Community

America is in the midst of a pervasive disruption of life as the country battles an unprecedented health crisis, the likes of which few of us have ever seen before. COVID-19, or coronavirus as it’s commonly called, has become a global pandemic and Americans are bracing for the trauma a health crisis of this scale …

In a recent blog post, we looked at factors involved in deciding to move to a senior living community, namely health, home maintenance, transportation, meals and social life. Now, we’ll address another major consideration for seniors and their families—finances. Understandably, many families are concerned about the cost of senior living communities. Some can’t imagine they …

Spirituality is defined and practiced differently from generation to generation. As a group, the baby boomer generation is one of the most significant segments of the population and growing. As this group grows older, so do the ongoing problems like depression, grief and loneliness. As we age, a spiritual connection may become stronger. It’s a …

Mom and Dad haven’t been the same for some time. As their kids grew older and moved hours away, and they sold their family business, many of the joys of conversation and socialization were lost. They now watch hours upon hours of television—Mom occasionally works on some of her favorite pastimes, like crafting and sewing. …

Active Aging Week, Oct. 1-7, was initiated by the International Council on Active Aging to promote and celebrate the positivity of aging today. It also challenges society’s diminished expectations of aging by showing that older adults can live full, rewarding lives regardless of age or health. Kim Eichinger has the new title of Executive Director …

Does a laugh a day keep the doctor away? While we can’t promise that, we can confidently say that laughter is definitely good for the body, mind and spirit. That’s why it’s often referred to as “the best medicine.” “I love people who make me laugh,” said actress Audrey Hepburn. “I honestly think it’s the …

Are you aware that December has three major happy holidays in our country? Namely, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Now you may wonder what they have in common, besides happening in December? The answer is that they all have glowing lights. Hanukkah is the first one of the month, and on the first night (December 2) …

As we approach the holiday season, I feel like I’m on a merry-go-round, or at least caught up in a whirlwind! I’ve already written about Thanksgiving and what we’re thankful for, but now Thanksgiving is on top of me and all I can think about is the yummy food that will be presented on that …

Living alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely. A study of 3,000 Americans from age 57 to 85 showed that those who lived alone were more likely to socialize with friends and neighbors than those who were married. We all need social interactions and others on whom we can depend, but we can have that …

Resident shares her experience as a new resident, learns how to make new friends Once I was all moved in and could breathe again, I toured Country Meadows so I’d know where things were and how I could get from one place to another without getting lost. I tried in vain to figure out why …

The day I had long waited for finally arrived. It was a hot August day, and the movers arrived early in the morning before the real heat of the day came. I was amazed at how efficient the four men were as they traveled from room to room, carrying the furniture from the house. Not …

There’s always something to do for everyone at Country Meadows. In a previous post I told you about the many activities at Country Meadows that residents can participate in. Now I want to take this one step further to make you aware of other types of “fun” things. Let’s face it —not everyone likes games, …

An Irish saying proclaims, “There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.” That statement of pride contains more than a grain of truth, at least on March 17, when the Irish and non-Irish alike celebrate with the wearing of green, festive gatherings and maybe a …

Moving to a retirement community is a major life decision, with many lifestyle and financial implications. So, prospective residents should ask communities a lot of questions before deciding on the one that’s right for them. Just as people are different, with individual needs, likes and dislikes, so are retirement communities, offering a range of services …

Many Americans don’t have an accurate image of older adults or the experience of senior living. They may readily accept fictional portrayals of seniors on TV or in movies as fact. Or, maybe they have known just a few older persons and base their perceptions on those alone. In reality, retirees today are defying stereotypes …

If you have decided that retirement community living could meet your needs or those of a loved one, you have several options to consider. You may even feel a bit overwhelmed by your choices and concerned about making the right one. Seeking recommendations from friends or relatives is fine, but your priorities may be different …

More and more seniors are practicing yoga for its low-impact movements, which help improve their flexibility, mobility, strength and balance, as well as their mental and emotional health. Those benefits have led to the creation of instructional yoga programs at active senior living communities, led by professional instructors. Yoga is a great choice for retirees …

As we anticipate a new year, some of us consider meaningful ways to improve our lives—physically, mentally, spiritually or socially. But the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions predates modern times. Babylonians, Romans and Medieval knights began each year by making sacred promises to adhere to expected standards of behavior. Today we make resolutions to …

We begin to notice changes in our vision as we get older, generally beginning in our 40s. That’s normal, and most of us can enjoy our senior years without experiencing serious vision loss. However, we need to accept that as we age, the likelihood increases that we will develop an eye disease or condition. That’s …

Whether we’re normally a pollyanna or a scrooge, and regardless of our age, the holidays really can bring out the child in all of us. Beginning around Thanksgiving, we see it in the cheerful faces of our residents, even those who are experiencing challenges in daily living. Everyone’s in the holiday spirit at Country Meadows …