A Delicate Discussion: Long Term Care Planning With Your Parents

It’s something you never want to think about, but is necessary. Approach the difficult discussion of long term care planning with ease with these tips.

As people age, they may begin to lose the ability to function independently. You may notice falls, forgetfulness, or other signs that living alone poses a risk to them.

Nobody wants to give up their independence, making this a difficult conversation to approach. But, there comes a point where you must bring up long term care planning.

Introducing Long Term Care Planning

Where do you begin to suggest that a loved one gives up their autonomy? Keep reading to learn how to bring up long term senior care with your loved one.

Begin Asking the Right Questions

Rather than jumping into telling your loved one that you feel they need to consider senior care, start asking questions that might bring them to that conclusion. It may feel less jarring of an idea to them if they come to that conclusion.

Ask questions like:

• Do you feel safe at home?
• Do you get lonely?
• Does living alone ever feel overwhelming?
• Can you handle everything on your own?

Do not bombard them with all of these questions at once. Instead, ask one every now and again.

Ask at Appropriate Times

Try not to force these initial questions into conversations. Find appropriate moments to fit them in.

For instance, ask if your mother mentions the difficulty of taking care of the home. Or, ask if your father talks about getting bored doing the same things at home.

Get Friends and Family On Board

Talk this over with siblings and other close family members. Other people to consider include:

• Aunts and uncles
• Cousins
• The person’s close friends

See if they will help you gently plant the seeds of this idea. More people means more power of suggestion.

Talk in Person

If your questions do not seem to push them close enough to the idea of long term senior care, then you may need to say it outright. Do not try to discuss such a sensitive matter over the phone.

Remember, your suggestion included giving up autonomy and possibly even their home and driving privileges. You want to talk about this face to face when you can dedicate a significant amount of time to them.

Some older adults feel like their family wants to abandon them when given this suggestion. In-person, you can better reassure them that you want to be there for them while also making sure that they get extra attention through necessary services.

You might choose to make this a one on one conversation with your loved one, to respect their private feelings they may choose to share. Or, you may feel that this particular person would feel more supported if the entire support group that you recruited discussed this together with them.

Do Not Make It Sound Decided

Avoid approaching this matter as if everybody decided it for them and you are now letting them know. That may make them feel betrayed or like they need to fight for control. Instead, use phrases like “I would like you to consider…” and “We feel like…”

Empathize

They do not want or need to you feel bad for them. In this instance, sympathy can come off as condescending.

Instead, show empathy. They need you to listen to how they feel and understand those feelings.

Discuss Options

Depending on their health and abilities, this might mean different things. Present different options of care offered in communities in your area.

Some senior living facilities offer independent living. This puts them into a private housing arrangement nearby other seniors but keeps certain types of assistance available. This option works best for seniors who can manage most daily tasks on their own and do not require intensive medical care.

You might also present assisted living as an option. This steps up the level of care from independent living, but offers more independence than a nursing home.

Assisted living facilities typically offer private apartments, but keep a 24-hour staff to assist with everything from personal care to daily activities. A person might choose this if they need a lot of help, but do not suffer serious ailments that require the care of a nursing home.

Ask Their Concerns

If your loved one seems hesitant about the idea of long term care, ask them about their concerns. Ask what they will miss about their home and what part of living in a facility does not appeal to them. Learning their drawbacks allows you to find ways to fix them.

Bring Them for a Visit

Schedule a visit to a senior care facility. They may fear to live in one because it feels so unknown to them.

Seeing what it looks like and meeting the staff may make them feel more comfortable about the idea. They might see something that catches their interest and maybe even makes them like the idea.

During the visit, ask for a calendar of events. Typically the facility will offer game musical entertainment, group games, movie nights, and holiday festivities. Go through with them and highlight things they enjoy doing to help them feel excited about the prospect of living there.

Point out all of the perks, like the option to get served meals in a dining room with their peers and somebody helping them with everything they need. This will start to replace their fears and concerns.

Offer Hard Facts

Arm yourself with statistics in case your loved one refuses to consider long term care. They might need to hear the real dangers of living home alone like a senior citizen dies every 19 minutes from fall-related injuries. Bring in evidence that closely relates to them and their situation, not as a scare tactic, but to help them understand why this is important.

Choose Care

Discussing long term care planning is essential when older adults can no longer live alone safely in their own homes. Though the prospect of change may scare them, you can help them find excitement in this opportunity.

We care about our residents and their families. Schedule a visit to on of our communities!

Fantastic Fitness Over 50! 7 Ways for Seniors to Stay Active

Looking to stay active as you get older? Indulging in fitness over 50 is a great way to stay in shape and and increase you energy levels. Learn more here!

Seniors who exercise regularly extend their lifespan. But, only one in four people between the ages of 65 and 74 are engaging in regular exercise.

Though some people opt to reduce physical activity as they get older, exercise only becomes more important as we age.

Physical activity helps you maintain your ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling. It keeps your bones and muscles healthy and improves muscle strength. Regular exercise even reduces anxiety and depression.

The key to fitness over 50 is to focus on exercises that improve strength, balance, and keep you mobile. If you want to exercise, but you need some guidance on the best low-impact workouts, read on for some excellent options for seniors.

1. Swimming: Low-Impact Cardio

If you dread exercising because of the pain you experience, swimming might be the new exercise for you.

Swimming is one of the best exercises for old adults for numerous reasons. One of its most lucrative benefits is the cardio workout that you get while putting minimal stress on your body. Swimming is not a weight-bearing activity, so it’s ideal for those suffering from arthritis or osteoporosis.

There are many different ways you can incorporate swimming into your life. A popular choice is water aerobics or resistance classes. These classes are commonly offered at the YMCA or other gyms.

If you’re not into classes, basic swimming can be just as effective. As long as you’re diligent about using the right form, taking laps is good exercise. Doing some laps is also a great meditative practice for the mind.

2. Yoga: One of the Best Fitness Over 50 Activities

If you’ve never tried yoga before, now is the time. Yoga poses focus on balance and stability, which are extremely important for older adults.

Improving your balance prevents the likelihood of falls.  In addition to preventing falls, the strength and stability gained in yoga can also help older adults recover more quickly from a fall. There are few things that are better for your balance than yoga.

Yoga also does a lot for the body beyond physical fitness. It reduces stress, improves sleep, and promotes feelings of well-being.

3. Walking: A Non-Strenuous Activity

You don’t need to engage in strenuous activities to exercise regularly. Walking at a steady pace can bring you all the benefits of exercise that you need. Long, steady walks or shorter, more strenuous walks up hills and stairs all provide excellent results.

Making walking a regular part of your routine is an excellent way to stay healthy, mentally, and physically.

If you’re less of a nature lover, and more of a shopper, try a nearby shopping outlet. A walk around the outlets is a fun social activity to participate in with friends, all while getting some great exercise.

A walk outside can also work wonders for your mental health. The exposure to fresh air and nature is incredibly peaceful.

4. Weight-Training for Seniors

One of the best things about strength training is it requires minimal equipment and can be done just about anywhere. Maintaining and building your strength is crucial as you continue to age to prevent muscle loss.

According to the CDC, strength training boosts strength and energy, as well as plays a role in preventing diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Click here to access a strength training program for older adults created by the CDC and Tufts University.

5. Pilates: Core Stability

Another excellent fitness over 50 workout is Pilates. Pilates is one of the best ways to work on strengthening your core. Most Pilates workouts can be done on a mat and can be done individually or as part of a group exercise, making it a great social activity as well.

Research conducted by the Journal of Sports Medicine found that Pilates in a group of female volunteers age 65 and over improved dynamic balance, flexibility, reaction time, and muscle strength. It also decreased the “propensity-change” of falling.

6. Tai Chi: “Meditation in Motion”

Tai Chi is commonly referred to as “meditation in motion.” It’s an excellent mind-body exercise that has minimal impact on the bones and joints. The movements in Tai Chi are circular, leaving the muscles relaxed, and never fully extended and bending the joints.

Even though Tai Chi is a gentle exercise, don’t let it fool you into thinking it’s not doing much for the physical body. Tai Chi improves muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and aerobic conditioning.

This exercise is effective in preventing and treating a variety of health problems. Tai Chi can help manage symptoms of diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and fibromyalgia.

7. Take the Stairs

This one might seem silly, but choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator is an easy way to add some cardio into your daily routine. There are stair-climbing exercises at the gym but might as well embrace the stairs in your everyday life.

When you climb stairs, you exercise the same muscles used to balance when you’re getting up from a chair. Strengthening these muscles make you less at-risk for falling.

Start Exploring the Best Active Senior Living Communities

When you’re searching for an older adult community for yourself or your loved one, it’s essential to think about the opportunities available for fitness over 50. Having the ability to access walking paths and participate in fitness classes with friends are all good things to look for.

If you have any questions about any one of our Villagio senior living communities,  contact us today.

7 Senior Nutrition Tips to Help You Age Gracefully

Need help finding the perfect diet to help you live a long healthy life? The check out our guide to helpful Adobe Stock royalty-free image #85734278, ‘älteres paar ernährt sich gesund’ uploaded by contrastwerkstatt, standard license purchased from https://stock.adobe.com/images/download/85734278; .

A study of 200,000 Americans over 20 years, illustrates the benefit of good nutrition. People who ate sugary drinks and refined grains developed type 2 diabetes 16% more often.

Good nutrition can help prevent and control diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

But, healthy eating isn’t about eliminating everything you like from your diet. It’s about tasty food made with good ingredients. The right foods influence your physical, mental, and emotional feelings.

Keep reading for useful senior nutrition tips. It’s never too late to upgrade your diet to enhance your health.

1. Do You Know What a Healthy Meal Looks Like?

The best way to nourish your body as you age is to eat a variety of foods. A diverse mix of foods provides nutrients. It also keeps your meals interesting.

If all the food on your plate is beige, it lacks important nutrients. A healthy meal includes lots of bright colors.

Think orange, green, red, and purple veggies. Add lean protein and whole grains for texture and earth tones. Include low-fat dairy to complete your plate.

Remember the old food pyramid guide? The USDA updated it to a simpler guide called MyPlate. The MyPlate graphic explains how to build a healthy meal.

MyPlate is available as an interactive mobile app, too. The app tracks your food intake in real-time. It encourages smart choices. It gives tips based on individual dietary concerns.

2. Follow These Senior-Specific Guidelines

Your body’s nutritional needs change throughout life. Metabolism slows down with age. Your body needs fewer calories, but more nutrients.

Eating well improves mental acuity, energy levels, and health.

When you customize your eating plan to match your age you get the best fuel for your body. Good nutrition is a vital way to improve your ability and maintain your independence.

Make the following adjustments to improve your diet.

Reduce or Cut Use of Table Salt

Everyone’s sense of taste decreases with age. That prompts many  older people to flavor their food with extra salt.

Too much salt increases your risk of high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease.

Be careful not to consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.

Add Flavor with Healthy Herbs and Spices

Instead of a salt shaker, season food with spices and fresh herbs.

Many healthy herbs and spices are full of flavor. Consider adding basil, sage, rosemary, Cayenne pepper, and curry to dishes.

Cut Down on Sugar

Processed sugars are empty calories. Cut sugar intake by reducing the number of refined sugars you eat. Replace candy and cookies with natural sweets like carrots, yams, and fruits.

Eat Healthy Fats

You won’t need to cut all the fats from your meals. But, you must choose healthy ones.

Replace saturated and trans fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Good fats protect you from diseases. They also improve your mental and emotional state.

Good fats include avocado, nuts, olive oil, salmon, and tuna.

Consider Taking Supplements

Sometimes, food isn’t enough to keep your body nourished. If you can’t get enough nutrients from food, ask your doctor about supplements.

You can boost your nutrients with vitamins and minerals in pill form.

3. Always Study the Nutrition Facts Label

Check the nutrition label before you buy canned or packaged food. It only takes a few minutes to determine if an item is lower in fat, sodium, and sugar.

Don’t make choices based on the advertising copy on the package. Many products claim they’re a healthy option when they aren’t. Instead, read the nutrition facts label.

4. Eat the Right Amount of Food

The right amount of food to maintain your weight and health depends on your age and activity level.

An active woman aged 60+ should eat 2,000 calories per day. A sedentary 60-year-old needs 1,600 calories a day.

It can be tough to adjust cooking and serving portions as you age. Yet, it’s important to follow the recommended serving sizes to maintain a healthy weight. Pro tip: serve meals on smaller plates to trick your mind and stomach.

If you’re gaining weight, talk to your doctor about proper portions.

5. Stay Hydrated

Along with diminished taste buds, your sense of thirst decreases with age. It’s important not to get dehydrated. Water is a vital nutrient for a healthy body.

The best way to stay hydrated is to drink small amounts of liquid throughout the day. Water, tea, 100% juice, and coffee are good options. Avoid sugary and salty beverages.

6. Make Meals a Pleasant Experience

Think of your meals as an occasion, not a chore. Eating with friends and family elevates any dining experience.

Don’t eat out of a container while sitting in front of the TV. Instead, set your table with real plates and silverware. Share the meal with a friend or family member whenever possible.

A shared meal nourishes your body and mind. It’s fun to connect over food. It can improve your appetite and mood.

Another good way to eat well is to make a plan. It’s easier to maintain healthy habits when you plan and/or prep a week’s worth of dinners.

7. Balance Diet and Physical Activity

A combination of regular physical activity and a healthy diet is the best path to health.

If you’re inactive now, start with an easy stroll a few minutes each day. Increase the distance, duration, and pace of your walk over time.

Try to be active every day for a total of 30 minutes. Taking three 10-minute walks throughout the day is a good approach.

A routine of physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight. It also improves cardiovascular fitness. Talk to your doctor before taking on a new activity.

Use These Senior Nutrition Tips to Stay Healthy

Healthy eating depends on you, but we’re here to help. Use our senior nutrition tips to improve your health and independence as you age.

If you’re interested in a senior living community in Broomfield, Colorado; Edmond, Oklahoma; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Plano, TX; McKinney, TX; or Carrollton, TX, click here and choose one of our communities. Each day, our chef plans nutritious and delicious meals for our residents. Every meal is a social event shared with neighbors and friends.

We’d love to show you the Villagio dining experience or any other aspect of one of our communities. Contact us today for a tour.