Memory Assisted Living Ashland NE

Different Types of Independent Living for Seniors

Independent living for seniors is a system designed for older adults who want to enjoy their retirement independently. Independent living options at senior living facilities offer a secure, comfortable, active, and simpler lifestyle to their residents.

There are different types of independent living facilities and retirement homes that you can choose from. Before considering relocating to a retirement home, look at the list of types of retirement homes that you can choose from that will support your independence and lifestyle.

 

4 types of independent living and retirement facilities:

 

Low income or subsidize living facilities

  • Low-income senior citizens from 62 years old and above may qualify to live in subsidized facilities to enable them to live independently. Most of these properties are owned and operated by non-profit organizations offering an assortment of activities, services, and amenities for their senior residents.

 

Anyone in the United States aged 62 and beyond may apply directly to the facility near them or their preferred retirement place under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 202.

Senior apartments

  • These are ideal for seniors who are looking for low cost and low maintenance independent living for seniors’ complexes with amenities to make your life comfortable and enjoyable. Senior apartments are designed to meet the requirements and lifestyles of elderly residents.

 

Little to no stairs, handrails, and wheelchair ramp are expected in senior apartments. Also, senior apartments vary according to size and style like single-family apartments, suite, and duplexes. However, most senior apartments only accept 55 years old and above residents.

Retirement homes

  • Retirement homes are like senior apartments who impose age restrictions that residents must be at least 55 years old. Also called old people’s homes, retirement homes are multi-resident places with a multitude of accessible facilities designed to meet the current and future needs of independent seniors.

 

Retirement homes like apartments and suite rooms are available for sale or rent which have facilities for recreation, dining, health, and gatherings.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRC

  • These types of independent living for seniors’ facilities are ideal for elderlies with health issues that need assistance in the future. These facilities offer independent living to nursing home services in the same community.

 

For seniors who have serious health problems, CCRCs are the best option for you. Another thing that makes Continuing Care Retirement Communities appealing is that senior residents can easily and comfortably transition from independent living to assisted living should the need arise.

As you get older, the possibility to settle in an independent living environment is most likely to happen. But it is something you should be worried or anxious about for it will aid in making your life easier at the same time enjoyable.

Facilities for independent living for seniors are made available to make your life manageable without giving up your freedom. With other residents in your chosen independent living community, you can still socialize; meet new friends, and do recreational activities without the need of going out.

Interested in independent living for you or a loved one? Click here to see the pricing and floor plans we offer here at Richmont Senior Living

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Assisted Living Ashland NE

Five Tips to Help You Tackle the Topic of Senior Housing

Tackling the topic of assisted living or senior housing with elderly parents is something most children do not look forward to.

The most commonly feared outcomes of the topic is that it will either cause the elderly family members to think that they are a burden and being forced out of their homes or that they will refuse to go in all circumstances.

Although raising the topic can be delayed in some cases, it is still important for your loved to ones to be made aware of all of their options with good notice so that they feel they have some sort of say in what happens next. Talking about the issue will give them the time to gather information and do their own research on what they feel will make them the most comfortable and happy.

To help family members with this stressful process, it helps to have some professional advice to help you out along the way. Below are some helpful tips to help lessen anxiety or fear when talking to your parents about assisted living.

Research senior housing facilities

Start looking for assisted living communities near your parents’ place or somewhere in their preferred retirement place.

 

Look for assisted housing facilities that have the level of care your parents need, while simultaneously meeting your parents’ housing budget. As it will require long term funding, it is crucial to choose senior housing that won’t become a financial burden later on.  As costs vary from state to state, it would be best to start your research first before opening the topic to your family.

 

You also might want to bring your parents along when visiting assisting living facilities, so they can see the environment and the everyday activities. Doing so will give them the idea that living in senior housing will not deprive them of their freedom used to enjoy in a regular living situation.

Discuss the plan with your siblings

Share the plan with your brothers or sisters. Fill them in on details such as when, where, and how you want to open up the discussion with your parents. You can always ask the help of your siblings during a family get-together or you have the option to talk to your parents individually.

Ask for your doctor’s assistance

Find time to speak with your parents’ primary care provider. A professional’s advice and recommendation may help them get comfortable with the idea of living in senior housing or a modern retirement facility.

Get them involved

  • Although you have made your research and considering the possibility of assisted living, it still best to let your parents decide the best option for them. Do not forget to provide other options like getting an in-house caregiver or a house help that can assist them with their day to day activities and necessities.

Illness or Accidents

If your loved one is injured or diagnosed with age-related diseases, this will greatly impact his/her ability to live independently. Informed your elderly family member the benefits of being taken cared of day in and day out knowing that their mental, physical, and emotional condition will change eventually.

Modern senior housing facilities have the experience, knowledge, means, and qualified staff to provide their current and future health care needs. It may be hard at first to talk about it, but with the right people at the right time, you can raise the topic with confidence.

Got a few questions left about senior housing? Click here to see a list of our most frequently asked questions and answers

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Facilities for Alzheimer’s

Testing for Memory Loss in Adults: How is it Done?

The world’s population has been fighting a silent battle against memory loss for many years now. In the United States alone, at least 5.8 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia this year and that number is expected to increase further as more Americans enter their late adulthood years and move into memory assisted living.

 

Occasional forgetfulness is a part of the aging process, but when you experience difficulty in language, memory, thinking and judgment consistently, you could be having memory loss that could easily led to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia if not addressed right away.

 

But how does a doctor test for memory loss in adults?

 

Neurological test

  • The first step that doctors usually take when testing for memory loss is to evaluate your five senses, reflexes, speech and spatial skills. You may be asked to follow some verbal and written commands, draw some shapes, name objects and do things that will help the doctor look for signs of neurological issues.

 

Neuropsychological test

  • After the initial neurological evaluation, the doctor may also perform a neuropsychological test to further assess your ability to focus, remember and identify people, time and place. This will be done through a series of questions that are related to your mood and behavior to determine how memory loss affects your daily activities.

 

Cognitive test

  • Cognitive evaluation means checking for your memory, concentration and sense of time and place through a series of questions about your personal life, especially about your daily activities. The doctor may also talk to your family members or caregiver to ask about any changes that they’ve observed since you first manifested memory loss.

 

Psychometric test

  • The more specific psychometric test measures the speed, quality and accuracy of different mental processes by letting you take a written test where you will be given different challenges that will determine how you make decisions, use language, organize, remember details, solve problems and focus on activities.

 

  • If a doctor still needs more definitive signs that you are experiencing memory loss or worse, if it’s progressing to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, he may order additional tests like an MRI scan and PET scan.

 

    • An MRI is a non-invasive scan where radio frequency pulses and magnetic fields are utilized to produce detailed images of bones, organs and even soft tissues. Doctors usually order an MRI scan to rule out other medical conditions such as tumors that may be causing your memory loss.

 

    • A PET scan, on the other hand, is another imaging test that will give doctors a better picture of how your organs and tissues are functioning inside your body.

 

At the end of the day, it’s very important to have yourself tested from the moment you start experiencing consistent memory loss. This will not only allow you the opportunity to have an early diagnosis but also give you the best quality of life, whether you need to move to memory assisted living or not.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Facilities for Alzheimer’s

The Benefits of a Temporary Stay in a Nursing Home

As you approach your senior years, you’re probably contemplating about moving to an assisted living community. Nursing homes are especially popular among a lot of seniors since they offer independence and accessibility to healthcare services whenever residents need them.

 

But moving into a nursing home is a huge decision, so it would be helpful for you to experience what it’s like living in an assisted living community before you commit to it.

The good news is you now have the option to experience a temporary stay in one of the many nursing homes in the country where you can enjoy their many benefits.

The Benefits

 

You’ll get to experience the real living arrangement yourself

 

  • A lot of seniors think that nursing homes consist of small double rooms, narrow hallways and shared bathrooms. But today, things are a lot different because assisted living facilities already offer apartment-style living where you get to enjoy your own space, gourmet food ready for you every day and other amenities that might not even be accessible in your own home.

 

  • A temporary stay means that you’ll get to experience what type of community you want to be in so you can decide which assisted living facility to choose when the time comes.

 

Your family members will understand assisted living better

 

  • As you grow older, your loved ones may find it overwhelming to cater to your needs when they’re working or have their own families. It may even become frustrating to them if they feel that they’re not giving you enough care or if you’re becoming too stubborn.

 

  • Staying in a temporary assisted living facility for a couple of weeks or a month will allow you to not only explore this living option but also for your loved ones to understand what it’s like to have someone in nursing homes so they can make better decisions about your long-term care.

 

You get to understand the true cost of assisted living

 

  • Assisted living communities don’t come cheap, that’s for sure, and that will also be the same situation once you’re living in one long-term. Price ranges for temporary stays could range between $99 and $250 per day depending on the size of the apartment, the location and the amenities offered in the facility.

 

  • Although some of your fees will be covered by Medicare and Medicaid if you stay in a facility for the long-term, you will need to pay the full cost of a temporary stay, which will give you and your loved ones a real perspective of what it costs to be living in nursing homes.

 

A temporary stay facility is an amazing option if you and your loved ones are still considering the possibility of you moving into an assisted living facility.

 

It’s also a great time for you and your spouse to get a break and enjoy the benefits of being in one of the nursing homes where you get to focus on living your best life possible.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Senior Housing Near Me

Different Options Available for Senior Housing

Are you confused with all the senior housing options out there? If your loved one or someone in your family needs housing or an assisted living facility, you can explore the senior housing options available for you.

 

Assessing Your Options

Since aging is a time for change and adaptation, planning for future housing needs is an essential part of improvement even as you get older. But regardless if you desire a lifestyle change or due to serious medical conditions, finding the right place can be both stressful and challenging for you and your family.

So the earlier you assess your current needs, the more options and control you will have.

However, the main point of making the best choice is to match your senior housing option with your financial needs, health, and lifestyle. You can either modify your own home to make it safer and more comfortable or you can move to a housing facility with more social options and support available on site.

 

Senior Housing Options

 

Aging In Place

Staying at home as you age is more advantageous if you want to keep a familiar place where you know the community and your neighbors. You can enjoy home care services and make home modifications or repairs so that life can be easier and safer.

    • Safe neighborhood
    • A close network of family, friends, and neighbors
    • Easily accessible transportation or alternate transportation to driving
    • Modified home to reflect your changing needs
    • Easy home and yard maintenance
    • Medical and physical needs don’t need a high level of care

 

Independent Living

This is just any housing arrangement made exclusively for seniors, such as those aged 55 and over. The housing environment is different from apartment-style living to freestanding homes.

This means that the housing is friendlier to older adults with easier navigation without maintenance or yard work to think about. Independent living can be your best option if you say yes to any of the following conditions.

    • You only see the need for minor assistance with activities of daily living
    • You like a place without a lot of upkeep of maintenance
    • You like socializing with peers and having activity options close by

 

Assisted Living Facilities

This residential option for seniors is suitable for those who want to help with some of the activities of daily living. This may include cooking, getting to the bathroom, keeping the house, and traveling to appointments.

Assisted living facilities offer 24-hour safety and security support, and access to care day or night. So a good facility will develop a personalized plan to meet the needs and accommodate any disabilities while giving freedom to do anything you can do for yourself.

 

Nursing Homes

This provides custodial care, such as getting in and out of bed and providing assistance with bathing, dressing, and feeding. But nursing homes differ from other senior housing facilities as they also provide a high level of medical care.

Overall, when you decide to choose the right senior housing facility that is good for you, it is essential to think about the needs you will have in the future. Such would include medial and physical needs, location and accessibility, home maintenance, financial needs, and social and emotional needs.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Senior Housing

Signs a Person May Need Assisted Living

It can be one of the hardest things to tell your parent or another loved one that he or she needs more help. That is why it is important to determine the signs that it is time to consider moving into an assisted living facility.

 

Signs That an Older Adult Needs Assisted Living

  • An empty refrigerator or filled with spoiled food
  • The older adult is always wearing the same clothes daily
  • Failure to clean and tidy the house and yard
  • Forgetfulness of the older adult
  • Strange or inappropriate behavior
  • Signs of depression
  • Bruises due to frequent falling or balancing problems

Perhaps it is time to consider the need to move to an assisted living facility. But what can you expect there? The need to do certain activities of daily living? This may involve things like cooking, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, keeping the house, and traveling to some appointments.

 

Services at Typical Assisted Living Facility

  • Three meals a day served in a dining area common for seniors
  • Assistance when eating, bathing, dressing, and bathroom time
  • Housekeeping services
  • Access to health and medical services
  • Medication management
  • Laundry services
  • Recreational and social activities
  • 24/7 security
  • Availability of staff to help with scheduled needs and unexpected issues

It would be stressful to plan about moving, regardless of your situation. Nevertheless, thinking about leaving your home for an assisted living facility can be a different story.

Of course, there are factors that can make you feel very vulnerable as a natural response to leaving your home.

But think that it is just normal to feel that way as it is just like losing your independence or a huge part of your identity. Talking to someone sympathetic in times like this can really help. You may also engage in counseling and therapy as an option where you can give yourself some time to grieve and get used to the change.

 

Tips To Make It Easier To Move To An Assisted Living Facility

It can be stressful in the beginning to consider living in an assisted living facility, but you can also do things to make the transition much easier.

  • Stay busy
  • Know what to expect
  • Go easy on yourself
  • Pack well in advance for the move

 

Support Loved Ones Moving To An Assisted Living Facility

  • Acknowledge the feeling of loss when your loved one chooses to move
  • Call and visit them as often as possible in the assisted living facility
  • Work through the period of adjustment together after moving into the facility
  • Help them personalize the living space they choose to move into

 

Choosing An Assisted Facility

  • About The Staff

Check if the staff has time to speak with you or not. Are they friendly and interested in you? Find out if they interact warmly with current residents or they just seem overwhelmed or stressed out.

 

  • About The Residents

Determine if the residents are happy and enjoying their interaction with one another. It will be more favorable if people look interesting to live with.

 

  • About The Facility

See for yourself if the assisted living facility is clean and fresh all around. See if the facility is also safe and secure as it provides peace of mind to residents. Moreover, you can find out more about the food, and if the menu options favor your taste.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Assisted Living

3 Important Interview Questions for Memory Assisted Living

One in every 10 people over the age of 65 is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia. That equates to at least 5.8 million Americans this year and the number will continue to grow every year. To address this growing statistic, more memory assisted living facilities are now available all over the country to cater to the needs of seniors who require specialized care due to memory loss. To ensure that a senior gets the level of care that fits his needs, the healthcare team usually conducts an interview with these three common interview questions:

 

How do you feel about your memory now?

This question is aimed at determining the level of awareness a senior has about his current memory state. In a study, all of the subjects expressed their awareness that their memory is not as good as it used to be.

Most of them have challenges with short-term memory function and they attribute it mostly to an existing medical condition. On the other hand, their long-term memory is a lot better, although most seniors feel that it would also start to deteriorate over time.

 

When did you start to notice that you’re becoming more forgetful?

It’s very important for healthcare staff to ask this question to know exactly when memory loss began manifesting itself, which will hopefully be a factor in diagnosing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Most seniors would know when their memory starts to fail them, especially when they start to forget even the most routine and mundane tasks like where they placed their keys or if they already took their medication.

This will allow healthcare staff in memory assisted living to determine the right healthcare plan that will meet the level of care needed by an individual.

 

How do you feel about losing your memory?

Memory loss is a difficult reality to accept for seniors because it makes them feel hopeless and helpless because they have no control over it. This is why it’s very important to ask this question to acknowledge their feelings about this difficult time in their life and let them know that they are not alone.

Memory assisted living has the primary goal of helping seniors going through memory loss due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to accept their condition and not let it define the rest of their life.

Asking this question is the first step to achieving that goal and it will also allow healthcare teams to know exactly how to deal with the elderly to help him go through this journey and still enjoy the best quality of life possible.

With the growing elderly population that’s predicted to overpower the younger population for the first time in history, the role of memory assisted living is more important now than ever.

As with any area in healthcare, interview questions are always the first step to making sure that excellent quality care is given to every senior going through memory loss and other related conditions.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Facilities for Alzheimer’s

Active Adult Housing: Why It’s a New Option for Independent Seniors

As you approach retirement, you may begin to think about senior living options where you can enjoy comfort and safety during your late adulthood years. But aside from your typical communities, you may come across the term “active adult housing,” which is now a popular form of independent living.

Over the years, research studies have proven the need for an independent living option that could cater to residents who are just entering their retirement years and may not require assisted living just yet since they can still manage most of their daily tasks.

In fact, this demographic still doesn’t want to be called “seniors” because they are not quite there yet even if they are not employed any more. But what exactly is an active adult community and what do you need to know about it?

 

Defining active adult housing

In its essence, active adult housing is a form of independent living that’s specifically targeted towards residents 55 years and older. These communities are typically divided into age-restricted and age-targeted living.

The Fair Housing Act defines age-restricted active adult housing as a community where at least 80% of all residents must have at least one person over 55 years old. Age-targeted communities, on the other hand, are marketed specifically for the 55 and over the market but they are not limited to those above this age bracket.

Residences in active adult housing communities could either be patio homes, townhouses, single-family houses, condos, mobile homes, and apartments. This gives active adults more options to fit their needs and budget without sacrificing the kind of life they want to live.

These independent living communities are also near important areas like restaurants, supermarkets, banks, and shopping centers.

 

Understanding active adult

There has been some confusion over the term “active adult” in senior living communities. But the simplest way to put things into perspective is to think about active adult housing as lifestyle-based and not care center.

Over the last few years, a lot of developers have created spaces to accommodate the needs of active adults who may be stepping into late adulthood but are still at the prime of their game.

This allows adults 55 and over to move out of their own homes and have the option to enjoy more housing options even if they don’t need advanced care just yet.

 

The benefits of active adult housing

Finally, active adult independent living offers a lot of benefits to seniors 55 and over who want to live their best life after retirement. Most active adults don’t need a huge living space to function and would want to move to a smaller house that they can easily maintain.

Active adult housing offers a type of independent living where seniors won’t need to worry about renovations, repainting, and caring for their lawns, so they can focus on having a good time and living their best life. Of course, there’s the option to have their peers around and still make memories with the family.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Facilities for Alzheimer’s

Why Family Matters in Assisted Living

As the world’s population gets older, the need for a family to understand assisted living and what it offers to the lives of the elderly is becoming much more important.

But while a lot of family members think that their loved ones can have the best life in these communities, what they fail to realize is the importance of their involvement in achieving that goal for their family members.

 

Loneliness and the Difficulty of Transitioning to Assisted Living

Loneliness is a common feeling among seniors transitioning to assisted living. When someone who has lived in the same house for many years needs to move into a completely different living arrangement, it’s not uncommon to feel separation anxiety and loneliness that could even lead to depression if not addressed promptly.

While assisted living communities aim to provide the most home-like environment for residents, family members still play an important role in helping seniors transition smoothly into this new community without feeling isolated or left alone.

Family members can visit regularly and even engage in activities with their loved ones so they can feel that sense of belongingness to the family even if they’re living in a different community.

They can also offer to assist with caring for their loved one while respecting the roles of healthcare workers and their level of skill to avoid getting too involved.

 

Quality Time over the Length of Time with Every Visit

A lot of residents in assisted living communities have loved ones, especially spouses, who visit them on an almost daily basis.

Although this could be thought of as a nuisance, it is actually highly appreciated by healthcare workers in these communities because of how they benefit the overall wellbeing of their loved ones and even other residents. Some of these family members eventually build great relationships with other residents and their constant interaction with them allows them to understand the needs of lonely residents who are not visited by their own families.

A lot of healthcare staff in these assisted living communities report that these family members help make the lives of other residents better and not just their own loved ones.

They also remind those family members who fail to visit their loved ones that although they already sent them to these communities, their responsibility as primary caregivers is still not over.

It doesn’t matter if they can only visit for a short period of time because quality time is more important than the length of time in supporting loved ones in assisted living.

 

The Takeaway

The family will always be a person’s strongest foundation and it holds true even for the elderly population. While seniors need specialized care because of existing medical conditions, they need the love and support of their family members the most to make sure that they don’t feel lonely and enjoy the best quality of life possible.

At the end of the day, family involvement is a crucial part of the care of seniors in assisted living.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

Independent Living for Seniors

How Senior Housing Promotes Good Quality of Life

It is happening: the American population is growing older. The number of older adults is projected to reach an astounding 94.7 million from 56 million. That’s a 69% increase in the elderly population of the United States. This means that senior housing will be increasingly in demand, as more seniors would choose to live in a more secure and safe community where they could spend the best of their later years. But how exactly does senior housing promote a better quality of life?

 

An Opportunity for Social Interaction

In 2010, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that spending time with family and friends and enjoying the right leisure activities with them actually helps keep cognitive function longer.

On the other hand, isolation and loneliness usually lead to depression and early mortality among the elderly, according to a research study from the University of Chicago.

One of the primary goals of any senior housing community is to promote social interaction among its residents. This is done through activities that encourage socialization within the community and with visiting loved ones including communal art classes, games, and hobbies that allow residents to engage in meaningful conversations with other people.

It has been proven to help boost their mood and keep them healthier for a longer time.

 

Safe Environment for Seniors to Live in

Safety is one of the biggest concerns of loved ones living with seniors. But with senior housing, these worries are eliminated because independent and assisted living communities always prioritize the health and safety of their residents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among adults 65 years and older. This is why senior housing communities always make sure that their buildings are designed for mobility and accessibility among seniors by adding hand railings, grab bars, raised toilets, and other precautions to prevent falls among residents.

Independent and assisted living communities also hire security companies to protect residents from break-ins and alarm systems are installed around the facilities for the peace of mind of both the residents and their loved ones.

 

A Better Lifestyle for Seniors

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of living in senior housing is the opportunity to live the best lifestyle possible. These communities offer different opportunities for residents to enjoy their life without worrying about daily chores.

For instance, they don’t need to cook for themselves because these communities will take care of preparing nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs and consider their food restrictions.

They can also get assistance with activities of daily living if they have difficulty performing them on their own and they can focus on doing what they love without worrying about running a household.

So if you have a loved one who’s about to enter retirement, a senior housing community is definitely a great choice to give them the quality of life that they deserve.

 

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco