Community

While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced stay-at-home mandates across the state, it is a challenge to stay connected to family and friends as we remain separated. For seniors, especially those in active senior living communities with visitor restrictions like Country Meadows, finding ways to connect with others can be particularly difficult. With the help of …

As a family-owned senior independent living community, Country Meadows thrives on the core values instilled by generations of leadership that came before us. We treat our residents and our co-workers as family. We also believe that the variety of senior living options we offer is part of what makes our residents feel more at home …

April has always been a special month for Country Meadows. Each year, we observe Practice Random Acts of Kindness Month throughout April to honor Mary Jane Leader, one of the retirement community’s co-founders. In the wake of COVID-19, Mary Jane’s message of being kind to others rings truer than ever. It’s always encouraging to have …

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 …