May 18

The Best Exercises for Seniors: A Guide to Staying Active in Your Golden Years

By Health & Wellness, Senior Resources

Explore the best exercises for seniors and tips on how to get started, stay motivated, and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Staying active is vital at any age, but it’s especially crucial for seniors. Regular exercise provides many health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health, enhanced mental well-being, and helping seniors live a more independent lifestyle. There is growing evidence to show that it may slow the progression of dementia. In this blog post, we will explore the best exercises for seniors and provide tips on how to get started, stay motivated, and enjoy the numerous benefits of an active lifestyle.

Factors to Consider Before Starting an Exercise Routine

Before diving into a new exercise routine, taking a few precautions is essential. Speak with your doctor or physical therapist to determine which exercises suit your needs and health conditions. Pay attention to any discomfort or pain during training and adjust as needed. Begin with shorter durations and lower intensity, gradually increasing as your fitness level improves. To maintain long-term commitment, we recommend choosing exercises you’ll enjoy, and don’t be afraid to mix things up and try something new.

To learn more about the benefits and types of exercise, from CLICK HERE

May 04

2023 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner

By News

We are thrilled to announce that LCS® has been named a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner for 2023. This prestigious award recognizes organizations that have achieved exceptional performance in employee engagement and workplace culture.

As a Life Care Services® community, part of the LCS family of companies, we are deeply committed to creating a positive and engaging workplace culture that empowers our employees to thrive both personally and professionally. We believe that our success is directly tied to the dedication and hard work of our team members.

The Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award is based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes surveys of employees and managers, as well as an in-depth analysis of organizational culture and leadership practices. To receive this award, organizations must score in the top percentile of all companies surveyed, demonstrating exceptional performance across a wide range of metrics related to employee engagement, satisfaction, and well-being.

We believe that our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace is reflected in the quality of care and service that we provide to our residents and their family members. By fostering a positive and engaged workplace culture, we are able to attract and retain top talent and provide the highest levels of hospitality and care to those we serve.

We are grateful to our employees for their dedication and hard work, and we are thrilled to share this exciting recognition Gallup has presented to LCS. As we look to the future, we remain committed to building on our successes and continuing to foster a workplace culture that empowers our employees to thrive and excel.

To learn more about careers at The Bayshore at Hilton Head Island, click here. To see how life at a community led by a strong, hospitality-focused employee base could enhance your life or that of a loved one, click here to contact us today.

May 03

Best Vacation Locations for Senior Travel

By Lifestyle

Finding the right opportunity for senior travel, whether that involves relaxation and leisure or fun activities, outdoor exploration, and more, is achievable. Discover some of the best places to vacation for seniors, exciting activities to do on vacation, and tips for planning your next getaway.

Where Do Seniors Go on Vacation?

Choosing to travel within the United States can help eliminate costly international flights. Pick a state or town you’ve always wanted to visit and consider exploring fun and exciting activities.

Travel to any of the recommended below places on your next vacation:

  • San Diego, California – Enjoy sunny weather and outdoor activities like nearby attractions, gardens, spas, and golf courses.
  • Key Largo, Florida – Visit a tropical paradise with great things to explore, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and swimming in warm, crystal-clear water.
  • Santa Fe, New Mexico – Enjoy the colorful, rich history and an abundance of art galleries, museums, and the town square, all within a walkable distance from each other.
  • Phoenix, Arizona – Beyond beautiful accommodations at a luxurious resort, find yourself hanging out poolside, playing golf, tennis, pickleball, or visiting a spa.
  • Bluffton, South Carolina – Nature preserves, picturesque villages, riverfront marinas, and more allow you to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

For ideas on what to do on vacation as a senior, and how to plan your trip, from Life Care Services, CLICK HERE.

Apr 18

Top Five AI-Generated Considerations for Your Senior Living Search

By Senior Resources

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that allows a computer or robot to mimic human actions or intelligence. With more than 50 years of experience in senior living, our team at Life Care Services has a wealth of knowledge regarding the needs of seniors, but it’s always nice to get a second opinion.

We thought it would be fun to ask AI “chatbot” ChatGPT the most important thing seniors should look for when looking for a retirement community. Following is the question we asked via https://chat.openai.com/chat and the response we received

What is the most important thing seniors should look for when looking for a senior living community?

“When looking for a senior living community, seniors should consider a variety of factors to ensure they find a community that meets their needs and preferences. However, one of the most important things to look for is the quality of care provided.”

To read about the specific things seniors should consider when assessing the quality of care in a senior living community, as provided by an AI “chatbot”, CLICK HERE.

Mar 08

Fatigue in Older Adults

By Health & Wellness

Everyone feels tired now and then. But, after a good night’s sleep, most people feel refreshed and ready to face a new day. If, like Liang, you continue to feel tired for weeks, it’s time to see your doctor. He or she may be able to help you find out what’s causing your fatigue. In fact, your doctor may even suggest you become more active, as exercise may reduce fatigue and improve quality of life.

Sometimes, fatigue can be the first sign that something is wrong in your body. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis, a painful condition that affects the joints, often complain of fatigue. People with cancer may feel fatigued from the disease, treatments, or both.

Many medical problems and treatments can add to fatigue. These include:

• Taking certain medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and medicines for nausea and pain
• Having medical treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, or recovering from major surgery
• Infections
• Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Untreated pain and diseases like fibromyalgia
• Anemia
• Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders

To learn about other causes of fatigue, and how you can feel less tired, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Feb 21

2 Scams to Watch For During Tax Season

By Senior Resources

Tax time is stressful enough. Having someone file a bogus claim in your name or discovering that your tax preparer is a fake can ratchet up the stress to stratospheric levels.

Prevention is the best way to avoid getting your tax return hijacked. If someone does file a false return in your name, you can fix the problem, but it’s a sure bet that your refund will be delayed.

Preparer fraud

Scammers have plenty of ways to take advantage of you, but two favorite scams occur during tax time. Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, tax-related identify theft has increased by 45 percent, says Linda Williams, community outreach and training manager for Consumer Action.

The first type of tax scam is preparer fraud. The criminals set up shop as expert tax preparers and promise big refunds. For a fee, they fill out a return filled with trumped-up tax deductions and credits, with your name on the return. When the refund rolls in, it will go to their own bank accounts. By the time you come looking for them, they’ll be long gone.

WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR TAX PREPARER MAY BE A FRAUD

  • They refuse to sign the return or enter a Preparer Taxpayer Identification Number. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires both if someone else prepares your return. The IRS will initially assume that it’s you who attempted tax fraud. You can look up legitimate tax preparers in a searchable IRS database.
  • They base their charges on a percentage of your refund.
  • They ask you to sign a blank or incomplete tax form.
  • They file the return without allowing you to review it.

But the crime can get worse: “If that person is willing to lie [to get your business], they probably are willing to use your information to steal your identity,” says Rosario Mendez, an attorney with the Division of Consumer and Business Education at the Federal Trade Commission.

For tips on other types of fraud and how to avoid being tax hacked, from the AARP, CLICK HERE.