with visiting spouses. No cuddling in bed, either! Even prisoners get conjugal visits but our seniors can't?

Fourth example: if family is caring for their aging parent or elderly relative, most of the time, no thought has been considered for how the senior can continue to be a sexual being. It actually seems to be a thought most caregivers want not to consider but they need to.

As I said before, just because a person is a senior, the sexuality switch didn't just get 'turned off'. It has been proven that people, who are in relationships or married, live longer. So what is everyone doing to make sure the quality of life is good for seniors in the sexuality and intimacy department so they can live a happy and long life?

Also, why aren't more residential facilities allowing couples to live together while receiving different levels of services? Is the issue of money, services and so forth so difficult that they can't find a way to allow the basic physical right of seniors to have sex and intimacy not only made possible, but encouraged and supported?

Psychological studies clearly show that people need touch in order to be mentally healthy but also physically healthy. Denying Seniors their rights to be sexual beings, to have closeness with spouses/significant others/friends, just because they live in some type of facility is not OK and not in the best interest of the residents.

Many seniors are likely not to move to a residential option when they would like to or need to, because they may not be able to stay together or because the rules of the facility would deny them their rights to intimacy. Residential options, hospitals and State licensing boards need to address this important issue. Family caregivers need to address this issue too.

We are sexual beings, even when well over age 50 but our society doesn't seem to want to address that need and make it possible for seniors to have intimacy easily, even when we know that it promotes better mental and physical health and leads to living longer and having a better quality of life.

What are your thoughts?

What is Assisted Living?

The typical Assisted Living model is based on apartment style living with care services built in. This model encourages independence and autonomy while providing supervision and daily assistance with care needs. Meals are typically served in a main dining area with the intent of a social gathering while enjoying meals selected by the residents. Activities will be offered, including outings, scenic bus rides, and trips to the grocery store, bank, and doctors visits on designated days of the week.

What type of care is provided in Assisted Living?

Assisted Living provides custodial care, not medical care.

1. Bathing, Dressing, Toileting, Grooming, Mobility, Medication Management
   



2. Cooking, Housekeeping, Transportation, Laundry

What can I expect to pay for Assisted Living?

Most Assisted Living facilities structure their costs on an "ala carte" system. You will be quoted a "base cost" or "room and board cost" ranging from $1500-$3000 per month, depending on geography, size of apartment, and amenities offered. Expect to see additional costs added on right away. Based on an assessment of your care needs, the price will increase accordingly. This price can vary from month-to-month, especially if care needs drastically improve or decline over time.

What are the advantages to Assisted Living?

1. Less expensive than nursing home care



2. Private apartments to optimize privacy, autonomy, and independence



3. Three meals a day served in a social dining atmosphere


4. Security and call bell systems



5. Designed with accessibility in mind (roll-in showers, etc)



6. Exercise programs


7. Care Services available- to be used as little or as much as you require
   


8. Activity programs designed to keep residents active, social, and healthy



9. Most have a beauty parlor on site

What are the limitations of Assisted Living?

1. Despite staff presence and encouragement, some residents can become isolated



2. Most do not allow residents to cook, for safety reasons



3. Assisted Living can not accommodate residents who are wandering or exit seeking



4. Minimal staffing requirements in most states. On average, expect to see 1 caregiver for every 30 residents during peak hours, and much less at night



5. While facilities tout their abilities to care for residents through the end of life, many will ask families to hire private caregivers or transfer to a higher level of care if the residents needs are beyond the scope of their staffing levels

What do I look for in an Assisted Living community?

1. Ask to see the latest survey



2. Invite yourself to lunch (most will happily invite you first). Do you have menu options? Can family or friends join you for a meal? What is the cost for guest meals?



3. Do the other residents interact well with each other? Are the staff friendly and kind? Do they know the residents by name?
   
   


4. What is the caregiver-to-resident staffing ratio for each shift?



5. Is a nurse available? What hours is the nurse in the building?



6. Does the facility have a comfortable atmosphere? Is it clean? Are there any noticeable odors?
   What safety features are available?



7. Is transportation available? Is there an additional cost?



8. How often is the care plan reviewed? Is the resident or responsible party involved in the review? (they should be)



9. What is the turn-over rate for staff? *Note* Most facilities have a high turn-over rate. It's a huge problem. What is the facility doing to keep current staff and attract new quality caregivers?



10. If you have a pet, ask about any fees you will be expected to pay for your pet. Typically, an additional move-in fee and cleaning deposit will be incurred.



11. What cost of living increases can be expected? (we have noticed 3-6% yearly for most communities)



12. If the community can no longer meet your needs, how much notice will you receive and what assistance will be available to relocate to another level of care?



13. Trust your instincts!!!

Who pays for Assisted Living?

1. Private Pay (you)



2. Long Term Care Insurance- Check your policy for coverage, waiting periods, etc...



3. Medicaid- If you already qualify for Medicaid, or will qualify in the near future, make sure the facility you are considering has a Medicaid contract- many do not. You can check with the facility or your local Agency on Aging office for a list of contracted facilities in your area. If a facility does have a contract, chances are they are trying to balance Medicaid v.s. private pay in the building. Some will have a waiting list for Medicaid, so plan ahead. Do not wait until a crisis to start your search!!!



4. MEDICARE DOES NOT PAY FOR ASSISTED LIVING

If you are just starting your search for an Assisted Living Community, you may consider working with a geriatric care manager or placement and referral agency to guide you. These professionals will know the communities in your area and save you valuable time and energy.

America has a large and healthy senior citizen population that is getting bigger by the day. Yes, the baby boomers are arriving as the senior (sonic) boom. Living independently is the most desirable "hope" for almost all of these proud American seniors and their families. Assisted living is expensive, limited, and not entirely trusted. But leaving grandmother in her own home alone raises anxiety to the entire family. What if she gets sick or a fire traps her in the home? What if a home invasion occurs? Or, what if she falls and gets hurt? This is the most likely scenario to happen. One third of the senior population falls in an average year, with 70% of the falls occurring within the home.

In 2006 we had the following statistics from the Center of Disease Control (CDC).

- 37 million American seniors
- 11 million of these reported a fall in 2006.
- 1.6 million Received treatment in the emergency room.
- 850,000.00 suffered fractures.
- 12,800 died.
- 40% of all nursing home admissions are a result of a fall.

The CDC recommends four things to reduce falls:

- Start exercising (like Tai Chi)
- Review your medications (some cause blurred vision)
- Have your vision checked
- Make your home safer and softer

The American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation recommends six additional things:

1. Increase the lighting in your home and have a night light.
2. Remove things from the floor and make sure rugs are well secured.
3. Secure showers and baths with handrails and non-slip floors
4. Restrict pet movements to areas of your home.
5. Wear good shoes with non-skid soles
6. Maintaining a healthy diet with calcium and vitamin D

If you do fall, and do not have a medical alert system, here are instructions from the National Institute of Health on what to do:

A sudden fall can be startling and frightening. If you fall, try to stay calm. Take a few deep breaths to help you relax.

1. Roll over onto your side and push yourself up into a seated position.
2. Rest while your body and blood pressure adjust.
3. Slowly get up on your hands and knees, and crawl to a sturdy chair.
4. Put your hands on the chair seat and slide one foot forward so that it is flat on the floor. Keep the other leg bent so the knee is on the floor.
5. From this kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.

If you're hurt or can't get up, ask someone for help or call 911. If you're alone, try to get into a comfortable position and wait for help to arrive.

One of the best precautions a senior and their families can take is to buy a Medical Alert System and subscribe to the monitoring service. This way, when grandmother is home alone, she really isn't totally alone. The medical alert system and service are there, in the background quietly standing by so if grandma gets into trouble all she has to do is summon for help by pressing her medical alert pendant. Within seconds she will hear a reassuring voice over the speaker phone of a dispatcher. Once the situation is assessed the appropriate first responders will be dispatched. The dispatcher will also notify family or friends that grandmother had to be taken to the hospital. In essence, the medical alert system and service provide peace of mind not only for the grandma, but the entire family.

See the Fall Prevention handbook produced by the CDC for more information on the risks of seniors falling.

Finding the right caregiver to take care of your loved is not always an easy task. Here are some key interview questions to help you get started. Be sure to take notes during the interview. Always check the references of at least two final applicants. Do not wait too long to make the offer, as good applicants may find another job. If the offer is accepted, the caregiver and the in-home helper should set a date to sign the contract and begin work. Both employer and employee should keep a copy of the contract.

1. Name, address, home phone number, cell phone number, and the best time to call.
2. Do you smoke?
3. Do you have a driver's license? If yes, do you have reliable transportation and insurance? How far from here do you live?
4. Do you have any CPR or first-aid training? Do you have any formal caregiving training?
5. Do I have your permission to run a background check?
6. What type of position are you looking for? After reviewing our job description, is this the type of position you are looking for?
7. Can you perform the duties required for this position?
8. Are you comfortable with pets?
9. Are you able to work the hours needed?
10. When are you available to start working?
11. Do you have any medical conditions to prevent you from heavy lifting? Would you be able to transfer someone from a wheelchair into a car or onto a bed?
12. If we are delayed, go out of town, or go on vacation would you be able and willing to adjust your schedule?
13. Where was your last job? How long were you there? Why did you leave? May we contact your past employer? Please provide contact name, phone number, and email address.
14. If meal preparation is needed, what kind of food do you cook? Have you had experience cooking for other people
15. How do you feel about caring for an elderly/disabled person? Or a person with memory problems?
16. How do you handle people who are angry, stubborn, or fearful?
17. What type of diagnoses have you cared for?
18. Is there anything in the job description that you are uncomfortable doing?
19. Give an example of a difficult situation you handled with a client. For instance, how did you handle refusing to take a shower?
20. What time commitment are you willing to make to stay on the job?
21. Will you keep daily records? Do you know how to use a computer?
22. Why should I hire you?
23. Are you willing to sign a contract saying you will not accept money or gifts from my parents?
24. How will you keep the family informed?
25. Can you give me two work related and one personal reference?

When you hire a caregiver be sure to provide an employment application, W-4 tax Form, job description, and summary of the care-receiver's condition. Ask the caregiver to provide written references, completed employment application, completed W-4 Form, and signed copy of job description, copy of driver's license, car registration, and insurance.

We who are involved in Elder Law have to be vigilant about recognizing the symptoms of depression in our older clients. For one thing, it can affect the care we put in place. This concern becomes even more acute during the holiday season, when the symptoms of depression can become heightened. This is often referred to as the "Holiday Blues".

As we spend time with the older people in our families and communities, we should all be on the look out for signs of depression. It is, it turns out, more common than generally believed. According to the National Institutes of Health, of the 35 million Americans age 65 years or older, about 2 million suffer from full-blown depression, and another 5 million suffer from less severe forms of the illness. This represents about 20% of the senior population.

Exacerbating the problem is that depression in the elderly is frequently misdiagnosed and often goes untreated. The symptoms may be confused with a medical illness, dementia, or malnutrition due to a poor diet. Another factor is that many older people will not accept the idea that they have depression and refuse to seek treatment.

What causes depression in the elderly?

The holidays tend to bring memories of earlier, perhaps happier, times. Additional contributing factors that bring on depression may be the loss of a spouse or close friend, or a move from a home to an assisted living facility, or a change in an older person's routine.

Depression may also be a sign of a medical problem. Chronic pain or complications of an illness or memory loss can also cause depression. In addition, diet can also be a factor when proper nutrition and vitamins are lacking. Often, there are both mental and physical reasons for depression.

Symptoms to look for in depression might include:

• Depressed or irritable mood


• Feelings of worthlessness or sadness


• Expressions of helplessness


• Anxiety


• Loss of interest in daily activities


• Loss of appetite


• Weight loss


• Fatigue


• Lack of attending to personal care and hygiene


• Difficulty concentrating


• Irresponsible behavior


• Obsessive thoughts about death


• Talk about suicide

How do you know if it is depression or dementia?

Depression and dementia share similar symptoms, but here is a guide to some differences that might help to distinguish between the two:

In depression there is a rapid mental decline, but memory of time, date and awareness of the environment remains. Motor skills are slow but normal in depression. Concern with concentration and worry about impaired memory may occur.

On the other hand, dementia symptoms reveal a slow mental decline with confusion and loss of recognizing familiar locations. Writing, speaking and motor skills are impaired, and memory loss is not acknowledged as being a problem by the person suffering dementia.

Whether it is depression or dementia, prompt treatment is recommended. A physical examination will help determine if there is a medical cause for depression. A geriatric medical practitioner is skilled in diagnosing depression and illnesses in the elderly. If you are the caregiver of an elderly person it may be beneficial for you to seek out a geriatric health care specialist.

Treating depression in older people

Once the cause of the depression is identified, a treatment program can be implemented. Treatment may be as simple as relieving loneliness through visitations, outings and involvement in family activities. In more severe cases antidepressant drugs have been known to improve the quality of life in depressed elderly people. Cognitive therapy sessions with a counselor may also be effective.

As a caregiver or family member of a depressed elderly person, it is important to take the initiative. The elderly person will generally deny any problems; they may fear being labelled as mentally ill. Your intervention can make the difference and alleviate the depression and Holiday Blues of a senior in your family or community.
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Disclaimer: The foregoing is not medical advice, and no action or refraining from action should be based on it. Anyone who is dealing with the issues discussed above should immediately consult their physician or other health care provider.

One of the things that happens to folks as they get on in years, is that they begin to worry over how they are going to care for themselves. This is a common concern among people who are reaching their golden years. The news doesn't help sometimes all full of dire predictions and gloom.

But one thing is really important, maybe even more important than anything else when it comes time to retire, and that is getting the kind of care you need at the time and place that you need it. That is why senior assisted living facilities were created.

This type of facility is different than what people usually think about nursing homes and retirement villages. Assisted living facilities are a blend of independence and care that is created specifically for each individual resident. This kind of care regimen is designed on purpose to foster the amount of independent activities that each person can do for themselves.

That sounds so dry and scientific, but in truth it is exactly the kind of care that every person is looking for. Why would you want to have more care than you need in your retirement community? All that will do in the long run is make you dependent on the people who are running the living facility.

And after living your whole life as an independent person, and taking care of yourself, why would you want to do anything that is going to make you lose that independent ability. There is no sense in that, and yet, there are some senior facilities that promote exactly kind of thinking

They want to do everything for you, so that you do not have to do anything at all except sit there and wait around while they do things for you. That might be OK on a short term basis like when you go on vacation, but for a long term kind of living arrangement, that is not what every single person needs.

There are some people who need more being taken care of than others. You might even know some people like that, and if they need that, it is good that there are places where they can go to get the kind of care they are looking for. But with assisted living, you are in charge of your life. And that is far and away what most people are looking for.

The idea that someone is there to help you when you need it is a really good one, and it makes sense to let others handle some of the things that you don't want to take care of anymore. And that is exactly the kind of thinking that is ideal for taking advantage of senior assisted living facilities.

If you imagine yourself rocking away the boring days and lonely nights during your retirement years, you should think again. Retirees today are anything but sedentary. So forget about buying a rocking chair for your front porch and start looking at retirement villages instead. There are many advantages to living in a 55+ community; here is a look at some of them.

You'll live among people your own age. Rules vary by community, but in general, the only ones allowed to live in a retirement community are people of retirement age. Of course, your kids and grandkids can come visit and vacation with you, but most of the time you won't be bothered by loud babies or rowdy teenagers. Your neighbors will have similar interests and concerns since they are the same age as you. This ensures your days and nights will be more peaceful and safer too.

You'll have plenty of opportunities to socialize. Most communities have a social committee that organizes events at the community center where you can play cards and other games, participate in pitch-in dinners, and meet to chat. Some communities offer outings to local attractions and organize shopping trips so you can get out and about even if you no longer drive. There are also plenty of recreational activities such as swimming, golfing, working out in the community gym, and trail walking.

Another benefit of retirement communities is that they can be quite affordable. If you will be on a tight budget after you retire, you will probably find less expensive housing in a 55+ community. You can opt for a condo, villa, or mobile home village depending upon your preference and budget. You may even want to look into communities in places such as Mexico or Panama where the cost of living is much lower and retirement incentives are offered.

If you are fortunate, and can afford a luxury lifestyle during your retirement, you will find some great upscale communities to consider. These are located in some of the most beautiful climates on the planet such as Arizona, Florida, and even Costa Rica. These luxury communities offer resort-style amenities amid lavish surroundings where you can be pampered and catered to as much as you wish.

You may even experience better physical and mental health by choosing to live in a village with other seniors. By living a stress reduced lifestyle filled with camaraderie, socialization, and plenty of physical activity, you can ward off loneliness, depression, laziness, and the medical conditions they cause. In addition, some retirement communities offer graduated living so you can stay in familiar surrounding if you get ill or need to utilize assisted living or nursing care.

Retirees today are much different from just a couple of generations ago. Rather than whiling away the hours on the front porch, today's seniors begin entirely new lives that are filled with new friends, new neighbors, and plenty of exciting adventures.

Seniors who choose to hire a private senior care agency or caregiver to provide for their care services can benefit from a professional plan of care.  A senior care plan will guide the caregiver to maintain a consistent routine and include all the necessary activities for healthy aging.

What information should a senior care plan include?

A senior care plan should provide a list of the senior's medical conditions, medications, medical doctors, pharmacies and other care providers.

What daily activities should be monitored? 

All Activities of Daily Living should be listed along with the time meals are eaten, the time medications are taken and other physical and mental activities along with other job duties for the caregiver.  The information should include the following:

Nutrition:  Food prepared and meals eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner, fluid intake (number of glasses of water)

Health & Hygiene:  Transfers from bed to chair, bathroom visits, showers, dressing, hair care, skin care, nail care, dental care, exercise routine

Daily Routine & Vital Signs:  Wake-up time, nap times, bed time, blood pressure, weight, doctor appointments

Physical and Mental Activities:  Exercises, walks, physical therapy routine, reading newspaper, magazines, books, mental exercise games

Household Cleaning:  Cleaning kitchen, bathroom, laundry, changing bed linens, sorting mail, sweeping floors, dust rooms, vacuum, run errands, pet care

Seniors should also ask their doctors if there are any activities they would like to track to monitor the success of medications or the symptoms of their medical conditions.  By monitoring daily routines such as times of sleep, meals and exercise, doctors can better measure the impact of medications and the progression of memory loss or the loss of physical capabilities.  This can sometimes result in better diagnosis and slowing down the progresion of age-related diseases. 

It is a good idea to maintain a daily log for the daily activities.  You can create a notebook to contain all the care plan notebooks and take this along with you to the doctor's appointments.  The care plan can also be a great resource for medical professionals if there is ever an emergency situation.

Senior care agencies usually will provide a plan of care for their clients, as a way to train, monitor and manage both the caregiver and the care.  One of the benefits of hiring a professional senior home care agency is receiving a complete professional care plan, along with active management of the caregivers. Quality senior care agencies will also employ the caregivers as their employees which provides the added protection of worker's compensation insurance, professional liability insurance and payroll taxes to make sure the senior and their family members do not need to worry about caregiver employee issues.  In addition, the caregiver has support and training along with benefits, as senior care can be emotionally challenging and sometimes physically exhausting. Good agencies will provide a care for the caregiver program to make sure quality caregivers can continue to succeed in providing care.

Life has a way of coming around full circle. Take the relationship with your parents. When you were small, they took care of all of your needs and helped you become an independent, responsible adult. Inevitably, you have all aged, and you may now be finding yourself in the role of caregiver for parents who can no longer take complete care of themselves. Thousands of Americans are struggling with working, caring for young families, and trying to help their parents at the same time. Deciding on the best way to handle the situation for all involved can be a frustrating dilemma.

Assisted living has emerged as one of the most viable options in elder care, and it's no wonder. It combines the best of two worlds for seniors, allowing them freedom to live as they please while offering them meals and other care as it becomes necessary. For those who want to continue living the unrestricted life they have always known, it comes as a blessed alternative to nursing home care. Living in their own apartments among others of their same age group, participating in center-planned activities, and being able to come and go when they want to are pluses of this type of living.

For the children of seniors in assisted living facilities, it's a relief knowing that parents are being cared for while still being able to live happy, fulfilling lives. After all, old age is just a part of life, not an affliction that needs to be dealt with as such.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 assisted living facilities are operating in the United States, and more than a million people live in them. The trend continues to grow, especially as the population is aging. In many cases, assisted living can even accommodate those with Alzheimer's and dementia allowing them to live with dignity. Different levels of care make assisted living a pleasant choice for everyone, because they aren't forced to fit into a mold of life that nursing homes demand. They are only given those services which they require and then left to live their lives the way they choose.

You shouldn't get the idea that assisted living is the best option for every senior. Many prefer to remain in their own homes with the aid of a caregiver. A lady I know tried assisted living but decided it wasn't for her, because costs for such things as meals she didn't eat kept escalating. She still wanted to cook for herself and keep her own home, so she rented an apartment and, at 89, is still living there comfortably while employing a lady who comes in every two weeks to help her with housework and shopping.

Stress, urge, overflow and functional incontinence name the various types of incontinence experienced by seniors. Many seniors start to experience problems with urinary incontinence after they go through menopause for women or when males have prostate surgery or prostate problems. What is urinary incontinence and why is it such a problem for seniors? Urinary incontinence is when you have an involuntary loss of urine. Urinary incontinence can be very embarrassing as you have to deal with wet underwear and clothing along with smell and possibly staining your clothing. For many people urinary incontinence can also increase the risk of depression as people are embarrassed by their condition and they stop participating in social events because of the fear that they may have involuntary urine loss.

While exercise and diet will be able to help you manage urinary incontinence you may continue to have problems with it based on which type of incontinence you suffer from. This is why it is so important to purchase products that help to make your life easier if you are living with urinary incontinence. Wearing adult diapers or pads will be able to prevent you from feeling embarrassed as they will soak up the excess urine that may leak from your bladder at unexpected times.

Many senior citizens that deal with urinary incontinence are still able to live at home and can take care of themselves. However there is an increased risk of falls if a person is experiencing urinary incontinence, which may cause them to consider moving in with a loved one or moving to an assisted living facility. If a loved one is planning to move in with you, it is important that you understand the emotional and physical role you will be taking on. You must meet with your loved ones physician to understand what their condition is and to make sure you are modifying your home in a way to accompany their physical limitations.

With over 20 million people suffering from urinary incontinence it is easy to see why this is such a growing industry and why there are so many different products and options available for seniors. It is important to seek treatment for urinary incontinence and to use products that can assist in managing it or it may lead to painful bed sores and urinary tract infections.

Talking to a doctor is the first step to see which type of incontinence you have or a loved one has and to make sure you do not need surgery or another option to treat it. Most doctors will ask for a daily record in order to understand how many accidents are happening along with foods that are eaten and so forth. This information will make it easier for the doctor to figure out a treatment plan for the senior suffering from incontinence.

Modify the bathroom to make it accessible for the senior citizen. It is important to remove rugs and other things that they may trip over as they are rushing to get to the restroom. Motion lights at night time will make it easier to find the restroom for the senior. It is also a good idea to install railings or bars in the bathroom that will help them sit down and stand up easily. A raised toilet seat is another investment to make that will make it much easier for the senior to use the restroom and give their bladder relief. Purchase adult diapers or pads to absorb the urine that leaks throughout the day as this will make it easier to live with incontinence.

For seniors, Atlanta is a great place to live in. It has almost everything that a person can hope to have around when he or she grows old. This is one of the reasons why there are so many Atlanta senior housing facilities in the city.

Another reason is the large number of people above 55 years of age in the city. 17.1 percent population of Atlanta is 55 years old or older, according to the "Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000" released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Of which, 9.7% people are 65 years old or older, and 3.3% people falls in age bracket of 60 to 64. In absolute terms 40,535 people are 65 or above in Atlanta.

This has led to opening of all kinds of Atlanta senior housing facilities in the neighborhood. If classified according to the level of care given or needed, the senior housing can be classified into three categories: (1) Independent living, (2) assisted living, and (3) nursing.

Independent living

An independent senior housing provides a good alternative to the person who wants to and can live independently without any external support. You will be given all the privacy you need, all the activities you want to participate in, and all the things you want to and can eat.

Independent senior housing is best-suited for those who do not want to take the burden of maintaining their houses, but want to live independently among like-minded peers. In this kind of setting, personal care is not provided, but meals, transportation, housekeeping, and planned activities are offered to the residents.

The cultural richness of Atlanta makes the city a nearly perfect place for this kind of living. To keep yourself entertained, you can visit any place you like, but

• If you are a live music lover then you can ask the management to take you and your friends to Fox Theater, the EARL, The Masquerade, The Star Community Bar, the Variety Playhouse, and the Tabernacle.


• If classical music is your choice then places like Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Georgia Boy Choir, Atlanta Ballet, New Trinity Baroque, Atlanta Opera, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are waiting to welcome you.


• And for the people with a taste for high art, Georgia Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta Institute for the Arts, High Museum of Art, and the Center for Puppetry Arts present a great opportunity to explore.

Assisted living

Atlanta assisted living arrangement is good for the person who can function properly, but wants a little bit of help in doing the activities of daily living (ADL)like cooking, driving, taking bath, and medication, etc. People opting for assisted living need a certain level of personal care every day, and they also require immediate medical attention from time to time. The facility needs to have well-trained and qualified support staff to help elderly live their life comfortably and peacefully.

Nursing

It is full-care Atlanta senior housing facility. People who needs round the clock care by trained and qualified medical staff should move to this kind of setting. In this kind of senior housing a proper monitoring of each resident is done, and it also has qualified staffs to fulfill all the medical and non-medical requirements of the residents. Nursing staffs assist a resident until he gets well and starts functioning properly on his own. In total, Atlanta has around 60 nursing homes.

One Atlanta senior housing is different from the other two in the level of personal care each one of them provides. You should assess your parent's need before going for any of the three. Do not decide in haste.

A medical alert system is a personal emergency response system providing fast response to patients who face life threatening events. It is a small, lightweight, water-proof device activated simply by pressing a button. This portable device is usually worn around the neck or on a wristband.

A medical alert system is a simple health monitoring device ideal for seniors who live alone, or are suffering from heart-related ailments and chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and osteoporosis. It utilizes the latest information technology and provides care in assisted living facilities. Some of the features of a medical alert system are automatic voice to voice communication, remote call answering, adjustable volume controls, and monthly test call reminders.

A typical alert device includes an amplified speaker, extra sensitive microphone, a large button, and wristband. It is designed to work from anywhere in or around the subscriber's home. The powerful speaker system and sensitive microphone work simultaneously for the subscriber to communicate with the monitoring center. When the alert button is pushed, it sends signals over the telephone line to the 24-hour medical alert monitoring center. Then, it opens a voice to voice channel between the subscriber and a highly trained person, ready to provide quick assistance. The centre dispatches local medical personnel, ambulance, police, fire or other services as needed.

A fall sensor, available with any medical alert machine, is specially designed to recognize falling or other similar accidents. Whenever a fall occurs, it automatically informs the alert machine and the monitoring center. The alert machine is also equipped with a power back-up facility, and automatically notifies the medical center if the battery needs replacement. A built-in rechargeable battery operates up to 24 hours during power failure. Medical alert devices are available for use outdoors and while traveling.

If you don't live with your elderly parents you probably want to know what they're doing since you aren't with them. Calling on the telephone is fine, but it only goes so far. You may consider that the time has come where additional monitoring is needed.

When should you determine that your mother and father require more monitoring? Some common indicators include how well your mother and father take care of themselves.

You should look at your parent's personal grooming.

Can your elderly parents bathe and comb hair? Do they need help getting dressed including buttoning buttons, zipping zippers and tying shoes? Are your elderly parents capable of keeping their house clean? Can they dust, mop, run the vacuum, do the dishes? Can your mother and father cook? Are they able to walk around their home? Can they sit down and get up from chairs by themselves? What about getting in and out of bed? Can they bend over and get something off the floor?

What about doing things outside the home? Can they go to the grocery store? Run errands? Can they get in and out of an automobile? Do they get around where they live without getting lost?

How about finances? Can your mother and father handle their monthly budget? Balance their checkbook? Pay bills?

These are the kind of inquires you need to make. A little trouble in a few areas may indicate some problems in the future, but your parents are still able to function OK. However if you see problems in a lot of areas that could indicate it's time to closely watch your mother and father. The more situations where your parents have trouble doing things and the more severe those problems, the more they indicate somebody should keep a closer eye on your mother and father.

Your parents want to remain independent. This is a big deal to anybody, but it gets even more important to elderly parents. That is because independence is so vital. On some level your parents know that if they lose their independence they may never get it back. You want to help your parents stay independent. Therefore if you can help it, you don't want them to have to go to an assisted living setting or nursing home if less restrictive alternatives are available.

Nowadays, more than ever, different technologies exist that can help you keep an eye on Mom and Dad regardless of how far away you live. Mom and Dad may feel like monitoring systems in their home are an invasion of privacy. That may be true. But you want to only use least restrictive alternatives to keep your parents safe.

Several options of monitoring exist from an occasional phone call to having your elderly parent's entire home wired so you know precisely where they are and what they are doing 24/7. You can consider different options between the extremes.

One of these alternatives may be a much better solution for your parents than having to leave their home.

For example, some companies will charge thousands of dollars to completely wire your parents' entire home thus allowing you and others to keep track of your parents. A less costly alternative would be a computer and security cameras set up in a couple locations around the home. Many options like this come prepackaged as software and hardware. You may need an a computer guy to come in and set it up, but after that the price is just an internet connection.

You may consider a Help button. That is a device worn around the neck so it is always within reach. If your mother and father press the button, which is always in reach as long as they are wearing the device, a monitoring company calls and determines whether help is needed. If the monitoring company decides help is needed one person from the monitoring company remains on the phone with your mother and father until help shows up, and a second person calls for help.

The bottom line is your mother and father need to stay safe. On that point everyone will agree. What you may need to determine with your parents is the amount of monitoring that is needed to keep them safe while maintaining their independence. Assure your parents that you respect their desire to live in their own home and you want to make sure they get to do that. But sometimes they have to give up a little privacy, even if they don't want to, so they can stay in their home.

Copyright 2011 Jeffrey B Kent

You have permission to reuse this article if you credit the author and place a link to the author's website in a prominent place.

As promised, this is a second of a series of articles discussing ways to make a home more accessible. My first article talked about general construction of a barrier free home. The related articles will address specific tweaks to make it easier to overcome environmental problems.

What I have observed is that people without physical limitations often do not appreciate how difficult simple everyday tasks can be to someone who is physically compromised. Many times a small modification can remove an obstacle. By presenting these examples of problems and solutions, I hope to raise awareness of problems and inspire people to look for answers.

Problems/Solutions:

Doorways openings are too small/Offset Door Hinges - The obvious answer is through construction - widen doorways. There is a cheaper, less disruptive approach. Offset door hinges will give you an extra 2 inches with very little effort and cost.

Turning round doorknobs/Levered Doorknobs - Round doorknobs can be difficult for people with limited grasp. With a lever, all you need to do to open a door is to push down on the lever. You can replace all the doorknobs in the house with levered ones but this means changing locks and that can get expensive. An alternative approach would be to put conversion lever attachments over existing round knobs. Locks would not need to be changed and the cost would be less with this problem solver.

Standing from a seated position/Furniture Risers or a Lift Chair - Standing from a low level can create problems for someone with limited leg strength. By raising the seat to a higher level, it takes less effort to stand, possibly making the task achievable. Furniture Riser can raise the whole chair from 2" to 5". Another option would be a Lift Chair. These chairs automatically lift the chair seat with the push of a button. Chairs online begin at about $600 and go up. My online purchase saved me about $300; I paid $600 when the suggested retail was $900. Shipping was free. An additional feature in many of these electronically operated chairs is that they also can recline with the push of a button.

Turning Faucets/Automatic Faucets - Normal aging, a stroke, arthritis, or some other medical problem may cause the simple, everyday activity of turning a faucet to be frustrating. An automatic faucet can be mounted to your existing faucet. Simply run an object under the faucet and your water comes on automatically. It will then stay on until you move from under the sensor. Online prices start at around $50.

Grasping and turning a small switch/Touch Lamps - Limited grasp caused by arthritis or other health problems can make the activity of holding a small object like a light switch and turning it difficult. A touch lamp can be operated by coming in contact with a metal surface on the lamp. You can buy new touch lamps or just put a Touch Lamp Converter into your existing lamps.

Opening widow coverings/Motorized Window Blinds - Do you, a friend or relative have a dark house because the blinds were never opened? Sunlight can work wonders on a person's psyche making this an important problem to fix. The inability to reach the controls to operate window coverings is a very common problem. It is not unusual for furniture to block access. With motorized blinds, you use a remote to point and click to open or close blinds. A cheaper fix for those who can reach controls but find it difficult to turn wand controllers is to buy blinds where pulling a cord opens or closes the blinds.

Getting over thresholds when using a wheelchair/Wheelchair friendly threshold - Your normal door threshold has a small hump so there is not a gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. Unfortunately, a wheelchair user must be very careful that both wheels hit the hump at the same time or the chair will rock, threatening a collision with the door frame. You can replace the raised threshold plate with a flat one but then must put a weather proofing strip on the bottom of the door to close the gap. This item is available at most hardware stores.

Getting out of bed/Bed Handle - For people with the problem of getting out of bed independently, a bed handle may be the solution. This bedrail gives a person something to pull up with, helps them turn in bed, or can provide support when standing. It is only about 1 1/2 feet long which is shorter than a normal bedrail. This short rail is not effective for keeping someone in bed, however, it provides something to grasp while being short enough to allow someone to swing their legs over the side to stand.

Many times only minor changes are necessary to bring an obstacle down to size. The first step to problem solving is to recognize the actual stumbling block. Once identified, consider whether an alternative approaches would help you reach the goal.

The moving process always causes a great deal of stress which, for seniors and their families, can be compounded by a number of complicating factors. The following are a few tips for those who are getting ready to move.

Downsize early

Often, seniors are moving into a smaller space when transitioning into a senior housing community, which means many of belongings they may have accumulated over the years won't fit in their new home. This can create a very difficult situation when it comes time to move, as it often comes down to throwing away many items which hold sentimental value.

Try to go through this process as early and as gradually as possible. Get the family together and go through the basement, attic or garage well before the time comes to move. Doing so will ensure that the move to senior housing goes much more smoothly.

Check to make sure it's a good fit

Often families overlook seemingly-smaller issues when selecting a senior housing community which can prove to be deal breakers down the road. After finding a community that is in the desired area and provides the basic care needs, continue to ask questions. Do they allow pets? Does the community offer kosher or vegetarian meals? Is smoking allowed? What are most of the other residents like? These are often-overlooked issues that should be considered before a decision is made.

Look into getting help

Moving into senior housing poses many potential complications that one simply doesn't have to worry about in any other situation. Seeking the help of a professional senior move manager can save mounds of time, effort and frustration in the long run.

The National Association of Senior Move Managers is the largest senior move manager professional organization in the nation. Its members have experience helping seniors make the transition into senior housing, and their expertise extends beyond the moving process. NASMM members can even help you find an appropriate senior housing community, as the organization has partnered which maintains the most current and comprehensive senior housing resource in the nation.

Benefits to seniors and their families

There are few events in life that create as much anxiety for an elder person, couple or family caregiver as the decision to relocate from the family home to some type of senior or long-term care housing. When loved ones live in remote cities, the situation becomes even more stressful. The importance of real-time information about types of housing available, amenities in individual locations, specialty care and availability is crucial to all involved, as these decisions are often precipitated by an acute medical situation. From the comfort of home, our database can be searched for a matched list of senior housing facilities that suit the individual's needs and preferences - all at no cost to the senior and their family.

As your parents age, it can be difficult to maintain the same parent-child dynamic you've always had while increasingly taking on the role of caregiver. Whether your parents are enjoying an active retirement or are part of the community in a skilled nursing center or assisted living facility, these 8 tips can help you help them to thrive during this time of transition.

Encourage Them to Get Active

One of the best ways to improve your parents' state of mind as well as their physical health is to encourage them to stay active. This encouragement can take the form of a gym membership or home exercise equipment purchase, but a free and fun alternative is to exercise with them.

If your schedule allows it, make time to visit your parents and take a walk together. Allow them to set the pace, and chat together as you exercise. You could also enroll in water aerobics or take a yoga class. The shared time will provide just the incentive your parents need to get active, and you'll both strengthen your bond as you strengthen your muscles.

Improve Their Mental Health with Classes

Fitness classes aren't the only way to improve health. In fact, learning something new in the form of a community education class can help seniors stay sharp. You can encourage your parents to take exciting new classes by focusing on the activities that have interested them over the years. Brainstorm together by making a list of everything your parents have enjoyed. Then look through those items to identify what they have in common.

Once you've narrowed down the topics, get out the course catalog from your local community college, library or senior center. Make another list of the classes that match up, and present the options to your parents. If they seem reluctant, you might offer to take the class together.

Bring the Mental Exercise to Them

Another great way to maintain mental focus is to engage in tricky mental activities. Even if your parents are dealing with physical challenges that make it difficult for them to take a community education class, you can bring the mental exercise to them.

Pick up a selection of crossword puzzles, Sudoku books, and mind puzzlers and spend the afternoon together working through a few of the puzzles. Or involve them in a family game of Trivial Pursuit. Alternatively, if your parents aren't fans of these activities, drop off a great selection of books or surprise them with a subscription or two to an interesting magazine.

Help Them Pass on Their Life Lessons

Whether your parents are living independently or require assistance, feeling valued and useful are important for their emotional health. In addition, many people can benefit from the knowledge and wisdom they have gained over the years. Try some of these ideas to help them to pass on some of their life lessons and experiences:

• Encourage them to volunteer in the community. Whether they choose to mentor new entrepreneurs with a program like MicroMentor or work with school children learning to read, everyone benefits from the experience.


• Help them make a list of life lessons and print the list up in book form. Topics might include favorite recipes and cooking tips, parenting advice, or other useful tidbits.


• Work with your parents to record their stories. You can do this in the form of a book or audio tape, or you could work with a professional to create something very special. Whatever method you choose, you and your parents will both be glad that you took the time to preserve their life stories.

Give Them a Social Outlet

While frequent visits and phone calls to your parents are sure to be appreciated, research suggests that having positive friendships actually may be even more important for longevity than regular contact with family. Whether your parents are living independently or with help, encourage them to interact with friends as much as possible.

If your parents are living independently, you might persuade them to start a book club or join a band. Regular card games, dance classes, and senior center activities can also be great places to establish and further cement positive friendships.

For those who have limited mobility, being social may be even more important. While most facilities have extensive social programs, getting involved can seem overwhelming to some seniors. Work with your parents to pick a few activities that interest them, and these can provide a great social outlet.

Get in Touch with a Support Group

Although your role in your parents' lives is changing, you still may find that you cannot provide all the emotional support they need. The retirement years can be challenging for several reasons, including the loss of loved ones, financial challenges, significant life changes, and health concerns.

Listening to your parents can help them navigate these challenges, but many people also need the help of a support group or therapist. These resources may be available in your parents' skilled nursing or assisted living facility. If not or if your parents are living independently, you can encourage them to find a support group or therapist through their local senior center or through a hospital.

Provide a Change of Scenery

No matter what your parents' living situation is like, a change of scenery can be extremely helpful in making the world feel like a bigger, better place. If your parents are healthy, travel is a great way to boost mood and see some amazing sites. Work with them to set up a dream vacation to Europe or a short jaunt to a nearby city.

For those with limited mobility, a change of scenery may mean an outing to a favorite restaurant or a night at the movies. Pick activities your parents will enjoy and coordinate your efforts with the nursing facility or assisted living center where they live. These facilities may be able to provide transportation if your parents need help.

Encourage Them to Practice Mindfulness

One key to helping your parents stay positive and enjoy their retirement years is to encourage them to notice and be present in the moment. When they were raising a family or building a career, they were likely rushing from one task to the next. Now they have a chance to slow down and see the beauty in the world.

You can encourage mindfulness by asking your parents to make a note of or take pictures of something beautiful every day. Then, at the end of the week, take some time to look through what they've created. This activity will boost their moods and yours, and it will also provide an opportunity to bond.

Take Care of Yourself

It's easy to get caught up in the very important role you now fill in your parents' lives. However, remember to take some time for yourself as well. Maintaining balance in your own life will make you a better caregiver, and that will go a long way toward enhancing your parents' retirement years as well.