NEWS & ARTICLES

4 Reasons Assisted Living Provides A Better Lifestyle Than Living Alone

Assisted Living Benefits Many seniors desire to live in their family home as long as possible.  Often, seniors are concerned that they will have to sacrifice a certain level of independence as time goes on.  At Baywoods of Annapolis, we have worked with seniors of all ages to provide them as much (or as little) support as they need.  In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common ways that

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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 and Assisted Living. 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 assisted living facility, you’ll be within the same community, with the same friends, getting the care and support that you need.  Your spouse or

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Best Ways to Protect Seniors From Fraud & Identity Theft

Senior Risks Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States.  Although anyone can be a target, many seniors are at a higher risk for fraud schemes and identity theft.  While technology and social factors contribute to the reasons for this trend, it’s also important to realize that many seniors have accumulated a certain amount of wealth, making them a primary target for criminals. For this reason, Baywoods of Annapolis has compiled a list of 4 ways you can lower your risk for identity theft and fraud schemes. Identity Protection Services – This is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself or your loved ones from identity theft. These services monitor credit bureaus, personal information, the internet, and a variety of other platforms to help ensure your identity is protected.  According to NextAdvisor, the top 3 are: IdentityGuard Experian Lifelock Phone & Door-to-Door Scams – Two of the most common scams targeting seniors are from unwanted callers or salespeople going door-to-door. There are two quick and easy ways to avoid these scams: Never provide someone who called you with your personal information. If they represent they are with the bank of credit card company, hang

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2 Steps to Plan for Retirement Living

Making the decision to move into a retirement community is a large step. Planning for a new life at an assisted living community can seem like a mysterious process, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to make the retirement planning stages easy. Financial PlanningHaving a reasonable idea of monthly expenses is the best place to start when planning for life after retirement. Beginning with a monthly calculator, figure out a standard budget for your expenses. Groceries, gas, dining, and entertainment expenses all add up, so take the time to consider every aspect of your retirement finances. Once you set a budget, stick to it. Total the amount of your Medicare payments and investment accounts to determine what you can allocate to each area of your budget each month. Having a clear idea of what you can spend takes the stress out of planning. For further information on financial planning, talk to one of our representatives about the investment of living at BayWoods. Social PlanningSome retirees wonder how they will fill their time once they finally retire. To ease the worry of empty days, plan how your retiree will be involved socially and mentally. Look at a community’s program

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Easy Ways to Prevent Falls for Elderly Persons

Prevent Elderly Falls It’s estimated that over 250,000 Americans are hospitalized for hip fractures each year, according to the CDC.  More than 95% of these are as a result of a fall.  There are many risk factors that increase the chances that someone will fall, which include: balance, poor vision, decreased muscle strength, taking more than four medications and more.  In this article, Baywoods of Annapolis shares some ways to prevent falls from happening in the first place. If you or a member of your family is still living at home, it’s important to create a safe living space.  Some items to consider: Cleaning up clutter and ensuring floors, hallways, and staircases have a clear, unobstructed path. Evaluate floors and remove or repair loose carpet and area rugs which can pose tripping hazards. Add grab bars and handrails, especially in bathroom areas where surfaces can be slippery. Ensure there is bright lighting in the home and night-lights in bedrooms and bathrooms. One level living is ideal. Move furniture and other daily living items to the first floor of the home so that stairways can be avoided. Of course, if you live in a retirement community like Baywoods of Annapolis, most

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How to Choose the Right Retirement Community

Choosing a Retirement Community Here are 3 steps to help you in selecting the right community for your future. Choosing a Retirement Community can be an exciting venture. How to select the best retirement community for you can be a great experience. There are many options available out there. Several considerations should guide your decision when searching for the ideal retirement community. Here are some guidelines to consider as you decide. Follow the ABCs…… Availability of Programs A – is for Availability, when choosing a retirement community look at the programs that are available to you. What are your interests and how does the retirement community’s activities match up to you? Example; trips, outdoor amenities, transportation, etc. At BayWoods of Annapolis, we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of programs that will keep you engaged. The town of Annapolis is rich in culture and yet has many sporting events close by. To look at all we have to offer, contact us. Bountifulness of Support Services B – is for Bountiful, you want to choose a retirement community that offers you the right amount of support services on site for your future needs. At BayWoods of Annapolis, we believe that

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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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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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Turning Back The Clock: It’s Not Too Late to Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle

Senior Health Tips According to the American Journal of Medicine, “Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston found that people 45 to 64 years of age who added healthy lifestyle behaviors could substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and reduce their death rate.”  So, it goes without saying that as we grow older, living a heart-healthy lifestyle is smart. But, here are the 4 things you can do today to dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating Fruits & Vegetables Daily Eating a balanced diet is important; eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day is key.  Today, there are a variety of ways to do this.  Make a protein-packed smoothie with fresh strawberries and a bit of spinach.  You won’t even know there are vegetables in it but you’ll still get all the benefits!  Throw in a few veggies with your morning omelet or scrambled eggs – a great way to make an ordinary breakfast extraordinary! Exercising 2.5 Hours Per Week Take the dog for a 30-minute walk each day and you will have accomplished the mission!  It’s that easy!  No dog?  Go to the gym, take a yoga class, or walk around

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3 Ways to Age Wisely and Live Longer

Aging Wisely Depending on who you ask, some would say that age is just a number while other will say it’s all about your state of mind. Either way, we are all “growing older and wiser” each day.  But, what can you do now to help prepare your body, mind, soul, and family for the inevitability of aging?  In this article, we will highlight a few tips to help you age wisely and plan for the best life possible! Positive Attitudes Go A Long Way The Journal of American Medicine published a research letter showing that people who felt three or more years younger than their actual age had a lower mortality rate than those who felt older than their actual age.   We all know that stress has a very negative impact on the body, so keeping a positive outlook can help lead to a longer, healthier, happier life.  People who maintain a positive outlook are much more likely to participate in activities that help them stay healthier.  The Harvard Medical School published a report, Positive Psychology: Harnessing the power of happiness, mindfulness, and inner strength that provides self-assessment tests, advice, and exercises to help you maximize the positive emotion

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Does Your Estate Plan Include These 4 Things?

Estate Planning Mistakenly, many people believe that an estate plan is only necessary if you are in your senior years or have considerable wealth.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  There are many legal strategies involved in estate planning, and unfortunately, not all of us will live to be 100.  But, did you know that in the state of Maryland, without a viable legal estate plan, the State will distribute your estate according to Maryland’s laws of intestacy and not necessarily to your spouse or dearest family members?  That means that every Maryland resident actually already has a plan in place (as established by the state) and it’s up to you to change it so that it reflects what you intend or wish.  In this article, Baywoods of Annapolis shares some of reasons to have an estate plan and what it should include. Tip #1:  Don’t go it alone Simple estate planning does not need to be costly, but it’s significantly better than no plan at all!  Since the laws of each state vary and change frequently, an experienced estate planning attorney can provide valuable advice and help you avoid common pitfalls.  They will work hard to understand your

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