May 20
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.

May 18

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.

May 06

How Respite Care can be Used to Test Drive Assisted Living

By Uncategorized

Moving your parents or loved one to assisted living is a decision that requires a lot of thought and research. There are so many different aspects of an assisted living community to consider that without visiting communities, there’s no real way to know if it meets all your requirements, or if you, your parents or loved one will even like it. One of the ways to get a better picture of what assisted living is like in a given community is to take advantage of their respite care program. A short respite stay will give you and your loved ones an idea as to what the community is like, what services they offer, and if it’s the right choice for them.

To learn more about respite care, CLICK HERE.

Apr 22

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.

 

Apr 08

Senior Care Research – How to Use the 5-Star CMS Rating to Understand the Quality of Care at a Community

By Senior Living

Providing quality care requires expertise, high standards and dedication. A high rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is clear proof that the level of care offered at a senior care community is top-tier in the industry. But to truly appreciate a CMS 5-star rating, it helps to understand how the rating is determined.

To learn more about why a 5-star rating matters to various parties, and how it’s calculated, CLICK HERE.

Apr 07

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.

 

Mar 25

Traveling Local in 2021: 10 Places in the US That Feel Like You’re in Europe

By Lifestyle

With spring in full swing and summer on the horizon, people are starting to think about vacation plans while also navigating the possibility of travel restrictions. Many may have hoped to visit the best places in Europe, and while it’s too soon to know what’s possible, keep in mind that there are plenty of amazing sites to see in the USA that offer the European experience.

To view 10 places in the US to have on your list if you are looking for European flavor, CLICK HERE.

Mar 11

Senior Living Gives Seniors and Adult Children Peace of Mind

By Senior Living

Children — even adult children — turn to their parents for support. They see their parents as caregivers, and it’s often a surprise when the roles become reversed. Seemingly out of the blue, sons and daughters notice their parents slowing down. They may even worry about their parents living in a house by themselves. Senior parents, though, almost always want to maintain their independence. Senior living is a smart solution to satisfy both parties.

To learn more about why senior living is good for both parents and adult children, CLICK HERE.

Feb 25

Dementia May Cause Problems with Money Management Years Before Diagnosis

By Health & Wellness

People with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias may start having trouble managing their finances several years before their diagnosis, according to new research supported by the National Institute on Aging. Published online in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study is the first large-scale analysis of people’s ability to manage their money before and after a dementia diagnosis.

Common symptoms of dementia, including memory and cognitive limitations, can lead people with dementia to have trouble handling money and paying bills, so repeated financial mistakes can be an early sign of the disease.

To learn more about how dementia may cause problems with money management years before diagnosis, CLICK HERE.

Feb 11

Senior Scams and How to Protect Your Older Loved Ones

By Senior Living

Millions of older adults fall victim to scams each year, losing substantial amounts of money they need for their retirement. In fact, scammers often target seniors in financial scams, because they expect older adults to have significant savings in their bank accounts.

If your senior loved one becomes a victim of fraud, it can leave them in a precarious financial position with little time to recoup crucial funds. This means it’s important to help them identify when a scam has taken place and, if possible, avoid scams before endangering any money. To find out about some of the strongest signs of a senior scam, CLICK HERE.