Category

Senior Living

Feb 19
seniors gathered together

Choosing the Perfect Fit in Senior Living

By Senior Living

As your loved one ages, there will come a time when decisions must be made about the best living arrangements for them. Is remaining at home best or choosing a supportive senior living community? Does my loved one need memory care? The choice between a senior living community or remaining at home can significantly impact their quality of life. We’ll explore the available options for senior care and look at essential factors so you can make an informed decision.

Independent Living vs. Home

Independent Living Communities cater to seniors who can manage their daily lives without much assistance. They offer the added benefits of services such as housekeeping, dining, transportation, and a range of amenities like fitness programs, spas, gourmet dining, art studios, swimming pools, and events within the community.

Unlike staying at home, where it can be difficult to maintain social connections, an independent senior living community provides readily available social connection and offers seniors an enriched life without the burdens of home maintenance or even the need to drive.

Assisted Living vs. Home

Assisted Living Communities bridge the gap between independent senior living and full service residential health care. Residents of assisted living communities enjoy daily social activities and meals but also receive help with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, grooming, and bathroom assistance. In contrast to staying at home, where specialized care may require multiple service providers, assisted living offers a comprehensive care solution with around-the-clock support. Appealing and nutritious meals are provided , as well as programs and activities, many opportunities for socialization, and beautiful indoor and outdoor settings are typically available in a lively and engaging community.

Memory Care vs. Home

Memory care communities are specialized environments for those with cognitive or memory-related conditions. The home can easily become a danger of its own for persons living with memory loss or cognitive issues due to heightened safety concerns and the lack of social engagement. Memory care communities provide structured activities to bolster cognitive abilities and have enhanced security measures to reduce the risks associated with wandering. The dedicated and trained staff understands the intricacies of dementia and Alzheimer’s, ensuring residents receive personalized and dignified care.

To compare the levels of care and to learn about the factors to consider when choosing a senior living community, from Life Care Services, CLICK HERE.

Nov 17
A small chalkboard on an easel asking Whats your plan for retirement? next to a calculator and plant.

Make Your Retirement Work for You: Pension vs. 401k

By Lifestyle, Senior Living

Are you looking towards retirement in a few years? Maybe you have already retired from work, downsized, and enjoying your freedom. Whatever stage you’re in, you’ll always need to examine your finances and make necessary adjustments. Planning for retirement early is best, but it’s never too late to start. We’ll look at the differences between a pension vs. a 401k and how you may be able to maximize your retirement options.

What is a Pension Plan?

A pension plan is an employee benefit where an employer makes monetary contributions to a fund. The employer promises to pay the eligible employee a certain amount after retiring. Pension plans are more likely to be offered in unions, government positions, and the public sector. However, these traditional pension plans are harder to come by as an employee benefit.

To learn more about public pensions plans versus private pensions and 401(k)s, and what may be best for your retirement options, CLICK HERE

Oct 06
For Sale sign in front of a brick home with a pathway and plants in the yard.

Why Retirees Are Selling Their Forever Homes

By Senior Living

The question on many seniors’ minds is when should they sell their forever home? A forever home, or sunset home, is the home you’ve raised a family in, hosted countless Thanksgiving dinners, and built a lifetime’s worth of memories. Seniors that put their homes up for sale could take a big step toward greater independence and peace of mind. Let’s look at some of the biggest reasons many seniors sell their forever home.

Retirement and Changing Lifestyle

Retirement is a major life change and often is the event where seniors question if they should sell their homes. Kids leaving for college or moving to start families of their own is another change that affects home life. There may be empty bedrooms or game and family rooms that are no longer used. Unused spaces can bring on feelings of sadness or longing for what was. Finding a new home that’s a better match could improve your new lifestyle and outlook.

To learn about additional reasons seniors are selling their forever home, CLICK HERE.

Jun 14
A collage of happy, diverse seniors smiling outdoors in various colorful outfits.

It’s Time to Throw Out Stereotypes on Aging

By Senior Living, Lifestyle

In late 2021, journalists at National Geographic magazine and AARP discussed working together to explore how Americans perceive aging as we emerge from the COVID pandemic. That began a research collaboration focused on asking people like you questions that would probe the full breadth of aging issues — from health and finances to attitudes about happiness, home, optimism and even dying.

To make the study as useful as possible, we posed the same questions to Americans from age 18 into their 90s, to see how opinions vary over the arc of adulthood. More than 2,500 people participated, representing the full range of America’s backgrounds, demographics and ethnicities. Another 25 adults 40 and older participated in in-depth interviews.

Many of the often surprising results of the AARP–National Geographic “Second Half of Life Study” are in your hands. No single sentence can capture the gist of all that people told us, but we can say with confidence that most prevalent opinions and stereotypes of aging were proven wrong.

Overall, the message was refreshingly positive and reassuring. On the whole, life is good, especially for older Americans — especially those over 60. And the person you see in the mirror is far different from the type of person younger generations might think you are.

To view the results of this interesting AARP and National Geographic survey, CLICK HERE.
Feb 10
Senior couple reviewing financial documents together in their living room.

Tips for Protecting Your Finances as a Senior

By Senior Living
Life Care Services knows that seniors can be vulnerable to scams, but we are here to put the power back into your hands. By following these tips, you can ensure that your finances will be locked up tight for years to come.

Seniors, on average, are more likely to be taken advantage of financially by scammers and fraudsters to the point that, according to Consumer Affairs, more than 3.5 million seniors are victims of financial exploitation every year. Of course, staying vigilant and being cautious about lending your money are both important aspects of protecting your finances, but there is more to keeping your finances safe.

Life Care Services knows that seniors can be vulnerable to scams, but we are here to put the power back into your hands. By following these tips, you can ensure that your finances will be locked up tight for years to come. CLICK HERE to see tips.

Dec 15
Group of elderly individuals sitting and raising their hands in a recreational room.

What to Look for When Researching Senior Living

By Senior Living

Taking care of ourselves can seem like a struggle no matter where we are in age, but as we reach our senior years, there’s a point where meeting our daily needs can become a real challenge. Additionally, many of us are looking for company and companionship as we age and senior living can be a great option to fulfill those desires.

If you find yourself struggling to get through your day-to-day activities or simply want to make new social connections, it might be time to look into senior living options.

Life Care Services knows how hard it is to find a senior living community that can cater to your individual needs. We’ve created this helpful guide to assist you with your upcoming life decision. To learn what to look for, CLICK HERE.

Nov 04
senior man writing

5 Ways to Prevent Elder Financial Exploitation

By Senior Living

More than 334,000 incidents of elder financial exploitation — the theft or misuse of an older person’s money by someone they know — are reported to authorities in the U.S. each year, causing an estimated $6.3 billion in losses, according to an analysis of federal and state data by Comparitech, a cybersecurity research company.

And those numbers probably underestimate a problem experts say is vastly under-reported.

But experts also say that in most cases, financial abuse can be prevented before it starts. To learn about steps from AARP that you can take to help protect yourself or a vulnerable loved one from financial exploitation, CLICK HERE.