NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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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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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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Why Onsite Health Care Services are Crucial for Retirement Communities

Onsite Health Care Services When you are choosing a continuing care retirement community, it’s usually based on the idea that you’re currently able to live independently. Most people know that situation may change later, and want to make sure that if the need arises that there is a full compliment of services available to help them. Retirement communities come in many varieties, but one of the major factors that should influence your decision in choosing one is the availability of onsite health care services. At BayWoods of Annapolis, we provide short-term rehabilitation services, traditional skilled nursing care as well as assisted living care. We are able to support those living Independently by offering many support services here on site. That means no unnecessary shuttling back and forth from health care facilities. If you have any questions about the onsite care offered at BayWoods of Annapolis, feel free to contact us as a resource for your needs. Once you move to a retirement community, your health care requirements may change down the road. BayWoods of Annapolis works to provide peace of mind for our residents. You can enjoy the independence of your own living space knowing that onsite medical services are

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How Can I Help My Family Member Through Short-Term Rehab

  When your parent/family member has a set back from an injury or illness that limits their ability to complete their everyday task a physician in a hospital may recommend short-term rehabilitation.  Be supportive and positive about the initiative.  What once was easy to do on a daily basis now seems almost impossible.  There is often a looming fear that this current disability is now more long term.  Here’s how to keep things in perspective and encourage your loved ones throughout the rehabilitation process. Keep a Positive Attitude The glass is half full, the rehab goals are obtainable and they are reasonable.  The process made is dependent on how much effort is put in to reach the goals set by the therapy team.  Your loved ones may look to your reaction to guide their own.  Stay positive and maintain a good attitude throughout the process.  It increases the likelihood that they’ll follow suit.  Provide constant encouragement to your parent or family member and remain as involved as possible.  Keep stressing the end result. Get Involved If possible, talk to your loved ones/parents physical, speech, or occupational therapists after each session.  Know the plan of care for your loved one’s program. 

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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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Three Reasons to Choose Cooperative Living

Choose Cooperative Living Cooperative living arrangements provide extra benefits in senior living communities. The role of happiness in longevity is well documented; a cooperative living space allows residents an environment that allows them to thrive. Consider these unique advantages to cooperative living when deciding on an arrangement for your retiree. 1) For the Residents, by the Residents Independence is a key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. BayWoods residents lead a vibrant lifestyle through a system of self-governance. By electing their own board members, all residents have a say in what their future will look like. Residents have the option of guiding the program schedule, making improvements to the property, even adding books to the library. We believe our residents thrive on the autonomy they experience at BayWoods. Come and see for yourself. 2) Financial Stewardship Unlike other assisted-living arrangements, cooperative living environments offer your senior loved one a high-quality financial investment. Residents here act as the direct financial stewards of their living space here at BayWoods. We believe that maintaining financial independence is an important aspect of retaining the dignity of our residents. To understand how this works, call us for a more detailed explanation. 3) Tax Benefits In a

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Does Your Retirement Community Provide On-Site Health Care?

On-Site Care When you enter a retirement community, you may be fit and healthy, but as you age, there may come a time when you require additional health services.  On-site health care is an important benefit providing convenience and peace of mind to you and your family.  Here are the top 3 reasons why it’s important to choose a retirement community that provides on site care. Providing a continuum of care is the foundation of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) like Baywoods of Annapolis.  CCRC means that the community provides services for: Independent Living Assisted Living Skilled Nursing Care Why is this important? Limits your need to travel. For you, the retiree, it means that you will likely have most of your health care needs handled in the community in which you live.  This eliminates most the need for most residents to travel for: Doctor’s Appointments Wellness Visits Pharmacies Coordination of Services Comfort, Convenience, Friends. Imagine being transported to another facility where your spouse and friends cannot readily visit you during your treatment.  When you enter our short-term rehabilitation facility or assisted living facility, you’ll be within the same community, with the same friends, getting the care and support

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