Cottonwood Creek MBK Senior Living

At MBK Senior Living, cognitive health is a top priority. Thats why in honor of National Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month, were focusing on how you can keep your mind healthy and active.Lets start by understanding a bit more about dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms related to cognitive decline, not a specific disease. Fact is, there are many forms of dementia, the most common and well-known is Alzheimers.In fact, 60 to 80 percent of all people with dementia have Alzheimers a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over time. The good news is we can take steps to boost brain health and slow cognitive decline.Growing evidence from studies indicate that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by adopting healthy lifestyle habits. The even better news is that its NEVER too late to get started, no matter our age or current level of cognitive health.Here are seven ways to improve your brains health: Get moving. Federal guidelines recommend all adults get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. You can easily accomplish this with at least 30 minutes of regular cardio exercise each day. The goal is to increase blood flow to the brain and break a sweat! Eat a healthy diet. Studies show that Mediterranean and MIND diets are best, which means green leafy veggies, nuts, beans, berries, whole grains, and protein like fish or chicken. One study found that people with mild cognitive impairment who closely followed a Mediterranean diet had a 48 percent lower risk of Alzheimers. Similarly, healthy individuals who strictly adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a 28 percent lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. Keep mentally agile/challenged. Brains stay stronger and healthier when mentally challenged with Sudoku, word searches/crosswords, puzzles, book clubs, yoga, dance, and similar activities. Stay social. Studies show people need socialization for brain health. Communal living like a senior community helps people to stay engaged and to be part of a group. It also decreases isolation that leads to depression, which is detrimental to brain health. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can negatively impact memory in the long term. If you feel sluggish during the day from lack of sleep or arent sleeping through the night check with your physician to determine causes (such as sleep apnea or insomnia) and possible treatments. Decrease stress. Take time to relax with yoga, meditation or Tai Chi and form happy and engaging social connections all of which are means to lower overall stress levels. Stop smoking. Did you know there is a 237 percent likelihood of smokers to develop Alzheimers? Smoking also increases cognitive decline not to mention your risk for lung cancer, heart disease and strokes. Bottom line it really is in your best health interest to stop smoking. At MBK Senior Living we take a number of steps to ensure our residents overall health and wellness is maintained and enhanced. It starts with our innovative and comprehensive senior living program that includes health and wellness opportunities from the foods our residents eat to the activities available to the care they receive and continues with on-going wellness education and workshops.Our culinary team offers healthy selections daily, such as the fresh catch of the day for fish. Our MBKonnection program provides residents with a full calendar of events (7-days a week) that engage and feed the mind, body, and spirit including exercise classes, tai chi, yoga, book clubs, painting, music workshops, creative writing classes and more. Our communities hold monthly health education classes to keep residents informed on the latest studies and ways to improve health and wellness. And, for self-directed learners, we also maintain a health and wellness research library in all our communities.Whether you live at home or at one of our communities, the key to brain health is to stay active and engaged mentally, physically and spiritually. If you would like to learn more visit one of our 22 communities for a personal tour or ask to join us for one of our MBKonnection activities.

Its not uncommon for us to hear from residents that they wish theyd made the move to one of our MBK communities sooner. The fact is the majority of seniors who move to a senior living community relish in the connectivity, support and resort-style amenities that allow them to live a lifestyle they love, with the comfort of knowing supportive healthcare services are there when and if they need them.So whats preventing them from coming sooner? Often, more than not, its an incorrect perception of senior living life. One that is framed by ideas that senior living communities are restrictive and institutional. Another is a feeling that they simply cannot afford senior living. However, those perceptions are rarely true.Residents and family members often write us to say how they find MBK communities to be warm, welcoming, engaging and full of activities and ways for seniors to live a full and active lifestyle.My parents have been living at The Commons at Dallas Ranch for just under a year and really love it. The facility is one of the nicest communities we have come across, wrote Donna-Lisa, a residents daughter. The Commons also provides my parents with the opportunity for a wonderful social environment and they have made many new friends there.Laurie, the daughter of one of our Chancellor Gardens residents wrote, My father has been in Chancellor Gardens for almost 3 years now. The place is immaculate, and the staff is unbelievable; they are really good. They know everybodys name. They have activities going on all the time.And when it comes to affording senior living, many seniors find that communities consolidate expenses they were already spending into one convenient monthly fee, and offer numerous on-site resort-style amenities and services that may have not previously fit into their budget.When prospective residents start adding up the cost of home maintenance and repairs, housekeeping, groceries and dining out, entertainment and cultural outings, fitness clubs and pool memberships, and all the etceteras, many find they were spending the equivalent or even more than monthly cost to live in a MBK community, said Robin Craig, Corporate Director of Marketing.By moving to a senior living community, not only do they maintain the lifestyle they love, they are afforded much, much more, said Craig. Here, in addition to private residences, restaurant-style dining, a full calendar of social, recreational and cultural activities, philanthropic and community service opportunities, residents take comfort in 24-hour security, scheduled transportation, and easy access to on-site supportive health and wellness services.The bottom line is that living at home isnt free and may not allow the luxuries available as part of monthly fees in most retirement communities. Plus, there are a variety of programs and resources that residents can tap into to make senior living possible.To learn more about the ways you can afford senior living and care, check out this article from the American Seniors Housing Association Where You Live Matters web site Paying for Senior Care; or visit an MBK Senior Living community and speak with a sales and marketing representative.You may find senior living options are within reach and like our residents, wish you had moved in sooner! 

Do you feel frustrated when you can't follow conversations?Do you feel your personal or social life is limited?Do you feel left out of conversations because you can't hear clearly what's said?YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Hearing loss is the third most common chronic disease (behind arthritis and heart disease) to impact aging adults. Sadly, hearing loss often causes people to draw the wrong conclusion about why a loved one may be confused, unresponsive to everyday noises like the doorbell, less social, or even more irritable. While approximately two in three people over the age of 70 have difficulty hearing, many may not want to admit they're having trouble. Getting help isn't just about rejoining conversations with ease studies show that those with hearing loss have a greater chance of developing dementia.What's the Connection? Brain Health.Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and cognitive decline that can impair daily life and independent function. According to the Alzheimer's Association, there is growing evidence that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by adopting key lifestyle habits such as exercise, continued learning, and joining activities that make them a part of a community. However, many of those suggestions falter among seniors who have difficulty hearing. Instead, many with hearing loss become socially disengaged, intellectually under stimulated, at risk for depression, and three times more at risk for falls. What's more, brain strain caused by trying to hear can negatively impact memory and thinking systems."Hear" to Help!That's why MBK Senior Living and Eversound have joined forces to fight the cognitive decline in seniors and enhance their day-to-day living. Eversound's wireless listening system is designed specifically for seniors with hearing impairment or concentration issues. The Eversound headphone systems can be used in large groups, small groups, and one-on-one interactions. In addition to improving seniors' quality of life, Eversound technology helps break down communication barriers between others, aids residents in feeling connected, and supports social, educational, and physical endeavors."Residents who avoided activities because they couldn't hear instructions clearly or participate in conversations can now join in with ease using the Eversound headphones," said Christy Van Der Westhuizen, vice president of sales and marketing for MBK Senior Living.According to Van Der Westhuizen, resident wellness has long been a component of MBK Senior Living's approach to care but utilizing the latest technology helps to elevate the offerings and benefits to residents. MBK's Mind+Body Wellness program offers a robust calendar of social, spiritual, physical, and educational opportunities daily. Those with a thirst for knowledge, or simply a curiosity to try something new, enjoy the variety of activities and outings and now are not limited by what they can hear."While we're in the initial roll-out stage at 34 of our communities, what we're hearing from our Resident Enrichment Directors is music to our ears," said Van Der Westhuizen. "Already there is an increase in resident participation and engagement, residents are happier, more connected and enjoying more activities that lead to heart and brain health.""Improving seniors' quality of life is a driving force behind Eversound technology," said Matt Reiners, co-found of Eversound. "Partnering with MBK amplifies the number of lives we can touch and experiences we can impact."

Whether it was the Glen Miller who created the musical score of their childhood, Frank Sinatra or the Beatles aficionados, the generations that now make up our Senior Population are uniquely characterized by more than just their music.  The Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers together span a 40-year period in our country, marked by civilization altering events, including wars, advancements in science and technology and paradigm shifts in societal norms.  Together, these three generations have changed the world at a startling rate and are all hugely proud of their generations contributions.The Greatest Generation, those born between 1901 and 1925, grew up in the Great Depression and many served during World War II.  This generation is known for their perseverance in the face of adversity, courageous, traditional values and frugal spending habits. The Silent Generation, sometimes lumped with the Greatest Generation, are those born between 1926 and 1944. This was the post-war generation, born after World War I and during the Great Depression but were largely too young to have served in World War II though many fought in the Korean conflict.  This hardworking, logical, and loyal group typically have a traditional outlook and a clear sense of right and wrong. Though segregation was still the norm during the formative years of this generations, they also fought for and achieved significant strides in civil rights during their adulthood.The Baby Boomers, those born from 1945 to 1964, are newest generational set to be joining our Senior populations.  These movers and shakers came of age during the civil rights movements, witnessed (and served) in the Vietnam conflict, and ushered in a more permissive and socially liberal culture.  They are independent, competitive, open-minded and focused on health and wellness.In senior communities, the vast majority of residents are members of either the Greatest or the Silent generation. In the CDC report, National Survey of Residential Care Facilities, more than 50% of residents in ALF communities are over 85 years old. And while ALFs are rightly forecasting a boom of Baby Boomers in the coming years, the focus of current care is fully geared towards the aging Greatest and Silent resident populations. For those in the Silent Generation, that include educated and independent men and women, demands for opportunities for enrichment and education are common.  They do not see assisted living as the end of the road but rather a place to continue learning and enriching the body and soul.  Their habits of healthy eating and regular exercise follow them into the ALF setting and recreational outlets are in huge demand.Understanding the experiences of the Generations is key to providing the lifestyles and choices they need to continue living their most productive lives.