General

Fears About Senior Living - Let's Review Them With the aging of the baby boomers, the concept of senior living has changed from previously negative and inaccurate beliefs to positive options in the form of state-of-the-art senior housing, from assisted living for those needing some assistance with daily living activities, to independent living for more active aging adults.  The goal of these options is to provide seniors with a lifestyle which fits their needs and interests, yet also offering the necessary care to enable them to remain physically, mentally and socially healthy. Let’s look at the most common misconceptions expressed about senior living: It will take all of my money – The initial prospect of senior living can seem financially formidable, but with knowledgeable financial planning, including the possibility of Social Security or other benefits available to seniors, senior living may end up being about the same cost as living at home. [...]

Senior Independence Irrespective of age, each of us are voyagers on the wild ride known as life, navigating numerous paths along the journey.   Life is a grand adventure capable of evoking a myriad of emotions, some of which bring much joy, others which result in sadness.  As we journey the path of life, we each experience loss, which seems more pronounced as we age.   For seniors, the loss of physical and mental abilities fuel added concern.   Vision, hearing, memory issues, diminished energy and flexibility, each of which impacts the degree of independence a person controls, are just some examples of losses that raise the level of anxiety, anger, confusion and fear in the senior population.   In fact, studies show that senior citizens are more afraid of losing their independence than of death or losing their spouse. To the extent possible, taking charge of the elements that can be [...]

Indications It May Be Time to Consider Assisted Living We all want those elderly individuals we love to be able to reap the benefits of a life well lived, including an overwhelming desire to keep the person as safe and healthy as possible.   An Assisted Living facility helps alleviate safety and health concerns.  One of the most difficult decisions a caregiver faces is when consideration should be given to moving an aging adult from his/her home to an Assisted Living facility.  There are clues, some obvious, some not so obvious, to assist in making this decision. Situations that make the decision to seek additional assistance for your senior loved one more obvious include: (1) a persistent health condition that seems to be worsening; (2) an extended recovery from an illness or injury; and (3) an increased difficulty managing the daily living skills needed to live independently.  Another obvious sign is increased [...]

Assisted Living - Independant Living in Sauk City WI An Assisted Living facility offers an attractive long-term housing alternative for seniors transitioning from an independent lifestyle to one in which they require some assistance with daily living needs such as meal preparation, dressing, medication management, bathing and toiletry activities.  The National Center for Assisted Living has determined that 87% of individuals residing within an Assisted Living facility, need some type of assistance with meal preparation, while 81% of such individuals need help managing their medications.   Sometimes it is just a matter of not being able to keep up with the demands of being a homeowner as one ages or losing a significant other and not wanting to live alone. Individuals choosing to live in Assisted Living facilities still maintain a desire for, as well as some degree of independence and while in need of some assistance, they do not require the [...]

Coping with change is difficult at any age but it becomes more challenging for older adults because of the number of changes that occur such as the loss of loved ones, changes to or the end of a work career, declining health and possibly even some loss of independence.  It is natural to feel anxiety and fear over these major changes; however, this stress can be offset with positive ingredients helping an older adult to stay healthy as they age. Assisted Living communities, such as Maplewood Village, have much to offer in helping older adults maintain their health and wellness.  The benefits of assisted living range from providing assistance with basic hygiene and nutrition needs to helping senior citizens build new relationships.  A wide diversity of amenities and services make assisted living an attractive and healthy choice. The following are a few ways in which assisted living facilities help promote healthy aging: [...]

One of the most pervasive yet incorrect and unfair myths about aging adults is that they are unhappy, grumpy folks.  A study of Disney characters found that 25% of the older characters were angry, grumpy or stern.  This myth isn’t just being perpetuated through Disney films, rather the stereotype is so accepted as fact that movies such as “Grumpy Old Men”, “Gran Torino” and “City Slickers” to name a few each portray the main characters as angry elderly men with few redeeming qualities. Based upon our collective experiences, we at Maplewood Village Assisted Living Facility collectively state that this stereotype is pure hogwash.   We find that actually the opposite to be true.   Multiple studies have shown that happiness generally begins to increase after 50 and one recent study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior concluded that people are generally their happiest after they reach retirement age.  Another study shows [...]