Clermont Park has been awarded the Five Star Rating from the City & County of Denver as part of the Five-Star Recovery Partner Program, which means more residents will soon be able to enjoy safe dining in our community restaurants, the Highline Restaurant and Market Place. The Five Star program was created to allow those businesses who demonstrate effective COVID-19 safety protocols to operate one restriction level above that of the county as a whole. For example, Denver County is currently under Level Yellow restrictions. However, once the County has maintained 7 days of decreasing numbers appropriate to Level Yellow, a limited number of certified businesses like Clermont Park will be allowed to operate at Level Blue restrictions.The designation was awarded to Clermont Park after a thorough inspection by the county health department. That means our community restaurants will soon be open and operating at Level Blue restrictions, offering our residents more dining opportunities and more places to socialize. You can view our Certificate of Inspection here, and well see you soon!

Maintaining good health can go a long way in reducing cancer risk, and a well-balanced diet is part of the equation. Eating nutritious meals can give seniors bodies the fuel they need for a strong immune system and faster recovery as well as reducing cancer risk. There are many factors that can affect a persons risk, including genetics, environment, lifestyle, and diet. While diet alone may not prevent cancer, it can play an integral role in overall health.What to Look ForWhen building a well-balanced diet to reduce cancer risk, here are a few things to keep in mind:Incorporate more whole foods into your diet and fewer processed foods.Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains.Limit foods that have high levels of added sugar, sodium, or preservatives.Do some research and look for foods that contain phytochemicals or phytonutrients. These are naturally occurring compounds that can be found in a wide range of plants and may help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer. There are different types of phytochemicals that may do everything from preventing and repairing cell damage to inhibiting tumor growth to boosting immunity.What Foods to EatAs you create your meal plans, the more colorful the meals, the better! Visit your local farmers market to find fresh, seasonal vegetables. Stock up on fruits and vegetables that are dark green, red, yellow, or orange. If you cant find fresh produce, frozen or canned can work well too, just make sure they are not packaged in sugary syrups or sodium-laden preservatives.Healthy options include:Spinach, kale, Bok choy, or other dark leafy greensBroccoliSweet potatoesTomatoesCarrotsOrangesStrawberriesBlueberriesEdamameDont forget to incorporate some whole grains as well while limiting refined carbohydrates. Swap out white rice for brown rice, regular pasta for whole wheat pasta, and white bread for whole grain bread.When picking a protein, choose lean meats such as chicken or turkey, as well as fish. Lentils, eggs, chickpeas, black beans, and pinto beans can also be great plant-based protein sources.Cooking TipsMix things up and eat a variety of raw vegetables as well as cooked ones. Find ways to incorporate cancer-fighting foods into your diet wherever possible, and shop around the perimeter of the store because that is often where the less processed foods are found.Punch up the flavor using fresh herbs and spices as opposed to salt or butter. A little bit of olive oil is a healthy fat, but dont overdo it.Bulk up soups and pasta sauces by adding extra veggies.Blend nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables into a smoothie.Eat raw vegetables as a snack or roast them as a delicious side dish.Include whole grains to keep you feeling fuller longer and increase your fiber intake.These same tips also apply if you are in treatment or remission from cancer. You want to support your body with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to help it heal and fight off infection.Get Help with Meal Planning and PreparationSeniors dont have to do everything on their own. In-home care providers can be a wonderful resource and source of support. They can help with meal planning, shopping, and food preparation so that seniors have easy access to a healthier diet that fits their nutritional needs and goals. This can be especially helpful if using knives or appliances is unsafe, if it is difficult for seniors to navigate the kitchen or store, or if they are undergoing cancer treatment. An in-home caregiver can also provide companionship during meals to encourage aging adults to eat and make sure foods are safely prepared and stored.Learn more about the benefits of partnering with a nonmedical in-home caregiver by contacting Always Best Care at (855) 470-2273 to schedule a care consultation.

When seeking sources of funding to help elderly patients afford senior care many professionals are unfamiliar with the valuable VAs Aid and Attendance Benefit that can be available to their patients and clients 65 years and older. This VA Pension provides up to $29,172 annually for those paying privately for home care and assisted living as well as nursing home care and adult day, if not paid by other funding sources. To be medically eligible for this benefit wartime Veterans and spouses must need either regular assistance with 2 Activities of Daily Living, also known as ADLs, (bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, transferring, or ambulating) OR have been a diagnosed with cognitive impairment (Dementia or Alzheimers). For example, a bathing assist to ensure the senior is safe getting in and out of the shower and then dressed is enough to meet the benefits medical criteria. It is essential to note the difference between Activities of Daily Living and iADLs, also known as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and know that they are not the same thing. While ADLs center around the daily physical care of a senior, iADLs include other components that a senior might need assistance with. Some of these components include medication management, meal preparation, housekeeping, transportation, and more. While ADLs qualify seniors for this benefit, iADLs do not. Proof of these senior care needs is documented on a VA Form 21-2680 titled Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Aid and Attendance. These 3 simple pages can be completed by any Doctor or Nurse Practitioner. A common misunderstanding is that it must be done by a VA Physician, it does not. Most often the applicant does not even need to schedule a specific visit the doctors office; if they have been seen in the past year by the Doctor or Nurse Practitioner, that professional can fill out the VA Form, and it can be scanned or faxed.  While ADLs and cognitive impairment are the leading conditions to receive this benefit, there are three other criteria that make seniors eligible. To learn more about the other 3 criteria of Military Service, Income and Assets, professionals and veteran families can visit AidandAttendance.com to take a free eligibility survey or JOIN our July 21st at 3:00pm ET webinar on to gain an in-depth understanding by clicking here. For those who are ready to apply today, using AidandAttendance.coms innovative software is affordable and makes completing the lengthy VA application easy. AidandAttendance.com is one of many partners that Oasis Senior Advisors works with across the country, helping professionals and families navigate senior living and resources. Contact your local Oasis Senior Advisor by calling (888) 455-5838; let us help connect you to our network.

Colorado has a new law that requires mandatory reporting of abuse and exploitation of at-risk elders. (C.R.S. 18-6.5-108) In 2013, the general assembly expanded the law to create mandatory reporting requirements so that at-risk elders are afforded more protection under the law. Beginning on July 1, 2014, mandatory reporting shall take effect and it has penalties for those persons that fail to report abuse or exploitation of at-risk elders. An at-risk elder is any person who is seventy years of age or older.[i] Now when certain persons observe abuse or exploitation or if they have reasonable cause to believe that the at-risk elder has been abused or exploited, or even if they believe there is an imminent risk of abuse or exploitation, that person is required to make a report to a law enforcement agency within twenty-four hours of making the observation or discovery.Those persons required to report are a long list of professionals identified by the law including: medical and mental health professional, social workers, dentists, law enforcement officials, guardians and conservators, clergy (with some exceptions), caretakers, home health providers and professionals associated with care facilities, personnel at banks or financial institutions, fire protection personnel and others. These professionals, whether paid or unpaid, must report the abuse or exploitation to law enforcement. Willfully violation of this law is a class 3 misdemeanor. Reporting is not required if the person knows that another person has already reported the abuse or exploitation. Law enforcement must notify the county department and the district attorneys office within twenty-four hours of receiving the report and law enforcement shall complete a criminal investigation when appropriate. Immunity from suit and liability for damages is given to the person making the good faith report, except that no immunity is given to the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or exploitation.At-risk elders now have more protection because many more people in the elders life are required to make a report to law enforcement within twenty-four hours. The days of looking the other way, minding your own business or assuming that someone else is reporting the abuse or exploitation are gone now. A mandatory reporter that observes or has reasonable cause to believe that an at-risk elder has been abused or exploited is required make a report within twenty-four hours. This law penalizes a person for not reporting, whether they were working for the elder or not.Editors Note: Jennifer S. Gormley, Esq. is an elder law attorney and advocate for elders, at-risk adults and persons with disabilities. Ms. Gormley is also an Adjunct Law Professor at University of Denver Sturm College of Law where she teaches elder law. To contact Jennifer Gormley, please call 303-783-9600 or email, Jennifer@elderlawsource.com. The Law Office of Jennifer S. Gormley, P.C. is located in Greenwood Village, Colorado.