Assisted Living Retirement Communities

(Centerville, OH) On January 19 Bethany Village, sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, unveiled the designs and redevelopment construction plan for nine new Grand Cottages that will replace 12 original cottages constructed in 1972. Aptly named “Grand”, the new cottages are 50% larger than the cottages they replace and are loaded with pleasing amenities, comfort and safety features achieved through universal architectural design.
 
More than 100 invited guests attended the reception and unveiling presentation to learn more about senior housing options and trends in retirement communities from Bill Serr, President and CEO of Graceworks Lutheran Services and George Oberer, Jr., President of Oberer Companies, the project developer.

“Our commitment to the community is to meet the needs of area seniors and this means offering the very latest in housing options,” said Bill Serr.
 
“Today’s retirees want new construction, fresh approaches to daily living, bright and open floor plans and smart spaces. This is a unique opportunity to experience new construction at Bethany Village. Although we will continue to remodel and enhance other cottages and residences as opportunity allows, brand new construction may not be possible again for several years,” he stated. Construction begins in March and plans call for cottages to be completed by the end of the year.

Mr. Serr noted that even during the recent downturn in the real estate market and ongoing slow economy, Bethany Village remains “stable and vibrant, thanks in large part to listening to our customer’s needs and wants and careful planning.”
 
The unveiling event also featured reality video testimonials by five Bethany Village residents about what it means to live at Bethany. They were present to answer questions. See the video on the website www.bethanylutheranvillage.org.
 
The $1.9 million project for the nine new Grand cottages caps off new construction on Bethany Village’s 100-acre campus in the foreseeable future. Bethany’s master plan, which peaked in 2009 with the $47 million expansion program, added 60 new residences for the nationally accredited continuing care retirement community that is home for more than 750 adults over the age of 62. Bethany Village was founded in 1946. 
 

After the sizzling summer most of the country has experienced, it’s hard to believe that we’ll soon be complaining about how cold it is, how much snow we have to shovel and how treacherous those ice-glazed sidewalks can be. With autumn fast approaching, now is a good time for seniors and their families to give some thought to future living arrangements. Is home becoming too much to handle? Are safety and the everyday demands of upkeep and yard work becoming issues? Is selling the house and relocating to a retirement community beginning to look like a smart move?

Having counseled many seniors and their adult children who are exploring Bethany Village as an option, I can share with you three guiding principles for families making this very important life decision:

·  Don’t wait until you are in the midst of a crisis to start looking at retirement communities. You won’t have the time, clarity and peace of mind needed to make an informed decision. It’s much better to start exploring before you feel the pressing need to act. Just because you are investigating choices doesn’t mean a move is immanent; it simply means you are investing some time and thought in deciding the next step in living arrangements.

·  Put your feelings on the table. Adult children often approach talking to their parents about selling the house with some trepidation. It can be difficult conversation wrought with emotion. Sometimes, however, an older person may have already been thinking about making the move and welcomes some assistance in sorting out feelings and coming up with a strategy. Sit down together and make a pros and cons list. What are the benefits vs. drawbacks – financial, social, lifestyle, health, safety and mobility – of selling the house and moving to a retirement community? Visit some retirement communities to learn more about amenities and costs. Keep an open mind and be honest about your fears and concerns.

·  Be realistic about selling your house. There’s no denying that the economy has been rough on real estate sales. Sometimes, older people may resist selling in today’s depressed market, choosing instead to “wait until things get better” so they don’t lose a penny of the equity they always planned to leave to their children. Recently, an adult child visiting Bethany Village told me that she explained to her parents that waiting to sell was not their only option. If they really wanted to give her a meaningful gift, they could give it to her right now by moving into a place where she had the comfort of knowing every day that they were safe, active and relieved of the burden of maintaining a house.

Ultimately, you may conclude that staying put is the best choice, at least for the time being. Having fully explored the options, however, means that everyone involved in the decision-making process will be that much ahead of the game if and when moving into a retirement community starts looking like the next logical step in safe and happy senior living.

What is your main concern about moving to a retirement community? Please make a comment below.

ABC News recently launched a series called Elder Care: Families on the Brink hosted by Diane Sawyer. The roundtable discussions focus on topics for adult children, specifically, having difficult conversations with mom and dad.

Have you ever wondered how to handle sensitive subjects involving aging parents such as driving, medication management, will creation and more? The ABC News series promises to help.

Panelists include Martha Stewart, Dr. Neil Resnick, Virginia Morris and Dr. Marie Bernard.

Watch the debut of the series below.




Are your parents thinking of moving to a continuing care retirement community like Bethany Village? Get your questions answered one-on-one by scheduling a personalized appointment with a senior living counselor. Just call 937-436-6850 or click through our website.

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?

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.

"Love is wonderful, the second time around," as the song lyric goes. Nevertheless, romance in the senior years can be a delicate issue – especially for adult children. I have seen love bloom between some of our residents here at Bethany Village and have watched the family dynamics that can result. Let me share a few observations with you.

People seek relationships later in life for various reasons. A desire for companionship is probably the biggest factor. It’s fun to share meals with someone, go to the movies together, even just sit and watch TV with another person. Having a partner also takes away the social intimidation of going to events and gatherings alone.

Entering a new relationship doesn’t diminish what you had with your previous partner. After you’ve been married for 50 or 60 years, the need for intimacy and touch continues even though your spouse is gone. It’s natural to want to feel close to someone and to count on him or her for support and unconditional love.

Sometimes, however, the adult children of seniors who have found new partners in life feel confused, fearful and even threatened by the new relationships. Inheritance issues may arise. My best advice: Talk honestly about feelings and concerns among yourselves and with a counselor or pastor. If there are serious concerns about finances, speak with an attorney and make sure everyone involved understands the situation.

If you are an older adult who is interested in meeting someone but don’t know how to go about it, here are a few tips:

• If you live in a retirement community, take advantage of activities planned for residents. For example, at Bethany Village we offer a wide range of opportunities such as movies, lectures, parties, special interest clubs and fitness classes.
• Things may have changed since you were last on the dating scene, but courtesy and respect are still at the heart of a budding relationship.
• Remember you are not looking for a breadwinner or for the father/mother of your children! You are seeking companionship for yourself.
• If you decide to try an Internet dating site, NEVER give out personal information such as your phone number or address online.
• If you meet someone with whom you feel you might become physically intimate, talk with your doctor about testing for sexually transmitted diseases and having safe sex.

Becoming acquainted with someone new and developing a friendship based on mutual respect and shared values is an adventure you may enjoy.

Need more resources? The L.A. Times recently wrote about single seniors finding love. If you would like to share how you met your new friend, please leave a comment below.  

If you hate to move, you’re not alone. In fact, the thought of moving can often act as a deterrent from people making the decision to move to a continuing care retirement community like Bethany Village.

"Downsizing is always the biggest part -- and fear -- of the move because the majority of our residents have lived in their home for 20 or more years," says Bethany Village move-in coordinator April Shank.

April has a unique job at Bethany: she gets to meet every new indepedent living resident before they actually move into their cottage, villa or apartment on campus! She helps with the transition and makes moving to Bethany more manageable. She can provide information about moving companies and even help future residents determine which furniture to bring to campus.

"I will visit them at their place to look at their furniture and help them determine what might work," continues April. "We will even measure current pieces and sometimes discuss new furniture." Being able to arrange their new environment -- make it their home -- also gives them a certain peace of mind.

Not everyone coming to Bethany is from Dayton or even Ohio. It’s not uncommon for new residents to come from a neighboring state or across the country. April assists residents with moves both large and small and provides info packets with partner companies worldwide. Before moving day arrives, April ensures all details are ready like carpeting, paint or other upgrades. On moving day, April is on hand to help with last minute details. If something needs fixed, she contacts maintenance immediately. Plus, her presence helps new residents feel at ease. She makes sure new residents know their way around campus and gets them settled.

All of April’s services are free to incoming residents.

Interested in Bethany Village? Call 937-436-6850 to schedule an appointment with a senior living counselor. Or, take our virtual tour before calling!

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.

For many seniors having a car and the ability to drive anywhere and anytime is understandably a luxury they do not willingly want to relinquish. They have been driving the majority of their lives and many cannot imagine giving this up.

If one or both of your parents is facing the decision to stop driving, either because of personal health or safety issues, understand the gravity of the decision. To provide support, be encouraging and offer up some positive aspects of letting someone else do the driving.

A big benefit is financial. The money saved on insurance, gas and routine maintenance is substantial and can be applied toward paying for private transportation when needed. Other benefits include the end of battling inclement weather and skipping the annual hassle of renewing car insurance, driver’s licenses and registrations.

If your mom and dad live in a retirement community such as Bethany Village they can still keep their independence whether they drive or not. Bethany provides bus transportation to local grocery and department stores, physician offices and pharmacies at no extra cost. Bethany also provides private transportation based on individual needs and assistance that might be required.

Children that live nearby can also provide transportation assistance, and pair the outing with lunch and some quality time with mom and dad.

Our society is of the mindset that once you can no longer drive, your life comes to a halt. While driving can certainly afford your parent(s) a more spontaneous lifestyle, with some advance planning, a full social calendar is possible!

Have you recently had the "no more driving" talk with mom or dad? How did it go? Leave your advice in the comments section below. AARP has more information about planning the conversation.

More and more seniors are selecting and ultimately moving to a retirement community in a state other than where they currently reside. Not surprising, one major factor in this decision is the consideration of wanting to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Family is a huge pull on the emotional heartstrings. The opportunity to be closer to children and grandchildren and be a part of their daily lives often motivates seniors to relocate where family lives.

There are many benefits for both parents and their children. First, there is an opportunity to check-in frequently with one another, whether it is gathering for Sunday family dinners or simply an impromptu visit. Also, having parents in the same city allows them to attend grandchildren’s special events, such as dance recitals or weekly soccer games.

On a more practical level, having parents close by enables the sons and daughters to assist more in situations where one or more parent’s health is declining. When parents live far away, sons and daughters need to take vacation days, or even a week at a time to visit and provide assistance on a more sporadic basis. If the parents are in good health, many are helping assist with their grandchildren, offering to watch grandchildren after school or transport them to events while the parents are at work. This is a tremendous help when both parents work outside the home.

Often the sons and daughters are doing the initial research and paving the way for mom and dad to move closer. More and more initial visits here at Bethany Village  in Dayton, Ohio are with the entire family or just with the adult children. It used to be I would see the children at the end of the process or on moving day but not anymore.

Are you now living in a senior retirement community like Bethany Village? Did you enlist the help of your children for guidance on your decision? Leave us a comment and tell us your story.

Directions to Bethany Village:

Bethany Village is located just north of the intersection of Interstate 675 and Far Hills Avenue in Centerville, 10 miles south of Dayton, Ohio.
Click here for a map or for Mapquest directions.

So your parent(s) have made the decision to move to a Retirement Community – a big step indeed. This decision in and of itself is a monumental one and no doubt as the son or daughter you were involved in the process. Now, it’s just a matter of packing and moving mom and dad to their new home right? For a lot of people, what lies ahead is one of the hardest parts – the emotional aspects of downsizing.

As a senior living counselor for Bethany Village, a continuing care retirement community in Centerville, OH, I hear over and over, "What am I going to do with all my stuff?" In many cases, 40 to 50 years of memories have accumulated in attics, basements, closets, drawers and garages. Belongings spanning two or even three generations have piled up making the downsizing process overwhelming.

So where do you begin?

My best advice is simple: Do a little each day and consider hiring professional help.

First, go through your home room by room and divide belongings into three categories: keep, donate or throw away. Many items have sentimental value, which makes them extremely hard to consider giving away. This is where a professional can be very helpful. Those who specialize in downsizing and transitioning are experts in the sorting process because they look at things with an objective eye. They can also locate auctioneers and provide information on estate sales which can help you sell some of your items, especially valuable collectibles.

Before selling or donating items that are sentimental, take pictures of the treasured items and place those pictures in a memory album. This keeps the memory of the item alive without actually having to physically own it after moving into your new home.

And if a piece of furniture is really important to you, find just the perfect place in your new home to enjoy it.

While it’s ideal to downsize all at once, the reality is many people downsize in stages, storing items until a later date. With children often spread out over many states, it’s not always possible to get it all done at once. Forty or 50 years of belongings is a lot to sift through, so utilize resources to help make the process as seamless as possible. And with the money you make from your estate sale, treat yourself to some new items for your new home!

Share your experiences about downsizing with us in the comments section below. If you’ve been through the process already, do you have any advice or helpful hints? What would you have done differently?

Directions to Bethany Village:

Bethany Village is located just north of the intersection of Interstate 675 and Far Hills Avenue in Centerville, 10 miles south of Dayton, Ohio.
Click here for a map or for Mapquest directions.

Trying anything new is terrifying, isn’t it? Sometimes change is forced on us and sometimes we’re lucky enough to make proactive choices about life before events are hoisted upon us.

I’m new to Bethany Village and the Graceworks organization. I work in the marketing department and I get to write a lot of interesting content. Sometimes I get to meet residents and learn about their lives.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I’d be working at a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Dayton, Ohio, I’d have laughed and shook my head "no." After all, I had a corporate PR job and things were humming along fine. Then the economy collapsed and just like millions of other Americans, I was without a job.

I suppose my "move" to Bethany Village can somehow parallel a retiree’s decision to transition to our community. After all, retirement is a whole new phase of life and for many people, the options are endless. Should you stay in your home or move somewhere exotic? Move near children or downsize and travel nonstop? What if you want to stay close to where you’ve always lived but are done with the endless household chores? Asking yourself many questions can help you make a decision about where you would like to live during retirement… but the honest truth is that pretty much all change is scary.

I didn’t know what to expect, showing up to work on my first day at Bethany Village. After all, this was completely new for me and I didn’t personally know anyone who lived at Bethany. I didn’t know any of the employees and I’ve never done anything remotely close to human services…so some of the regulations and training classes made me nervous. Yet, a month later, it all sort of makes sense. Everything fits and people are very nice and helpful.

Moving is both scary and exciting, even if it’s planned way in advance. After all, you might be leaving possessions and good neighbors behind. I was sad about leaving my old job because I didn’t want to leave my friends. I realized soon after my last day at my old company that those friends weren’t going anywhere. Good friends always stick together, no matter what. Just like good neighbors.

So, if you’re lucky enough to be in retirement and considering a move, you might consider Bethany when checking out places to live. You might find you move next door to the friend of a lifetime in the process. It all starts with change and you can remain completely independent.  

Do you know someone who recently moved to a Continuing Care Retirement Community? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.