Senior citizens reach a point in their lives when they are no longer able to care for themselves. Whether this is a result of physical or mental decline, they are unable to perform daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, or taking medication.

In such circumstances, it is essential for seniors and their families to make the decision to transition into the care of a professional, fully equipped, and well-resourced frail care or assisted living facility. However, choosing the right type of facility will depend entirely on the level of care your loved one needs.

Here are a few things you should know about frail care:

What is frail care?

Frail care is designed to be a long-term living solution for seniors that have suffered some kind of health incident where they are no longer able to care for themselves. These health incidents can range from a heart attack, stroke, bad fall, or mental health decline, all of which can be a requisite for more acute hospital care.

Frail care can provide around-the-clock access to the health care services that these seniors need and can become a permanent home where the level of care is necessary and beneficial to those who live in them.

What are the benefits of frail care?

Frail care can provide many benefits for those who find themselves in need of extra care. These benefits include helping seniors maintain their independence and dignity, it can provide them with social and emotional support, and can help improve the quality of life not only for the senior receive the care, but also peace of mind to the loved ones.

The types of frail care services will differ across retirement villages!

While most retirement estates are intended to meet the needs of older people generally, frail care facilities, services and level of care will vary from one community to another. For example, some retirement estates will offer basic frail care or caregiving services, where a caregiver will help their community members with daily tasks, such as cooking, bathing, laundry, cleaning, and even taking medication.

Whereas other retirement estates may have a more sophisticated and better-staffed frail care facility that could include part-time or full-time medical staff, a pharmacy, surgical theatres for urgent care and life support equipment.

Some retirement estates may also offer independent or assisted living facilities with healthcare access or specialised facilities for mental illness, in addition to their frail care wings. With different types of frail care and healthcare options available to seniors at retirement estates, it is crucial that you look for the best option that meets the needs of your loved one before making a decision.

What are the challenges associated with frail care?

As with all areas of healthcare and assisted living when it comes to our senior citizens, there are many challenges. In the case of frail care, the challenges often focus on the financial aspect to level of care.

Frail care can be seen as very expensive and medical aid schemes are notorious for their fine print. In the case of senior health care, there is an unforgiving difference in the way that health insurance companies define medical care versus frail care.

In the type of health incidents, we covered earlier, short-term healthcare provision may be covered, but only for a limited time. If you suffer a stroke, heart attack or broken hip, they will cover your immediate medical care which does not include assisted living or frail care if that is what you require after recovery.

When it comes to level of care, finding the right frail care or assisted living facility has its’ own challenges. This can be seen when seniors have complex health needs that require a lot of time and attention which is not easy to provide or sustain in a busy hospital or nursing home environment.

This is where research is key, here are a few things to consider:

• What type of assistance does your loved one need?
• What are the costs involved for frail care or assisted living?
• Is the facility well-staffed, properly vetted, and qualified?
• Are existing residents happy with the level of care?
• Is the facility able to properly care for your loved ones needs?

Is home-based care a better alternative than frail care?

When we think of home-based care, we think of a part-time or live-in caregiver that is able to help our loved one better manage their day-to-day tasks in a familiar environment. This definitely sounds better and more cost-effective than the alternative, which is moving your frail loved one into an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by medical staff.

However, home-based care can become a cost-prohibitive process and access to high-level medical care is limited. It is also important to include additional costs such as transport, groceries, housekeeping, hospital stays, and at-home GP visits on top of the monthly caregiver salary in order to gain a clearer understanding of the financial implications of home-based care.

Home-based care can be a viable option if your loved one does not require complex care. If they do, then for thousands of rand less, your loved ones can get the full-time care they deserve with medical professionals and facilities accessible in the retirement village they choose.

Making the decision to move into a retirement estate

Deciding to move into a retirement estate’s assisted living or frail care facility is life-changing decision for seniors and should not be taken lightly. It should be a considered and thoughtful family decision that takes into account the needs and feelings of our loved ones.

Choosing the right retirement estate – with all the requisite facilities and resources – is critical to ensuring the best quality of life, wellbeing, and care for our beloved elderly members of society.

If you are looking for a retirement village, with frail care or assisted living facilities, that are fully staffed and equipped by health professionals and caregivers who are committed to the health and happiness of their community, look no further than Manor Retirement.

The post Facts About Frail Care That You Should Know appeared first on Manor Retirement.

Aging isn’t always graceful, but that doesn’t mean the misconceptions about elderly people are true. In fact, anyone in their sixties still feels that they have so much more life to live and new experiences to discover. This is why you should not buy into the misinformation that hampers how you enjoy your golden years.

We may think we know what aging entails, but the reality is that post-retirement life is as individual and unique as any working life. Today’s senior population can be seen as a very different bunch when compared to past generations as they are more educated, tech savvy, connected, and able to still contribute to their community. This being said, our seniors are a far cry from the frail, forgetful, and helpless figures we see depicted in movies and TV series.

Let us take a closer look at these 7 common misconceptions about aging that may be influencing how we see our retirement life now or in the future:

1. Being a senior is lonely and isolated.
Humans are naturally social creatures, who thrive amongst community. Our need to connect and establish meaningful relationships does not diminish with age. However, there may be physical or mental barriers that arise with age, that make connecting with someone a little more challenging.

Seniors able to maintain strong social relationships can often reap numerous rewards such as overcoming intellectual challenges, improving communication skills, maintaining information processing skills, and improving mental health etc. Thanks to the advancements in technology and the overall progress of retirement communities, seniors can easily stay connected with family or friends, whilst establishing new bonds through various social events and activities.

2. Your health will always be determined by family history.
This is a very common misconception that cannot be farther from the truth. Although genetics can have a small impact on your health outcomes, environmental and lifestyle factors play a much larger role in determining your overall wellbeing. For example, your health is more likely to be influenced by factors such as whether or not you regularly exercise, have a balanced diet, proper sleeping cycle, do not smoke or drink, and if you take proper care of your mental health.

However, if you are concerned about your family’s medical history affecting your current or future health, we recommend that you consult with a medical professional.

3. Seniors are weak or frail.
Muscle tone and strength naturally decline over time, and loss of function is anticipated as we age, however, much can be done to combat or slow down the physical and mental aging process. Staying active, exercising regularly, and having a healthy diet can help seniors build muscle, develop flexibility, improve bone density, assist in weight control, and possible help manage some chronic conditions well-into your older years.

Activities like yoga, swimming, daily walks, gardening and even household chores can all help keep you fit and in tiptop shape. This can include decreasing your blood pressure and incredible benefits for your mental health, such as preventing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or senility.

4. All old people are senile.
As we get older, we experience some forms of mild-forgetfulness like misplacing your car keys, or forgetting about an appointment, but this is a far cry from becoming senile or suffering from dementia. Keeping your wherewithal and maintaining your mental capacity is more than a possibility.

Symptoms of age-related mental decline, like all other symptoms of aging, can be thwarted by a variety of mental and physical activities. For example, reading, learning new skills, keeping up with old skills, playing mentally challenging games can all help towards keeping your mental acuity even into your senior years. Nevertheless, you should talk with a doctor if you have serious concerns about your memory and thinking or notice changes in your behavior and personality.

5. Older people struggle to learn new skills.
This is simply not true, seniors still have the ability to learn new skills, create new memories, and improve existing skillsets that they’ve acquired over a lifetime of experiences. In fact, trying and learning new skills may even improve cognitive abilities as this study from NIH shows.

We develop, grow and craft our ability to learn new skills over many decades and these tools and information-gathering abilities continue to serve us as we grow older. By seeking new social connections and engaging in social activities such as book clubs, bird watching, photography classes, knitting classes etc. can keep your brain active and may help boost your cognitive health.

6. Old people are terrified of technology.
There is seemingly endless rhetoric about old people being confused, intimidated or, possibly, terrified by new technology. This could not be further from the truth, with todays’ seniors being more tech savvy than previous generations, our older population are continuing to explore new technology every single day.

With incredible advancements in technology such as smart devices, video calls, instant messaging, seniors have utilized this technology to stay in-touch with family and friends despite potential growth in physical distance. Seniors have also utilized this newer technology to hone new skills or maintain part time work to keep their minds active or perhaps earn additional income.

7. Seniors should not be part of making important life decisions.
A common – and dangerous – misconception is that with age seniors will begin to lose their ability to think clearly and their interest in life-altering decisions. This goes as far as to assume that they cannot track current events or even some events in their own orbit. This is wrong.

Involving seniors in the decision-making process is a critical means of keeping them engaged, happy, secure, and fulfilled. Important decisions regarding their personal healthcare and finances or selling their home and moving into a retirement community should always include the person who if affects most and who has the most to gain from making good life decisions.

Conclusion

For years, Lonehill Manor has avoided these misconceptions and have treated all of our residents with the respect and dignity that they have earned and deserve in their post-work life.

Our retirement estate fosters respect, trust, and mutually beneficial relationships with our residents and their families. We provide supportive and engaging communities that help so many thrive in their retirement. If you are looking for a place to call home in your retirement years, contact us at Lonehill Manor for more information.

The post 7 Common Misconceptions About Growing Older appeared first on Manor Retirement.

Getting older can be tough in different ways. We may face a loss of mobility or loved ones, declining mental or physical well-being and missing out on family events in far-away places. The truth is that these make it difficult to maintain old relationships or build new ones. Loneliness is a concern for everyone, but especially our elderly loved ones who cannot be as proactive in their social life.

There are serious health risks that are posed to senior citizens who feel isolated and alone in their later years. This can be caused by the loss of a life partner, parents living alone in an old and empty family home or struggling to develop new friendships. The health impacts can extend as far as to affect chronic diseases, like depression, heart conditions, dementia, diabetes and hypertension.

Fortunately, for us, our loved ones and those navigating our post-retirement life, there are incredible benefits to community living that provide opportunities for building real and lasting social connections in our later years. Retirement communities are a wonderful way to spend this chapter of your life, spending time with people at a similar life stage and a variety of social, creative and physical activities to share with a new community.

Here are a few of the most significant benefits of community living for those looking to build an exciting and rewarding post-retirement life:

Having a supportive community around you

As we mentioned, having, building and maintaining strong social connections and healthy relationships are a sure-fire way towards a meaningful and fulfilling later life. In a retirement village, we are introduced to a whole new community of like-minded people who also want share new experiences with new friends. A sense of community and the richness of sharing those experiences cannot be overstated.

A lifetime of stories, challenges, milestones, memories and experiences to share with a community of people who can do the same with you. Not to mention all the new memories, stories and experiences that will be shared for years to come. Having an emphatic and supportive group of peers that understand you and want to see you thrive is so important for keeping up your mental and physical wellbeing.

Helping keep your mind sharp

Exercise is an important part of any health lifestyle, but we will discuss physical exercise later on. Much like our bodies, our minds need regular exercise in order to keep sharp. Exploring new ideas, activities, skills, hobbies, conversations and creative endeavours are transformative to the way our minds learn and stay agile. We have to make sure our minds are healthy, in addition to our bodies, as we age into later life.

Building up the strength, resilience and capabilities of our brains has many benefits for our brain health later in life. Reading, playing cards, painting or playing an instrument has proven to help reduce the likelihood and severity of mental health issues, chronic health conditions and physical ailments. Retirement communities are well aware of these benefits and have a variety of activities available to keep the mind sharp.

Providing a sense of purpose

Having a calendar full of fun and exciting events is very affirming for anyone’s mental state. Getting ready for a busy schedule of social activities can give us a sense of purpose in our post-retirement years. Retirement communities will have a rich and engaging calendar of physical, social, creative and competitive activities to help develop new skills, build connections and stay active.

Especially now, since the pandemic is coming to an end, community living spaces are reintroducing communal activities, outings and social events to their calendars. From dancing and cooking classes to movie and game nights, there are so many activities that those in a retirement community can look forward to, stay connected with their community and provide a sense of purpose for them.

Physical exercise is critical for physical well-being

It is important to specify that, amongst all of these wonderful social and communal activities, there are a multitude of physical activities facilitated by retirement villages to help keep your body healthy. Facilities like gyms, pools, tennis courts and so on are used for swimming, yoga, dancing, cardio and other training that helps you stay active at any age. Using these opportunities is so important for your body and, indeed, your mind.

Even something as simple and enjoyable as group nature walks or a daily communal walk around the village can be a huge addition to your post-retirement lifestyle. The health benefits of physical exercise are clear for everybody, but it becomes even more important aging into our sixties, seventies, eighties and beyond. There is no shortage of opportunities for you to keep your body strong and fit, benefiting your physical, mental and spiritual health.

Choosing the right residential option for your retirement years can have a variety of positive mental and physical benefits for you. Whatever your post-retirement lifestyle requirements, you can rest assured that you will have every one of your needs met at Manor Retirement’s beautiful and bustling retirement communities.

The post What Are the Health Benefits of Community Living for Retirees? appeared first on Manor Retirement.

Most seniors will prioritise keeping their minds strong and their memories clear, but there is always more that can be done. There is an abundance of research that shows the rates of memory loss in seniors can vary greatly, depending on a variety of factors. Genetics, lifestyle, physical activity, diet, habits, social lives and other factors play a significant role in improving memory retention.

There are many different factors that can lead to positive changes in our memory retention, as well as mental and physical health.

Let us take a look at 7 simple ways that senior citizens can make noticeable improvements in their memory retention:

1. Go get regular health check-ups
   At any age, there are a number of physical and mental conditions that can have a negative impact on our memory retention. Illnesses, like depression, thyroid problems, mineral or vitamin deficiencies, heart conditions and degenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, can diminish our recall ability. Getting regular health check-ups can help identify potentially harmful illnesses, medications or activities that could minimise the risk to our elderly loved one’s memory retention.

2. Keeping mentally stimulated
   Our loved ones are never too old to take up new hobbies, develop new skills and stimulate their minds. Introducing new activities, such as card games, artistic pursuits, cooking or creative writing, or encouraging them to continue reading, learning, and engaging with new ideas, will help keep their brains sharp and agile. Trying an instrument or consuming different types of media can inspire older citizens to increase their mental capacity and memory retention.

3. Taking a break and calming minds
   Giving your mind a break is beneficial for any person at any age. Mindfulness, meditation, rest and calming your mind are just some of the ways to bolster our mental recovery. These recovery periods can help reduce stress, regulate the nervous system, improve breathing and, indeed, strengthen memory retention. Promoting calmness and prioritising rest is critical for our loved ones as they get older; encourage them to take a break for their minds.

4. Maintaining a regular exercise schedule
   Exercise is one of the simplest and most important changes we can make to improve our mental and physical health as we age into our senior years. The benefits of exercise for the brain are well documented, but we have learned a lot recently about how advantageous exercise is for memory retention in elderly people. Beyond boosting cognitive functionality, exercise makes their bodies healthier, which reducing their risk of other diseases that cause mental harm.

5. Improving diets and eating better
   It is hard to describe the perfect diet for any individual. However, much like regular exercise, eating better will have a significant impact on mental and physical wellbeing. Our elderly loved ones have even more reason to improve their diets as it can help them maintain energy, improve memory retention and avoid common ailments. Broadly speaking, their diets should include a good balance of healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and daily water intake.

6. Staying socially active
   Senior citizens are often battling feelings of isolation, alienation and loneliness that can contribute to a variety of physical and mental ailments. This includes precipitating memory retention loss in our later years and reducing the desire to hold on to a lifetime of memories. Helping elderly loved ones keep strong bonds with their family, friends and local community can be transformational to their mental state – inspiring them to hold on to their precious memories.

7. Prioritising good quality sleep
   There are very few things better for our minds than sleep. Almost every brain function benefits from high-quality sleep and prioritising a regular sleep schedule is one of the best things senior citizens can do for their memory retention. They should focus on avoiding electronics, alcohol, caffeine and stimulating distractions in the evening; making their bedroom a sanctuary for rest and relaxation. Improving diets, regularly exercising, socialising and reducing stress also contribute to better sleep.

A Final Thought

The space that you occupy will have a large impact on your general wellbeing. This is especially true for retirees and senior citizens who, often, require particular services, amenities and options from their residential space. Most retirement communities offer physical, creative and social activities for their residents that help keep them active and their bodies and minds healthy.

Choosing the right residential option for senior citizens can have a variety of positive mental and physical benefits for them. Whatever their post-retirement lifestyle requirements, you can rest assured that your loved ones will have every need met at one of Manor Retirement’s beautiful and bustling retirement communities.

The post 7 Simple Ways Senior Citizens Can Improve Their Memory Retention appeared first on Manor Retirement.

Researchers found that seniors with a healthy heart would be able to maintain and improve their memory, mental capacity and mental health. Factors, such as diet, blood circulation, lifestyle, physical activity and stress levels, will all play a part in our cardiovascular health as we get older. We need to consider these factors when deciding what we want our retirement years to look like and when trying to maintain our lifetime of memories.

Here are a few ways to that improving your heart health can help keep your mind sharp as you age:

Poor Blood Circulation Can Precipitate Mental Decline

Poor blood circulation can have various negative effects on our physical and mental health as we age. Research shows that the reduced blood flow associated with poor circulation can lead to a more rapid decline in our memory. This is as a result of poor blood flow to the temporal lobes of the brain.

Our brain’s temporal lobes play a key role in memory formation, retention and maintenance. Over time, a restricted cerebral blood flow will precipitate the effects of memory and mental decline that we see in aging. This is all as a result of poor blood circulation and weakened heart function that reduces blood flow to these critical areas of the brain.

Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Good Heart Health

One of the most common and devastating forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Much like cancer or heart attacks, we have all had to deal with loved ones suffering from dementia. The symptoms of dementia can range from memory loss and cognitive decline to confusion and inability to reason. Alzheimer’s is one of the more severe types of dementia, and all preventive measures should be considered.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by plaques, tangles and abnormal clusters of protein fragments that build up between nerve cells and synapses that cause brain cells to die. In a recent study, it was found that elderly participants who had healthy hearts (strong blood circulation and healthy blood vessels) were less likely to build up plaques and tangles in the areas of the brain where Alzheimer’s first forms.

Good for the Heart Is Good for the Brain

Maintaining our brain health and memory as we age is more than a matter of keeping our hearts healthy. However, the healthy behaviours and lifestyle choices that are emphasised for maintaining heart health are the same ones that benefit our brain health. Cardiovascular and mental health are intricately linked to our overall health and can both be improved by certain lifestyle changes.

Making big lifestyle changes can be difficult as we get older, but even the smallest changes could make a difference to our long-term cardiovascular and mental health. Healthy behaviour changes like these could include: quitting smoking, doing regular exercise, getting good sleep and eating a well-balanced diet. You never know what positive lifestyle changes will have the biggest impact, but all of them are definitely worth a try.

Deciding where you are going to live in your retirement years is an important and difficult decision to make. Whatever your medical or lifestyle requirements, Manor Retirement’s beautiful and bustling retirement communities have a range of senior living options to meet your needs, including independent and assisted living, as well as frail care.

The post Research Shows Link Between a Healthy Heart and Lasting Memory in Seniors  appeared first on Manor Retirement.