Welcome to our blog.
This is a destination to learn more about life at Country Meadows, tips and advice for seniors and their families, caregiving support and ideas to keep senior minds and bodies active. Our new category “Through My Own Lens,” is written by a Country Meadows resident and provides a first-hand look into what it is like to live at one of our retirement communities.
Enhancing independent senior living with spiritual life services: An Interview with Rev. Howard West
January 22, 2020Spirituality 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 …
Read MoreSenior living residents share their fondest memories of wintertime
December 24, 2019The holiday season is in full swing and our residents are enjoying the season. Each year, residents and co-workers come together to decorate our campuses throughout our retirement living and assisted living communities, for the excitement and enjoyment of all. Recently, we sat down with a number of our residents across our various Country …
Read MoreThe joy of conversation and socialization and their importance for seniors
December 12, 2019Mom 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. …
Read MoreValidation—the key to compassion and communication in memory care
November 20, 2019Steve Klotz, Executive Director of Validation Education, joined Country Meadows in 1995. He was looking for a career change when a friend told him Country Meadows in York had an opening for a chaplain. He wasn’t sure he was the right fit, but he took a chance and soon fell in love with the residents. …
Read MoreFor American Diabetes Month, learn about potential warning signs and treatment for seniors with type 2 diabetes
November 19, 2019It’s inevitable—as we get older, our health begins to change. We often spend our lives focused on caring for those around us, but it’s equally important to care for ourselves, too. Luckily, older Americans are remaining more active and fit longer, engaging in a wider variety of exercises than generations before them. Increased activity and …
Read MoreCaregiving tips for families whose loved ones have dementia from our assisted living facility experts
November 5, 2019November is not only the month of giving thanks and enjoying the last of fall foliage, but it’s also Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. This month, the Country Meadows assisted living team wanted to celebrate the people who selflessly give to those closest to them. More than 40 million Americans act …
Read More7 ways photos can stimulate memories for loved ones with dementia in assisted living facilities
October 22, 2019As we grow older, it is normal to experience some degree of memory loss. People naturally begin to endure a decline in brain activity after the age of 50, leading to common memory issues like the name of an acquaintance, where we left our car keys or the date or location of an important appointment. …
Read MoreHope for seniors with incontinence, on their own or in personal care homes
October 9, 2019Incontinence is a topic of embarrassment for many seniors who experience it. And that’s an awful lot of people. Between a quarter and a third of adults in the United States are challenged by incontinence. But the problem is generally controllable once adults acknowledge the issue and seek professional assistance. With medical help, and sometimes …
Read MoreNew Dynamic Living program encourages active senior living at Country Meadows
October 1, 2019Active 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 …
Read MoreThe increasing prevalence of adult-onset asthma and the related symptoms
September 26, 2019The changing seasons bring bright fall foliage, happy holiday celebrations and time with loved ones. As the temperatures dip, however, a myriad of health concerns can arise in older adults that must be properly managed even in an active retirement community. One ailment that’s particularly worrisome for older adults in Pennsylvania retirement communities and elsewhere …
Read MoreCountry Meadows observes National Assisted Living Week, Sept. 8-14
September 10, 2019Meredith Mills is COO and Senior Vice President of Country Meadows Retirement Communities, a role she was promoted to in mid-2018. Previously, she held the positions of VP of Strategic Planning, Executive Director of our Lancaster campus, Regional Marketing Manager and Marketing Director at our Hershey campus. Prior to her arrival at Country Meadows, she …
Read MoreGrandparents Day—senior living homes want you to come and make memories
September 5, 2019Sept. 8th is National Grandparents Day, and it’s a great time to thank and pay tribute to these senior family members for all they have done. While we shouldn’t need a special day to do this, sometimes it’s helpful to be reminded to show our appreciation or to say, “We love you.” Grandparents Day was …
Read More10 relaxation techniques for more stress-free independent living
August 30, 2019We all can take steps to reduce stress in our lives, but doing so takes time and effort. At any age, and no matter how busy our schedule, we can assume some control over our stress levels by learning ways to relax. Doing so in retirement allows us to better enjoy our independent living lifestyle. …
Read MoreAt Country Meadows, we say “yes!” to active senior living
August 27, 2019Mary Ann Bertucio is Country Meadows’ Executive Director of Community Life. She has worked at Country Meadows for almost 10 years, initially in human resources (HR) and for the last few years in community life. Before coming here, she recruited professionals for positions in long-term care and therapy services. However, she began her career in …
Read MoreWriting offers creativity and therapy for adults during retirement living
August 8, 2019While few of us will ever be published authors, most of us can be writers. In fact, many seniors enjoy expressing themselves with words on paper even if they rarely did prior to retirement. What motivates some people to become writers during retirement living? And how does the practice of writing benefit them—and even others …
Read MoreHiring individuals who are like family at each Country Meadows retirement community
July 25, 2019Tracy Newcomer, our Vice President of Human Resources, joined Country Meadows Retirement Communities in 2008. Beforehand, she worked for 20 years at UPS in several roles, covering workforce planning, employee relations management as well as health and safety management. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in personnel management and …
Read MoreFour-legged friends offer companionship to senior independent living residents
July 18, 2019Retirement communities in Pennsylvania vary in their policies regarding pets, but here at Country Meadows we believe that animals provide a significant contribution to emotional therapy and welcome them. We feel that the benefits of keeping animals as companions on our senior independent living campuses in all levels of care are worth the extra costs. …
Read MoreSafety on the road makes for healthier, happier senior independent living
July 12, 2019People who retain their vision, hearing and physical reflexes are driving today at ages beyond those of previous generations. But no matter how long you have been driving, you’re never too old to heed advice for safe driving. Follow these tips for safe driving (with input from the Mayo Clinic and HelpGuide.org): Stay physically active …
Read MoreHow personal care services support seniors with activities of daily living
June 27, 2019Adults perform six primary activities of daily living, generally without assistance. If at some point they can no longer do them on their own, personal care services at a retirement community can make their lives, and their families’ lives, easier. What are the activities of daily living? The activities of daily living (ADLs) are officially …
Read MoreMemory care services give purpose and meaning to seniors with dementia
June 21, 2019Joel Kroft, Executive Director of Memory Support Services, is celebrating 15 years of service with Country Meadows, 11 of them in his current position after previously serving as a trainer for memory care staff at our campuses. After college and graduate school, where he studied developmental psychology and adult development and aging, he cared for …
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