Are you newly retired? If so, youve entered a period of the greatest freedom that life has to offer. To make the most of retirement living, its important to know which parts of your previous life to embrace, and which parts to leave behind. Here are three helpful points to consider, as you sort through all your options:1. Your home shouldnt become another jobBack when you bought your first home, you were probably content to clean gutters, shovel snow off the front steps, or refinish the deck. Doing these things meant you had achieved home ownership, a milestone of adulthood. Now, however, all that upkeep probably seems less appealing. You may not need that large yard, or extra rooms to heat and maintain. Many older adults are ready to give up the grind of seasonal chores, instead spending their time instead doing what they enjoy. This is the luxury of maintenance free living.2. You can say goodbye to sitting in trafficHow many years have you spent commuting to a job? Or getting into your car every time you wanted to buy groceries or visit friends? Retirement living in centrally located senior apartments means that almost everything you need is just a short walk away. Feel like meeting friends at a game room? Taking your dog to the park? Heading out for shopping, or dinner? Hosting a meeting for your organization? All those options and more are easily accessible when you live at Bella Vita.3. You have time to nurture your body and mindBeing retired means you can exercise or nap! on your own schedule. At Bella Vita, you can sit down with friends for a leisurely conversation, enroll in a continuing education class, or go for a solitary bike ride. The skys the limit retirement is a beautiful opportunity for exploring new experiences!

What is happiness? Some say it is just a feeling, one of the ups that come with the ups and downs of life. Others say it is something to be achieved, like an end point. Either way, it certainly could be said that everyone could benefit by having a little more happiness in his or her life!Since one of Kavod Senior Lifes main goals is to encourage positive aging, happiness certainly seems like a quality that accompanies this goal. In doing some research to see how to encourage happiness among residents, Kavod stumbled upon Harvards Happiness Longevity Study. Although this research project was conducted with men only, the findings seem applicable to men and women. The results have implications and insights into living well and engaging in life more fully.The Harvard Happiness Longevity Study (HHLS) is a groundbreaking research project that has been going on for over 75 years. It began in 1938, following the lives of 700+ men from the Harvard College graduating classes of 1939-1944. The studys goal is to understand the factors that contribute to a happy and healthy life.The results, while not completely surprising, are a good confirmation of happiness contributors.One important finding, though, is that happiness is a major predictor of longevity. The men who reported being happier in their youth lived an average of two years longer than their less happy peers.Additionally, the study found that strong relationships are key to happiness and longevity. Men who reported having strong relationships with friends and family were significantly more likely to live longer than those who reported having weaker relationships.The study also found that regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining a healthy weight are important for both happiness and longevity. Men who reported engaging in regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight were more likely to report higher levels of happiness and to live longerAnother important factor that has been linked to both happiness and longevity is a sense of purpose. Men who reported having a sense of purpose in their lives were more likely to report being happy and to live longer.The HHLS has also provided insight into the role of stress and coping mechanisms in happiness and longevity. Men who reported having high levels of stress in their lives were more likely to report lower levels of happiness and to have a shorter lifespan. On the other hand, men who reported having effective coping mechanisms for dealing with stress were more likely to report higher levels of happiness and to live longer.The HHLS has concluded that happiness is a major predictor of longevity, and that strong relationships, regular exercise, healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, having a sense of purpose, and effective coping mechanisms for stress are all important for both happiness and longevity.Fortunately, for those who reside at Kavod Senior Life  both in our affordable housing apartments and assisted living homes these positive happiness predictors are very present on our campus.  Our Life Enrichment department provides classes, activities and trips that fosters mental stimulation and friendships.  The Dining Department provides healthy meals and opportunities to socialize.  Our Health and Wellness Department provides medical services through a partnership with CU Medicine and many other health promotion/preventative services on campus.  Legacy Healthcare provides rehab and fitness services to encourage physical exercise and maintaining balance and fitness. Moreover, volunteer opportunities for residents help create a sense of purpose and meaning, as does ancillary engagement opportunities like gardening, music, or intergenerational connections.It is refreshing to recognize that Kavod Senior Lifes services and support make happiness a primary value. These factors are key for Kavod to ensure our residents live a full and happy life, both now and in the future. To learn more about Kavods amenities, visit our Campus Life page here.This blog was generated by ChatGPT and embellished by Kavod Senior Life.

Caring for people with cognition deficits - dementia, strokes, traumatic brain injuries in a residential assisted living is challenging during normal times but add in the complications of COVID 19 and it has been one wild year for sure! Following is a quick glimpse of what it has taken to remain COVID Free.Normal times meant an enjoyable setting with activities, visits from family and friends, outings, exercise classes, live music, pet visits, family dining, etc. This care model addresses the needs of Memory Care with a secure setting, 2 caregivers taking care of 8 residents all day, special open concept residential home modified to meet the resident's special needs, modifications to activities, adjustments to food service, medical oversite, etc. We had to adjust their old normal to include the changes brought about by COVID 19.Residents:Daily temperature screenings and constant watching for symptoms of COVIDReduced visitation - through a closed window using a phone or in the outside area. Residents miss loved ones, cannot remember why visits changed and do not realize the visitor with a mask is family.Everyone wearing masksSocial distancing for meals and activitiesQuarantining when necessaryConstant cleaning by staff, hand cleaning and sanitizingCOVID testing and the slow wait for resultsConstant media attention about COVID and the terrible things happening in health care settings causing both residents and staff to become scared and depressed, wondering if they are going to die or cause someone else to become infected.Staff:Daily temperature screenings and constant watching for symptoms of COVIDIf any symptoms were discovered or there was possible exposure outside of the facility, there was a COVID test done and quarantining until symptoms passed and negative test results were receivedWearing masks, screening residents, visitors (most were not allowed for 1st 6 months), conducting video meetings for residents and families and providers not allowed inManaging residents and trying to maintain normal in this residential setting where social distancing is challenging because people want to move around and be near each other.Flexible with schedule so they worked when available, not in a watch mode and rested when the other staff was back on shift. We had to carry extra staff throughout to make this process work for all.Giving an extra dose of love and kindness to make up for the lack of family contactSo here we are today, a little burned out and exhausted, but happy we have remained COVID free for everyone's sake. We have all been vaccinated and have encouraged our regular visitors to do the same. Indoor visitation is being allowed, hugs and hand holding can happen again, weather is warming up so we can get outside, walk, get our gardens going, eat our meals, have some fun and find our new normal. The vigilance continues until this pandemic is over.Editor's Note: This article was submitted by Russ Udelhofen, Administrator of Jaxpointe Assisted Living Memory Care Homes. He may be reached at 303-420-5590 or email at info@jaxpointe.com

Rhythms Home Care Prepares to Receive COVID-19 VaccinePriority distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers who are at the most risk of contracting the virus is welcome news. Rhythms Home Care is ready to receive the vaccine to protect associates. We remain in constant communication with state health department, the CDC, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as details of the distribution process continue to develop.We want to share with you what we know now about the vaccine, how it will be distributed, what we are doing to keep associates, clients, and families informed about the process, and our continued commitment to testing, virus mitigation, and the overall quality of life for clients.Vaccine BenefitsCOVID-19 is a serious, life-threatening virus that has impacted the entire world. Protecting the most vulnerable Americans has been the top priority and vaccines have been developed at unprecedented speeds. The U.S. vaccine safety system has procedures in place to ensure the vaccine is as safe as possible. Clinical trials must show a vaccine is safe and effective before it can be approved for use. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice is actively advocating for the CDC to explicitly name homecare workers to prevent any confusion with local governments.The FDA will meet in mid-December to discuss both the Pfizer and Moderna 2-dose vaccines which have reported to be 95% effective. Once approval is given, the federal government will distribute the vaccine to the states for inoculations. Each state has its own specific timeline and process for distribution and administration. We anticipate all of the states we support will follow the CDC tier guidelines for distribution but that has not been confirmed.Having early access to the vaccine to protect associates is the first step in being able to lift restrictions. Combined with current safety measures such as face masks, physical distancing, and testing the vaccine will significantly reduce the spread of the disease and chances of exposure to the virus.Pharmacy Partnership for DistributionAll Rhythms Home Care communities are registered with Colorado for Human and Health Services, Home Care and Home Health for pharmacy partnership with the Pharmacy Partnership Program. We will work with an assigned local pharmacy, who will store, distribute, and administer the vaccine which is free of charge to team members. The pharmacy will also: Order vaccines and associated supplies (e.g., syringes, needles, personal protective equipment). Ensure cold chain management for the vaccine. Report all required vaccination data to the local, state, and federal jurisdictions within 72 hours of administering each dose. Adhere to all applicable Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) COVID-19 testing requirements.We anticipate the pharmacy will set up clinic dates and times for vaccinations and the pharmacy teams, working closely with our clinical teams, and will come to our communities and designated locations to administer the vaccines to associates. Three visits over approximately two months will likely be needed to administer both doses and vaccinate new team members.Some of the details of how and when and who will get the vaccine first are still being worked out. At the moment, we believe team members will be included, and that the first tier to receive the vaccine will also include residents of skilled nursing and assisted living communities. We are waiting to hear where residential (independent) living clients and those living in their own homes receiving services will fit into the distribution tiers.Keeping Team Members, Clients and Families InformedWe know many clients, team members and families have questions about the vaccine benefits and side effects, what options, if any, will be offered to clients or team members who decline the vaccine, etc. We will share more information as soon as it is available. We will continue to share resources from the CDC that answer questions specifically around vaccine development, safety, and why getting the vaccine is beneficial. Read more about the safety of the vaccine here and, answers to questions about vaccine administration in our communities here. Learn more about the benefits of the vaccine from the CDC below:For vaccine-specific questions, please refer to the CDC handouts,8 Things to Know About Vaccine PlanningBenefits of Getting a COVID-19 VaccineIn addition, we anticipate we will hold Family Town Hall Webinars as more information becomes available and throughout the process, giving team members, clients, and families an opportunity to ask questions and feel comfortable with the process. We are also providing hand-out materials to communities as they become available.Continued DiligenceWe are excited to add the vaccine to our arsenal of tools that will help eradicate the virus from our community, and eventually, assist in a return to normalcy. We also understand that many are experiencing COVID combat fatigue, growing weary from restrictions and isolation. While the vaccine will help control the virus, it will not completely eradicate it for quite some time, so we must continue to take precautions to stay healthy and protect ourselves and each other from this virus. We will continue with our robust infection control and testing program, and we ask for your continued diligence and patience as we all do our part to stop the spread of the virus.