Welcome to our blog.
This is a destination to learn more about life at Country Meadows, tips and advice for seniors and their families, caregiving support and ideas to keep senior minds and bodies active. Our new category “Through My Own Lens,” is written by a Country Meadows resident and provides a first-hand look into what it is like to live at one of our retirement communities.
Link to dementia is another reason to manage blood pressure during senior living
February 22, 2017New evidence links high blood pressure to a greater risk of dementia, so knowing all there is about both conditions is especially important for older adults. High blood pressure, or hypertension, results …
Read MoreRetirement communities can help seniors protect heart health
February 14, 2017With matters of the heart being top of mind in February, it’s only fitting that we observe National Heart Month with a few words about cardiovascular health during the senior …
Read MoreHearing-impaired seniors reconnect at senior living communities
January 31, 2017About one in three people ages 65 to 74 and nearly half of those 75 or older have difficulty hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication …
Read MoreWinter weather safety tips for active senior living
January 18, 2017When “the weather outside is frightful” during wintertime, all of us, but particularly seniors, need to exercise caution. Despite the silent beauty of falling snow, we sometimes underestimate its capacity …
Read MoreBe smart when preparing to lose weight in your senior living years
January 11, 2017After overloading on too many holiday goodies, many of us see losing a few pounds as our number one New Year’s resolution. If this sounds like you, take some comfort …
Read MoreBetter nutrition for better health—a key benefit to seniors at retirement communities
December 28, 2016Most of us need fewer calories to sustain us through the day as we get older, but the content of those calories is important. If we hope to remain active …
Read MoreTake sleep problems during senior living seriously
December 21, 2016While sleep problems may increase with age, they shouldn’t be simply accepted as an unpleasant aspect of aging. Sleep issues can have serious consequences including depression, lack of attention, memory …
Read MoreVisits from family and friends are holiday highlights at senior communities
December 7, 2016Regardless of age—3 or 93 or anywhere in between—most of us look forward to the holiday season. As children, we anticipated presents, but as we get older, the presence of …
Read MoreFamilies can help seniors communicate with health professionals
November 28, 2016At some point during the retirement years, seniors may find that conversing with physicians and other health care personnel is becoming difficult. This is particularly common with those who have …
Read MoreRetirement home communities do much to nurture spiritual life
November 21, 2016Studies increasingly indicate that spiritual practices are linked with better individual health and well-being. For example, many seniors engage in regular prayer, finding it a source of inner comfort and …
Read MoreCoping with a loved one’s dementia: Get our free guide on memory support for families
November 9, 2016When those we love begin to experience symptoms of dementia and memory loss, they are likely frustrated, anxious and fearful. Their family members and friends will share those feelings while, …
Read MoreNine tips for communicating with parents in their senior living years
October 31, 2016As children, our parents took care of us. As adults, we may now find ourselves caring for them. The dynamics of this gradually reversing relationship between parent and child can …
Read MorePhotographs, old and new, can enrich the senior living experience
October 24, 2016As seniors downsize, often to prepare for moving to a senior living community, they likely will come across an accumulation of family photos. Often the pictures will already be nicely …
Read MoreGenealogy is a hobby well-suited to retirees in senior communities
October 17, 2016“Family—like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.” (Anonymous) In retirement, many people become more interested in their family backgrounds and, …
Read MoreSmart financial planning for senior living
September 29, 2016“We all make mistakes.” It’s a truism that comforts all of us at one time or another. And nearly all of us, at some point, make financial mistakes. Julia Valentine, …
Read MoreJoint problems don’t have to hinder independent senior living
September 19, 2016People of all ages experience chronic joint pain. Even young people, particularly athletes, may deal with serious joint issues that some of their elders haven’t yet encountered. But as we …
Read MoreIt’s Grandparents Day—help kids connect to seniors with memory loss
September 9, 2016National Grandparents Day was signed into law in 1978, and since then, the first Sunday of September after Labor Day has been designated as a day to honor grandparents and …
Read MoreNew recipes for seniors can add zest and nutrition to senior living
August 29, 2016“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” As English poet William Cowper looked back on a half century of living, he discovered a truth he …
Read MoreLessening the risks and dangers of mismanaging medications during senior living
August 15, 2016As they age, many seniors take multiple medications every day for various symptoms and conditions. American Nurse Magazine reported in 2010 that about 44 percent of men and 57 percent …
Read MorePersonal care and assisted living homes provide seniors privacy and dignity
August 5, 2016Retirees who move to senior communities generally opt for an independent living lifestyle if they can, with peace of mind knowing they can transition to an increased level of care …
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