6 Reasons To Say “Yes” To Adult Day Services

Being a caregiver to a senior loved one while maintaining a career and relationships can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Perhaps you need to work, you’d like to attend your grandchild’s school play or you need to keep a medical appointment. But who can look after your senior loved ones and keep them safe and comfortable while you do all of those important tasks?

Adult day service programs are a remarkable opportunity that can offer balance in the lives of your senior loved one and their caregiver (maybe that’s you). Adult day services at Edgewood Healthcare offer the same great services that our residents are provided in our memory care communities, but day services can be selected for as little as an hour per day, depending on your loved one’s needs.

 

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Here Are Six Ways Adult Day Services Can Help:

 

1. Adult Day services provide safety, security, and specialized staffing.

Staff are equipped with communication skills and training specific to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to effectively and compassionately provide personal care like bathing and dressing. Our staff takes a considerate approach to each individual’s unique memory care needs to ensure their comfort.

If your loved one is frequently on the move, there is support from staff; also, our adult day services setting is secure, to ensure that seniors don’t wander outdoors or become unsafe.

Edgewood’s knowledgeable staff can manage your loved one’s medications, plus they have access to RN support at all times of day and night to ensure your loved one’s medical needs are met.

2. Adult day services are socially and physically engaging.

Through a variety of group games and exercises, our life enrichment staff works to keep seniors socially connected while they’re in adult day services.

Day services offer life stations, music, and artwork activities to spark joy and inspire fond memories.

Staff leads light range-of-motion and stretching exercises to encourage strength maintenance, balance, and movement. We often hear, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Gentle exercises can help seniors feel their best and keep them in motion.

3. Adult day services support healthy nutrition.

Meals and snacks are provided and presented in a way that makes it easy for seniors to eat independently. Our accommodating staff will help by offering nutritious meals and snacks while also encouraging your loved one to stay hydrated.

4. Adult day services are affordable.

Day services are an excellent way to meet your loved one’s needs without breaking the bank. Rates for day services range from $15-$25/hour, depending on your loved one’s personalized care needs.

5. Adult day services provide caregiver support.

Caregivers need breaks and self-care, too. If providing care impacts your health or increases your stress level, even a short break can do wonders to maintain your ability to continue caring for your loved one.

Day service options vary by community, but they can be selected hourly, daily, or several times per week to allow caregiver breaks.

6. Adult day services can help seniors remain independent.

Utilizing a day or two per week of day services is a great way for your senior loved one to continue living at home while introducing them to some of the special features of memory care.

Seniors who enjoy day services are also welcome to try short-term stays in our memory care communities. Short-term stays can be for a full 24 hours or longer if needed.

Both adult day services and short-term stays in our memory care communities allow support in a setting you can trust. Whether your loved one enjoys day services for an hour or two or comes several days weekly, see what will work best for them by contacting us today!

We’d love to answer any questions that you have about our memory care support services at Edgewood Healthcare.

Top Ten Senior Gifts This Season

Sparklers, snakes, a singing fish for the wall perhaps? Absolutely not! But what do you buy for the ones who have everything they need? Better versions of what they can use, of course!

Here are ten gift ideas for the holidays—or any occasion that can brighten a senior’s day:

1. Your Time

Spend an evening at home together, take a day trip somewhere fun, or be present with your loved one whenever possible. Time is by far the most precious gift we can all receive from those we love.

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2. Make Memories

A photobook, scrapbook, or other keepsake makes a personalized and thoughtful gift for any senior. Plus, they’ll likely spark some fond memories for both of you.

3. Media

While a new high-definition TV is always fun, how about a new larger-print bestseller or an audiobook? Loading music or videos that your loved one can appreciate (on a device they can easily use) is a great gift idea. New calendars with special events already written in for your loved one can be a nice way to highlight all of the fun times ahead.

4. Clothing and Footwear

Clothing that meets the need for style and function is a practical gift idea. Maybe your loved one has had a change in their clothing needs, or perhaps they like political shirts that have hit your last nerve—the perfect time for a gift! Bright colors and new duds are just the thing. Footwear such as grippy socks or supportive, easy-on, easy-off footwear that can help reduce their fall risk is always a real win, too!

5. Go Go Gadget:

Helpful gadgets such as universal TV remotes (larger buttons can be a plus), reaching devices, hand-held showerheads, or maybe a new reading device are all hits. Don’t forget the batteries, and please work with your loved one or their caregivers so the gadget you gift is easy to use!

6. Plush Toys

Soft teddy bears are always fun, but there are a variety of life-like robotic cats and dogs on the market that seniors and their adorable grandchildren can enjoy together.

7. A Cozy Blanket

Warm up their holiday season—and our long winters—with a plush, easy-care blanket. If you can wash it before you gift it, so it’s ready to enjoy, even better!

8. A Communication Device

How about an easy-to-use cellphone or perhaps an emergency response unit (pendent or bracelet) so your loved one can easily access emergency services? Personal response units have come a long way; there are even units with GPS devices that can be used to alleviate wandering or alert providers quickly of falls.

9. Toiletries

Soap-on-a-rope or a long-handled back brush are always nice ways to make bath time more enjoyable and safer.

10. Food

Take your loved one to their favorite restaurant or bring them their favorite dish or traditional foods that you know they love. After all, food is usually the way to most people’s hearts!For further reading on how to support loved ones during the holidays, please check out our blog “Your Mom Has Alzheimer’s. Now What?” This blog highlights some ways that visits, especially holiday celebrations, can be adapted to be more meaningful in a way that meets your loved one’s needs and preferences for holidays and other visits.

For additional information or if you have any questions, please contact us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.

Your Mom Has Alzheimer’s: Now What?

There are simply no words to define what someone feels when they’re told, “You have Alzheimer’s disease.” Those words are so overwhelming. Finding the ability to take a breath, much less finding out the next steps in how to continue day-to-day life, seems unfathomable. We want you to know you’re not alone; there’s support available, and even others out there who know the same turmoil you’re feeling. While the Alzheimer’s journey can be turbulent, there’s hope at Edgewood Healthcare. We’re here to support your loved ones as if they were our own.

Let’s explore some thoughtful ways to support those living with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s:

Be Present

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As with any life-changing diagnosis, we will all go through a variety of emotions as we learn to accept living with Alzheimer’s. Anger, denial, resentment, depression, fear, isolation, and loss can all walk hand-in-hand with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Open, honest communication is best when discussing their diagnosis with your loved one. Offer reassurance that you will be there every step of the way to help.

Recognize that not all of your family members will be on the same page emotionally. Encourage them all to be open and kind. If you feel it’s right for your loved one and family, you might consider professional mental health counseling. It can provide additional emotional support to manage the complexities of a new and difficult Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Find Support

Make sure there is adequate help available for your loved one if they are in need of daytime or round-the-clock support. Having a team of caregivers can help to reduce caregiver burnout. If there is not a team available to meet their needs safely at home, here are a few ideas for exploring added services:

Encourage Good Health

Advocate for healthy habits such as balanced nutrition, adequate fluid intake, exercise, sleep, and continued socialization with friends and relatives. Avoiding dehydration is always important; dehydration may increase symptoms such as confusion. Confusion can also be worsened if your loved one is not sleeping enough. Monitor and report symptoms and patterns and share those with medical providers to ensure they receive the necessary information.

Be Flexible

It’s important to meet your loved one where they are in their Alzheimer’s journey. Sometimes that means changing our plans and traditions.

When visiting with your loved one, rethink the surroundings. Things such as lighting or background noise can create anxiety or further confusion for your loved one. Ensure that the room where you’re visiting is brightly lit, and turn off TVs, radios or other background noises to help them focus and encourage conversations. Ask brief questions and allow them plenty of time to respond.

Pay careful attention to your loved one’s demeanor in large crowds, as sometimes that can increase anxiety. Smaller groups or one-on-one visits are sometimes more meaningful for your loved one as their needs change. Also, pay attention to the timing of your visits. For example, if they face sundowning symptoms, meet earlier in the day. And always remember, if your loved one doesn’t want to visit or cuts a visit short, please respect that wish and try again another time.

Conversations can also slow down during visits as your loved one’s Alzheimer’s progresses. Having photo albums, magazines or other activities that don’t require verbal conversations are thoughtful ways to continue a meaningful visit without much talk, if they’re not feeling up to it.

Find Information

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, we can introduce mindful adaptations to daily living to better support those with Alzheimer’s. Visit the Alzheimer’s Association website and feel free to call their toll-free number anytime, day or night, for support suggestions: 1-800.272.3900.

Our specialized team at Edgewood Healthcare can bring clarity to your family or offer some ideas on how we can support you and your loved one through this journey. Find a memory care community near you, or email us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.

Edgewood Expands North Dakota Operations

Cartoon image of Grand Forks South

Edgewood Healthcare is excited to announce an expansion to their North Dakota operations, with the addition of a new Grand Forks community scheduled to open in March 2022. Edgewood Grand Forks will be located at 1800 47th Ave. S, Grand Forks, ND, and is adjacent to the Scheels Sports Complex.

Plans for the new development include 24 Independent Living cottage homes and 144 Assisted Living apartments, with a portion of those being designated as Memory Care units specially designed for those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Proposed on-site services and amenities include a movie theater, coffee shop, salon, fitness center and chapel. Healthcare services, such as physical therapy and home health, will be provided on site, with Sanford Health designated as the on-site primary care provider in the community. The new Sanford Health Grand Forks Clinic is leased from Edgewood and conveniently connected to the new community.The new campus will be home to Edgewood’s third Grand Forks–area senior living community. Edgewood Healthcare currently operates Edgewood Parkwood, 749 South 30th Street, Grand Forks and Edgewood Memory Care, 608 5th Avenue NW, East Grand Forks.

“Edgewood has a long history of providing quality care and services to seniors across North Dakota and the upper Midwest. We look forward to continuing that tradition today and for many years to come,” said Phil Gisi, owner and CEO of Edgewood. “Plus, Grand Forks is home to our company, so it only makes sense that we continue offering high-quality, consistent and innovative care to the seniors that are right in our own backyard,” he continued.

Additionally, Robert Ford, Jr., President of Edgewood Healthcare’s Senior Living division, has announced that Eric Hoffmann will serve as Executive Director of Edgewood Grand Forks. After successfully completing Edgewood’s Executive Director in Training Program (EDIT), Hoffmann was promoted to Executive Director at Edgewood Memory Care in East Grand Forks, where he’s served for the past 3 years.

“Eric’s strong leadership style and competitive nature make him the perfect person to guide this Grand Forks team through a successful community opening and beyond,” said Ford. “We look forward to improving the ease of access to a wider range of senior living services and healthcare options for our friends and neighbors in Grand Forks,” Ford continued.

About Edgewood Healthcare

Edgewood Healthcare is the leading operator of senior living communities in the upper Midwest. Since 1992, Edgewood has been committed to helping seniors stay as independent as possible, for as long as possible, with well-trained staff members in communities designed for residents to receive various living and care options. Currently, Edgewood owns and/or operates 64 independent living, assisted living and memory care communities with over 4,100 beds in seven states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho), and employs nearly 3,300 people. Edgewood Healthcare’s corporate offices are located at 322 Demers Avenue, Suite 500, Grand Forks, N.D.

Is Home Health For Me?

In celebration of Home Health Month this November, we’d like to share an all-too-common story (well, maybe everyone’s story doesn’t involve a St. Bernard) of someone who learned the importance of in-home healthcare services.

Picture it, Sicily 1912—totally kidding, we’re setting this stage in Minot, ND, in 2021. You live independently in the home you’ve lived in for the last 40 years. After losing your husband a decade ago, you’ve grown to cherish the memories of your home and the support from your helpful community. You told your family that not even Elvis Aaron Presley himself inviting you to live at Graceland would convince you to leave.You’re enjoying an unseasonably warm fall afternoon in your back yard. As you’re walking toward your front door, out comes your neighbor’s St. Bernard. He’s headed for trouble— quickly approaching your freshly planted mums to do who only knows what. Before you politely shoo him away, he dashes to greet you, and down you go! Naturally, he licks your face and lies at your side (which does, in fact, keep him from your pretty mums—let’s make this a happy story).

 

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When you wake up the next morning, you realize your knee is quite sore, and the scrape looks dodgy. As the day progresses, walking across your home to take your medications and test your blood sugar has become a painful struggle. Your appetite wanes because it hurts to cook. It’s high time to see a doctor (a wise choice after any fall).

Your family doctor diagnoses you with a knee sprain and weakness. Nothing is broken, you do not require surgery or what you dread the most: a stint at the nursing home for recovery. Doc orders you to complete outpatient wound care treatments and physical therapy, or PT.

After attending a couple of PT sessions and a wound care visit, you realize that the drive to the clinic and walking across the parking lot is too much. You miss some therapy. Your wound won’t heal properly since you’re diabetic and not eating as much.

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t fall or become injured (and dogs wouldn’t get into our flowers), but let’s face it—real life happens. While it’s commonplace to skip out on appointments if we don’t feel up to going, that can, unfortunately, jeopardize our health and abilities in the long term.

There’s truly no place like home, and we know conditions and injuries are best treated where you feel most comfortable. Edgewood’s continuum of care model offers expert care providers to meet your needs, wherever you call home.

Depending on where you live, you may not need to drive to therapies; therapy and skilled nursing services may be available to you at home.

Skilled home healthcare does not help with vacuuming, laundry, or cooking. While those services are out there, skilled home healthcare is more like help from registered service professionals, such as nurses or licensed therapy professionals, who come to you.The Edgewood Health Network offers several skilled healthcare services in the comfort of your own home. Whether you live in your private residence or in an apartment at an Edgewood assisted living or memory care community, skilled in-home care services, from therapies to RN wound care, may be available.

Here’s what the Edgewood Health Network can offer:

The above list is only a summary of what may be available.

Skilled home health services may be covered under Medicare Insurance, Medicaid, or the Veterans Administration, or they can be funded independently. We’re happy to help you explore your coverage when you speak to us for a referral.

Whether you’re nursing an injury from your neighbor’s St. Bernard or you just want to increase your strength to avoid falls, our providers can work with your doctor to improve your odds for safety and success at home.

To determine if skilled healthcare services are available in your area, please reach out to us today by email at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.

The Benefits of Moving to Senior Living Now (Yes, Even During COVID)

While families are already facing enough pressure to provide care for their loved ones, adding a pandemic into the mix has not made matters easier. Waiting until COVID-19 settles and our world realigns can seem like a logical reason to put off finding an assisted living community. We know it is an emotionally complex decision to juggle, especially while we’re facing a virus that has proven lethal for seniors. As COVID progresses, Edgewood Healthcare continues to align its practices to keep everyone safe; wellness is at Edgewood’s forefront.

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To consider that move now rather than later, read about a few benefits that might make this decision easier.

We’re Proactive in Meeting Seniors’ Needs

Accidents, injuries, and illnesses like COVID-19 can happen; however, our healthcare teams are prepared to help you reduce that likelihood. At Edgewood, we are here to help if you fall, keep an eye on your daily health, communicate your needs to your medical providers, and even help manage your medication. By offering regular caregiver check-ins, daily exercise classes, and even on-site physical therapy to encourage strength and stability, we’re here to be one step ahead.

We understand that COVID is the elephant in the room when considering a move, due to the many unknowns. Families often worry whether lockdowns and “safer in place” recommendations could rear their ugly heads again, especially as COVID variants evolve. Yet, COVID has actually created the opportunity for ingenuity. Carmen Dougherty, Executive Director at Edgewood Sioux Falls community, highlighted that flexibility and creativity have both been paramount in successfully managing the everyday challenges that COVID has presented. She explained that texting family members and staying connected virtually has helped residents tremendously.

There’s a Continuum of care at your fingertips

At Edgewood, we understand there are many care and living options available to seniors, and our goal is to provide the best of all these services under one roof.

Across the board, we have seen a rise in depression, decreased endurance and strength, increased falls, and general loss of function in our senior population as a result of the isolation they’ve endured during COVID-19. Our mission is to do everything possible to prevent, slow, and improve these declines by implementing the appropriate therapeutic measures for our residents. We’ve learned throughout this experience and continue to creatively respond to challenges, to improve in any way we can.

Most of us have been forced (likely more than once) to wait to see our medical providers during the pandemic. At Edgewood, we bring the providers right to you in the convenience of your home, so you’re not forced to rely on the local emergency room to treat routine medical issues.

Many of Edgewood’s assisted living communities have on-site therapy and home health services, and several even offer an In-Home Provider Program (think on-site Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants). These providers are currently caring for residents in several Edgewood communities in Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, with plans to expand into additional states over time. Our goal is to provide ease of access to the vital healthcare services and amenities our 4,000+ residents truly need.

We recently spoke to staff at Edgewood Brookings, to get a real feel for what it was like in their community during the eye of the pandemic. Anna Tellekson, Clinical Services Director, explained that although they had a high rate of seniors contracting COVID-19 in their community, they were able to use a very imaginative approach by partnering with their local hospital to offer treatment on-site. That creativity allowed many residents to bypass the already overworked emergency rooms, and instead receive care in the comfort of their own home. Residents who required oxygen and IV treatments were able to have those services on-site, without requiring a hospital admission or waiting in the ER.

Communal Living Reduces Social Isolation

As we age, we know it can become challenging to socialize, especially during the frigid winter months. Not having a daily workplace to go to or a routine to follow can feel isolating and, in some cases, opens the door to feelings of loneliness or depression. With so many families facing quarantines and practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID, our visits with our loved ones have changed drastically.

Assisted living communities offset this by providing daily life enrichment activities that residents can enjoy. From games to movies, fitness classes, crafts, music, outings, and even happy hour, residents can remain as active as they choose while meeting new people who share common interests.

It’s undeniable that a COVID-19 case could arise, but nonetheless, we’ve created alternatives to ensure our residents are provided safety but still have the interaction they deserve. When social distancing recommendations and quarantines were at their peak at Edgewood Brookings, teams were there every step of the way to offer reassurance, creativity, and flexibility in meeting with residents and their families. In speaking with Samantha Heibult, Business Office Director at Edgewood in Brookings, she explained that during COVID, she and her team would work together to do whatever was needed to help, no matter their role at Edgewood. She would visit residents in their rooms and help with meals or personal care, but most importantly, she would stop by to socialize so that they didn’t feel alone. Stephanie Vlaminick, Manager at Edgewood Brookings Memory Care, elaborated —“I brought my personal cell phone into rooms so people could stay connected with their loved ones by phone and just say I love you.”Assisted living communities like Edgewood strive to provide residents a home-like environment that includes meals, housekeeping, transportation, medication management, and countless opportunities for social, physical and spiritual engagement, even during a pandemic.

While there’s no need to continue waiting out COVID alone, if you’re uncertain about whether a permanent move is right for you or a loved one, consider a short-term stay to “try before you buy.” A short-term stay can give you the real feel of assisted living and ensure that you have in-person help available during uncertain times.

Call to schedule a tour today!

When evaluating assisted living options, don’t be afraid to ask valuable questions about the safety measures in place. Feel free to also ask for flexibility in scheduling meetings and tours.

Here are a few questions to consider:

Rest assured, we have proactive practices and processes set in place by each state health department to keep you as safe as possible. Our teams at Edgewood Healthcare understand that COVID has created countless challenges for seniors and their families. If you are exploring senior living options for yourself or a loved one but are concerned about safety measures, we are here for you!

Find a community near you, or contact us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.

Reach for a Rewarding Career with Edgewood

Do you love going to work with your friends? Do you find joy and purpose in helping others when they need it the most? Are you honest and dependable, and do you like working hard and playing hard? Do what you love and love what you do at Edgewood!

Edgewood Healthcare specializes in supporting seniors the way they need it. We are looking for staff who want to help our seniors live the brightest days of their lives.

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What makes Edgewood a great place to work? Here, you’re not just an employee but part of the Edgewood family! Our staff truly does and says it all. Consider creating experiences like these with those who call us home by joining our Edgewood team.

Excellent Workplace Culture

Edgewood employees enjoy camaraderie, and many consider their co-workers as a close-knit group. The residents at Edgewood also become fond friends of our staff. “My co-workers are like my family,” says Amber Colvin, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), who’s been with the Edgewood, Virginia, MN, community for six years. She enjoys that her teammates do whatever needs to be done.

Whether staff are working in a direct care capacity or in an office setting, the residents are the reason we come to work every day. “Everyone is here to help, everyone plays a key role, no matter what their title is. The staff at Edgewood are rock stars and treat our residents like gold,” says Lori Linder, Business Office Director, who’s been with Edgewood for 20 years.

As a company, Edgewood has been caring for seniors for over 28 years and recently celebrated the 20-year anniversary of our Edgewood, Virginia community. During that special occasion, we took the opportunity to visit with several staff members who have been with the team for many years. Those staff members shared why they’ve enjoyed such longevity at Edgewood.

Kelly Sandstrom, Life Enrichment Director, has been with Edgewood, Virginia, for 14 years. She plans to work there until she moves in. “I love the residents; it’s like having 200 grandparents.” Watch here to see for yourself why Edgewood is a phenomenal place to work; ”I don’t want to work anywhere else.”

Flexible Work-Life Balance

We offer flexible scheduling and full-time and part-time positions. At Edgewood, we recognize and respect that everyone’s ideal job and schedule vary.

We interviewed Jason Grannemann, a Maintenance Technician who’s been with Edgewood, Virginia, for 11 years. Jason began his career with Edgewood as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and then moved into other roles, such as passing medications, working in transportation, and eventually his current position as a Maintenance Tech. Jason loves his coworkers and the people at Edgewood. He likes the flexibility of his work, which also allows him to enjoy his hobbies.

Edgewood has several current openings. There are positions here for everyone from Maintenance Technicians to Executive Directors to Caregivers, and we provide excellent on-the-job training. Many of our staff began their careers in direct care positions and have moved up to director and management roles. Edgewood also offers an Executive Director in Training Program (EDIT), which is an intensive educational experience designed specifically to provide individuals with a broad base of operational knowledge and the skills required to become a licensed Executive Director in an Edgewood Assisted Living and/or Memory Care community.

Here are a Few More Perks of Working at Edgewood:

If you’re interested in joining the Edgewood Family to experience the gratifying benefits of helping seniors thrive, please visit our careers page today!

4 Ways to Warm Up Your Winter With a Short-Term Stay

Winter can be a beautiful season, but as we age and face a variety of new needs and challenges, WINTER can also be an icy word for many folks. At Edgewood, we can provide you with a nice, warm experience this winter (or any season for that matter), even if you prefer it’s just a brief stay.

Short-term stays in assisted living are designed with flexibility and convenience in mind, to meet each guest’s personal needs. Although the impending winter months are a great reason (and timing) for giving short-term stays a try, there are more reasons than just some flying snow for choosing to come stay with us.

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Here are just a few examples:

Seasonal

Okay, as we’ve already mentioned, you can say goodbye to pesky shoveling or salting and warming up your car and hello to homecooked meals, doing yoga, and enjoying group shopping trips in a nice warm bus! Or maybe you’re a snowbird that flies south for the winter. If you’re not interested in maintaining a separate place “at home” anymore, we offer short-term stays year-round (yes, including summertime).

Recovery and rehab 

Following surgery or an injury, many of us face a bumpy road to recovery, especially as we get older. And at Edgewood, we understand that recovery can be even harder when it’s done alone. That’s why many of our communities offer on-site home health services and outpatient rehab-like physical, occupational, or speech therapy — so you or a loved one can recover in a more homelike setting with the care you need and avoid moving to a skilled nursing facility.

Having the extra help and rehab under one roof can improve your chances of full recovery. So when you do return home — that is, if you don’t decide being spoiled by our staff long-term is a better option — you’ll likely be able to remain there even longer.

Home renovations

Home renovations can cause extra trip-ups, with cords, ladders or other items lying around that could increase your risk for falls. Plus, who wants to live in the dusty, chaotic environment created by home renovations? Come put your feet up and relax at Edgewood, where our multi-talented team might even have an eye for helping you choose the best paint colors for your home makeover!

Real feel

Are you on the fence about selling your home and making a move into an assisted living community? A short-term stay can give you the real feel of assisted living before you make the full commitment. We like to call this our “try before you buy” option; it’s a happy medium between just window shopping and making a permanent move.

Still need a little more convincing? Check out these three life-changing reasons to try short-term senior care solutions. But no matter what your reason is for choosing a short-term stay at Edgewood, we can assure you it will be a great decision!

For more information, please give us a call today at 701.738.2000 or email info@edgewoodhealthcare.com; we’re here to help.

6 Tips for Getting Family Members on Board with Senior Living

Change—what a loaded word! For most of us, making big changes is rarely something we want to do, but when we have to, those important changes tend to take time. What you feel good about may not feel good to your loved ones. Trying to get an entire family on board with a big decision, like moving into an assisted living community, can often feel like herding cats!

Many emotions engulf families when a loved one is considering leaving their long-time family home to explore an alternative living setting. Often, families can get so caught up in their own emotions and how they feel that they forget the purpose of the conversation. It’s important to remember the “why” and steer the conversation back to how your loved one can benefit from exploring an assisted living community.

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Here are six tips and tricks to bring families together in discussing this important life change.

  1. Start Small. Initiate a conversation with your family that introduces the idea of considering senior living for mom or dad (or another senior loved one). Starting small can gauge someone’s initial reaction to the idea of making a change—and leads nicely into the next tip.
  1. Wait a Bit. Depending on how the dust settles after the first conversation, start another dialogue with your family and loved ones in a couple of days or weeks. You know them best, so judge what timing seems right to convey the importance of the issue without seeming too pushy (no one likes that). Also, remember to change your approach if the first go-round was less than successful.
  1. Tell a Story. Come armed with real-life examples—or personal anecdotes—that help illustrate ways your loved one will benefit. You may want to start by highlighting the personalized care and support or even additional healthcare services (like physical therapy or home health) that are available in assisted living. For example:

Did you know so-and-so moved into Edgewood Assisted Living? They take care of his apartment, provide all his meals, help with his care and other personal services and even offer a bunch of social activities and exercise classes to keep him active. He’s busier than ever and loves it!

  1. Make it a Family Affair. If your senior loved one is interested in making the move but maybe other family members are still on the fence, you might carefully work in some ways your whole family can benefit. For example, listing some of the specific tasks they might be able to permanently cross off their to-do lists if mom or dad makes the move. Planting the seed of how a move could mutually benefit all parties may be enticing enough to get everyone on board with the decision.
  2. Phone a Friend. Find a trusted friend, or perhaps an extended family member, who’s either moved to or helped someone move to an assisted living community, then pick his or her brain. What was important to them when choosing a community? What barriers did they experience with their family or loved ones? After all, we tend to value the opinions of those we know. And if you don’t know anyone who’s been through a similar move, our Edgewood residents are often happy to share their experiences. Visit Edgewood’s Find a Community page to get in contact with your local community and set up a time to come chat with our staff and residents.
  1. Take a Tour. If your loved one agrees, schedule a visit and tour; it’s an excellent way to see what an assisted living or memory care community can offer. A guided tour with community staff can help address all of your questions and concerns, providing a meaningful way to add depth to continued conversations with your family. When calling to request a tour, ask if it can be scheduled during a life enrichment activity or meal, so you’re able to see the opportunities for engagement and socialization that are provided inside the walls of an assisted living community. Plus, you’ll likely get a free meal, and we all know how important good food is!

Moving into an assisted living community is an important change. In all honesty, there’s no magic wand when it comes to trying to convince all parties that it’s time for mom or dad to move. The best way to focus on this type of life change is to bring it back to why your loved one needs and will benefit from an alternative living arrangement. Focusing on the individual instead of how the change will impact us helps make an important and life-changing decision even easier for our loved ones.

Change brings opportunity—Nido Qubein

 For more information on what senior living options your local Edgewood offers, please visit our Find a Community page or call us at 701.738.2000.

The Top 5 Benefits of Assisted Living

Edgewood Healthcare’s assisted living communities are an excellent choice for those who want a place to thrive and grow while receiving individualized healthcare services.

Assisted living communities have evolved over the past several years. Honestly, they resemble more of a maintenance-free, “all-inclusive” lifestyle for you or your loved one, providing amenities and health services all under one roof. These benefits can help you and your loved ones look forward to and bring ease to this new chapter of life!

September 12-18 is a special week, and we’re taking the opportunity to recognize the roles of compassion, community, and caring for seniors residing in assisted living and other long-term care communities like ours. In celebration of National Assisted Living Week, let’s recognize a handful of benefits that allow us to age beautifully physically, emotionally, and socially!

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1. Assisted Living Prevents Social Isolation

After spending so much of our lives working and looking after our families, it can be hard to fill each day with quality YOU time and social experiences after retirement. These hours alone can feel endless, which is why we always encourage seniors to keep active and involved in their local community. Seniors are at a much higher risk of loneliness and depression, but assisted living can help to overcome these issues. You’ll find a diverse activity calendar that allows you to meet other residents and find new hobbies during this time in your life. As long as you are willing to try and get involved, we promise you’ll have no issue making new friends when you move into our assisted living community.

2. Professional & Compassionate Care Around the Clock

Whether you need help with dressing, hygiene, taking medication, or a hand with some of your basic daily chores, we are here to help you all day and night. Our team strives to offer you privacy and protect your dignity while giving you the customized help you need to enjoy a good quality of life. The great thing about assisted living is that you will have a personalized care plan, which can be adjusted at any time. These care plans are reviewed on a regular basis, so we can ensure that you are receiving an appropriate level of care.

3. High-Quality Meals

Say goodbye to the dreaded meal planning and grocery shopping, and say hello to a variety of meals offered by our chefs! One of the keys to a healthy and happy community is offering residents fresh and delicious meals each day. We know how much of a pain cooking for yourself can be, so our team of chefs will create tasty yet healthy meals for you daily. In addition to it being healthy and tasty, our dining experience is one of the best ways to make new friends, and it gives you the fuel you need for a busy day ahead. Every day is a celebration in our local community, and we welcome you to arrange a special meal with your family and friends whenever they visit.

4. Peace of Mind for Family Members

As we grow older, our family members often take on more responsibility for us. If you don’t have any family or close friends in the local area, it can worry everyone as you grow older. Assisted living will offer both you and your family the piece of mind that you both need. They can take comfort in the fact that you’re in good hands. If anything were to happen, our team will always have contact details for your family members, so they will be immediately updated about your health and wellbeing. Your family is encouraged to visit as often as possible, so you can keep in touch with your family and friends from your previous community. Our assisted living communities focus on safety and security, with little touches throughout your living accommodations to help you avoid slips and trips.

5. Enjoy More Free Time

Forget filling your time with those daily chores, shoveling, and mowing the grass, and take advantage of friendships, entertainment, and free time! We believe that your retirement should be enjoyed, not endured. You’ll no longer have to waste endless hours tidying your home and garden, instead, you can just enjoy the finer things in life. Assisted living offers a safe, secure, and hassle-free living solution, and you won’t ever have to do some of those dreaded chores again. You’ll finally be able to get around to all those fun activities on your wish list, such as reading a new series of books, going on vacation to Hawaii, or for the very adventurous, bungee jumping! Assisted living is the best of both worlds, providing you with a home-like experience that leaves you with maintenance-free upkeep yet independent and part of an active, social community.

These are just a few of the key benefits of assisted living, all of which you’ll experience here at Edgewood Healthcare. You and your family will enjoy peace of mind when you opt for assisted living, and you’ll receive compassionate care and assistance that’s tailored to your needs and current situation. What more can you ask for!?

For more information about assisted living, find a community near you or contact us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.