When Is the Best Time to Consider a Move to Senior Housing?

According to the American Health Care Association, almost one million adults in the U.S. live in assisted living communities. Assisted living communities can be beneficial for a wide variety of people, often providing a significant boost to any senior’s quality of life.

But how do you know when it’s the right time for you or a loved one to consider moving into senior housing?

Signs It May Be Time to Consider Senior Living

It’s often the best time to consider an assisted living community when you encounter certain signs. Some of those signs include:

• Needing help with activities of daily living (ADLs)

• Increasing forgetfulness

• A need for socialization opportunities

• A need for care coordination

• Increased difficulty performing household chores

In general, when a person needs more help on a daily basis to comfortably and happily live, it may be time for a move.

Help with Activities of Daily Living

ADLs include mobility and hygiene, such as bathing, brushing teeth, and getting dressed properly. It also includes medication management, which can become increasingly difficult for seniors. Senior living homes offer help with all of these things and more.

Increasing Forgetfulness

Sometimes, it can be more difficult to remember things with age. Forgetting to take medications, change clothes, make doctor appointments, or even eat can become more common. If remembering daily tasks is proving to be a challenge, senior housing can be a helpful solution.

A Need for Socialization

People of any age can benefit from an increase in socialization opportunities. This includes meeting new friends and being surrounded by others who share similar experiences.

Senior living communities and homes offer activities designed to cultivate friendships and fun for residents, so if you or your loved one is lonely, bored, or both, a senior home may be the key.

A Need for Coordination of Care

It can easily become overwhelming to keep up with hospital stays, doctor visits, specialist appointments, and routine tests and exams. Between the costs and the transportation, it’s often stressful and confusing. Assisted living communities and senior homes coordinate care for their residents, lifting it all off their shoulders.

Increased Difficulty Performing Household Chores

Many people find it difficult to keep up with household chores, and seniors are no exception. If you find it’s becoming too taxing to tackle chores like vacuuming, laundry, cooking, and other household maintenance, a move to senior housing can be especially beneficial and convenient.

Is It Time to Move?

Senior homes are designed to ease the everyday burdens of residents and clear the way for fulfilling friendships and exciting lives during the golden years. If you find that many things are getting in the way of enjoying those retirement years, it may be a great time to consider moving to senior housing.

How to Make New Friends in Assisted Living Communities

One of the most important things you can do when you move into an assisted living facility or community is to make friends. 

Socializing and becoming a part of a group is proving to be essential for residents of these communities. Research has shown that when seniors are socially healthy, participate in activities with friends, and belong to social circles in their communities, their mental and physical health improve dramatically.

So, with social health and friendship being so vital at these facilities, what can a person do to make friends when they arrive at their new home in an assisted living community?

Tips for Making Friends in Your New Home

One of the best things about these communities is that they offer many socialization opportunities that most people wouldn’t get otherwise. There are several easy things you can do to make friends easily and quickly in your new community:

Make Mealtime a Social Event

It’s always many peoples’ favorite time of the day: mealtime! Invite people you meet in your community throughout the day to join you for a meal in the dining room, and choose a time and a place to do so. You may find you’ve gathered a wonderful group of people who all had been searching for new friends.

Participate in Social Activities

The easiest way to initiate conversations with people is to engage in activities with them. This could be playing bingo, taking a shopping trip, going to yoga class, or other activities. Participating in community activities and events will also help you find others with similar interests.

Seek Out Other New Residents

Some of the best people to become friends with when you’re new are other new folks! Chances are good that you aren’t the only new resident, and other new residents are looking for friends, just like you are. 

Get to Know the Staff

You will likely see many of the staff members of your community on a daily basis. Get to know them! Find out what their families are like, what interests they have, and what their dreams are. You may find someone who reminds you of yourself or who needs your valuable advice.

Be Patient with Yourself

Above all else, have confidence in yourself and your ability to make friends. Give yourself the grace you deserve, and try not to feel anxious if it takes you some time to connect with others. Adjusting to your new environment won’t happen in a day.

From Friends to Family

Keeping these simple tips in mind can make finding new friends in your community much easier and more rewarding. As you make connections with those around you, you will find yourself fitting in with your community before you know it. And along the way, you may find amazing people who will become your best friends — and even like family!

Are You or a Loved One Taking a Medication that Could Lead to a Fall?

The Harvard Medical School reports it is estimated 1 in 3 people over age 65 will fall each year and every 19 minutes a senior dies from a fall-related injury. Statistics show women are at higher risk for a fall but men are more likely to die from their injuries than women. 

Seniors should be aware of several things that can affect balance and lead to a fall. These include certain medications, inner ear problems, foot pain, weight changes and a vitamin D deficiency. Anti-hypertensive medications prescribed to keep blood pressure under control or decrease the risk of stroke and heart failure are all known to affect balance. A common side effect is orthostatic hypotension, a condition that happens if blood pressure gets too low; and results in lightheadedness, faintness and dizziness especially when the person attempts to stand from a sitting or lying down position. 

Medications that suppress the central nervous system may also result in a fall as they reduce alertness, and slow reactions and movements. Some of these types of drugs include anti-anxiety medications like diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Additionally, antihistamines can cause drowsiness and are used in over-the-counter sleep aids like Nyquil and Sominex, or combined with acetaminophen in products like Tylenol PM.  

If you or a loved one takes medication to treat an overactive bladder or tricyclic antidepressants to help lessen chronic pain, they too can affect a person’s balance. Other drugs that increase the risk of a fall are opioids such as codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone.

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, our assisted living lets seniors comfortably and safely age in place with a range of hospitality and care services, resort-style amenities and a complement of wellness programs and activities. For seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, we provide comprehensive memory care. For trusted senior living in Happy Valley, OR, visit our website or contact us for further information.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating true homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest senior living in Happy Valley, OR.

Source: health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard-health-publications/preventing-falls

Care Services at MorningStar of Happy Valley

MorningStar of Happy Valley’s assisted living is designed to support and engage residents’ mind, body and spirit. Our wide array of amenities, care services, wellness programs and activities help nurture residents’ independence for the best quality of life.  

In fact, MorningStar’s comprehensive care services can help extend the stay of a resident if their health changes and they require more care. Furthermore, our dedicated team has experience finding creative solutions that yield a higher quality of care for our residents at a lower cost to their families. 

Along with 24/7 Care Managers, Certified Medication Care Managers, and access to licensed nurses; we assist residents with obtaining a wide range of therapeutic and medical services from third-party providers. Individualized service plans may include things like mechanical lift assistance, weights and vital monitoring, diabetic management, oxygen administration, and palliative/hospice care. We also offer pharmacy services to keep your prescriptions filled and medications dispersed as needed. Other services include transportation to medical appointments and scheduled physician visits.

We are in a southeastern suburb of Portland and offer 61 assisted living suites with a selection of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans. For your comfort and convenience, amenities include a full salon, 24-hour bistro, fitness room, chapel/theatre, outdoor courtyards, strolling paths and more. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 27 suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

We like to say that MorningStar’s assisted living provides seniors “a little help from friends” to live life on their own terms. Our community offers carefree retirement years with the chance to meet new friends, try new hobbies and explore new interests. Please contact us for more information.  Not only is our staff happy to answer any questions but our website provides information on our company’s history, vision, and mission as well as what sets us apart from other senior living in Happy Valley, OR.  

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about exceptional senior living in Happy Valley, OR.

Assisted Living Provides Help with the Activities of Daily Living

For many seniors, there comes a time when they feel they are not living life on their own terms, and routine, day-to-day activities start becoming more difficult. To determine if assisted living is the right choice for a parent or spouse, experts say you need to consider the amount of care they require each day. If it is more personal care than he/she can get (or afford) with in-home services or in an independent living community, yet they don’t need 24-hour medical care and supervision, assisted living is the ideal option.  

People often confuse assisted living with nursing homes; however, they are not the same thing. Nursing homes provide around-the-clock skilled nursing care while assisted living provides help with the ADLs (activities of daily living) to enhance residents’ quality of life within a residential setting.

While some families may experience sticker shock when first learning the cost of assisted living, you need to consider everything it includes. For example, MorningStar of Happy Valley's monthly fee includes property taxes, utilities, security system, and the cost of maintenance inside and out. Daily meals are included in the fee as is housekeeping, scheduled transportation and an array of activities, entertainment and outings. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers assisted living suites in a choice of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans that range from 382 to 928 square feet. Onsite amenities include a full salon, bistro, fitness room, chapel/theater, general store and courtyards with a barbecue and fire pit. For seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases, our Reflections Neighborhood is designed to meet the needs of our most tender residents. 

Along with assisted living and memory care, MorningStar of Happy Valley also offers respite care (short recuperative stays) or trial stays (up to a full month) so you can see if we are a good fit. Please contact us to schedule a tour to see firsthand our beautiful community.

MorningStar of Happy Valley’s foundation is based on the mission to honor God, value seniors and invest in our staff to create a unique senior living experience.  Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide exceptional assisted living and memory care.  Please contact us or visit our website for more information.