Senior Living – February 2024

As people grow older, where they live becomes a crucial decision that involves more than just finding a place to stay. Senior living isn’t just about housing; it’s about ensuring comfort, safety, social connections, access to healthcare and personal happiness. Whether its independent living or needing more assistance, like memory support or care, choosing the right option means understanding what each individual needs. It’s not just finding a home; it’s about creating a place that supports a fulfilling and healthy life for seniors while also offering their loved ones peace of mind and a sense of security.

Prioritizing happiness in the context of senior care involves fostering a holistic approach that considers emotional well-being, engagement and individual fulfillment. It encompasses creating environments where seniors feel valued, respected and empowered to maintain a sense of purpose and joy in their lives.

Prioritizing happiness in memory care for seniors facing cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, involves addressing challenges like stigma, diverse individual needs, limited resources and evolving research while focusing on emotional well-being and tailored education.

The acknowledgment that no two individuals require identical treatment is fundamental, especially in memory care and assisted living settings. Tailored care, addressing each resident’s unique physical, emotional and spiritual needs, holds immense importance. Prairie Meadows Alzheimer’s Care Center (frontiermgmt.com/communities/prairie-meadows-alzheimers-special-care-center) recognizes the significance of personalized care and prioritizes a customized approach in every interaction with residents.

“Our tailored method ensures that each individual receives the specialized attention necessary to support their overall well-being,” shared Don Woods. “Our primary goal is to identify and cater to the needs of each resident. The more personalized we can be with our residents, the happier everybody is.”

In the pursuit of individualized care, Prairie Meadows Alzheimer’s Care Center recognizes the significance of education in ensuring the happiness and well-being of residents. To address challenges, they prioritize comprehensive education for their team members in memory care. Their training programs cover various dementia types, equipping staff with valuable insights and effective strategies to engage individuals affected by memory care issues. Moreover, Prairie Meadows remains updated with new research and implements innovative programs like SPARK. Inspired by the teachings of Maria Montessori and Dr. Cameron Camp, SPARK offers meaningful experiences to residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s, focusing on enhancing interactions, cognitive abilities and instilling a sense of purpose and accomplishment, ultimately contributing to residents’ happiness and well-being.

Brookestone Meadows (brookestonemeadows.com) also acknowledges that addressing the diverse needs of seniors stands out as a prominent priority for ensuring happiness and peace of mind. At Brookestone Meadows, their exceptional focus on the discharge process sets them apart. They take immense pride in facilitating a seamless transition for patients returning home or to a retirement community, exemplified through their robust discharge planning services.

Brookestone Meadows implements a meticulous approach to rehabilitation, aiming not only to provide quality care during a patient’s stay, but also to equip individuals with essential tools and resources for a sustainable life post-discharge. Recognizing the significance of extending care beyond their facility, the team is dedicated to comprehensive discharge planning, ensuring thorough preparedness for the next phase of the patient’s journey. This commitment underscores Brookestone Meadows’ holistic approach, emphasizing patient well-being and successful transitions beyond their time within the center’s care.

When working with Brookestone Meadows, it is important to distinguish between long-term care and short-term rehabilitation, recognizing that each serves a distinct purpose. Especially if you are in need of long-term care, Admissions Coordinator Mindy Matheny suggests considering your financial situation first to ensure you can receive appropriate care in the future.

“When planning for a significant life change and looking into the expenses related to senior care, we always encourage that you speak with a financial advisor. A financial advisor is going to be able to analyze your costs, income and medical insurance plans. They will be able to create savings goals for your future care needs,” shared Mindy.

Whether you are looking for short or long-term care, Brookestone Meadows has a slew of care options to cater to both the needs and wants of residents.

Like Brookestone Meadows, See The Trainer (seethetrainer.com) recognizes the increased likelihood of unexpected injuries as individuals age and the subsequent need for effective rehabilitation to resume normal daily activities.

For seniors aspiring to maintain an active lifestyle to prevent or mitigate injuries, See The Trainer offers a diverse range of sports medicine products designed to protect against aggravating previous injuries or vulnerable body areas. In situations requiring surgery, See The Trainer extends its support through the rehabilitation phase. Owner Kristie Egan emphasizes their commitment to aiding those undergoing post-surgery or injury recovery by offering a variety of helpful products like canes, sock aids, bathroom accessories and more.

“We understand the challenge of having to adjust your daily routine for weeks or months due to something unexpected. Our products can help you through your recovery, minimizing disruptions caused by health setbacks and ensuring everything heals properly so that you can get back to your pre-injury routine,” explained Kristie.

See The Trainer has been the premier provider of soft goods, rehabilitation, and bracing products in the region for over two decades, since 1996. Their dedicated team takes pride in educating patients about their injuries and matching them with the most suitable products tailored to their specific needs.

Another facet of keeping seniors happy and healthy involves addressing the escalating demand for senior care services. This surge in demand, coupled with a scarcity of caregivers, significantly impacts the cost and availability of quality care options. Seniors and families are navigating complex decisions, considering factors like cost, care quality and the time they can spend together while seeking suitable care solutions.

To mitigate the strain in this sector, Hallmark Homecare (hallmarkhomecare.com), a Referral Agency specializing in direct-hire placements of experienced caregivers, emphasizes its core value propositions. They focus on affordability, client-controlled care and fostering a larger pool of professional caregivers offering better pay and desirable work hours.

Shane Neuharth highlights the Hallmark Model of Care, which includes, eliminating traditional senior care agency intermediaries, providing cost savings, greater client involvement in care decisions, enhanced caregiver continuity and increased qualified caregiver options. “The competitive advantage of the Hallmark Model of Care stems from cutting out the middleman, namely the traditional senior care agency. This results in our clients saving money and having a greater voice in decisions concerning their care while also experiencing greater continuity in caregiver relationships.”

Hallmark Homecare’s holistic approach aims to make senior care more accessible and personalized, benefiting both seniors and caregivers now and in the future, thereby contributing positively to the dynamic landscape of the senior care industry.
Each of these local businesses and experts strive to maintain health and ensure comfort as individuals age. From assisted living communities to home care services, their comprehensive offerings extend far beyond what can be captured on paper. For a deeper understanding of how they can assist you and your family, it’s highly recommended to reach out and explore the array of resources and support they provide.