Senior living community is a catchall phrase for independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities.For seniors who are ready to downsize, or for those who need more care than can affordably be provided at home, a senior living community can be an excellent choice. Independent living communities offer social activities, meals, and the security of knowing help is nearby. Assisted living and memory care communities do the same, but also provide the care ailing seniors need to live as independently as possible. If you or a loved one is struggling with whether its time to move, consider the following.RED FLAGSImmediate action is needed.       Wandering. People with dementia may get lost in familiar surroundings or they may set out for a location from their past. They are at significant risk if they are alone.       Frequent falls. Injury from a fall often marks the beginning of a steep decline in physical and mental health.       Drastic weight loss. Weight loss may be due to a medical condition, self-neglect, or simply not eating enough because its too difficult to shop and/or prepare meals adequately.       Inconsistency taking medications. Confusion and forgetfulness can lead to under- or over-medicating, resulting in falls, overdoses, or poorly controlled medical conditions.       Self-neglect. Self-neglect shows up as very poor personal hygiene, unkempt appearance, malnutrition and/or dehydration, squalid or unsanitary living conditions, and/or hoarding. YELLOW FLAGSA move should be considered.       Isolation. Studies have shown that socialization and mental stimulation are key components to healthy aging.       Increased forgetfulness or confusion. These can lead to a senior leaving the stove on, forgetting, or doubling up on medications, and vulnerability to financial predators.       Caregiver burnout/declining health. Caregiving is emotionally and physically stressful. If a caregiver feels burned out or has health issues of their own, a Plan B should be put in place.       Loss of drivers license. Giving up a drivers license is easier when there are alternatives.  A senior living community may provide transportation to local businesses and doctors appointments.   Editors Note:  This article was submitted by Ben Meyer, CSA and Dennis Franklin, CSA.  They are owners of the Western PA offices of Oasis Senior Advisors.

The summer sun has begun to shine in the United States. While naturally, this is an exciting time for children ready to take on the beach during their summer breaks, with the heat estimated to hit record-breaking highs, we must follow safety protocols and remember that the sun is something we need to treat with respect. Summer heat and a high UV index can be hazardous for everyone, but especially for our senior citizens. As age-related changes impact the skin and circulatory system, our senior population is more likely to be harmed by the heat during the summer months. We often forget seniors cannot endure the heat as much as younger people. As we age, our bodies do not process the temperature changes as efficiently as they did when we were younger. While out and about in the summer days, here are some tips that will help our seniors enjoy the summer sun just as much as anyone else:Stay Hydrated: During hot days, the body continuously loses fluids through sweat, and its important to drink the suggested amount of water. According to John Hopkins, people over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration. On average, a person should drink eight to ten glasses of water a day just to stay hydrated, according to the Center for Disease Control. If you spend more time in the heat than usual, the recommendation is one cup of water every 15- 20 minutes. Drinking water at shorter intervals is more effective than drinking a lot of water at once more infrequently. In addition to water, people can consume foods with high water content, such as popsicles, Jell-O, diced fruit cups, apple sauce, Italian ices, and some fruits.Keep Cool:  While hydration is a great way to stay cool, there are other techniques to chill the body and avoid dehydration during the summer months. A cool towel or wet towelette on the neck or chest can help when you are outside and cant be in the air conditioning. Another way to cool down is to stay close to the water dipping into the water at the beach or pool every hour or so will assist in keeping your body temperature low. Avoid Mid-Day Sun: Be an early bird or night owl. The UV index is at its highest between 11 am-3 pm. You have a higher chance of succumbing to heat exhaustion or heat stroke during these hours.   Take walks early in the morning because after that, it is scorching, Danielle Capizzi, a nurse at an assisted living facility in Naples, stresses. We all want to be enjoying the day; however, staying away from these peak hours is highly recommended for seniors.Exercise is Key: You might be tempted to stay indoors with the cool air conditioning blowing, but health officials say it is vital to get out and keep your body moving. Swimming would be a good one, Capizzi said. Its getting the fresh air and exercise at the same time. She suggests trying some water aerobics or using weights in the pool. Plan your exercise early or late in the day avoid the mid-day.Wear Protective Clothing: Wearing the proper articles of clothing helps keep you cool during the summer months while also protecting you from the sun. It is no secret that sunburns can be challenging to deal with. Nowadays, summer clothing and hats are quick-dry and also have UV protection. A sun-safe hat with flaps protecting the whole face, head and back of neck and ears is even better. It is also essential to protect your eyes with sunglasses. The most critical aspect of sunglasses is the protection from UV rays. Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on your body, so that it can be at a greater risk of damage. Look for 100%  UV protection glasses or polarized sunglasses. Those with a wrap-around style can reduce the number of sun rays reaching your eyes. Wearing a hat or staying in the shade is also essential when outdoors. This can prevent sunburn, diminish the risk of skin cancers and minimize sun damage to your body. Eat Right: During the warmer months, it is vital to track what you eat and ensure these foods contain the proper nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are high in liquid which helps keep your body hydrated. It is also easier to digest and will not keep you from feeling sluggish. Eating a heavier meal with lots of meat increases the pressure on the body since it takes more digestive power to digest a protein.Avoid Heat Exhaustion: Recognize the signs of heat exhaustion, and take proper steps to address it. Deputy Chief Eric Madden with the Bonita Springs, FL Fire Department, says this is very important so you can stop it from progressing into heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is easy to treat, he said. It is just cooling people down, bringing them into the air conditioning. When you get them into heat stroke, that is a lot more dangerous. It affects vital organs, the heart, and the brain. That is why it is so important to recognize this. Madden said the signs to look for are dizziness and weakness. If you feel off, you are probably starting to get dehydrated, Madden concluded. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are common, especially in our senior population. Madden says in the summer, they get emergency calls about this daily.                                          Following these few steps will help you enjoy summer with fewer safety concerns.  If you have more questions or are looking for senior-friendly summer activities in your area, contact your local Oasis Senior Advisor today!

A Senior Living Advisor takes the time to learn about you and your loved one to find the right senior housing option whether its independent living, assisted living, or memory care.An SLA takes into account things like independence level, medical needs, lifestyle, personal preferences, location and budget.Oasis Senior Advisors has a five-step process:Initial, No-Obligation Consultation. Meets with you face-to-face and helps you learn what you can expect from them and how they can help you.Identifying Lifestyle Needs. Conducts an in-depth conversation with you regarding lifestyle preferences, care needs, location, and financial considerations.Reduce Your Monthly Costs. Works to lower your costs by helping you look into funding options like Veterans Aid and Attendance, Long Term Care benefits, and reverse mortgages.Personalized List of Housing Options. Provides you with a list of local housing options, personalized to your specific needs.Touring Communities. Sets up tours at each facility or community you are interested in and attends the tours with you so you can feel confident in your choice.Throughout the process, the SLA is available to answer your questions, address your concerns and provide you with the caring, one-on-one support and guidance you need. They offer open-communication and a wealth of information and knowledge in order to better assist you through the process of selecting a senior community.Oasis Senior Advisors offers a free, community-based referral placement assistance to aid in finding a place just right for you or your loved one.In Pittsburgh, Ben Meyer, CSA is owner of Oasis Senior Advisors and is there to help you. He uses proprietary software to locate a senior living community in your area, arranges personal tours for you with him in attendance, helps to guide and direct the conversations, and helps you make the decision that is right for you. Bens services are at no cost to you.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Ben Meyer, CSA, Owner of Oasis Senior Advisors. He can be reached at 412.853.5877 or email at BMeyer@YourOasisAdvisor.com.

Assisted Living two words that strike fear into the hearts of many. Images of losing independence and the foreboding 1970s Nursing Home are invoked.Some envision neglected loved ones with poor care and minimal socialization for a hefty cost. Others prefer the stability and predictability of staying in the home theyve lived in for years, even if a change may be for the better.Todays Assisted Living Communities are designed for social activity, personal care, health management, nutrition, affordability, safety, and quality of life. Maintaining independence is a top priority for residents and communities. Once a senior gets help with the activities with which theyve been struggling with, theyre now empowered in every other aspect of their life.The best way to combat the assisted living myth is to visit in-person. By examining current residents quality of life, one can overcome their assumptions of the Nursing Home.It is always best to start this process early to ensure the senior is able to participate in the selection and touring process. Its lower stress (and even fun!) to embark on this journey when you have time and resources instead of a panic when theres an emergency.Though many emphasize aging in place, homes are not conducive to easy mobility. Houses may have stairs and bathrooms that arent designed for walkers or wheelchairs, and getting help can be expensive. Assisted Living Communities can be a safe haven for seniors and a stress reducer for families, now knowing their loved one is protected.Trepidations surrounding cost can be minimized by understanding what is included in that cost: meals, utilities, laundry, household maintenance, property taxes, and care services. Many current expenses, like home insurance and mortgage, will disappear. It can also be cheaper than homecare since one caregiver can be shared between multiple residents.The senior living industry has revolutionized itself into something to be celebrated. Seniors can set themselves up for a future of independence through the reassuring avenues of care, safety, and socialization.Assisted living can and should be the beginning of a new adventure.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Ben Meyer, Senior Living Advisor with Oasis Senior Advisors Southwest PA. He can be reached at 412-853-5877 or at bmeyer@youroasisadvisor.com

In senior living communities, the employees strive daily to bring a bit of joy back to someones life. Not many people acknowledge the impact that having a pet can have on you until you can no longer have one. Many also do not know the outstanding opportunities offered to communities nationwide to allow seniors and pets to interact further and the benefits this can have on both parties.Betsy is one of the seniors with these benefits in North Naples, FL. Each month, caregivers witness the wide grin that spreads across Betsys face when bunnies visit the assisted living community where she resides. She spends the hour holding and petting the bunnies, talking to them while continuously smiling. They are so sweet. I love these bunnies, Betsy says with one in her lap.Health organizations worldwide have long documented the benefits of pets for seniors. Having a pet therapy team visit or pets residing within a senior community can combat loneliness and isolation while also bringing comfort and companionship to the residents. These animals can also reduce stress while promoting overall health and wellness. The American Heart Association Journal acknowledged that the relationship between seniors and pet ownership reduced cardiovascular disease problems. Recent reports have suggested an association of dog companionship with lower blood pressure levels, improved lipid profile, and diminished sympathetic responses to stress.There are several ways seniors and pets can interact, even if they can no longer fully care for their own: Visitation Therapy: Visitation therapy is one of the most common ways associated with senior communities. This program allows animals to visit older adults in a senior living community, retirement community, or their homes. The pets, in this case, are usually either certified pets that people will bring to these communities or older shelter animals who also crave this attention. Animal-assisted Therapy: There is also animal-assisted therapy where seniors are paired with animals that help them with physical skills and build confidence. With this, animals not only provide people with some time to enjoy their company but also assist on walks, movement, and more. In-Home Pet: There is pet ownership for seniors who can care for a pet. While not many communities allow residential pets, some have been known to make the exception and allow their residents to have smaller animals residing with them.Betsy owned pets as a child and younger adult. One of the aspects of moving into a community that was difficult for Betsy was the lack of her pets and the daily interaction that came with having one. On the days when the bunnies arrive, Betsy is more talkative with others and animated. The pet visits help with her social skills, lessen anxiety, and bring her great happiness. Providing seniors with these interactions not only gives them something to look forward to, but also companionship for those who do not thrive in social situations.  Brian Wierima, community relations coordinator for the Gulf Coast Humane Society, helps run a Senior to Senior program in Lee County. Volunteers with the humane society take older dogs to five local senior living facilities in the community.We try to have these seniors interact with senior dogs, eight years or older, Wierima began. They are calmer. Their behavior and manners are better and it pairs well.The dogs go to recreation rooms for larger group visits or to individual rooms for seniors who do not wish to participate in larger groups. Providing both a group setting and an isolated environment allows individuals to take advantage of this event while not pushing seniors into situations that might make them uncomfortable.The seniors just love it, Wierima exclaimed. It is great for both our senior dogs and the seniors. There are benefits both ways. It is a very beneficial program. By the time you leave, you see the results. There are smiles. Also, it breaks up a routine for the residents, and many of them previously owned pets. In many of the senior residential homes, they cant have pets, so having some time with a dog fills that void they lost.It has become more common for humane societies to provide programs that encourage seniors to take these available times with the animals to fill a gap they might be missing. In some instances, if allowed, it also promotes adopting or fostering these senior pets.  Gulf Coast Humane Society is one of the partners offering authorized communities animal fostering. They provide a senior fostering program where a senior citizen can temporarily take care of a dog or cat. All the food and transportation are provided. This removes some of the cost concerns while allowing the senior citizens and pets the comfort of each other. Wierima says this has many benefits, The animal gives the senior a routine, it gets them exercise. It gets them outside to take walks,  he said.Weirma believes strongly that this addition to their communities activities has dramatically impacted their seniors. Cheryl Gregson, activities director at an assisted living facility in North Naples, has brought dogs, rabbits, horses, wolves, parrots and Trooper the raccoon to visit her seniors. She also has four parakeets that live in the common area.Its so important, Gregson stressed. Whenever a pet, any kind of pet, comes into the room, everybody lights up; everybody smiles, everybody is happy. It makes a difference.Betsy is not the only senior who has benefited from pet therapy activities. Across the nation, hundreds of communities provide similar opportunities to their residents, and the number continues to grow. Are seniors in your area looking for similar pet interaction options? Contact your local senior advisor today for more information on how to provide this in your community, or with assistance finding a community that does.