Florida - Southwest

Something to Look Forward ToMarilen Hartnett isnt your typical senior living community resident. While most of the older adults living at The Horizon Club in Florida spend the daytime hours relaxing and enjoying retirement, Marilen heads to her office to do what shes loved doing for 50 years: work. The full-time paralegal knew when she moved into the independent living community in 2014 at age 64 that she wouldnt be retiring anytime soon. The death of her mother and a broken hip, though, made staying at home a lonely challenge. Moving into The Horizon Club offered a fresh start, one where she could keep working and not have to worry about chores and cooking at the end of a long work day. She hasnt looked back since.Life is so much easier, says Marilen while sitting outside waiting to watch another stunning Deerfield Beach sunset. If you want an easier life in semi-retirement, this is the place. Ive never regretted it at all.Every day, Marilen says, theres something in the evening to enjoy. Trips to the movies, live music, interesting lectures, relaxing in the spa theres just so much to do here, she says. Having her pick of fun and diverse activities in the evening also makes her that much more excited to start her day. You dont miss anything except the activities during the day, and it gives you something to look forward to when you get home, she says.The best part? All the parts of life she doesnt look forward tochores, cleaning, cooking, running errands, etc.are taken care of. She says shes often tired at the end of the work day and its a relief to come home and not have to do it all herself. If shes having any issues, whether its a broken AC or feeling under the weather, she adds that theres comfort in knowing she doesnt have to go somewhere or search online for hours for a solution. Help is just one call away, or shell just bring it up during her daily check-up call from a Five Star staff member. It leaves you so much more free time to take advantage of all the freedom and choices you have here, she says.No matter your age, when moving into a new community, theres always that fear that you wont fit in. Marilen wasnt sure at first if shed completely feel included when she joined the Horizon Club community, but those worries quickly went away once she was warmly welcomed by her fellow residents. Even though shes one of the few still working, she says that being out during the day hasnt made it difficult to make friends. Since she doesnt have to cook if she doesnt want to, she often dines with her fellow residents in the evening to socialize.I never sit alone, she says. Its great to know that I can keep my outside friends while making fascinating new friends on the inside.Senior Living Community Camaraderie: Turning Off-Hours to Happy HoursTo Ambrose Siers, a resident of Meadowmere, an independent living community in Oak Creek, WI, the friends hes made since moving in with his wife Laverle last March have become a loving community thats more like a family. The 87-year-old Ambrose is no stranger to the Meadowmere community. Hes been offering religious services at Meadowmere as the pastoral minister for the nearby St. James Catholic Church there for over a decade and has become a beloved member of the community since. It was only natural that the pair would eventually move into their own Meadowmere apartment when the time came. It doesnt hurt that his commute to the people he serves is now just a walk around the neighborhood.The choice was perfect for us, says Ambrose. Theres great camaraderie here and I feel that my job is to keep engendering and nourishing that spirit.Ambrose is a self-proclaimed people person and says one of the biggest things that appealed to him about independent living is choosing how sociable to be each day and making your own schedule. After writing and sending out his daily spiritual reflection, youll likely find him either making pastoral visits to residents, dabbling in his newfound hobby of watercolor painting, or enjoying a cocktail during his favorite part of the day: happy hour in the afternoon. For someone whos still working, he says, knowing friends and fun await make all those meetings and emails so much more bearable.No matter how work was that day, its a great feeling knowing that at the end of the day youre coming home to a loving community where you can relax with no pressures, he says.The Perfect Work/Life BalanceThough hundreds of miles apart, Marilen and Ambrose echo that moving into an independent living community was one of the best decisions theyve ever made. Theyre not the only ones. A growing number of older adults who want to work past the typical retirement years are finding that joining a senior living community offers a support system far better than what they have at home. Whether its the wide variety of planned activities available during their off-hours, the worry-free lifestyle, or the many new friends theyve made since moving in, the pair arent just living out their golden years while still working, theyre thriving. They emphasize that moving into an independent living community isnt retiring, but starting a new chapter of your life where you can fully enjoy doing the things you love and age in place with like-minded people who will make you feel right at home after a day at the office. No more working for the weekend. For Marilen and Ambrose, every evening offers something to look forward to. Work/life balance doesnt get any better than that.Want to learn more about independent living at Five Star? Find a senior living community near you.

What is Transitional Care Management?Transitional care management is a coordinated care approach that focuses on ensuring a smooth and seamless transition for patients as they move between different healthcare settings. It involves a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care and support to patients.How Does Transitional Care Work?Patient Identification: Patients who are at high risk of experiencing complications or readmissions are identified.Care Plan Development: A personalized care plan is developed for each patient, outlining specific goals and interventions.Care Coordination: A dedicated care coordinator oversees the patient's care, communicating with healthcare providers and ensuring that all necessary services are delivered.Patient Education: Patients and their caregivers are educated about their condition, medications, and self-care strategies.Follow-up and Monitoring: The care team monitors the patient's progress and addresses any issues that may arise.Benefits of Transitional Care ManagementTransitional care management offers numerous benefits for patients and healthcare providers:Improved Patient Outcomes: By providing timely and coordinated care, TCM can help prevent complications and reduce hospital readmissions.Enhanced Patient Satisfaction: Patients and their families often feel more satisfied with their care when they receive clear communication and support.Reduced Healthcare Costs: By preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits, TCM can help reduce healthcare costs.Enhanced Caregiver Support: Caregivers can benefit from the support and guidance provided by the care team, reducing stress and improving their own well-being.The Role of Technology in Transitional Care ManagementTechnology plays a crucial role in facilitating effective transitional care. Electronic health records (EHRs) allow for seamless communication between healthcare providers, ensuring that patients receive consistent and coordinated care. Telehealth services can also be used to monitor patients remotely and provide timely interventions.The Future of Transitional Care ManagementAs healthcare continues to evolve, transitional care management is expected to play an increasingly important role in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. By investing in this patient-centered approach, healthcare providers can ensure that patients receive the care they need, when they need it.Transitional care management is a vital component of modern healthcare. By understanding the benefits and how it works, patients and their families can advocate for their needs and ensure a smooth transition between care settings.

Watching an aging loved one change before your eyes from dementia stemming from an Alzheimers diagnosis can be heartbreaking. Wrestling with the question of how to give them the best care makes matters even more difficult. Should they stay at home or move into a memory care community? An online search pulls up a sea of information, but wading through it to find the real costs, and benefits, of memory care is a time-consuming task. Were here to make it easier. Heres what you need to know about the costs of memory care so you can make the best decision for your loved one.A Closer Look at Memory Care CostsFinding a memory care senior living community can make a world of difference in quality of life for those living with memory issues and brings tremendous peace of mind to their families and caregivers. With specialized supervision, on-demand medical care and enriching activities, memory care requires some financial planning as it is often paid out of pocket. This can feel overwhelming to families, especially if they dont have long-term care insurance.Like assisted living, Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans generally dont cover memory care room and board, which drives costs up significantly. Barring things like veterans benefits and the possibility of Medicaid covering some costs of long-term care once assets are completely depleted, memory care costs can add up quickly.The median cost of assisted living nationwide is $4,300 monthly, according to the 2020 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. It rises to $4,800 a month in New York ($5,991 in New York City) and $6,633 in Alaska, but falls as low as $3,800 in North Carolina. Memory care services can increase this baseline assisted living expense by varying amounts, depending on the area.While these estimates for monthly memory care costs may seem high, at first glance, consider that in addition to specialized care, a memory care program encompasses living expenses that would normally be paid separately, including:Rent or mortgageElectricityWaterHeating and coolingHome maintenanceLandscaping and snow removal costsWell-balanced meals and healthy snacksEntertainment and activities, such as adult education courses, a gym membership, and social eventsTransportation servicesMemory Care Costs in Comparison: Less Expensive than Aging in PlaceWhen comparing the cost of memory care to hiring a home health aide to help an aging loved one with housekeeping and activities of daily living, memory care is the less costly option. Nationally, the median price of a home health aide is $5,824 per month for seven days a week, eight hours a day care. On average, that is $1,524 more than a memory care community. When increased to 24/7 home health aide coverage, this cost skyrockets to $17,472 per month.Considering Whats Included in Memory Care Costs vs. Home Health Aide ServicesWhen comparing memory care costs to hiring a home health aide, the savings goes far beyond the initial average price difference. While your loved one may not require 24/7 coverage, a senior living at home may still need care on evenings and weekends when you cant be there. Depending on the aides duties, you might also need to pay someone else to drive them to doctors appointments and run errands while you are working. And dont forget that these care costs are on top of your loved ones regular housing and living expenses.Since a home health aide typically doesnt do handyman work or chores like mowing the lawn, they may also need to hire someone for home maintenance, landscaping and snow removal services. We cant overlook the cost of home modifications. Creating senior-friendly bathrooms, adding better lighting and ramps are just a few of the costly expenses you may incur.The Real Cost of Memory Care Can You Afford Not to Take Advantage of the Benefits of a Memory Care Community?As we add up all these costs, its much easier to put memory care costs into perspective and to see investing in memory care as a smart financial decision. In addition to seeing great value in memory care compared to aging in place, it can also be the best option for providing your aging loved one with opportunities for social enrichment, intellectual stimulation, and daily exercise that they may not get at home. In memory care, you can rest easy knowing your loved one is having all their needs met and can still find purpose, joy and connection despite their diagnosis. Thats because our team members know that memory care isnt just for preserving memories, but also making new ones. We welcome your loved one to make them with us.To learn more about memory care programs, call the Five Star Senior Living community nearest you. One of our team members will be happy to help answer questions and take you on a tour.

Tucker Vision Center has been in practice serving the tri-county area for over 26 years. Whether you just cant see as clearly as you use to or you need more detailed medical care to treat your diabetes, glaucoma or age related macular degeneration, Dr. Terry L. Tucker can make sure you receive the best care possible.One thing you will find at Tucker Vision Center that you wont likely find at any other optometrist in Lee County is Oxy-View glasses. These glasses offer patients the benefits of oxygen therapy without the discomfort of the nasal cannula. It combines oxygen therapy and vision, and discreet oxygen delivery. Originating in Italy in 2000 and later imported here, the original frame and design were not good and were redesigned by a U.S. Company who modified the design and material and had it patented.Oyx-View oxygen therapy eyeglasses are designed for those individuals who require supplemental oxygen. Oxy-View allows you to ditch your nasal cannula, improve your quality of life, and feel better about yourself, while assuring that you are receiving the oxygen prescribed by your doctor.For more information on the Oxy-View glasses and how they could benefit you or someone you know, call 239-656-1778 or go to www.tuckervisioncenter.com.Editors Note: This article was submitted by the Tucker Vision Center.