NEWS & ARTICLES

Your Brain Activity: How to Stay Mentally Sharp in Retirement

Stay Mentally Sharp in Retirement The role of mental health and longevity is well documented. Just as we need to exercise our bodies to protect cardiovascular and bone health, working out our brains is essential to preserving our mental, social, and emotional health. Mental Stimulation and Combating Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s disease is very common today. It’s characterized by mild memory loss in the early stages and can progress to include a

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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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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.

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Getting the Most Out of Short-Term Rehab

Short Term Rehabilitation When you or a loved one needs short-term rehab, your mental state can be extremely helpful or hurtful.    In this article, we will discuss ways to recover quickly by keeping your outlook up. Mental Preparation  Short-term rehabilitation can provide much-needed care after an illness such as a stroke, surgery, or an unexpected fall.  But, the physical side of the therapy is only half the battle.  Experts agree that the mind plays a big role in the recovery effort and length of time needed in a short-term rehab facility. The August issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal published a review of 16 studies, spanning 30 years, looking at patients’ attitudes and the effect on recovery and health after surgery.  There was a direct correlation to the influence of positive attitudes on health and healing. Benefits of a Positive Attitude Many studies also show that when doctors and families address fears before a loved one enters a rehabilitation facility, the outcomes tend to be better.  Not to mention, that a positive attitude can help reduce stress.  The key here is to help manage expectations and good, thorough communication. Speaking of communication – this is an important component of

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Life Enrichment Programs Integrate Retirees into Their Community

Life Enrichment Programs Regardless of your stage in life, we all want to feel personally connected.  In this article, we discuss the value of life enrichment programs and what you can do to ensure you’re getting all that you desire! Life enrichment programs are often designed to engage, connect and create personal relationships among residents.  This process is much more than just an activity calendar.  The goal is to integrate and transition into the new community and lifestyle.   By being socially active and involved in the community, many residents live full, balanced lives that provide diversity and a rewarding lifestyle. Some of the activities offered at Baywoods of Annapolis include: Art Openings Ballet, Opera & Musical Matinees Bingo! Full Moon Parties on the Waterfront In-House Shopping Monthly Lecture Series Movie Nights Pot Luck Dinners Putting Challenges Sunday Brunch Visiting Performing Artists And so much more! Baywoods of Annapolis is conveniently located on the waterfront and near downtown Annapolis, which is also a mecca of culture and waterfront activities.  This prime location allows us to offer a wide variety of on-site or local events that appeal to every whim. One of the biggest advantages to living at Baywoods is that the

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Reviewing Retirement Communities? Always Ask for a Lunch to sample

Reviewing Retirement Communities When you’re reviewing retirement communities, it can be difficult to get a clear sense of what they’re all about. Even when you’re touring a community, it may be hard to discern the culture or get a read on how satisfied the other residents are. Asking to stay for lunch can provide you with all the insight you need to make the right decision – here’s why. Come for the Food Aside from the available programs and clubs, the quality of food should be a major indicator of a retirement community’s culture. You will be eating there frequently, after all. A retirement community’s food should be (1) healthy, (2) sensitive to special dietary restrictions like low sodium of low glycemic index, (3) and lastly delicious. At BayWoods of Annapolis, we serve locally sourced foods to create a well-balanced, tasty meal. We always encourage visitors and guests to stay for lunch – contact us to set it up. Stay for the People Staying for a meal also allows you the chance to mingle with the other residents. When talking to them, you’ll get a better sense of how happy they are with their living arrangements. Residents can also discuss

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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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BayWoods of Annapolis and the Importance of Sustainability

Sustainable Annapolis At BayWoods of Annapolis, we’re committed to improving the lives of our residents as well as the surrounding community. We’re proud partners in Sustainable Annapolis, which is committed to creating a greener tomorrow. See how we’re doing our part in securing a more environmentally friendly way of life. What Is Sustainable Annapolis? Sustainable Annapolis is a citywide initiative focused on creating environmentally, financially, and socially stable neighborhoods here. In response to a greenhouse gas emissions survey, city officials found that the majority of our city’s carbon emissions came directly from buildings. To make Annapolis a carbon neutral city, officials encouraged local entities to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and take steps to prevent the dangerous side effects of climate change. Talk to us about how that helps you make retirement decisions. Environmental Stewardship at BayWoods of Annapolis Our community is a proud recipient of the Annapolis Environmental Stewardship Certification, which illustrates our commitment to fighting greenhouse gas emissions within our neighborhoods. We earned this certification by making improvements to the community to make it more energy efficient, by conserving water, conducting environmental education activities, serving locally sourced food, and more. With the encouragement of our residents, our

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