Independent Living

Cold and flu season has always been a time of year to take extra health precautions. With unique risks this year due to the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to know exactly how to protect against common colds, the flu and any other illnesses that could affect the most vulnerable. For seniors in independent … Continue reading “How independent living communities can help seniors stay healthy as we move closer to the cold and flu season”

This week, from October 4th through October 10th, is National Fire Prevention Week. This annual observance is meant to highlight the importance of safety in the home and provide tips on how to prepare for an emergency. At Country Meadows, we take the safety of our residents very seriously. And 2020 has shown that safety … Continue reading “How a senior living community can be a safe living community”

As part of Country Meadows’ Home Sweet Home Promise, our residents are encouraged to make their senior living experience as comfortable as possible. This can often mean having items in their new independent living apartment that remind them of home, including family pictures, treasured heirlooms, and even four-legged friends. That’s correct – Country Meadows is … Continue reading “The value of pet-friendly independent living communities”

Family being unable to visit with their loved ones has been a difficult aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic. And as national Grandparents Day, September 13th, 2020, quickly approaches, many families are anxious to reconnect with those currently living at Country Meadows retirement communities in Pennsylvania and Maryland. With direction from the Department of Health, we have … Continue reading “How you can safely visit with your Grandparents in their senior living community”

At Country Meadows, quality care and a family-like atmosphere are two attributes that will always remain constant. But as the world changes, some of our work behind the scenes has to evolve as well. One particular department that has had to stay on top of several aspects of this health crisis is our Information Technology … Continue reading “Why the best independent living communities need a strong technology team working behind the scenes”

The period between finding the right senior living community and moving in can be an emotional one. It’s a transformational time for any individual or couple as the next stage of life begins and a new lifestyle awaits. For many seniors, choosing a senior living community means making arrangements to sell a home – one … Continue reading “What’s the next step after choosing a senior living community?”

Older generations can benefit greatly from being online and utilizing social media platforms. But because of its fast nature – between how quickly it keeps evolving and how savvy one needs to be to keep up with those changes – technology can seem incredibly overwhelming. Often times, it can leave new users frustrated or feeling … Continue reading “Online and social media tips for senior independent living community residents”

Making the decision to enter a retirement community can be daunting. Between assisted living communities, memory support neighborhoods, active senior living communities and senior independent living, there are many different types of senior living to consider. And even when the right community is found, it can be difficult to understand what care options will be … Continue reading “What is assisted living like within Country Meadows?”

At every Country Meadows campus across Pennsylvania and in Maryland, there is one common goal: to give residents the best senior living experience possible. That experience can look and feel different to many residents, however, which is why Country Meadows offers several different types of senior living arrangements, a variety of care options, and amenities … Continue reading “Independent living versus assisted living and personal care”

Maryland and Pennsylvania retirement living communities, including Country Meadows, have been tirelessly working on how to give the best and most reliable care to residents during this fragile time. Thanks to our compassionate co-workers and our executive team members’ dedication, several of our campuses are ready to bring some normalcy back to our senior independent … Continue reading “Slowly and safely reopening our Maryland and Pennsylvania retirement living communities”

Now under the third generation of family ownership and management, Country Meadows has consistently strived for one goal: caring for others. At each senior independent living community we own, fostering the well-being of residents is carried out on a daily basis, but behind-the-scenes, Country Meadows has worked hard to make all our co-workers feel supported … Continue reading “More than training: How Country Meadows supports co-workers within their senior independent living community”

Country Meadows is home for hundreds of seniors across eleven senior living communities in Pennsylvania, plus one in Frederick, Maryland. And during this time where home means something more, the teams at Country Meadows have been working hard putting new measures in place so residents don’t have to leave their independent living apartments for anything … Continue reading “How to ensure our senior independent living residents are getting proper nutrition in this current health climate”

There are many ways that seniors can protect themselves against the coronavirus, and in doing so, they can be at peace knowing they’re lowering their risk of getting the virus. One unintended symptom of avoiding COVID-19 that seniors are not so easily protected against is the stress surrounding the illness. Self-isolating and social distancing to … Continue reading “How seniors can maintain a peaceful environment to combat COVID-19 related stress”

When Katherine Thomas began her role as Vice President of Dining and Culinary Services at Country Meadows, she had a big task on her hands. The senior independent living community had decided to move all dining services in-house, parting ways with their outsourced dining contractor. Of course, creating a nutritious, well-balanced menu that worked for … Continue reading “How Country Meadows blends thoughtful dining in an active and social lifestyle retirement 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 … Continue reading “How seniors can stay socially connected during COVID-19 precautions”

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 … Continue reading “How Country Meadows remains a community in times of crisis”

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Grace Vazquez, the Director of Career Outreach at Country Meadows, about how her role contributes to the Country Meadows experience. Grace is an employee that truly embodies the spirit of our Home Sweet Home Promise. Her passion for the community, residents, and career opportunities makes her unique … Continue reading “Director of Career Outreach discusses the family atmosphere at Country Meadows before, during, and after COVID-19”

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 … Continue reading “Random Acts of Kindness for seniors in independent living communities”

There are a range of details that come to mind when you think of home: favorite furniture, picture frames, flowers from a loved one in a vase on the table, trinkets and personal items arranged to be perfectly in place. But what are the feelings that accompany the thought of home? For many of us, … Continue reading “How Design Group manager Sue Seiple turns house to home and campus to community at Country Meadows”

Our promise of Home Sweet Home begins long before a resident moves to Country Meadows. In a blog earlier this month we spoke about how important it is, not only to our residents but also to our co-workers. Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tom Baker, has been with our company for 17 years and … Continue reading “Fulfilling Country Meadows’ promise of Home Sweet Home”