Massachusetts - Greater Boston

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. Caregivers may see their own health decline as caregiving needs increase. 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 becomes much easier if there are good alternatives. A senior living community provides built in social activities and meals and may provide transportation to local businesses and doctors appointments.  Editors Note: This article was submitted by Megan Fisher, CSA and Bill Cleary, CSA. Megan and Bill are owners of Boston-area offices of Oasis Senior Advisors and may be reached at 781-490-0180 or 508-538-8100, or by email at mfisher@youroasisadvisor.com or bcleary@youroasisadvisor.com.

Both your vision and your hearing are very important senses, and both cause great difficulties if they dont work effectively. Due to the way we use them, their loss affects us in different ways. Many adults get their vision checked regularly, so why do so many people ignore their ears?When you visit an optician, you look at a letter chart. If you have loss of vision, you may not be able to read the smaller letters because your eyes cant focus on them.Another way to understand vision loss is to think of how we age. Over time, the eyes gradually lose their ability to focus. If you are farsighted, you know seeing things close to you like reading become more difficult. This loss of sensitivity to nearby objects does not vary; it is uniform.Like vision, our ears often graduallylose the ability to hearhigh frequencies, both through damage and aging. However, unlike vision loss, the actual effects of this are not uniform.Speech is made up of many different frequencies and tones. If we cant hear high pitched sounds, we find it hard to understand specific letters such as f and s. This is because they contain high frequencies.In contrast to vision loss where we miss chunks of vision, the loss of hearing sensitivity affects many parts of speech that are scattered throughout a conversation, so random bits of conversation get lost.When people struggle to see, they wear glasses. These vision aids help a broad range of people. Prescription glasses require a professional to check your vision, write a prescription and orders lenses specifically addressing your individual needs.The same is true with hearing solutions. Since modern hearing aid designs are discreet, stylish and come in a range of colors. many people now find old stigmas to be silly. The life-changing, cutting-edge hearing aid technology of today offers solutions for every type of hearing loss, age and lifestyle. If you hear and see well, your entire world is brighter.Having ahearing assessment* is as easy as a vision test. Plus, at HearingLife its complimentary.Make an appointment to get started.

God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.This quote by JM Barrie provides a vivid example of the power of memory. Memory helps us recall wonderful events like hitting that home run in the 9th grade and the birth of a daughter. In addition to memories for major life events, much of our day relies on memory for less momentous information: remembering to pick up a prescription, remembering to pay the phone bill, telling that funny story about your trip to Florida. Through most of our lives, we can recall, with ease, information that helps us to be nostalgic with friends and complete our daily activities. As we age though, it seems remembering information can be challenging and often we are not confident in the information we recall. Everyday slip-ups, like occasionally forgetting to pick up a prescription, every once in a while forgetting the phone bill are common and, on their own, likely not indicative of a memory disorder. Other difficulties may be suggestive of something more serious. For example, becoming lost in familiar places or difficulty recognizing people you know well. Sometimes these kinds of memory problems are related to a medical condition or a progressive illness such as Alzheimer's disease. If you have concerns about your memory, it is important to tell your doctor. If someone you know is having memory problems, encourage them to talk with their doctor. Your healthcare provider may do a brief screening or may refer you to someone who has specialized training in memory testing. For those with significant memory problems, early detection can help to ensure an accurate diagnosis, provide a link to useful resources and information, and help to plan for the future. It is most important to remember to take care of yourself.This article was written by Laura Grande Ph.D., ABPP-CN. Dr. Grande is theDirector, Clinical Neuropsychology at the VA Boston Healthcare SystemIf you have served in the military, enroll in VA HEALTHCARE. You can stillhave a medical team in the community and come to the VA to see a primary care team once a year.There are many benefits you are eligible for that you arent taking advantage of.For more information call David HenckeDirectors Office, VA Boston Healthcare SystemVeterans Outreach CoordinatorO: 857-364-5934; C: 617-275-6101

As you begin to transition to retirement, you'll find a mix of anticipated plans and unexpected challenges awaiting you. Transitioning into retirement marks a major life shift, and the unknowns ahead might stir up mixed feelings about retirement. You may wonder how to fill your time, explore new passions or derive meaning in this phase of life.After dedicating your life to preparing to transition to retirement, the moment has arrived. What will you make of it? Embrace a fresh perspective on aging: Spin the wheel of retirement roulette and let fate guide your journey. This approach highlights life's unpredictability and the excitement of discovering unexpected joys in retirement.Whether its retirement risks, rewards or retirement challenges that youre facing, were here to help. Together, lets go all in and cash out BIG together in retirement!Tips for Transitioning from Work to a Satisfying Retirement Start transitioning gradually: In the months leading to retirement transition, start cutting back on the amount of work that you do, allowing time for your successor to have time to get acclimated to the new role and introducing more free time into your daily life.Establish a daily routine: Provide structure and purpose to your day by creating (and sticking to!) a daily schedule. Doing this is going to help you create a purposeful life in retirement. Figure out what things you enjoy doing or those that you dont look forward to and see where you can move things around to fit your newfound freedom.Stay connected with friends and family: Leaving the workplace often means leaving friends and colleagues that you have become accustomed to having in your life every day. When you are retired, this may feel disorienting. Reach out to your friends and family members during this time or set up a time to have coffee with an old coworker a few times a month.Explore hobbies and make new connections: Its time to join that knitting club or the swimming class that you have been eyeing for a while. Taking up new or favorite hobbies can help you meet new people and form new bonds. Take this time to explore retirement adventures and do what you want to do! Do You Have Retirement Anxiety? A retirement transition can sometimes feel that youre putting all of your money on RED, just to see a lot of GREEN! But sometimes, were scared to make that gamble with our newfound freedom.Retirement anxiety refers to the feelings of stress, worry or apprehension that some individuals experience when approaching retirement. This anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as concerns about financial stability, loss of purpose or identity, changes in social relationships, fear of health issues and uncertainty about how to spend one's time in a satisfying retirement.Common sources of anxiety about retirement include:Financial concerns: Many people worry about whether they have saved enough money to sustain their desired lifestyle throughout retirement. Factors such as insufficient savings, unexpected expenses or economic downturns can exacerbate these worries.Loss of identity and purpose: Work often provides individuals with a sense of purpose, structure and social connection. Retiring may lead to feelings of loss or uncertainty about one's identity and role in society, particularly if one's identity is closely tied to their career.Health concerns: As people age, they may become more aware of their health and physical limitations. Concerns about declining health, access to healthcare and long-term care needs can contribute to retirement anxiety.Our Anthology at Boynton Beach community, nestled on the Florida coast among tall palm trees and lush greenery, offers walking paths and a fully equipped wellness center for residents to use to stay healthy, improve flexibility and reduce stress.Changes in social relationships: Transition to retirement can bring changes in social dynamics, especially if one's social circle primarily consists of coworkers or if the retiree's partner is still working. Adjusting to new routines and finding ways to maintain social connections can be challenging.At Anthology of Louisville, which offers premier senior living in Louisville, KY, our leadership team works to create and host activities and socialization opportunities for residents every day. Our vibrant activity programs are a favorite for our residents, allowing them to socialize in programs or even around the dinner table with fellow friends and neighbors.Its what makes Anthology such an exciting place to live! There are always new connections to be made.Addressing retirement anxiety often involves a combination of financial planning, emotional preparation and lifestyle adjustments. Seeking support from financial advisors, therapists, support groups and loved ones can help individuals navigate this transition more smoothly and alleviate some of the anxiety associated with the transition to retirement.Some seniors choose to go into independent or assisted living lifestyle options when entering retirement. Assisted living, especially, is beneficial for those who can no longer handle everyday tasks like housekeeping and cooking on their own.Anthology of Planos accommodations include a range of spacious, private floor plans with state-of-the-art amenities and built-in emergency alert systems in residences. Our dedicated team takes care of household tasks like cleaning, trash removal and linen services so you can spend your time doing more of the things you love. Looking for senior living in Plano? Wed love to meet you!Choose Your Adventure with Anthology Senior LivingWith Anthology Senior Living, you spin the wheel every day and decide where youd like it to take you. With this may sound equally exciting and terrifying, living at Anthology gives you the autonomy to choose how your days and your life go!Living at Anthology means that all of the mundane activities like housekeeping, laundry and transportation are covered and you can fill your days with the kind of activities that you are interested in.From excellent dining experiences to planned activities, events and amenities and everything in between spinning the wheel of retirement roulette is a chance to explore the unexpected and embrace the unpredictable everyday events that make life worth living! Retiring soon? Consider moving into a beautiful Anthology Senior Living community in retirement for the carefree lifestyle youve always craved. We call that rolling the dice and winning twice.