NEWS & ARTICLES

Planning for Retirement Living – Where? How Much? How Long?

Retirement Living Planning We all know that planning for retirement, meeting with a financial planner, and understanding the expenses associated with retirement are important to ensure your lifestyle is all you hope for, during retirement.  In this article, Retirement Living Planning, we reveal the five things you should evaluate to make sure that your living arrangements meet all of your expectations. How Long Will You Live? While no one can

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Planning for Retirement Living – Where? How Much? How Long?

Retirement Living Planning We all know that planning for retirement, meeting with a financial planner, and understanding the expenses associated with retirement are important to ensure your lifestyle is all you hope for, during retirement.  In this article, Retirement Living Planning, we reveal the five things you should evaluate to make sure that your living arrangements meet all of your expectations. How Long Will You Live? While no one can answer this question for a certainty, the probability and statistics show that we are all living longer lives.  For example, if you saved $5 Million for retirement and only needed it for 5 years, your lifestyle would be very different than if you had to stretch that money to accommodate 25-35 more years.  So, it’s important to plan wisely for income and expenses that can support a longer life span. What Does Retirement Look Like For You? Have you saved up enough money to have the lifestyle you desire, in retirement?  Will you be able to retire early, or will you need to wait it out?  Will you be able to live and play on a golf course day in and day out, or will you need to consider some

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3 Ways to Avoid Loneliness in Retirement

Retire Happy While retirement can be a wonderful period of life, it may come with the challenge of loneliness for some.  In this article, Baywoods of Annapolis provides some ways that technology, activities, and a sense of community can help you or your loved ones avoid loneliness in retirement and feel healthier too! Stay Connected Humans are, generally speaking, social beings.  So, it’s important to maintain social connections.  Many studies show that these social interactions with family and friends may help reduce the risk of dementia and other age-related illnesses.  While some seniors like to explore online platforms, there is nothing that replaces live interactions with real human beings.  Even a phone call with a friend can be uplifting, so stay connected! Stay Busy A wise man once said, “Don’t be afraid of getting older – be afraid of getting boring!”   Many people adopt a “why bother” mentality.  They may say, “I’m so old, why bother,” but the real question is, “why not?”  If you’re retired, you probably have some time on your hands, so why not take a class, learn to play an instrument, or start writing your life story?  Staying busy often keeps your mind from dwelling on

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5 Ways to Transition Your Aging Parents to Assisted Living

Transitioning Aging Parents Caring for a parent can be an emotionally and sometimes financially draining process.  When it becomes apparent that your loved one should no longer be living on their own, or needs more help than you can provide, the process can be challenging.  In this article, we’ll cover some basic ways to transition your aging parents into assisted living. Where? The Big Decision – Most seniors do not look forward to any change or move.  Leaving their home may cause further distress since they may feel like they are giving up their freedom.  Research and visit facilities ahead of time.  Give them as much flexibility as possible and even consider taking them to visit your final two choices.  This way, they will feel as though they still have choices in the matter.  Perhaps they can even visit the community, meet staff, or take part in one of the events. Lay It Out. Often, this move will be downsizing.  So, make sure to get a floor plan of the new residence and lay out the furniture that will fit nicely in the new space.  Discuss the personal items that they would like to take with them and try to

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Is Waterfront Retirement Living Right for Me?

Waterfront Retirement Living Choosing the right retirement community for yourself or a loved one can be a challenging undertaking. With so many options available, we often feel overwhelmed. Waterfront retirement living has its advantages – could it be the perfect option for you? Check out these benefits of choosing to live retired life next to the water. Location, Location, Location, the waterfront atmosphere Water is known for its ability to create a serene atmosphere. After the hustle and bustle of our working years, a little tranquility could be just what the doctor ordered. BayWoods of Annapolis residents enjoy their own amazing water view of the Chesapeake Bay. The campus has a private pier, complete with benches and immaculate landscaping. A putting green directly overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. The waterfront views provide the perfect place to relax and reflect. For more information on our cooperative living environment on the Chesapeake Bay, please contact us. Waterfront views and Events Everyday should be filled with fantastic scenery. On those special occasions to celebrate what better way than with a waterfront view? Take advantage of the water’s tranquility by using it as a backdrop. BayWoods of Annapolis welcomes the use of the wooded boardwalk

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5 Tips for Dementia Caregivers

Dementia 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 a loved one with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia. ADAPTING THE HOME When an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient still lives at home, there are many concerns that must be addressed regarding safety.  While we always want to treat these patients with love and dignity, we must remember that they often have poor memory, difficulty following instructions, and periods of agitation or irritability.  So, like young children, we must adapt their living environment to accommodate for these shortcomings.  Cooking appliances must be adapted with safety mechanisms to avoid something being left on and the risk of fire.  Door and window alarms may need to be installed.  Hazardous materials may need to be stored in a locked cabinet. HELP IS EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK Caregivers are often overwhelmed, uncertain, or scared.  However, there are a

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How Families Can Prepare for Senior Care

Senior Care Preparation According to the AARP, “Today, 30 million households are providing care for an adult over the age of 50—and that number is expected to double over the next 25 years.”  Those 30 million caregivers are often still balancing their own life, their children’s lives, and sometimes even grandchildren.  But, a little preparation goes a long way.  So, we’ve compiled 4 things you need to do to develop a care-giving plan for your loved ones. Start a conversation. It’s never too late to start the conversation about a care-giving plan, but many families wait until a crisis occurs.  At this point, the options may be more limited or decisions rushed due to the circumstances.  So, it’s important to start the conversation sooner rather than later. Identify the team of resources. Family, friends, neighbors, religious organizations, and community support centers can all play a role in the care-giving process.  Understand who is available and what types of support they can provide.  By splitting up the responsibilities, the tasks won’t seem as overwhelming.  Establish a team leader and talk through the responsibilities with all family members, including the person who will be receiving the care.  Try to get everyone on

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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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What’s for Dinner? 5 Things Your Retirement Community Should Offer.

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.

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Making the Most of a Continuing Care Retirement Community

Continuing Care Retirement Communities Moving to a senior living community is an important step toward gaining independence and enjoying the everyday pleasures that retirement living can bring. Make the most out of your time in a senior living environment by following these tips. Get Involved In a Continuing Care Retirement community, there’s always something to do! Join a club or a fitness class, learn how to do something new by taking a class, or hit the links on a putting green. At BayWoods of Annapolis, we have many activities and programs to cater to any interest. We offer monthly trips, St. Johns College lectures and exclusive access to the Fitness Center to keep you living your best. For more information on our program offerings, get in touch with us. Take Advantage of Outside Offerings There are fewer things more relaxing than taking in the sights of the sailboats on the Bay, but it’s also beneficial to get away. BayWoods of Annapolis offers ample opportunity to explore our historic city by coordinating outings. With access to our parking garage, you’re free to come and go as you please. Check out the Orchestra at the Naval Academy, visit various museums, or take

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Senior Living Lifestyles

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

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