Category

Health & Wellness

COVID-19 Response

By Health & Wellness

At Bayshore on Hilton Head, the health and well-being of residents and team members is our highest priority at all times. We continue to take proper prevention and preparedness steps related to COVID-19. 

What is Bayshore on Hilton Head doing to prepare for any incidence of COVID-19? 

We know that this disease most dramatically impacts older adults – the people we serve.  We will continue to follow infection control guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) as well as our local and state health agencies.

Earlier this year, we successfully completed a safe and efficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to residents and employees in partnership with local and state health agencies. As new information develops, we will continue coordinating with our pharmacy partners and local and state health authorities to provide additional information or updates directly to residents and employees. [Community name] will work with residents and employees who qualify and want to receive a COVID-19 booster shot as recommended by the CDC.

Recently,  Bayshore on Hilton Head announced a requirement for all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by October 16, 2021, in accordance with the policy of management company Life Care Services, An LCS Company. Protecting the health and safety of our residents and employees remains our top priority, and we are requiring employee COVID-19 vaccinations to ensure we stay true to that focus. As new highly transmissible COVID-19 variants persist, we believe the COVID-19 vaccination is essential to protecting our residents and employees.

We continue to be steadfast in taking every precaution to protect the community from the spread of COVID-19. Employees continue to wear masks and undergo screenings at the start of each shift. LCS’s newest signature experience, EverSafe 360°, also demonstrates our passionate commitment to providing an industry-leading experience focused on enhancing the well-being, security, and safety of residents and employees. 

COVID-19 Actions:

  • With EverSafe 360° – the new standard of senior safety – we are raising the bar to reimagine and innovate the way we live and work together, taking proactive measures to elevate the standard of safety for seniors.
  • We have established a Medical Advisory Board, which consists of a team of interdisciplinary experts, including physicians and scientists who specialize in epidemiology, mental health, infectious disease and indoor air quality.
  • We are connecting with our local and state health agencies on a regular basis.
  • Those who do enter, including all team members, are screened to inquire whether they have any symptoms or potential known exposures. They are not allowed to enter if they answer yes to any of these questions.
  • We continue our focus on infection control and prevention, following the guidelines from the CDC.
  • We continue to actively monitor and report respiratory illnesses across our organization.
  • We are regularly sharing updated information on COVID-19 with our residents and others in the communities that we serve.
  • We have an emergency operations plan in place should we need to implement it.

 

Through it all, we have focused on providing the experiences Life Care Services® communities are known for. We remain dedicated to serving our seniors, first and foremost, and we’ve adapted to the challenges in today’s world to ensure that never changes.

 We recognize the big moments. Big moments deserve to be recognized, no matter what’s going on outside our doors. That’s why we’re taking time to celebrate the big moments in residents’ lives, like birthdays and anniversaries. If family and friends are unable to travel to celebrate with us, we have the technology to support virtual celebrations where needed. We love to enjoy life at Bayshore on Hilton Head, and we can always find something to celebrate. 

We honor daily routines. We know residents have missed the little moments in the day that brought people together and are enjoying the opportunity to safely come back together again.

We appreciate each other’s company. Now, more than ever, we know what it’s like to have to spend time away from loved ones, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring families and friends together. The smiles, the laughter ringing through our community – it can’t be beat. It’s hard to be apart from friends and family, and as we once again have the opportunity to gather, we are thankful. But technology has given us dozens of ways to turn life’s moments into wonderful virtual experiences. We recognize the activities residents typically look forward to and have the power to mold these opportunities into virtual or socially-distanced events, providing the opportunity for meaningful connections daily, if ever necessary.

We encourage physical and mental wellness. Staying active – both physically and mentally – is essential to emotional well-being. We’ve adapted our offerings to include both in-person and online exercise classes, we’ve set up reading or pen-pal programs with local school children, and we are dedicated to helping our residents stay active and connected, no matter what’s going on outside our doors.

Rest assured, at Bayshore on Hilton Head, Experience is Everything. We remain inspired by the many ways our community team ensures residents feel connected and cared for as we all learn to adjust to this “new normal.”

medical scan

11 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease

By Health & Wellness

Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, and millions of Americans are affected by the disease. It’s important to distinguish the facts from the myths about Alzheimer’s, especially when it comes to finding information online.

To learn about 11 common myths surrounding this disease from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Delta Variant Update

By Health & Wellness

Our community is carefully monitoring current Delta variant positivity rates in the area. Resident and employee safety is our top priority, and our policies are based on local, state and federal guidance. With questions on current policies related to resident safety, please contact our team directly.

How to Assess When an Older Adult Requires Caregiving Assistance

By Health & Wellness

Sometimes an older adult’s need for additional help is obvious. It could be that he or she is having a hard time getting to appointments, seems confused by instructions or perhaps isn’t paying bills on time. More often, though, the change happens gradually. That’s where a professional assessment comes in. This comprehensive review of all aspects of person’s mental, physical and environmental condition is one way to determine if your loved one needs assistance. This helps to evaluate his or her ability to remain safely independent and identify risks and ways to reduce them.

A family member or caregiver also has an opportunity to evaluate how a loved one is doing in terms of health, safety and quality of life. To learn about red flags suggested by AARP that you may want to look out for, CLICK HERE.

The Big Benefits of Meditation for Seniors

By Health & Wellness

If you’re looking for holistic methods to improve your overall health, you’ll likely explore what types of exercise are right for your body, what foods to incorporate into your diet to support your immune system, and how to build and maintain meaningful relationships. All these avenues can lead to improved health, but you may also want to establish a meditation practice. The benefits of meditation for seniors are multidimensional and widespread. A daily practice can improve important aspects of your health.

To learn more about meditation and its benefits, CLICK HERE.

The Big Benefits of Meditation for Seniors

By Health & Wellness

If you’re looking for holistic methods to improve your overall health, you’ll likely explore what types of exercise are right for your body, what foods to incorporate into your diet to support your immune system, and how to build and maintain meaningful relationships. All these avenues can lead to improved health, but you may also want to establish a meditation practice. The benefits of meditation for seniors are multidimensional and widespread. A daily practice can improve important aspects of your health.

To learn more about meditation and its benefits, CLICK HERE.

woman in sun hat

5 Tips to Help You Prevent Vision Loss

By Health & Wellness

May is Healthy Vision Month and it’s an important reminder to take care of our eyes.

We use our eyes to complete daily tasks like preparing meals, engaging in physical activity, taking the correct medication and dosage, protect ourselves from falling, and so much more. That’s why it’s important to keep them healthy, so we’re seeing our best and maintaining our independence. If we don’t, the quality of our vision could decline—from a combination of age and lifestyle factors.

To learn about simple guidelines from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) that can help you maintain your vision health, CLICK HERE.

Update Regarding Mask Policies at The Bayshore on Hilton Head Island

By Health & Wellness

The CDC announced on May 13, 2021 that fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

We share your enthusiasm about the news and are hopeful COVID-19 rates continue to decline. Because our community follows guidance from health and regulatory agencies, our policies reflect the following:

• Residents in independent living are no longer required to wear a mask in the independent living areas of the community if they are fully vaccinated unless required by local and state regulations, as mentioned above.
• All residents, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks on any form of community-based transportation.
• Family and friends visiting residents in independent living need to wear a mask when entering and exiting and while in common spaces within a community. Masks can be removed when visitors are in a resident’s apartment.
• All residents in assisted living or memory care must continue to wear masks as required by the CDC for assisted living.
• All independent living residents, family, and friends visiting residents in the assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing areas in communities must continue to wear masks and adhere to the safety protocols in these settings.
• Individuals taking part in a tour experience or attending an event at the community must wear a mask to meet with our team and experience the various areas of our community.

There are no changes to our mask policy for employees at this time, regardless of their vaccination status. The CDC states it is still learning how effective the vaccines are against variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. For the protection of residents and fellow employees, all community employees must wear masks, regardless of where they work within our community.

The health and safety of residents and employees remains our highest priority. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and adjust our protocol to help ensure the health and safety of our residents and employees. With further questions related to our COVID-19 protocols, please contact us directly.

How Excess Weight Impacts Our Mental and Emotional Health

By Health & Wellness

The physical consequences of excess weight are well known, ranging from type 2 diabetes, increased risk of falls, heart issues, and osteoarthritis. Yet not quite as much spotlight is given to its impact on our mental and emotional health. May, which is nearly upon us, is Older Americans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month—and a great opportunity to explore the “invisible” burden shouldered by many older adults living with obesity. In addition to their physical challenges, people living with obesity often struggle with mood and anxiety disorders.

To learn more about what mental health challenges older adults with obesity face, from the National Council on Aging, CLICK HERE.

 

Bayshore Hilton Head Residents Benefit From Medical Expertise

By Health & Wellness

Bayshore Hilton Head will benefit from the expertise of the EverSafe 360° Medical Advisory Board. Seven medical, academic, and health care professionals will advise on the latest health and wellness technologies, innovations, and practices for senior living communities managed by Life Care Services.

“The EverSafe 360° Medical Advisory Board includes physicians and scientists who specialize in epidemiology, mental health, infectious diseases and indoor air quality,” says Rick Exline, executive vice president/senior managing director of Life Plan Communities. “These experts will provide real-time guidance to help ensure the safety and security of our residents and employees.” The advisory board will evaluate research and recommend health care delivery models for senior living care levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic identified an industry need for solutions that enhance the senior living experience. Focusing on its 50 years of industry leadership, LCS developed EverSafe 360° as the new standard for residents and staff’s overall safety.

“The depth and breadth of knowledge offered by this group of medical professionals will make a positive impact on resident health and wellness,” says Dr. Roy S. Rogers, III, M.D. Dr. Rogers sits on the medical advisory board and lives in a community managed by Life Care Services. “Our input will play a significant role in developing community disaster plans. As a group, we’ll ensure the health and wellness-related issues, regulatory protocol, and clinical outcome strategies are incorporated.

In addition to Dr. Rogers, the EverSafe 360° Medical Advisory Board includes:

  • Dr. Jamison Feramisco, M.D., Ph.D., founding president and chair of Apri Health, an international data analytics and clinical change company.
  • Joseph N.S. Eisenberg, Ph.D., a researcher who integrates disease transmission models with field studies to study environmental determinants of infectious diseases.
  • Dr. Shishir V. Shah, D.O., co-implemented one of the most extensive wound care/hyperbaric clinical delivery models in the U.S.
  • Dr. Chantal Walsh, M.D., certified medical director by The Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
  • Dr. Stephanie Taylor, M.D., named one of the top 20 women to watch in health care engineering by Engineered Systems.
  • Dr. Elliott Kroger, M.D., listed in Chicago Magazine’s Top 500 Doctors in 1997 and 2001.
  • Dr. Roy S. Rogers, III, M.D., retired physician and resident at a community managed by Life Care Services; recipient of the Master Dermatologist Award.

EverSafe 360° is all-encompassing and focuses on the emotional and physical aspects of keeping everyone as safe as possible to enjoy their “best life” experience at an LCS community. The program is delivered with the care and compassion that allows LCS to quickly and comprehensively alleviate any concern around safety measures.
For more information about EverSafe 360°, click here.