Baywoods of AnnapolisBaywoods of AnnapolisEstate 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
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
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 decreased ability to make decisions or participate in activities of daily living. Starting at age 65, your risk of developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five years. To minimize your risk, experts in the field suggest that following a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables and exercising your brain with activities can be beneficial. BayWoods of Annapolis residents enjoy a well rounded daily schedule of activities offering both mental and physical stimulation. contact us for more information. Staving Off Dementia Dementia is an umbrella term for all forms of cognitive impairment. Dementia is most commonly associated with memory loss, but it can also manifest as a loss of language skills, motor activity, or ability to plan and make decisions. Vascular dementia, for example, can be the result of a stroke. There’s
Retirement Community Checklist Each of us has different lifestyles and priorities so, when it comes to choosing a retirement community, you want to be sure you’ve weighed all the pros and cons. Baywoods of Annapolis is pleased to provide you with this checklist to use as you search for the right retirement community for you! Overall Community Considerations ✔Is the community located near friends or family who may visit? ✔Does the community offer different levels of care to accommodate changing health needs? ✔How has the community performed in recent state inspections? ✔Does the community allow pets? ✔Does the community provide transportation to doctors, shopping or other local activities? ✔What are the costs and fees? ✔Does the community offer a co-op program to provide additional financial benefits? ✔What types of culture, cuisine, and events are offered in the local community? Staff ✔Do they have time to speak with you or does it feel rushed? ✔Are staff members warm and pleasant when communicating with residents? ✔Does the staff look happy? Do they seem to enjoy interacting with one another? Quality & Care-Taking ✔Do residents look well cared for? Clean clothes, shaven, hair clean and brushed? ✔How is medication managed? Paper or computer
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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