NEWS & ARTICLES

Considering Program Options in Senior Living Communities

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

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Physical Activity May Be the Fountain of Youth

Senior Citizen Exercises With as little as 30 minutes per day, you can stay fit and feel younger too!  A variety of low-impact physical activity can be incorporated into anyone’s daily routine.  In this article, Baywoods of Annapolis takes a look at some of the most common and innovative ways seniors can stay fit! According to the National Institute on Aging, “exercise and physical activity… can help prevent diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions affecting older adults.”  Below we’ve listed the four main types of exercise and physical activity that are recommended for seniors.  Many of these can be done from the comfort of your own living room!   As always, check with your physician before starting any exercise program.  Ok, here we go! Endurance exercise is aimed at increasing your endurance through low impact activities that make you breathe faster, speed up your heart rate, and burn off calories. These kinds of activities may include brisk walking or jogging, dancing, tennis, and more! Strength training is vital to preserving muscle mass, controlling weight, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and decreases injury risk. You can begin strength training right at home with light weights, resistance bands, or by using your

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Five Things Your Retirement Living Community Should Have

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

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How Seniors Can Use Technology to Age Gracefully

Aging Gracefully with Technology Every day, 10,000 baby boomers reach the age of 65.  By 2030, when all members of the Baby Boom generation have finally reached that age, fully 18% of the nation’s population will be at least that age, according to Pew Research Center.  But this new generation of ‘seniors’ is redefining what it means to grow older, and many are adopting technologies to help them not only enjoy their golden years and give a whole new meaning to the term “Graceful Aging.”  In this article, we discuss some of the innovative ways seniors can use technology to age gracefully. The Internet Although previous generations didn’t always adopt new technologies with ease or excitement, today’s seniors are taking advantage of many of the benefits that technology now offers.  The internet offers seniors access to a plethora of resources on healthcare, government/social services, and news or information.  On-line shopping makes travel and shopping less difficult, and virtually anything can be delivered right to your door!  This type of access allows seniors to stay informed and connected, which is a key component of aging gracefully. Smartphones Smartphones provide an extension of benefits from the internet, described above.  But, these devices

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Is Your Retirement Community Pet-Friendly?

Pet Friendly Retirement Community Pets can bring so much joy and help relieve anxiety and stress.  In this article, we’ll review how to make sure your retirement community is well-aligned with the needs of you and your pet. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that pets can be comforting companions, particularly as we grow older.   Walking a dog can provide great exercise, loving companionship, and help provide purpose.  So, you may wonder why a retirement community would have policies against pets?  As it turns out, there are some very valid things to consider, on both sides of the proverbial fence. One of the top priorities with a senior bringing a beloved pet to any community is to ensure that both the senior and their pets’ well-being is taken into consideration.  While pets can provide an array of benefits to their human parents, unfortunately, they can also present some challenges.  Seniors may not be able to continue to remember to properly medicate or feed their pets.  As the animal gets older, the pet may require special care or costly medications.  Getting them to a veterinarian for routine care may also be a challenge.  Furthermore, if you begin to experience

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Tips for helping you select the right rehabilitation facility after a stroke

When a loved one suffers from a stroke, the family and caregivers are often thrown into a whirlwind of decisions that need to be made in a relatively short time-frame.  The care provided to stroke survivors is often critical to their recovery process.  But, it can also be stressful and cause a significant disruption to the everyday life of the caregiver or family.  So, in this checklist, we’ll help you evaluate what you need to consider when choosing stroke rehabilitation and recovery programs. Does the facility provide the specific services your doctor has identified the stroke survivor needs? What system does the facility use to monitor progress and outcomes? Does the facility have full-time professionals experienced in stroke and rehabilitation practices? How do professionals stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and practices for stroke rehab? Is emergency medical care available at the facility, if it’s needed? Does the facility work with home health care professionals for the transition back to daily life? How are stroke victims transitioned back to daily living? What are the expected treatment program, duration, and outcomes? Is the rehab facility conveniently located nearby? Stroke therapy sessions are often scheduled several times a week, so you’ll want

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3 Tips for Living in The Sandwich Generation

Sandwich Generation If you are between the ages of 40-59, you are likely feeling the push and pull of the so-called Sandwich Generation.  What is the Sandwich Generation?  It’s when you are caring for aging parents, trying to launch children, and potentially provide care for grandchildren; needless to say, it can be stressful.  Splitting your time and energy between the kids and the parents is no easy task but if you’re working full-time, it’s almost impossible without help.  Here are some tips to help you take control of the situation. Self-Care is Important Take a breather. Along with all the other priorities, you are balancing, take the time to do something that brings you joy and relaxation. Your health and nutrition should not suffer because of everyone else’s needs. Be sure to keep up with your own doctor’s appointments and eat well.  After all, who will be there to care for them if something happens to you? Get rid of the guilt! Anything and everything you are doing for both your parents and your kids can be a thankless job.  But, do the best you can and don’t feel guilty about what you can’t do. Signs Your Parent Needs More

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Cooperative Senior Living: Part 3 – Virtual Dividends

Virtual Dividends In this series, we have discussed many benefits of living in a co-op community, with continuing care.  But, while writing this series, something amazing happened!  The residents of Baywoods of Annapolis received something that is literally unheard of in the industry – virtual dividends!  That’s right, for the month of December? the residents voted to give themselves a fee-free holiday!  Here’s how it happened! For-Profit Housing Cooperative As we have discussed, Baywoods of Annapolis is a Continuing Care Retirement Community that is structured as a for-profit housing cooperative (co-op) for seniors.  As such, residents are shareholders in the community and collectively make decisions on the activities, services, and food provided.  They have a direct hand in the future of the community.  Each of these decisions is influenced by the preferences of the community, but the group also make decisions that will be beneficially cost-effective. Exceeded Sales Goals So, in 2016, the sales for Baywoods Cooperative Housing Corporation (BCHC) were better than expected.  Actually, sales far exceeded goals and most expenses were well within budget!  So, the residents decided to take those profits and provide a ‘fee-free holiday’ for each resident, for one month.  This fee free holiday is like receiving a

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Cooperative Senior Living: Part 2 – More than just Smart Finances

COOPERATIVE SENIOR LIVING In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the significant financial benefits that cooperative living can provide retirees.  In Part 2, we review additional benefits that Co-Op Living can offer you in a retirement community setting. Community and collaboration are important benefits of cooperative living.  Since residents jointly own shares in the community, their desire to be involved is natural.  Involvement and engagement in the community is a key benefit for seniors. Co-ops like Baywoods of Annapolis offer residents a true sense of community by offering the services and activities that are of greatest interest to the members of the community.  The residents have a voice in the community through their own elected board of Directors whom represent the Community. The Community is NOT owned by an outside corporation instead it’s owned collectively by the resident shareholders. Continuing Care Retirement Communities, (CCRC’s), co-ops are designed to help members age-in-place.  Aging in place means that the co-op has designed the Campus to accommodate it’s residents as they grow older.  A Variety of amenities that make your day to day life easier and stress free for instance Wellness Checks by an RN, Daily health monitoring, Home Care services available.

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Cooperative Senior Living: Part 1 – A Smart Financial Decision

Cooperative Senior Living When you are touring communities for a place to retire, there are a variety of lifestyles and options available.  In this article, we provide you with five reasons you should consider a cooperative community (co-op) like Baywoods of Annapolis for your retirement! Cooperative communities, also referred to as ‘co-ops,’ are a great consideration when looking at Retirement communities. Include them as part of your search.  First, you should understand that a typical co-op is often structured so that all of the residents own the cooperative together, which allows them to share in the tax and financial benefits of ownership.  So, residents reap many of the same benefits as owning a home. Most co-ops have monthly dues that cover the costs of routine maintenance, landscaping, cleaning, and in some cases, on-site dining and various supportive services. By pooling together the needs of the entire community, and eliminating the middle-man, you have the ability to control costs, without the burden of sole ownership. Co-ops have the potential to build equity, just like real estate. For example, the Baywoods of Annapolis co-op offers a unique lifestyle, with a prime waterfront location.  A waterfront community is a sought-after feature not available

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When Should I Consider Making the Move to a Senior Living Community?

There are a variety of factors that must be evaluated when considering the right time to move to a senior living community.  Not the least of which are overall health, mobility, age, and ongoing home maintenance.  In this article, we will outline five questions you and your family should ask to determine the right timing for you and your situation.  The experienced team at Baywoods of Annapolis is always available to answer your questions or assist you with this process. Are you able to perform routine Activities of Daily Living (ADLS)? This would include mobility and independently being able to take care of one’s physical needs such as dressing, bathing, eating, etc.  Another related question is whether or not you can perform routine activities such as driving, cooking, shopping, house cleaning. Are there concerns or have issues arisen with regards to your safety? Older citizens are commonly preyed upon for scams.  Have you been the victim of such an incident?  Have you had issues with forgetfulness or remembering where you are?  Forgetting that the stove or other appliances are left on can pose serious dangers to you and your home. Has your health taken a turn? It is often difficult

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