Assisted Living Nursing Home

Spring is in the air, and "for sale" signs are popping up on lawns all over the country. If you are thinking about making the move to a retirement community like Bethany Village, now is the time to do some planning. The more you know before you start visiting prospective communities, the smoother your decision-making process will be. Here are a few tips:

1. Contact your Area Agency on Aging to find retirement living options in and near your locale. If you are uncertain about the different types of housing available – for example, independent vs. assisted living – check  for definitions.

2. If you have access to a computer, visit some websites associated with retirement communities in your area. Look for the kinds of housing available, amenities and services. Some websites will offer a virtual tour of housing and grounds. This step will show you what is possible in retirement living; you can decide what appeals to you.

3. Make a list of lifestyle priorities. How much living space do you want? What kind of home appeals to you – a high-rise condo, townhouse, free-standing house? What recreational services and amenities are important to you? Will you have a pet(s)? Do you want a full continuum of care available? Think about what you don’t like about where you live now. Can you change any of those things when you move?

4. Think about your financial commitment. For example, do you want to purchase or rent? Retirement communities have professionals on staff who can walk you through your options, but it’s a good idea to know your budget before you start visiting places.

5. Call ahead to make an appointment. Prepare a short list of questions so you can easily eliminate places that don’t meet your basic requirements.

It’s important to remember that your search for a retirement community is just that – yours. While you’ll want to consult with your family and close friends, the ultimate decision rests with you. When you visit, invite a trusted advisor along, but avoid bringing lots of friends and family. You’ll want to concentrate on your needs – not theirs.

Expect the community representative who is showing you around to give you the time you need (usually 60–90 minutes), focus on your needs and answer your questions straightforwardly. Choosing a retirement community is choosing a lifestyle. The representatives you meet with should be as interested to in your happiness, comfort and safety as you are.

Are you planning to visit retirement communities this spring? Do you have other questions?

For older adults, falling can lead to serious injury, disability and loss of independence. Last week we talked about fall-proofing your home. Now let’s look at another very important step you can take to lower the risk of falling: EXERCISE.

Once you have made sure your home is safe, have talked to your doctor about medications that may cause dizziness and, if you have osteoporosis, are taking your calcium and vitamin D supplements, the next item on your agenda should be developing a regular exercise regimen. If you live in an assisted living community or CCRC like Bethany Village, chances are there is a certified exercise professional/trainer on staff who can help you design a program. Otherwise, ask your doctor for a referral to an exercise physiologist who understands the needs of older adults. If you are a beginner, you may feel more comfortable in a group class.

Exercise not only makes you stronger, it also helps improve balance, endurance, flexibility and mood. A program of regular strength and balance training as well a cardiovascular routine are the backbone of a good exercise plan. Even 15 minutes of activity, such as walking or swimming, done every other day can make a difference. Add yoga and tai chi for an extra dose of balance training.

If your doctor says it’s okay to begin exercising on your own, take a look at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) general strength training program for older adults. The CDC recommendations are comprehensive – and to some, perhaps overwhelming. Begin by focusing on just a few exercises that work the lower body and are specifically designed to help prevent falls. But don’t overdo it! For example, recent research suggests that strength training (often done using weights) should be done only three times per week to get fall-prevention benefits. Muscles need time to rest between sessions.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

For strength

• While standing at the kitchen sink, rise on your toes, then lower your heels to the   ground, and then rock back on your heels and lift your toes before lowering again. (Hold on to the counter!)
• From a seated position, lift and straighten alternating legs.
• Carefully try easing into and out of a sitting position without using your hands.

For balance

• Stand on both feet and focus on a point on the wall for 30 seconds. Try not to move your body to steady yourself.
• Try to do the same thing while balancing on one foot. Do this next to a sturdy piece of furniture or counter that you can grab if need be.

• Work up to 30 minutes of walking most days of the week.

Although exercise isn’t a surefire way to prevent falls, it can make a big difference – and it has many other health benefits. Before starting any exercise program, however, be sure to check with your doctor. People who have had hip replacements, for example, are restricted from certain movements.

Do you exercise regularly? Write a comment about your exercise activities.

Bethany Village, a nationally accredited Continuing Care Retirement Community, has been providing quality senior living to the Dayton community for more than 60 years and was recently recognized as the retirement community of choice in the Dayton, Ohio area. Since 1946, Bethany has devoted itself to faithfully caring for the needs of older adults. Bethany Village is sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, an organization incorporated in 1926 with a mission to help people of all faiths experience dignity and wholeness.


Come and See
For information on our wide range of residential choices or to take a tour of our community, call the Bethany Marketing Department at 937-436-6850 if you're exploring a new living experience for yourself or your parents.

Bethany's 100-acre campus, with tree-rich walking paths and a lake, includes:

• Contemporary new villas with expansive floor plans 
• Cottage homes of a variety of sizes, accessories and affordability
• Spacious new apartments with convenient parking garage and a large deck for outdoor gatherings and fun events
• Comfortable, convenient apartments to suit
• Assisted living
• Long-term nursing care
• Memory-supported care with beautifully landscaped enclosed courtyard and life enrichment activities
• Short-term rehabilitation services with nursing care and therapy services
• New Village Center with an up-to-date fitness center, art center, casual dining bistro, classroom, Grand Room reception facility and lounge areas

Take our virtual tour to see how we've transformed senior living with a new Village Center, 30 new villas, 30 spacious apartments and a new Memory Support Center. It's a life full of enriching activities in beautiful surroundings with caring staff. If you'd like to visit us in person, call 937-436-6850 to schedule an appointment.

 

After surgery, injury or even illness, we all need time to recover. The Bethany Rehabilitation Center (BRC) provides short-term nursing care and therapy for individuals who aren't ready to return home from the hospital following an injury, illness or surgery. The BRC is renowned for caring for persons after hip or knee replacement surgery. If you know you’re having a hip or knee replacement, you can plan ahead for your post-hospitalization stay.

If you need to find a rehabilitation facility for yourself – or a loved one – there are some important things to consider. The facility you choose should have specialists, such as physical and occupational therapists and dedicated nurses. Also, you may want to consider a rehabilitation facility that is part of a larger continuum of care. Bethany Village is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that provides residential choices like apartments and cottages as well as various healthcare services, from assisted living to state-of-the-art memory support. You may require different levels of care following your surgery or illness.

Choosing a community like Bethany means not moving around and having ample opportunities for learning, fitness and making friends. Admissions to Bethany Rehabilitation Center are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center is certified by Medicare and Medicaid, and Bethany Village is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities—Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF-- CCAC).

Approximately 25 individuals comprise a team specializing in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Therapy is offered seven days a week in one of two specialized therapy gymnasiums. Moreover, the Bethany Rehabilitation Center provides services within the highly acclaimed Linden House. Private rooms feature private baths and many overlook gardens and waterscapes to promote relaxation and healing.

For more information call 937-436-6846.

If you are scouting living options for a parent who can no longer live alone or whose care requires more than a family member can provide, assisted living might be a good option. Bethany Village offers a comprehensive continuum of care that includes independent cottages, villas, and apartments; assisted living apartments, rehabilitation care, and long-term nursing care.

But all assisted living places are not the same; it pays to visit as many as you can to see everyday life in action. Sometimes what you actually see when you make a scouting visit is more revealing than answers you receive to your questions. Here are a few things to look for:


 

• Do the residents and staff seem happy? Are they smiling?
• Are the grounds nicely landscaped and well kept?
• Are the interiors – living spaces and common spaces – clean and tidy?

• Do your employees enjoy working here? Can you show me current employee satisfaction survey results? What is your turnover percent compared to the average?
• What do you do to ensure the facility follows all state and federal regulations? Do you have committees that oversee quality? Do you perform regular audits to ensure quality care?
• Do you have current resident and family satisfaction survey results you can share with me?
• What is the ratio of nurses to patients? How does it compare to other facilities?
• Do you use agency nurses or have your own employees? The organizational commitment and consistency of care that comes with having employee nurses is important.
• What do you do to keep residents as independent as possible?
• How is toileting handled for those who are not mobile on their own?
• Are rooms private or semi-private?
• What furniture and décor items can I bring in to make my parent’s room more like home?
• Can residents select their own meals?
• Do you have an onsite laundry?

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when you are investigating assisted living or long-term care for a loved one. Visit www.medicare.gov/NHCompare for information on nursing homes in your area and to compare facilities using Medicare’s Five-Star Quality Ratings, health inspection results, nursing home staff data, quality measures and fire safety inspection results.

Here is my last piece of advice – and it’s probably the most important of all: look for a facility or community that is based on a "social model," not a "medical model." A social model focuses not on what residents can’t do, but on what they can do. Feeling empowerment, independent and able to make ones own decisions is the best medicine of all.

We welcome your comments and questions about how to find the appropriate level of care for your parent(s).

If you are an older person thinking about visiting some retirement communities in anticipation of making a move (or if you are a family member thinking about future living arrangements for a loved one), I have a very important piece of advice for you: Do it when things are going well and you are not in crisis or under any pressure to make a fast decision. Not being in a hurry to make a move gives you the freedom to consider all your options, weigh the pros and cons, and make an informed decision.

I’ve been a senior living counselor at Bethany Village for 11 years, and in that time, I have learned what it takes for prospective residents to glean the most information from their retirement community preview tours. Here are some tips:

Don’t be afraid to make an appointment. Selecting a retirement community can’t be done over the phone. You’ll want to compare at least a couple of similar places. Meeting face-to-face with a counselor is the best way to get a feel for the place and have all your questions answered.

Be prepared. Before you set off for your appointment, take a few minutes to write down your "hot button" issues. What are you looking for? What is less than perfect in your current living situation? Could the community you are visiting solve those problems?

Allow enough time for your appointment. For example, Bethany’s campus is fairly large – ranging from independent living in cottages to long-term nursing home care. We ask our prospective residents to plan on about a 90-minute visit.

Visit during the day. Retirement communities are quieter in the evening and on weekends, so if you want get a realistic impression, come during the day.

Try to set aside preconceived negatives. There are several common preconceived notions about moving into a retirement community. One has to do with loss of control over your lifestyle. A quality retirement community will allow you to make the decisions about how much assistance/care you need. Fear of moving into a nursing home is another common issue. If there is a nursing home associated with the retirement community you are visiting, ask to see it and take a good look around. At Bethany, for example, I think the community and atmosphere would be not at all what you anticipated.

Expect the places you visit to follow-up with you. The counselors you meet with should call you about a week after your visit to see if you have any questions. If you show interest in the community, you should expect the counselor to invite you and perhaps a family member back for another visit.

Let’s face it: people generally don’t like making dramatic changes in how and where they live, especially as they get older. You probably want to see me – a retirement community counselor – about as much as you want to go to the dentist! But taking care of these plans now can make your life a lot easier later. I can assure you that at Bethany Village, your needs and comfort come first. And if you use the tips I’ve outlined above, you will be able to make an informed choice when it’s time to look at retirement living.

Your comments are welcome about your experience with tours of retirement communities.

• Health changes: shortness of breath, increased pain, unexplained bruises or other injuries, difficulty walking, changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Memory loss: missed appointments, losing or misplacing items, repetitive conversation, missed doses of medications or medications taken at wrong times
• Mood changes: loss of interest in usual activities, being withdrawn, prolonged sadness, increased irritability, unusual fears
• Poor safety judgment: stove burners left on, unexplained dents in the car, getting lost, dressing inappropriately for the weather
• Decline in personal appearance: wearing the same clothing, poor grooming and/or hygiene
• Decline in living conditions: house not being kept up like it used to be, dirty dishes or paperwork piling up, rooms messy
• Difficulty managing finances: unpaid bills, unable to maintain checkbook