Colorado - Denver Metro

When looking into independent living or assisted living communities, it makes perfect sense to be a little apprehensive. The decision to move to a senior living community is a major one. The decision has emotional and physical ramifications, so there are a variety of factors to think about.According toa 2010 study conducted by Age Wave and Genworth Financial, the primary motivations for someone to consider assisted living and independent living apartments for seniors are:They don't want to be a burden on their family physically or financially.They want to make their own decisions about where and how they live.They want to safeguard future security and quality of life for themselves and for their family members.So, what benefits do residential communities have for older adults? How do apartments with assisted living amenities let them meet those goals?Here are five benefits of Senior Living for aging adults, including options for Independent Living (IL), Assisted Living (AL), and Assisted Living with Memory Care (MC)under one roof:1. Ease the Pressure of Caregiving on Your Spouse and Other Loved OnesThe biggest concern for us as we age? Being a burden on our family. Some 55% of respondents to the Age Wave survey said that burdening loved ones with their care is their single greatest worry. Residents at a high-quality assisted living community like the Tribute communities managed by Cadence Living don't have that worry. Thats because the Assisted Living Neighborhoods within Cadence communities are staffed by qualified personnel who are in tune with your unique needs, providing personalized care so your family doesn't have to.Tributes assisted living services include, among others:Assistance with medication management on a set scheduleCoordinating medical services and on-site doctor visitsHousekeeping and laundryTransportation support with an on property personal shuttleAssistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL)BathingDressingGrooming and hygieneGetting to and returning from meals and social activities (as needed)2. The Assistance You Need. The Independence You Want As we age, it becomes even more important to maintain our independence, make our own decisions, and live life on our terms. Thats exactly what a good center for independent living offers to senior citizens. Independent living communities make life easier for older adults. When chores like meal preparation and housekeeping are taken care of along with coordination of medical needs. This means residents have more time to engage with neighbors, participate in community activities, and live Life In the Key of Beautiful.One advantage of a senior living community like Tribute is enjoying the benefits of assisted living and independent living services at the same time. Whenever they wish, residents are free to lock their apartment door and head out, knowing that those amenities and services will be there when they get back.A Tribute community is a place where residents can put themselves first maybe for the first time in recent memory!3. Access to Advanced Memory Care Services When NeededAccording to the Age Wave study, the most-feared disease of aging is Alzheimer's. Thats why the availability of memory care services is a significant factor when looking at apartments for assisted living. And that's another advantage of Cadences Tribute living: Within many of our senior communities for assisted living, memory care services are available on-site through our Revere Memory Care program.Memory care is a key part of life at Cadence Livings Tribute communities. Revere Memory Care is a holistic engagement of the body, mind and spirit for those living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Using stimuli like music, dance, natural surroundings and sensory experiences, the Revere Memory Care program helps residents stave off cognitive decline and dementia.4. Entertain Guests and Welcome Family in a Beautiful Home of Your OwnThere nothing like the comforts of your own home especially when you're not taking care of it all. Residents of assisted living apartments don't have to worry about deep-cleaning carpets, mowing the lawn, doing laundry, or preparing meals. But they can still make themselves at home, decorating their apartments to suit their tastes making it a comfortable, familiar place for family and friends to visit.The emotional toll of leaving a home you may have custom built or in which you raised a family can be heavy. But moving into an assisted living apartment can also allow you to distill down to the belongings that are most important to you. Some even find it liberating to be able to choose exactly what they're taking into this new chapter of their life and will even add a new flatscreen TV or mattress to the moving experience to make it more exciting. Whatever your situation, you'll still find the comfort of home within the community, and you'll have the benefit of helping hands as well as opportunities to socialize.5. Enjoy Life in a Community Designed for Your NeedsFrom holistic activities to handrails, every aspect of life in Tributes independent living retirement communities has been built with residents' comfort, convenience, health, happiness, and camaraderie in mind.In Cadence Livings Tribute communities, the rhythm of our community is paramount. We support the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of older adults through our integrated SYMPHONY program, including positive experiences like:In-Tune FitnessENCORE CuisineAria ArtsCadence ChoirBackstage at CadenceSESSIONS Life EnrichmentYoga and exerciseArts and craftsBook clubsCultural eventsSpecial celebrationsPerhaps the best perk about senior living communities is sharing memories and laughs with people from your generation.

If youre considering moving elderly parents into your home, assuredly youll have many questions. Oftentimes caring for just ourselves can feel like a lot. Adding the care of your parents on top of all of your other responsibilities? Is it something youll be able to manage?At Grace Pointe, our main concern is the well-being of your aging parents. We want to be sure you have the information necessary to make the best call. Lets have a look at some considerations that will need to be made before moving elderly parents into your home, followed by a couple of quality options for alternative forms of care.Considering Care for Your Parents?It can be shocking to find yourself as the grown child of parents who now need to be cared for. Even more, their need for care is sure to increase with time. Providing the care your parents require on your own is one option, and many grown children choose this route. There are other options like assisted and independent living that you can consider as well. With all the options, first things first, understand what your parents would prefer.Understanding Your Parents DesiresFor many aging adults, growing old in their own homes is the most preferred option. If and when it becomes clear that they are no longer able to safely live on their own, youll most likely need to have a conversation about what aging safely can look like.The goal of this conversation should be to prepare your parents for change. Ask them about their expectations regarding growing old. Find out what sorts of activities they feel they are beginning to need help accomplishing. This is also a good time to discuss your concerns and paint them a picture of your hope for their care. Here are some helpful tips to remember when preparing for this conversation.Be gentle. Youre suggesting some big changes that may be hard to receive. Deliver them gently.Be patient. Your parents may not receive these changes well. Be patient and willing to help them work through it.Be humble. Your parents are your parents, and theyve lived a lot of life. Be humble and acknowledge your parents input.Be informed. Your greatest tool for this conversation is information. Do your research on what these changes will entail.Considering Providing Care for Your Parents Yourself?Perhaps youre contemplating taking on that burden of care yourself. Its not unheard of. If you do decide to go forward with moving elderly parents into your home, youll need to understand the scope of care they will need. Planning for your parents safety, their quality of life, and your self-care is a good place to start.Planning for Your Parents SafetyDepending on the level of care your parents require, there will be preparations youll need to make before they come to live in your home. Many of these preparations can be accomplished on your own, others may require some assistance. Take a look at this helpful article for a fuller understanding of these preparations, but here are a few you can start with.Are there concerns about falling? Remove tripping hazards like loose rugs and free areas of any extra clutter.Will they need help standing up? Grab bars in the bathroom may be a wise addition to your home. Do you live in a multi-story home? Make living arrangements where your parents can live independently on one level.Planning to Maintain Your Parents Quality of LifeHaving to make peace with fleeting independence is a tall order. While youre providing care for your parents, taking an honest look at where they need support is the first step, followed by an assessment of all the possible solutions available to provide them the help they need. (AgingInPlace)The aim is to provide an environment for your parents that allows them as much independence as theyre capable of. That independence is accomplished via an assortment of daily activities. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the essential activities that must be maintained to allow your parents to continue the independent life theyre accustomed to. An inability to maintain these activities on their own will inform the level of care they may require. Some basic ADLs include personal hygiene, self-feeding, bathing, and mobilityInstrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are non-essential activities that play a role in independent living. Some basic IADLs include cooking and cleaning, running errands, managing finances, and taking necessary medications.Planning for Self-CareProviding care for an elderly parent can be difficult. With all of your focus on them, you may experience a decline in energy and enthusiasm, notice a neglect for and withdrawal from normal patterns of life, and even grow in feelings of hopelessness. Its important to be realistic about how much care youre able to provide on your own without sacrificing your self-care, your relationships, and other responsibilities like work and family. (CommonWiseCare) If the level of care your parents require is outside of your capacity to provide, it may be time to consider alternative forms of care.Considering Alternative Forms of Care for Your Parents?There are many alternative options available for providing care for your aging parents. Depending on your parents care needs, assisted and independent living may be great options to consider. Both will allow them space to maintain a safe level of independence while providing them the care they require.Understanding Assisted LivingAssisted living is designed to provide as much autonomy as your parents are capable of, ranging from the highest level of care to only needing assistance with activities such as walking to meals. This alternative form of care is a good fit for aging parents who require higher levels of assistance and promotes a balanced lifestyle as well as social interaction.Understanding Independent LivingIndependent Living is the perfect alternative for aging parents who wish to enjoy an active, fulfilling life without the worries of household maintenance. With independent living your parents can age in place, leaving you assured they will receive the care they need when they need it.At Grace Pointe, Your Parents Can Age In PlaceAs your parents age, their needs will change. Its important to provide them with an environment where they can safely and comfortably age in place. At Grace Pointe, we can provide that environment, and with our customized approach to care, you can be sure your parents specific needs are our priority. Explore which level of care your parents need, and let Grace Pointe be the support your parents need.

What happens when I can no longer make medical and financial decisions.If the power to make decisions is ever not your own, ensure you have nominated the right people through Powers of Attorney, making them legally responsible for acting on your behalf. Otherwise, court proceedings determine who makes decisions for you. Understanding how the process works and your rights and responsibilities is critical. Do I need an estate plan? Everyone needs proper documentation in place sharing your wishes. How do you want assets distributed? Are there special considerations, disabilities, or beneficiaries needing more support? With the right planning many of these can be addressed. Is probate avoidable? Probate is the court procedure by which assets are transferred after death to those named in a Will, or to people listed in Colorados inheritance statutes. The proceedings are public and can take 8 to 12 months or more, even in the simplest of cases.  Trust planning can help avoid probate,simplifying the process for your loved ones. Editors Note: This article was submitted by Andrew P. Stone, Esq. Andrew is the principal attorney with Stone Law, LLC and may be reached at 877-897-6591 or by email at andrew@stonelawllc.com

Quite a few seniors struggle with health challenges post-retirement. In addition to run-of-the-mill aches and pains, many develop chronic health conditions like diabetes. It doesnt help that it takes a significant amount of extra work to be fit when youre older its easier to just sit on the couch and watch TV! Being in poor shape makes it hard to have a happy, rewarding life. If youd like to improve the quality of your life, you must take control of your health. Good health gives you the energy you need to pursue fun activities and, generally, lead the life youve always wanted. Following are some practical suggestions on how seniors can take control of their health for a better quality of life: Exercise more Exercise offers incredible benefits. As Everyday Health can confirm, exercisemakes you happierreduces stressmakes you look youngerreduces risk of diseases and strokehelps you digest food betterimproves your quality of sleepYou dont need to exercise hard to enjoy these benefits either. Try low-key activities like walking, gardening, cycling, and playing golf! Do whatever you enjoy and youll do more simply because you are having fun.Maintain a beautiful living space Your living space has a massive impact on your mood and overall health. Living in a dirty or cluttered home may increase stress and unhappiness, not to mention make it harder for you to look after yourself. On the other hand, living in a well-maintained space is good for your mental wellbeing and makes it easier to look after yourself. If your home needs work, you can clean, declutter, and redecorate. Downsizing for easier maintenance is also an option.  Start an enjoyable hobby Hobbies are much more than fun pastimes they can teach you things, bust stress, keep your brain in top shape, and some can even be great exercise. Everydays offers 40 hobby ideas for seniors. Some interesting options include bird watching, metal detecting, dancing, getting a pet, photography, fishing, volunteering, and bicycling.  Find some that interest you and a group for some companionship.Eat better They say you are what you eat and theyre not wrong! According to Harvard Business Review, food fuels your body and also impacts your mood. Switching to healthier foods ones high in protein, vitamins, calcium, minerals, and dietary fibers can go a long way toward keeping you in good shape. Some examples of foods you may want to consider adding into the mix include oatmeal, nuts, mushrooms, kiwis, and greek yogurt.  Stay connected to your family and community Humans are highly social creatures needing a significant amount of social interaction to remain healthy. Spending time with your family and members of your community, whenever you can, is a great way to tune up your mental and emotional health. There are several ways to get the socialization you need  joining senior groups, finding a hobby, volunteering, playing group sports, taking classes, participating in family activities, and more. Organize your lifeA well-organized life can help you feel emotionally secure and stable. This involves several things having a financial plan for the future, having chronic health conditions (if applicable) under control, and having a healthy routine to follow. Estate planning and making a will are also things you should look into knowing your affairs are in order and your loved ones taken care of can give you peace of mind. You can reach out to Stone Law  for convenient estate planning. Starting a business to stay busy Many seniors start their own businesses these days. It keeps them busy, makes for a constructive way to pass the time, and can be very fulfilling. If youre interested in starting a business, its a good idea to know what youre getting into. When you have an idea, think about how youll get started, and how youll operate. Writing a business plan can help you stay organized. Once you have a plan, check with an attorney at Stone Law to ensure you get everything set up correctly from the start. One of the most common ways to set up a business is by registering as an Limited Liability Company (LLC). An LLC limits your personal liability as business assets are separate from personal assets. If your business is ever sued, only business assets are at stake. Other benefits include easier paperwork and organizational flexibility. While you can file the paperwork yourself, getting help from Stone Law you can be confident your business is set up correctly with all the proper paperwork in place from the beginning. You can rest assured that we know all the legal ins and outs of setting up an LLC or other business so you dont have to worry.Good health is your ticket to a happy, rewarding life post-retirement. When youre in good mental and physical shape, you have the enthusiasm and the energy you need to live life to the fullest. Following a self-care schedule, staying connected to loved ones, and staying busy can all help you remain in top shape.