family

Steve 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. … Continue reading “Validation—the key to compassion and communication in memory care”

Meredith 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 … Continue reading “Country Meadows observes National Assisted Living Week, Sept. 8-14”

Sept. 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 … Continue reading “Grandparents Day—senior living homes want you to come and make memories”

While 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 … Continue reading “Writing offers creativity and therapy for adults during retirement living”

Tracy 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 … Continue reading “Hiring individuals who are like family at each Country Meadows retirement community”

With the senior population growing each year, more and more older Americans are embarking on travel adventures with their families. Recognizing this trend, hotels and airports have begun to rethink and modify services to meet this age group’s changing mobility needs. While that’s great news for senior travelers, families of those with dementia need to … Continue reading “10 tips for dementia care while traveling with a loved one”

For some children, losing a grandparent is their first experience with grief. Understandably, the loss of someone close can leave them feeling sad, anxious, confused or upset. While adults are busy dealing with funeral preparations and other arrangements, they should be sure to attend to children’s needs, too. Their grief is often different from that … Continue reading “Beyond the retirement home: We have resources to help children deal with grief”

Over the holidays, with more time spent together, some families begin discussing the idea of senior living communities. Though Mom or Dad could raise the issue, it’s more likely prompted by adult children who notice changes in their parents. (See our recent blog post on these “tough conversations.”) Older parents can be reluctant to consider … Continue reading “The best senior living communities shatter the myths (check us out and see)”

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays, Cause no matter how far away you roam, If you want to be happy in a million ways, For the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home!”* Most of us would agree with this sentiment so warmly expressed by Pennsylvania native son and crooner Perry Como. … Continue reading “Tough conversations at the holidays can lead to personal care decisions”

“Susan, is that you? Oh Susan, it’s so lovely to see you. It’s been years and years!” a mother calls out to her son. He visited her memory care facility just yesterday, to prepare her to see the grandkids and spend time with her one-on-one. Still, she conjures up images of her best friend from … Continue reading “8 tips for dining out with your loved one needing memory support this holiday season”

Adult siblings don’t always share the same ideas on what’s best for aging parents. One may think Mom is doing OK at home and just needs a little help, while another may want her to consider a retirement community. Their different opinions are understandable, but what’s most important is working together for Mom’s best interests. … Continue reading “Siblings should be united when considering parents’ senior living options”

One in six American adults—more than 40 million people—are family caregivers. Most provide unpaid senior care services—shopping, cooking, transportation, housework, bathing and dressing—for adults age 65 and over. The older adults receiving care may feel loved and comforted, but what does it mean for caregivers? While caregiving is a unifying experience for some families, the … Continue reading “Are you providing senior care services to a loved one? We can help you”

September 9 is Grandparents Day, and we would like to use this time to assist children with grandparents receiving dementia care, either at home or a retirement community. When beloved grandparents have dementia, their grandchildren may become confused, frightened or upset by the changes they see. The best way for parents or other adults to … Continue reading “Children with grandparents in dementia care need support, too”

After seniors, along with their families, have completed the process of choosing a retirement community, they will need support to make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. For while the selection of a community may provide relief, the move and adjustment to a new lifestyle can be challenging for some seniors. But like … Continue reading “What to expect when you move to a retirement community”

This year my father, former Pennsylvania Governor George M. Leader, would have turned 100 years old. I wish he had lived to reach this milestone as yet one more accomplishment. He had contributed so much during his life as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, naval officer, poultry farmer, state senator, governor, health care entrepreneur and … Continue reading “Thank you, Dad.”

Long after children have grown, mothers continue to have a strong influence on their children’s lives. Adult children, particularly daughters, often reach out to Mom, by phone or with a visit, when they need a sympathetic ear or the voice of experience. Research has shown that when daughters are facing challenging situations, they generally have … Continue reading “Close to home or far away, we still depend on Mom’s words of wisdom”

In the middle of winter, it’s nice to warm our hearts with a day that celebrates love and friendship. Though we tend to think of Valentine’s Day as one of romance, it began as a day to honor saints. The romantic association came later, and while it remains the holiday’s focus, we now recognize love … Continue reading “Seniors anticipate celebrating love and friendship on Valentine’s Day”

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 … Continue reading “What should you look for in a retirement community?”

The headline of a New York Times article in August 2017 summarized the dilemma perfectly: “Aging parents with lots of stuff, and children who don’t want it.” As older parents retire and choose to downsize by moving into a smaller home, a senior apartment or a retirement community, they may discover that they and younger … Continue reading “Seniors downsize and wonder, “What do we do with all this stuff?””

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 … Continue reading “Active senior living communities buzz with holiday excitement and anticipation”