This year, give the gift of your time by simply spending time with the seniors in your life. There are many ways to include the seniors in your holiday festivities, here are a just a few:

Help Put Up Decorations for the Holidays

If your elderly loved one doesn’t live in your home, they may not put up decorations themselves as it’s too much trouble or they are not physically able. That doesn’t mean they don’t want them up. Gather the family, get a tree and decorations and help put them up in their home or place of residence.

Jewish families can decorate for Chanukah. Set up a Menorah and table decorations in blue and gold featuring dreidles and gelt. On the first night of Chanukah, bring some latkes and sufganiyot made from your loved one’s favorite recipes and have a festive party to light the first candle.

Make Tree Decorations

Your loved one may remember making homemade decorations for their Christmas tree when they were young. Go through some craft books or search online and find a few that you can make together. When the decorations are finished, hang them on the tree and take a photo to capture the memory.

Have a Holiday Sing-a-long

Invite other family members and close friends over for a night of singing carols and having refreshments.  Record or video the sing-a-long as a special keepsake.

Have a Story Night

Seniors often have entertaining stories about the holidays when they were growing up. This is a good time for your children to learn what holidays were like years ago before the digital age. Encourage questions so your elderly loved one can share the wealth of knowledge they have. To add to the specialness of this time, serve cookies, pie or whatever you like along with hot cocoa or hot spiced apple cider. If your senior family member is capable, have them help make these treats using their favorite recipes.

Take a Drive to See Lights and Holiday Decorations

This is typically a holiday favorite as everyone enjoys driving around and seeing all the colorful holiday lights around town.  Seniors often miss out on this, especially if they no longer drive. Invite your loved one to go with you to see the lights around town and in the neighborhoods. Afterwards, stop for a hot beverage and talk about the different decorations you saw on your ride. Or, if a car ride isn’t possible, take photos of the lights in your area that can be shared with them.

Go to a Holiday Concert or Pageant

During the holidays, pageants and concerts are held almost nightly. Get a listing of the events in your area and let your loved one choose one or two to attend. Make it an event for the whole family or just a special time for just you and your loved one to spend time together. Afterward, remiss about a special holiday event that is near and dear to their heart.

We hope you take one or all of these ideas to make this holiday season extra special with your special senior in your life. As always, if we can be of assistance, please contact us today.  We wish you and your family a blessed holiday season.

The post How to Make the Holidays Special for Seniors appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

Homes require maintenance and though our parents might have been able to do much of it themselves when they were younger, they now need to hire professionals to do it. This takes time and money they had hoped to spend traveling or just enjoying hobbies.

They also find that neighborhoods change over the years and now do not have the company of people in their own age range in the neighborhood of where they live. Though they have people all around them, it’s likely that they no longer have much in common with most of them.

The great news is that seniors are finding that retirement communities can provide them just what they are looking for and what they need to make their retirement years more pleasant. We have listed below a few of the reasons seniors are choosing retirement living in communities.

Time to Enjoy Themselves

No matter what type of retirement community they choose, they have more freedom to travel or indulge in hobbies. Without the responsibilities of living in their own home, seniors are finally able to take trips when they wish and often find others with the same interests to travel with them in a group tour. Sharing interests in the same hobbies is another benefit. Though seniors may know others who enjoyed the same hobbies, it’s likely that it wasn’t convenient to get together with them. In retirement communities, those people are nearby and are looking for company as well.

Seniors who like to socialize with others in their age range are better able to do so. Retirement communities often have activities scheduled that make socializing easy. These activities may include bingo, card games, movie nights, live music and entertainment and more. Trips to local attractions or events and shopping are often available as well. Some seniors find there is more than enough to do – staying busy and boredom is never a problem.

Living Among Others in the Same Age Range

As mentioned above, seniors often find their old neighborhoods have changed, leaving them with few people they can relate to. Retirement communities put them among other seniors that they have more in common with. New friendships with people who enjoy the same events and activities as they do makes the transition to retirement living easier.

Security

Feeling secure is important to seniors and their families. Retirement communities are more secure than the neighborhoods they moved from. This is often simply due to staff being present around the clock. With a more secure feeling, seniors have less worry and stress.

Options for More Care Available

As people age, cooking every meal isn’t always feasible or desired. Many retirement communities have apartments with small kitchens for those times residents do want to cook or bake and have a dining room that serves meals so when residents don’t want to cook their own meals, they don’t have to. Some seniors seldom cook their own meals, especially when the dining room is like eating in a fine restaurant and you are waited on hand and foot.

When seniors need help, such as when an elderly resident falls or needs help with medications, staff is available to provide the help needed. Many services may be available that could include housecleaning, laundry, transportation and etc.

We could list more reasons seniors are choosing retirement living here but there are so many that it would take a while to list them all. If you are considering retirement living for yourself or a loved one, please give the Small Assisted Living Facilities Coalition a call or click here and we will be glad to talk more about why seniors choose retirement living as a way for better living.

The post Seniors Choosing Retirement Communities for Better Living appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

In this new Blog area, we will be sharing with you various experiences regarding Assisted Living Facilities, and how these experiences can be of benefit to you and yours! We know that the burden of placing a loved one into a home that is safe and secure is a big deal to you. And so, we believe that through these experiences that we would share with you, it is our hope and prayer that you will be blessed immensely, encouraged, and well-informed in making this often-hard decision.

Know today that we are here for you, and if you are in need of a professional consultation with us to help you determine a place that will fit your loved one, contact us today!

More is to come, so stay tuned!

The post A New Beginning! appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

Many people are not aware that Alzheimer’s ranks 6^th among the leading causes of death.  It’s shocking that more people die from Alzheimer’s than from prostate cancer and breast cancer combined. Also, of all the leading causes of death, Alzheimer’s is the only one still on the rise. As of yet, causes of the disease are not fully known. Some risk factors are known and progress has been made in diagnosing it. Some treatments are available but it cannot be cured at this time.

You may have a family member or a loved one who might have Alzheimer’s but they haven’t been diagnosed.  If so, here are some signs to look for that may indicate the onset of the disease.

• Memory loss. If a person can remember events from their past but recent memories are forgotten, it could be a sign of Alzheimer’s.
• Language difficulties. While most people stumble on a word at times, someone with Alzheimer’s will have difficulty with common everyday words. It may become difficult to understand what they say.
• Repeating things. Does your family member repeat questions or stories even right after asking or telling them?
• Being confused or disoriented. Even in places they have known for years, Alzheimer’s patients may not know where they are. They can also forget what they are doing, such as cooking.
• Changed personality. Mood swings are common. A person with this disease may become angry or upset without any reason. One of the most upsetting aspects for family is a sudden distrust of the family but complete trust in someone they have never seen before.
• Odd or changed behavior. If you notice anomalies such as changes in dressing or the individual is wearing the same clothes every day and doesn’t bathe or puts things in places that are completely wrong such as a hairbrush in the oven, these could be signs of Alzheimer’s.

Recently, studies are showing another possible indicator of Alzheimer’s. The sense of smell appears to diminish in Alzheimer’s patients and could be one of the earliest signs, showing even before there is any memory loss. Studies are being done using peanut butter to test smelling ability on people with risk factors for Alzheimer’s. Treatments are more effective the earlier the disease is diagnosed so this study shows a lot of promise in providing earlier and more effective treatment.

Families often try to keep loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer’s at home and care for them on their own for as long as possible. In the earlier stages of the disease, this is possible but it does instill a heavy toll on the family. Breaks from caregiving are necessary from time to time so non-family caregivers come in to give the family some respite. As Alzheimer’s progresses, families are often not able to continue giving the necessary care at home. At this point, a skilled memory care facility is more appropriate.

A memory care facility isn’t just a nursing home. It is designed to provide care for Alzheimer’s patients and those afflicted with other forms of dementia. These facilities are usually secured so residents cannot leave on their own. This is for their safety and the safety of others. Some places have privacy fenced yards or gardens so residents can safely spend time outdoors. Programs and activities are focused on exercising the mind to keep it as functional as possible. Physical therapy and exercise are offered to keep patients active and healthy. Medications are managed so patients get what they need at the right times. Healthy meals, laundry, cleaning, personal assistance and full time supervision are also provided.

If you have a family member or know someone with Alzheimer’s, take time in November to do what you can to raise awareness of this devastating disease.  We are here to help in any way that we can.  Please click here if you would like our help and we will be in touch shortly.

The post Alzheimer’s Disease – Memory Loss and Early Warning Signs appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

Did you know, it isn’t unusual for depression in seniors to be strongest as the holidays approach, especially if this will be the first year they have been away from the home they lived in for so many years?  They may feel displaced and depressed.  Even if they are still in their own home, they may be sad, especially if they have lost their spouse. Getting into the holiday spirit may not seem worth the effort to them.

Chances are that, deep down, they would like to feel that sense of joy and holiday cheer that they had when they spent holidays with family and friends. It is often a time of reflection as they are looking back to the time when they were heavily involved or coordinated family dinners and events.

Here’s where we can help.  Being aware and sensitive to their feelings is extremely important.  Sometimes, we don’t pick up on clues in terms of how our loved ones are feeling. We tend to talk around them without seeing their reactions. Have you noticed that as the holidays approach or are talked about well ahead of time that our elderly loved ones get quite and pull back from joining the conversation? They might even state they don’t want to be included in the usual family traditions. As the time for the holidays grows closer, they might be reluctant to even visit with you at all.

The good news is we can help make the holidays as positive and rewarding as possible. Here are some easy ideas to help you get them involved and pull them out of the holiday blues and into a more receptive state to take a bigger part in holiday festivities.

Holiday memories from the past

Start with gentling urging your elderly parent or loved one to talk about a particular memory that will bring a smile to their face. Choose something you would really like to hear them talk about and something that will foster positive conversations, perhaps taking them down memory lane.

Another idea is if you have some of the decorations from when you grew up, you might choose one that has a lot of sentiment attached to it and show it to your elderly loved one. Ask questions such as- where it came from – if it is one that seems to have been in the family forever.  Really let them talk and share as seniors generally like to talk and be heard.  Of course, if you have a different memory about the decoration, talk about your memory of it and see if they join in and have even more to share.

 Move From Merely Talking to Doing

Once you have your elderly parent talking and remembering, you can move on by asking for their advice as this will help get them motivated to doing more during the holidays. Ask for help in showcasing special decorations or how to make some of the special foods and drinks you remember growing up. Ask them to help you get the ingredients for foods and drinks or the right decorations to complement those special ones from the past.  Including them in activities fosters joy and love.

It really is the “little things” in life that make a difference.  These ideas are just a few that can help you get started. At the Small Assisted Living Coalition, we have many more ideas to help beat the holiday blues in seniors during the holidays. We would love to share them with you.  Please contact us at 813-857-2551 or click here.

The post Helping Elderly Parents Through Depression During the Holidays appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

There are five main types of senior housing arrangements, according to a list compiled by Harvard University.

1. Assisted Living Communities – These types of communities offer a wide variety of arrangements for seniors who require some assistance with day to day living, but do not need full-time nursing care. They range from facilities that offer help with day to day chores such as housekeeping and personal hygiene to those that offer only meals and recreational activities.

2. Independent Living Communities – These are most often age restricted communities where seniors who are at or over retirement age can reside. Intended for active and relatively healthy seniors, they do not offer in-home assistance, but often have easy access to groups, clubs, and sports activities. These types of retirement communities are very popular in the Southern and Western states.

3. Shared Housing – This involves a senior who lives with an individual less than 60 years of age, either at the senior’s home or the home of the other individual.

4. Supported Housing – In this scenario the senior resides in their own home, but with daily assistance from someone outside the home who is not a family member. A good example of this would be organizations such as FirstLight Home Care or The Home Care Team.

5. Conventional Housing – This is by far the most popular choice of senior housing as far as the seniors themselves are concerned. The AARP has stated that according to polls, 90% of seniors would prefer to stay in their own homes if possible. In order to do this however, the senior must be in at least moderately good health and be able to take care of their day to day needs on their own. In many cases this is possible with minor modifications to the home, such as walk in showers rather than bathtubs or chair lifts for navigating stairs.

Which type of senior housing is right depends on a variety of factors. For those who have only minimal health issues, remaining in a conventional home may be a viable option. For those who require some assistance occasionally, but prefer to do most things for themselves, may want to explore the possibility of an independent living senior community. For those who need daily assistance with chores and personal grooming however, they may want to look more closely into assisted living facilities. In other words, each situation must be evaluated carefully and the wishes and opinions of everyone involved must be taken into account. Senior living options have made dramatic progress in the past several decades and no matter what level of care is needed, there are many facilities that will suit the needs of you or your loved one.  The Small Assisted Living Coalition would be honored to help you.  Please click here or call us at 813-857-2551.

The post Senior Housing Options – Making the right Choice appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

• Wandering
• Lapses in memory
• Aggressive behavior
• Home safety issues
• Escalating care needs
• Caregiver stress

As you are considering your senior living options, we have provided you with helpful information on how to find Senior Care in Florida and tips to make the decision making process easier.  We understand that it can be difficult to navigate and shuffle through all your choices – we are here to help you.

We are sure you’ve heard the motto “live life to the fullest.”  With warm weather and many choices of living arrangements for seniors, Florida is an ideal haven for senior living.  To help put this in perspective, did you know:

• Florida has the highest 50+ density in the U.S. and continues to be the number one destination of retirees according to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
• Population in Florida age 60+ is 4,454,625; one-third of the population are senior citizens
• Florida has the highest percentage of elderly where 19% of residents are seniors
• Sun City Center, Florida is the home to the 55+ market; with more than 20,000 private homes and 14 facilities offering unique community lifestyle:
  • All-volunteer community with age restrictions requiring at least one resident per household to have reached 55 years of age.
  • Many families own a golf cart as the city has been given special permission to drive unlicensed golf carts on the streets.
• In the 2014 Cost of Care Survey conducted by Genworth Financial, Florida ranks in the top 3 amongst the lowest cost for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy assisted living apartment.

We realize that there are many variables that come into play when considering the geographical location for your loved one and Florida may not be the ideal location for you.  Our reach extends beyond Florida so rest assured that we can be of assistance to you.  Nonetheless, Florida is a great option if it meets your needs.

You may be asking, where do I start or what do I do next?  We are a resource and service for you, free of charge.  We believe in information sharing and providing you with what you need to ease the decision making process.  In addition to the services and information listed on the Small Assisted Living Coalition website, a few additional resources are:

Assisted Living Federation of America

National Caregivers Library

Please let us know how we can help you by calling us at (813) 857-2551 or contact us through the website.

The post Taking Care of Mom and Dad: Find Senior Care in Florida appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

So, how do you know if you have Parkinson’s disease? Only a qualified physician can actually diagnose you with the condition. However, there are some gradual signs that do appear, which includes the following:

• Balance problems
• Difficulty moving muscles from opposition forces
• Uncontrolled and spontaneous movements called bradykinesia

When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a physician will take the time to assess what stage a person is in. The later the stage, the greater the health complications are, with a significant reduction in the expected lifespan of a person. There are presently five stages, but the condition isn’t easy to diagnose.

The reason is that Parkinson’s disease is a condition with a clinical diagnosis.  Unfortunately, there are no medical tests for it. Instead, they base the diagnosis over several clinical factors. Since many symptoms are subtle at first, it can take a long time for a person to be diagnosed. This is especially the case with the symptoms that appear to be nothing more than aging.

When a person does reach a stage where diagnosis is possible, they also need to be watched for complications and other concerns. Fatal falls are often one of the most common killers of Parkinson’s patients. This occurs in Stages 4 and 5. This is due to the inability to stand or walk on their own.

Other fatal complications that claim the life of those diagnosed with the condition include:

• Aspiration
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Pulmonary Embolism

Treatment can help to improve the quality of life of patients significantly. While women will generally live longer than men, both will respond to both occupational therapy and medications. Newer medications can even stop the progression of the disease to the point that a person can continue to enjoy a normal, healthy life. The key is early detection, so the disease doesn’t progress beyond the early stages.

Schedule an appointment today with your doctor if you believe you are suffering from Parkinson’s. Through their clinical diagnosis, they can determine where you are in the process and help you to improve the quality of your life or the person impacted. In fact, a recent study suggests that patients can live as long as 15 – 20 years longer with medication, as long as their condition is diagnosed and treatment is begun in the earlier stages of the disease.

There is always someone to help you with problems that you may be facing with an elderly relative or loved one.  If you have concerns about Parkinson’s disease and you have questions about treatment or help available to you, contact The Small Assisted Living Coalition by clicking here for assistance.

The post Parkinson’s Disease – What you need to know appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

As founders of the Small Assisted Living Coalition and as owners of a small assisted living facility (small ALF), we are excited to share industry insights, tips and our experiences with you as we embark on a new online journey together. But, first we would like our readers to get to know us, what we offer the community and why we are passionate about the senior industry.  Our goal is to build a relationship with our readers and support your business endeavors in any way we can.

Growing up in Chicago and being a “grandma’s boy,” I learned early on that I’m protective, loving and am compassionate for helping the elderly. I saw these characteristics as “gifts” and hoped that one day I would have the opportunity to service the senior community and bring smiles and joy to the elderly. My wife, Angelett, was born and raised in Tampa and has always had a heavy heart for helping seniors in need and has enjoyed establishing strong ties within the community. Together, we knew we had something unique to give back and offer the community.

In 2009, my wife and I embarked on a decision that transformed our lives and that was to become a small ALF owner. Our first resident had dementia (which is often associated with memory loss) which allowed us to work first hand to provide care for someone with this condition. Working with this resident lead us to become active in the Alzheimer’s Association as we wanted to give back where we could.

Over the next few years, we saw a vision and an opportunity to make a difference in servicing the community by coming together as one to share resources, insights and to help one another. As the old saying goes, “Two is always better than one.” With that, the Small ALF Coalition was formed and has grown two-fold.

The Small ALF Coalition prides itself in offering the following:

• Placement of your family members into an environment that aligns with their lifestyle.
• Assistance with navigating financial funding and providing resources.
• Offering personal care services to meet your unique needs.
• Partners with both small and large facilities.

Additionally, we provide a forum for all assisted living facility owners to come together as a community to help one another. We encourage you to become a member if you are not already.

Please continue to follow our blog as we provide tips and insights and become your online resource for staying abreast about what is happening in the senior industry.  For instance, did you know that almost 42% of facility residents have some form of dementia, and about one-third of them are being cared for either in specialty homes or in designated unites of larger institutions?  One-third have heart disease and half suffer from three or more chronic illnesses. These are just some of the findings from a recent study by the federal National Center for Health Statistics.

Are you intrigued? We look forward to embarking on this journey and building an online relationship with you.  Please contact the Small Assisted Living Coalition at (813) 857-2551 or use our contact form to discuss how we can help you.

-John and Angelett Johnson

The post Small ALF Coalition Founders appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.

Have you had the difficult conversation or “talk” with your parent or loved one about life and the changes that lie ahead?  If you are like many of us, this “talk” is often dreaded and can be challenging of sorts.  Moving your elderly loved one into an assisted living or senior care facility is not an easy talk to have with an aging parent. It is more likely to be met with less resistance when it’s handled gently, with empathy, care and love.

To help ease the transition, here are some tips to help make the decision easier for you and more acceptable to your loved ones.

Involve your loved one in the decision as early as possible. One of the first decisions will be what type of senior facility is right and then you can discuss which specific facility it will be. Choosing a facility can be done well ahead of time so your loved ones can visit from time to time and get to know some of the staff and residents. This can help ease the transition from home to a senior care facility since the surroundings will be unfamiliar.

When making visits to facilities being considered, be sure to dine at the facility so you and your loved one know what the food will be like.  Typically, having good food and having snacks available throughout the day that your loved one enjoys will help comfort them during the transition.

Get a schedule of planned activities and classes so you and your loved one can participate in activities. Let your loved one choose the activities that interest them. Knowing they won’t be left alone just sitting in their room or apartment with little to do will help keep their mind occupied and challenged and will also allow them to have fun.

When moving elderly parents into an assisted living, a nursing home or any senior care facility, giving them the chance to have input into the decision making process can make it easier. Be sure you approach it from the view point that you care about them enough to want to be sure they are not alone should something happen and you will be less worried about them knowing they are in good hands.  Enabling them to give input into what they like and dislike can be empowering and rewarding as seniors like to be heard. When moving your elderly loved one, on-going communication is critical especially when they don’t want to move.

Additionally, making sure they can take some furniture with them so the new living space feels more familiar often helps. Some facilities offer empty rooms or apartments so residents are able to furnish the space with familiar pieces to make it feel just like home which gives their new home that extra touch.

At the Small ALF Coalition, we understand the difficulties of moving an elderly loved one and would be honored to help ease the transition.  Please click here or call us at 813-857-2551 for more information.

The post Moving Elderly into a Senior Care Facility appeared first on Small Assisted Living Coalition.