Family-owned businesses are unique. The question is, how do they still thrive in todays competitive environment? To be a successful family-owned business in healthcare, they must be not only well-founded but also well-run. When a business such as Grace Pointe has been founded, owned, and run within a single-family setting, not only does it provide a strong story of our business, but it tells our customers where our focus is. A family-owned senior living campus can emphasize the culture and qualities like family life. In this article, we will share our top 6 reasons why you should consider working for a family-owned business in healthcare.Six of the most notable benefits of working for a family-owned senior care provider includes:When You Work For a Family-Owned Business, There is a Greater Sense of Commitment and a Unified TeamFamily-Owned Businesses are Built on Trust and AuthenticityGain Job Stability in an Ever-Changing Job MarketFamily-Owned Businesses Create a Higher Level of CareWhen You Feel Connection at Work- You Take More Pride in What You DoJoin a Team that Shares the Same Long-Term Goals and Vision1. When You Work For a Family-Owned Business, There is a Greater Sense of Commitment and a Unified TeamWhen you work for a family-owned business, one of the first things youll notice is the level of commitment employees have to each other and the business itself. From newer employees to those committed for many years, employees tend to feel much closer to their coworkers and residents. This closeness can translate to a compassionate and unified team made up of people who genuinely enjoy coming to work. Family-owned and -run senior care providers can achieve, support, and elevate a sense of stability in their team and the organizations structure and culture.2. Family-Owned Businesses are Built on Trust and AuthenticityWhen you work for a family-owned business, one of the first things youll notice is the level of commitment employees have to each other and the business itself. From newer employees to those committed for many years, employees tend to feel much closer to their coworkers and residents. This closeness can translate to a compassionate and unified team made up of people who genuinely enjoy coming to work. Family-owned and -run senior care providers can achieve, support, and elevate a sense of stability in their team and the organizations structure and culture.3. Gain Job Stability in an Ever-Changing Job MarketStability has been an interesting concept over the last year and a half.  Health care has fought hard against itself for a reducing workforce. Some family-owned and operated health care providers have benefited from having continuity and support for each other compared to large providers and systems own.There is an opportunity for development and growth in a local family-owned company because the team is made of those who know who they are dealing with and what kind of work to expect daily. Employees having clear expectations allows for higher employee retention attributed to the team bonds rather than to the bottom line.To support the morale and avoid conflict, family-owned businesses are less inclined to scale back their workforce during economic struggles. A decreased turnover rate is a long-term benefit to the team and the residents they care for. It can be seen as a source of quality service, professionalism, and respect.When a family is committed to the Senior care center, it allows for deep ties to each other, the care they provide, and most importantly, their residents satisfaction.4. Family-Owned Businesses Create a Higher Level of CareOne of the most obvious advantages of working for a family-owned business is the element of care. From staff-involved activities to training, there can be a culture of the happiest and most caring employees out there. Not only does this make for a more pleasant work environment, but the quality of the care being provided for their residents often increases along with it. In addition, when a business focuses on respect, unity, trust, and teamwork, employees are motivated to perform at higher levels for their residents, families, and the community.5. When You Feel Connection at Work- You Take More Pride in What You DoA properly run family-owned business allows for everyone to feel like a member of a team. Each member of the team takes the responsibility seriously, and it reflects in their work ethic. The more pride they feel that they are part of the extended family, the more likely employees are to keep striving to put in their best effort each day they are with the company. Interpersonal connection at work is the main driver of worker engagement and satisfaction, based on research from SHRM, the human resources trade association.6. Join a Team that Shares the Same Long-Term Goals and VisionIn a local and family-based senior care facility, you have a team and culture that focuses on the same long-term goals of supplying the best quality of care and compassion for those they serve. These businesses often last because they have proven goals in mind. Long-term goals are not just for the business but also for the team that helps move the company forward. Family-owned businesses like here at Grace Pointe emphasize supplying excellent quality services for their residents, families, and communities and supporting their team for the long term. This long-term vision allows for creative decision-making and strategy to meet goals.As a Greeley, Colorado, family-owned senior care facility, we continue to strive to hire, grow and keep a quality team of caregivers who are dedicated to our residents, the service we provide, and compassion toward our residents, families, and community. Learn more about our team and culture here at Grace Pointe.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30 million U.S. adults suffer from osteoarthritis. This condition is also known as degenerative joint disease, and it mainly occurs in the:HandsHipsKneesRheumatoid arthritis on the other hand is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease and causes painful swelling in the affected parts of the body. It mainly occurs in the:HandsKneesWristsBoth osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can be painful and cause your loved ones body to be stiff and achy. Its important to know how to protect a loved ones joints as they age and use strategies such as exercise to relieve their discomfort.Exercises to relieve arthritis discomfortAs we age, everyone experiences some degree of osteoarthritic changes in their joints. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage within a joint starts to break down, and the underlying bone changes. The joint disease develops slowly and worsens over time. Some older adults can even have reduced function and possible disability as a result of osteoarthritis.Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of the bodys immune system attacking healthy cells. It attacks the joints and leads to damage in the joint tissue. The tissue damage can cause long-lasting or chronic pain, lack of balance, and deformity. People with rheumatoid arthritis also commonly experience more systemic symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, etc. and may require a specialized exercise regimen, so be sure to consult your healthcare provider.Exercise is the most effective nondrug treatmentfor reducing pain and improving range of motion for loved ones suffering from various forms of arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Joint-friendly physical activities place less stress on the body and reduce the risk of injury. Helpful exercise options include:Tai chi and yoga:Tai chi and yoga use deep breathing, flowing movements, gentle poses, and meditation. They can increase flexibility and balance and reduce stress in your loved ones life.Walking:Walking is an excellent exercise, and its accessible for most older adults. It will improve your loved ones circulation, lower their blood pressure and ease their joint pain. It is essential for them to wear proper shoes, dress properly for the weather and stay hydrated. Encourage your loved one to swing their arms while they walk for better balance and additional exercise benefits.Water exercises:Water exercises are gentle on your loved ones joints. Swimming and water aerobics can increase flexibility, range of motion and strength while reducing joint stress and stiffness.Your loved one should stay as active as their health allows and adjust their activity depending on their symptoms. You can also help manage the pain in their joints with heat and cold. Heat can relieve stiffness, and cold can relieve muscle spasms and pain.Also, your loved ones joints may be stiff after waking up in the morning or after sitting in a chair for an extended period. Simple range-of-motion exercises and positioning will make it easier for them to get out of bed or up from a chair.While still in bed, have your loved one lay flat on their back and make progressive, simple motions of their joints from head to toe or toe to head. They can perform movements such as making a fist with their hand and releasing it or curling their toes and releasing them. Making these motions for five to ten minutes each morning will help loosen your loved ones joints.When sitting in a chair, make sure your loved one is well positioned and has all their joints supported. Their back should be against the back of the chair or couch. Its also important that their shoulders and elbows are in proper alignment. Propping their arms on a pillow can be helpful. Support legs with a pillow, wedge or ottoman. All of these easy adjustments can decrease your loved ones pain and make it easier to get up from the chair.A team approach to maintaining motionHaving arthritis doesnt mean your loved one needs to be in bed or a chair all day. BrightStar Care can assist a client with simple and more complex exercise routines. Our caregivers can assist with walking, or they can accompany clients, driving them if needed, to the gym or pool for exercises.A BrightStar Care professional caregiver can also conduct sit and be fit chair-based exercises in the home and do range of motion exercises with clients to keep joints limber. If physician-ordered therapies are needed, BrightStar Care can arrange for a physical or occupational therapist to carry out the prescribed treatments.

If the high cost of long-term care was not an obstacle, how much care would you or your loved one need? Beneficent has been privileged to successfully assist more than 3000 families and individuals through asset preservation in the face of high long-term care costs for over 20 years. Our work is much more than just a business. It is an opportunity to practice our faith through compassionate service that sees every individual as one of infinite worth. Did you know that 70% of all of us who reach age 65 will need some level of Long-Term Care? Weve heard hundreds of stories all with the same concern how to get the best long-term care in place for themselves or loved ones. Children worry about their parents falling. Spouses are concerned about how they can continue to care for their partner who is rapidly mentally and physically declining. Adults want to know about a financial plan because the average cost for Long-term care is $8758 per month according to current Colorado state information. Families are stressed about losing everything in order to pay for long-term care. We have heard it all. No matter what your circumstance, 100% of our clients who are seniors and disabled adults have leveraged the programs to pay for the best care they need, not how much they can afford.  These programs cover assisted living, adult day care, home care, nursing homes, or senior living. As Certified Medicaid Planners, our clients benefit from step-by-step guidance which results in financial solutions to minimize spend down, preserve assets and limit out-of-pocket expenses. We give families peace of mind and predictability regarding the financial concerns surrounding long-term care expenses of their loved ones. Learn more and schedule an appointment here: Editors Note:  This article was written by Stacy Osborne, MBA CMP with Beneficent.  She can be reached by phone at 719-645-8350 or by email at info@doinggoodforothers.com. 

Whatever the circumstances, the transition to assisted living is a major life event. Every life transition is stressful. Buying or selling a home, starting an exciting new career, losing someone you love, the birth of a child, and getting married all have that in common.So lets talk about how to make a transition to assisted living a positive and happy one. Here are five useful things to keep in mind (definitely dont skip #5!):1. Be Intentional and Inclusive About Picking the Right PlaceIn some ways, the work you do before the transition to assisted living is the most important part. Actually, it can be broken into two parts:Selecting the Best Available OptionIdeally, choosing an assisted living community for an aging loved one shouldnt come down to convenience and availability. Assuming you have at least a few senior living campuses to choose from, investing the time up-front to make sure youre picking the right one will pay dividends. Will your loved one be happy, capably attended to, safe, and able to enjoy a level of autonomy suited to his or her situation? You dont want to take things for granted given the weight of the decision.Work your way backward from a positive outcome. Will your parent or loved one have access to things that interest them? Do they own, and presumably want to continue living with, a pet? Are the amenities they consider must-haves or high priorities available? Can you discern whether the social activities and vibe would make them happy?Talk to managers and caregivers, assess the cleanliness and taste of the communal areas, and see what kind of sense you get of the culture. What kind of demeanor does the staff have? Questions and observations like this can quickly point you away from a wrong decision or towards a good decision.Making the choice as inclusive as possibleIn some cases, this process begins before the transition is even discussed with an aging parent. The way the decision will unfold or should unfold depends on the state of a loved ones health and other circumstantial considerations. But it is generally kinder and happier for all involved if the decision is approached in a way thats inclusive and conversational.Taking them on site visits and toursHaving candid discussions about the pros and consCollaboratively determining must-haves and nice-to-have amenitiesOpenly discussing moving timelines and financesWe know that every situation is unique, especially when your loved one has dementia or other chronic illness. But to the extent that youre able to, we recommend fully including them in the decision.2. Honor Your Loved Ones FeelingsOf all the things you can do to ease the transition to assisted living, this might be the most difficult. Were often taught to try to problem-solve when we should be listening. Homes are full of stories and the richness, joys, and sorrows of life. Pets loved and mourned, kids losing teeth, Easter egg hunts, Thanksgiving dinners, game nights with friends and family, the smell of fresh laundry, windchimes, backyard cookouts, and so many other things. Thinking of a home you will never step foot in again is strange regardless of how happy your current circumstances are. Dont expect a move into an assisted living campus to be emotionally uncomplicated. Its important to honor your loved ones feelings as they transition to assisted living.Acknowledge the validity of your parent or loved ones feelings when theyre sad, frustrated, or ambivalent. This can help create space for them to embrace the many positive things about moving to an assisted living community.3. Attend to the Practical ThingsOf all the things you can do to ease the transition to assisted living, this might be the most boring. But its a comparatively modest demand on your time and its valuable.Youve moved before. Little things always fall through the cracks figuratively and sometimes literally during and following moves. Doing the little, unremarkable but valuable things isnt exciting, but if youre lucky it can be beneficial in the long run. Filling out Change of Address formsTerminating accounts with recurring monthly payments for services they no longer use (such as utilities)Providing their updated address to family members and friendsHiring movers, if necessaryTransferring or re-housing houseplants, appliances, and other itemsSome days, the most valuable person is the one who sets aside 45 minutes to tend to the boring stuff. Related: Move to Assisted Living Checklist4. Attend to the Impractical Essentials of Creating a HomeImpractical essentials are things that nourish people emotionally rather than physically. But they matter just as much as having functioning appliances and light bulbs. Anything you can do that creates feelings of serenity, pride, cheerfulness, connection, amusement, curiosity, and other positive emotions will help your loved one feel grounded and connected and whole.A few ways to achieve this include:Place familiar personal belongings conspicuously throughout the apartment.Make sure theyre stocked up on things that interest and satisfy them, such as books, crafts, musical instruments, creative hobbies, art, and music collections.Put up reminders of things theyre proud of, such as old sports photos, civic awards, and recognitions, or achievements in academics, arts, business, and so forth.Tack up a wall calendar with upcoming events, dates of recurring visits from loved ones, and special occasions.On a final note: theres a lot of room in the middle of the field between austerity and hoarding. A transition to an assisted living community usually involves downsizing. This requires difficult tradeoffs, so a little harmless clutter can be comforting and enjoyable.5. Create Moments of Elevation Along the WayIn the wonderful book The Power of Moments, authors Chip and Dan Heath talk about how certain moments have a disproportionate impact on how we think about life experiences. When we think back on how positive or negative an experience was, we think about moments that surprised, delighted, or distressed us. Applying that insight in creative ways can be super useful. As the authors put it, Defining moments shape our lives, but we dont have to wait for them to happen. We can be the authors of them.The first impression of a new living space can take weeks to wear off, so a little extra effort in the right place and time can have a hugely positive impact. And this is the most enjoyable of the five tips weve provided here. It amounts to applied humor, creativity, and kindness:Tucking away notesyour own, or a grandchildssomewhere you know your loved one will find themPlaying the song your parents danced to at their wedding on move-in dayPlacing two tickets to an upcoming play or baseball game on the bedside tableSurprising them with a piata one month to the day before their birthday to give them something to look forward toThere is practically no end to the number of things you can do on moving day and in the one-month period following a move to an assisted living campus that will make Mom and Dads new home feel like well, home.An Enjoyable Transition to Assisted Living at Grace PointeWe hope this list of tips for making your loved ones transition to assisted living has been inspiring. Its a big deal. May you be inspired for the journey and may you be the supportive aid your loved one needs as they prepare for this next life stage.When youre ready, schedule a tour with one of our compassionate caregivers, and lets see if Grace Pointe is right for you or your loved one.