Baywoods of AnnapolisBaywoods of AnnapolisDementia Caregivers With over 5 million people in the US with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia, more and more families are tasked with caring for a loved one who suffers from these tragic diseases. A long-term continuing care retirement community (CCRC) can be of great assistance, but it’s also important to educate and empower the family and loved ones. This article will provide insight on how to care for and communicate with
Retirement Community Menu Diet and food choices are obviously critical to a long life with good health, so it’s important to know that your retirement community is offering food choices that you’ll be eager to consume. We’ll outline the top five things you should consider about potential retirement communities when it comes to dining. Preparing food for a large group of seniors can present some interesting challenges. Factors such as medication side effects, special dietary requirements, decreased ability to taste, and providing obese or underweight residents viable meals are all considerations. Even with these challenges, it is possible to ensure your retirement community offers the selections you are seeking. Here’s how: Does your retirement community involve residents in menu planning? Is a nutritionist involved in meal planning? Many communities have food committees where residents assist chefs with meal suggestions or recipes. These suggestions are then often reviewed by a nutritionist to ensure the meals meet certain vitamins, minerals, and caloric requirements. Flexible Dining Schedule or Multiple Dining Rooms? Flexibility is important so that residents can adopt a schedule that is conducive to their preferences. Some communities, like Baywoods of Annapolis, offer several dining venues to accommodate a variety of preferences.
Senior Living Lifestyles Having the amenities you enjoy and the social environment that fosters engagement are key factors to making the most of your senior living lifestyle. In this article, we explore tips to help you transition and make the most of your new life! Do you remember the first day of school? You were probably anxious, unsure of what was to come and perhaps wondering how you would fit in and how you would get to know your way around your new school. Many of us face the same challenges when moving to a new way of life in retirement. So the first step is to acknowledge those fears and begin to take small steps to put them behind you. Establish a new routine or hobby. Whether you read the newspaper first thing every day, take a morning stroll, or just relax and perhaps meditate by the water, find something that can help you create a new routine that you enjoy. Try something new! Most senior living communities have plenty of activities and events scheduled throughout the day. Why not try something new? This will keep you busy, meeting new people, and may even provide some daily exercise. Get
An illness or injury can prevent your family members or loved ones from effectively participating in their activities of daily live. When an incident prevents your family member or loved one from performing everyday tasks and self-care, a doctor may order physical, occupational, or speech therapy. Here’s what to look for in a high-quality rehab institution. Look for a track record of success Ask what percentage of their Rehab patients /residents go home from their short-term Program. Top quality programs are known to produce a rate of 92-96% patients return home from a short-term stay. That’s your goal is to be in a very high results driven program. All outcomes are measured in healthcare and this produces a more accurate picture of the success of the Rehab program. At BayWoods of Annapolis, we work diligently to provide a 96% return rate to home. We work hard to make residents well prepared for their return home by doing a home visit with the resident making sure that they are returning to a safe environment. What are the accommodations like? Does the Rehab program have private rooms, adequate staffing and Credentialed staff? Look carefully at the staff’s credentials and make sure that the environment
Retirement Community Living As humans, we are naturally social creatures. As we grow older, the opportunities to socialize may be inhibited by health, mobility, and other factors. Let’s explore how retirement communities enhance social environments and potentially extend life expectancy. Unlike the nursing home that your grandmother went to, today’s retirement communities have been reinvented to provide a wide range of activities, services, and amenities. Still, many people have the impression that moving to a retirement community will require them to give up their independence and therefore, many people postpone or resist the decision. However, not only are today’s communities driven to help you maintain independence, the services offered on-site typically allow you to regain your independence much quicker, after an illness or accident. But, the social factors of living in a retirement community cannot be overlooked. Here are a few reasons why: Socialization. Socialization is important at every stage of our life. As babies and toddlers, socialization helps us to develop communication skills and learn from those around us. In our later years, socialization is just as important and even helps to maintain these skills. In addition, opportunities to socialize help reduce loneliness, establish friendships, relate and interact with
Choosing a retirement community is a big decision. How do you know you’re making a choice that will make you or your loved one happy? Use this checklist to ensure your retirement community has all the amenities that will allow you to live a happy, healthy lifestyle. 1. Continuing Care levels Available: Having additional levels of care available when you need is a must. After all, you made the move to a Retirement Community so that you will not have to be burdened with additional moves. You want to make sure that there is an Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing/Short–term Rehab on site for your healthcare needs. You should have the support there when you need it. 2. Fitness Center and Indoor Pool: Fitness facilities/activities such as water aerobics provide the cardiovascular and mental health benefits associated with regular exercise in a low-impact environment. A refreshing exercise class in a warm pool is a perfect way for retirees to get appropriate exercise without risking injury. BayWoods of Annapolis residents love the option of swimming in the pool and taking instructor led fitness classes. 3. Putting Green Hitting the links may not be such an attractive option anymore, as long days
Retirement Community Types At BayWoods of Annapolis, we want seniors to make informed decisions about their retirements, so we’ve created a quick comparison of the different types of retirement communities that you’re likely to encounter. If you have any questions about the costs of living at BayWoods of Annapolis, feel free to get in touch with our staff. Insurance Model or Life Care Community The design of a Life care model or Insurance model community usually has monthly fees associated in Independent Living that would follow them throughout their life. No matter what level of care they received. Most Life care communities require larger up-front fees, then monthly payments that are contingent on your health status for the duration of care and service. The larger entry fee covers the cost of future care requirements. Fee-for-Service This is the most straightforward model, a fee-for-service plan, requires you to pay for only those services that you use or need. This works best for most people because they are not paying high costs for services that they may never need or utilize. Their monthly payments are usually required a little higher but entrance fees are lower. These communities are very popular and practical
Continuing Care Retirement Community We all want what’s best for our loved ones. At some point, we realize that our parents or loved ones cannot live as well or as safely independently like they used to. When everyday activities become difficult, a move to a continuing care retirement community will help a retiree thrive. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider before you tour a senior community. Is this a Financially Feasible Option? The first thing to consider is whether moving to a senior living community makes financial sense for your loved one. Is their current living situation safe for them, then consider is the house upkeep draining their finances. Many seniors have to get help or contract with services outside of the home to keep their property up. Sit down with your parents and determine what they are spending on a monthly basis to keep their home going. Real Estate taxes, school taxes etc. Ask them to calculate the amount they receive from all retirement accounts and Social Security payments. Once you have an idea about what they currently spend on a monthly basis, then look at what they can afford. At this point the process becomes easier. A
Cooperative Senior Living We all reach a point in our lives when living in your home doesn’t seem like the best alternative. Sometimes not even safe. Many turn to senior living communities for an easier alternative lifestyle for assistance. Cooperative living is more or less the best of both worlds. Owning in a Co-Op offers benefits that traditional options lack. Here’s why you should consider a cooperative arrangement for your retiree. Your Living Space and Yes you own it. Seniors sometimes feel as if they’re losing autonomy when they move to senior living communities. In a cooperative living environment, residents can choose their own Apartment home and can customize their living space. Co-Ops provide a clear sense of ownership and a place to call home. Take a virtual tour of one of our living spaces. A Community for the Residents At BayWoods, the residents are the community. An elected board meets monthly to propose community improvements and organize well thought through budgets. Our Residents have the option of voting on proposals and shaping the future. Don’t take our word for it – come and see what we’re all about! It’s A Resort Lifestyle Unlike traditional senior living communities residents are
Retirement Community Checklist Each of us has different lifestyles and priorities so, when it comes to choosing a retirement community, you want to be sure you’ve weighed all the pros and cons. Baywoods of Annapolis is pleased to provide you with this checklist to use as you search for the right retirement community for you! Overall Community Considerations ✔Is the community located near friends or family who may visit? ✔Does the community offer different levels of care to accommodate changing health needs? ✔How has the community performed in recent state inspections? ✔Does the community allow pets? ✔Does the community provide transportation to doctors, shopping or other local activities? ✔What are the costs and fees? ✔Does the community offer a co-op program to provide additional financial benefits? ✔What types of culture, cuisine, and events are offered in the local community? Staff ✔Do they have time to speak with you or does it feel rushed? ✔Are staff members warm and pleasant when communicating with residents? ✔Does the staff look happy? Do they seem to enjoy interacting with one another? Quality & Care-Taking ✔Do residents look well cared for? Clean clothes, shaven, hair clean and brushed? ✔How is medication managed? Paper or computer
Senior Program Options When considering senior living options, the programming available can make a large difference in a senior citizen’s quality of life. Do the programs offer options that encourage a vital, healthy lifestyle? At BayWoods of Annapolis quality of life is very important, and we strive to offer our residents with a vast array of Senior Program Options. We picked a few of our favorite programs for enriching a senior’s life to share with you below. Fitness Programs A good senior living arrangement offers a large variety of active programming that is suitable for all fitness levels. Some seniors may prefer the soothing benefits of low-impact water aerobics, while others may love a brisk walk in the open air. The quality of a living facility’s fitness schedule directly impacts a senior’s longevity, as participating in regular fitness activities promotes cardiovascular and mental health. Learning Options Just as it’s essential to participate in regular fitness, exercising our brains is an important aspect of remaining vital as we age. Senior living communities that offer top-quality learning options give residents a chance to maintain their mental health, while getting a chance to learn something new. BayWoods residents have the option of attending
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7101 Bay Front Drive, Annapolis Maryland 21403
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