HOW TO CHOOSE AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

There are many assisted living services and amenities. Many communities offer a variety of activities, housekeeping, meals that are healthy, and transportation. Each community is unique in its staff and pricing. This checklist will help you decide which amenities and features are most important to you as you look for the right long-term home. Learn important questions to ask when touring assisted living communities.

Checklist for Assisted Living for Seniors

Consider your personal preferences and your health when you start your search. A smaller Myrtle Beach assisted living community might be the best option if you are unable to walk or use a wheelchair.

Active seniors who love to cook their favorite recipes should ask if the apartment has a kitchen. Ask about the community pet guidelines if you would like to bring your pet.

The ultimate goal of a community is to provide senior citizens with carefree, maintenance-free living. While assisted living amenities and features are intended to make your life easier, it is important to assess how each service can help you. These are the most important assisted living features. Make sure to check out which ones you value the most.

Ask about community engagement or social activities

Most communities share a weekly calendar that includes activities and events for assisted living. Find out which activities are offered and when they happen.

Explore dining options

Assisted living communities in Myrtle Beach typically offer three meals per day that are home-cooked, as well as snacks and beverages. Ask for a sample menu and these questions to find out more about the dining options.

Check out the transportation options available to you

Some seniors want to keep their cars and drive, while others prefer to be free from the burdens of fuel and vehicle maintenance.

Ask about maintenance and housekeeping

Assisted living is all about a maintenance-free lifestyle. Most seniors have had to change lightbulbs for 50 years and shovel snow every year. They are ready for an easy, hands-off lifestyle. Assisted living communities often have scheduled or regular room cleanings. These can include dusting, vacuuming, and providing fresh linens.

Take a look at the community amenities

Are you a gardener or a fitness enthusiast? Do you enjoy playing poker at your weekly game night? Many communities have amenities that cater for all walks of life. Ask about the amenities that are most important to you, whether you’re looking for salon services or swimming laps. assisted

Evaluate essential safety features

Seniors who live independently should be concerned about safety. Ask staff about their plans for different situations such as power outages, natural catastrophes, or medical emergencies.

Assisted living communities do not usually offer medical care. However, they should have safety precautions in place in case of falls or injuries. Standard amenities include walk-in showers and grab bars in the bathrooms. Some assisted living communities might also have motion sensors and fall-detection technology.

Chat with the community staff

Talk to staff during your visit. You’ll likely be in touch with them every day after you move. It is important to understand how leaders and employees work together.

Consider your budget

Three key factors influence the cost of assisted living: location, size, and services. Holiday Retirement, one of the largest assisted living providers in the country, had a monthly average price of $2491 for a senior apartment in 2020. assisted living communities can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 per month.

Know you have found the right place to call your home

You can live a happy, fulfilled, and stress-free life after you move to senior living. After you have toured the communities, it is time to make an informed decision.

We make sure that every individual is at home and at peace. If you’d like to find an assisted living community that cares for your well-being, come and give us a visit. Call Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest today to know more!

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Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/

KEEPING FIT IN ASSISTED LIVING

Summer is here, which means exercise and staying fit are top of mind. This should also apply to older Americans. While it is common to believe that assisted living limits your freedom, the truth shows the exact opposite. Assistive living’s goal is to give you as much freedom as possible. One way we do this is by making it easy and encouraging residents to exercise regularly. We have some tips for you if you or someone you love is having trouble staying fit in assisted living Myrtle Beach.

1) Know Your Limits

Our bodies age and we may not be able to perform certain exercises as often as we used to. To stay fit, you must first recognize your limitations and stop pushing yourself too hard. This can lead to injury. You can create a workout program that suits you once you have established your limits.

2) Explore Your Options

Many assisted living communities provide exercise facilities and equipment for residents. Ask staff members if they have any information that can help you stay fit. You may be amazed at all the options that are available to you. At Stillwater Senior Living, for example, we offer something new every day! We encourage you to explore our beautiful hallways!

3) Find a Workout Buddy

A great benefit of assisted living is its sense of community. It is a great idea to find a buddy to work out with. You can have someone take your dance class, or go for a walk along with you. Working out with someone makes it much more enjoyable and allows you to make connections with other assisted living residents. You are certain to find a friend in any of our classes.

4) Get Outside

The Midwest has very little suitable summer weather so it is important that we take advantage of any good weather. Exercise in nature has been proven to be beneficial for both mental and physical health. Get outside and take in the fresh air and beauty of nature as often as you can. It is also important to keep in mind that summer is often very hot, especially July and August. This means that exercising outside may not be possible. Try to do your exercise first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot.

Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest ensures all seniors receive proper care including physical activities to keep them fit.

Like our Facebook page for more great info about assisted living communities.

Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/

TIP TO CELEBRATE FALL IN ASSISTED LIVING

Fall is a wonderful time of the year. There are so many things to do even for the residents of assisted living facilities. Fall is a great time to go outside to enjoy the changing leaves, especially since the weather cools down, so we don’t have to worry too much about heat stroke. You can also enjoy the traditional harvest foods.

You are wrong to think that older Americans should be denied the wonderful aspects of fall because they are getting older. These are just a few of the many ways that you can enjoy autumn with your loved ones, regardless of their age.

1) Take a hike

It is great to get outside and walk around. Autumn is a good time of the year. It’s cool enough to not worry about heatstroke and warm enough to not worry about frostbite. It is also the most beautiful season of the year. You can admire the changing leaves and the late-blooming flowers by simply walking around your neighborhood.

These walks can be made into a game with family and friends by having them spot the most autumn colors or taking the best picture.

If your loved one is unable to walk or uses a wheelchair, we are blessed with beautiful sidewalks and stunning scenery in our assisted living community. Stop by to see us!

2) Get in the Kitchen

Autumn is a great season to bake and cook seasonal dishes because of the cooler temperatures. You can roast squash and apples with ground pork to make delicious meals. You can also puree them in hot water to make soup (autumn is great for soups or stews).

You can make fancy pumpkin and apple muffins, or both! While pie is the most obvious option, you can use them in everything from muffins and cakes to bread and cookies. You can make your entire house smell divine by using pumpkin pie spice.

3) Dress up

It is hard to find someone who doesn’t love dressing up as another person or something for a day. This is why Halloween is so popular. So get out your old costumes and put on some masks and hats to create something amazing within the assisted living facility.

4) Get Crafty

You can make your own fall crafts with your older Americans by having them create their own masks using glue, colored paper and markers. You don’t have to limit yourself to what you find in the stores or your closet when you can create a mask that is unique to your own.

Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest’s mission is to make sure that our residents have the best season possible. This could mean spending time outdoors, crafting, cooking, or just enjoying life in general. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about our efforts to keep residents healthy and happy throughout the year. Reach out to start the conversation.

Like our Facebook page for more great info about assisted living communities.

Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/

ASSISTED LIVING – DEALING WITH DEMENTIA PATIENTS

These are some of the ways primary carers and family members can approach the difficult question: “What do you say to someone with dementia who is in assisted living and wants to go home?” A person living with dementia may say that they would like to return home. This could be due to time-shifting and can be distressing.

Here are 5 things to keep in mind when someone with dementia asks for their home:

1. Do not argue about whether they are ‘home’.

A person with dementia may refer to their home as more than just the current place they live. A person with dementia may ask to be taken home if they feel at home. Home could be a place or time where they feel safe and secure, and where they are happy and relaxed. It may also refer to an indefinable location that does not exist physically. Try to not disagree with the person, or to try to reason with them about their desire to return home.

This is a better alternative:

It is important to recognize and understand the emotions behind your desire to return home. It might not have been the last place they lived. It could be the place they used to live before they moved, or it could be a place from their distant past. People with dementia often describe their home as a peaceful, idyllic, or happy place. It might be a good idea to encourage them to share their reasons for being happy in that place. It can help them to see what might be needed to feel better. It will also help to look for a reputable assisted living facility in Myrtle Beach. Dementia patients require special care to help them live out their lives as peacefully as possible.

2. Reassure them about their safety

It is likely that the desire to return home is the same as any other desire if you find yourself in an unfamiliar and unsettling place.

This is a better alternative:

Talk to the person and if necessary, touch their arm or hold them with your hands. Make sure the person knows they are safe. This can help the person feel safe and secure. You may find them living in a different place than they did before and they need to know that they are being cared for. Visiting local assisted living communities in your area will widen your options for elderly care.

3. Divert the conversation

Keep a photo album on hand. Sometimes, looking back at photos from the past can help ease anxiety. You might avoid asking questions about the photo or past. Instead, you can make comments like “That looks just like Uncle Fred.” Granny shared with me the time he…. Alternatively, you might try to divert them with food or music, or any other activity, such as a walk.

4. Determine if they feel lonely or unhappy

An individual with dementia might want to “go home” because they feel anxious, depressed, or afraid. The feeling of being in an unfamiliar place can be unsettling. Dementia patients better cope within a local assisted living community.

Does the person living with dementia feel happy or sad? It may be possible to find out why they are unhappy. If they are unable to tell you why a member or another resident may know.

As with other people, dementia patients may behave out of character when they are in bad moods or have a bad day.

Is the dementia patient still talking about the possibility of going home, even though they aren’t being visited in the home? Is he/she able to settle down? Staff at the home might know.

5. Keep track of the times they ask to return home

Some times might be worse than others. What is the common thread? Are you near meals (and could a snack help?)? Are you experiencing it in noisy environments? Are you experiencing it at night, possibly because of the sundowning effect?

You can reduce or eliminate triggers if you spot a pattern.

November is Alzheimer’s Foundation month and is represented by the color teal. Here in Myrtle Beach, we are Teal Nation for our local college. Let’s support the foundation by wearing teal and be sure to get involved in local activities. Here is one you may want to get involved with https://bndfr.com/fqrl.

Reflections Assisted Living is a memory care facility. Don’t stress over trying to care for a loved one with dementia. Call us today for a consult.

Like our Facebook page for more great info about assisted living communities.

Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/