5 Mental Health and Wellness Tips for Seniors

Mental health plays such an important part in our overall wellness. If we have a positive outlook, an optimistic approach to life and a feeling of stability, we feel better and our physical health improves as well. But many people are struggling with their mental health these days due to COVID-19 and its upending effect on normal life.

“Nearly half of Americans are saying that COVID-19 has caused harm to their mental health,” says Charles Benjamin, Executive Director of Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community. “As the pandemic continues to stretch on, it’s probably safe to say that we’ll see even more instances of declining mental health and wellness. That’s why it’s so important to take steps now to care for yourself and your mental health so you can ride out the storm, so to speak.”

Senior adults in particular are experiencing a lot more stress about COVID-19 than the rest of the general population. They’re the group that is most vulnerable to the disease, which is a very real and scary stress of its own. Seniors in general are also more prone to depression, anxiety and poorer mental health due to isolation, physical ailments and other factors.

“It’s essential for seniors to find ways to stay positive, boost their overall outlook and care for their mental health during this pandemic,” says Charles. “Putting good practices into place will not only help you right now, but it will also help in the future when we find a new semblance of normal. Caring for yourself is the biggest gift you can give to yourself at this time – and your body and mind will thank you for it tenfold.”

 

Here are some of Harrogate’s top tips for helping seniors boost their mental health and wellness.

 

  1. Get plenty of sleep.

Ever notice just how much better you feel after a good night’s sleep? It doesn’t just improve your mood and clear your mind; it also improves your physical health, increases your metabolism, reduces your risk of cardiovascular issues and can even lessen your risk of developing a cognitive disease like dementia. Unfortunately, it seems the times when we most need restful and relaxing sleep are when we’re stressed, anxious and worried … all things that make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep.

Experts suggest practicing good “sleep hygiene” in order to get your body and your mind ready for a good night’s rest. Turn off screens (even e-readers) at least an hour before bedtime. Make sure your bedroom isn’t too bright, is the right temperature and has a soothing and calming presence. (If you have a TV in your room, take it out – nothing’s worse for sleep than an in-suite TV). Create a bedtime routine (drinking a mug of tea and reading a chapter of a book) that gets you “in the mood” and you’ll set yourself up for sleepy success.

 

  1. Get moving.

Physical activity releases endorphins in our brain that help ease stress, reduce anxiety and clear our minds. It also helps us keep our bodies healthy, and – for seniors in particular – helps maintain balance and strength, regulates blood sugar and boosts metabolism. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each day. A brisk walk around the block, gardening, doing yoga or holding a dance party in your kitchen are all great ways to get a little more motion in your life. Best of all, getting outside and into the fresh air is free – and CDC approved!

 

  1. Find ways to socialize.

This is harder to do in the age of social distancing, but fortunately, there are a lot of workarounds popping up. Video apps like Zoom, Skype and FaceTime have proven to be fantastic ways to stay in touch with friends and family and feel like you’re “in the same room.” This is great, because loneliness can increase anxiety, stress and depression like no other (and is a real problem for seniors). But if you’re longing for some real face-to-face interaction, there are still options for staying connected. Call a friend and hold a driveway happy hour or lunch break. Meet up for a walk in the park. Depending on how worried you are about contracting COVID-19, you may also be able to hold small gatherings at home or on the patio. However you choose to socialize, do it – even if it’s just a phone call or a text. You’ll feel so much better after spending some time talking with and socializing with people you care about.

 

  1. Find someone (or something) to love.

Pet adoption has skyrocketed during the pandemic because people are able to stay at home with the new puppy or kitten and get them socialized. Pet ownership is a wonderful way to stay mentally healthy and happy – in fact, studies have shown that seniors are happier and healthier when they have a pet to care for and love. Have you been considering four-legged companionship? Now’s a perfect time to adopt. If you’re not up for adopting just yet, you can consider fostering (there’s always a need for it) or start with a lower-impact pet like a fish or even a plant. Studies show that just the act of having something to care for will help boost mental health.

 

  1. Stay curious.

An active mind is a happy, healthy mind. A silver lining of this pandemic is that we suddenly find ourselves with lots and lots of spare time – making this a perfect time to learn a new skill, pick up an old one, go back to school (online, of course), play games … throwing yourself into an activity that you love and enjoy is a great way to stay happy and mentally well. Read those books that have been gathering dust on your bedside table and start a Zoom book club with your friends. Find ways to donate your time and efforts, whether that’s gathering donations for Goodwill or sewing masks to hand out to people in your neighborhood. The important thing is to keep learning, to keep searching and keep finding ways to involve your brain in the world around you.

 

This is what “worry less, live more” looks like.

Let go of worries, and embrace a more fulfilling, experience-rich life – at Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community, conveniently located between Toms River and Lakewood, New Jersey.

At Harrogate, you’ll have a newfound freedom to enjoy everything our 52-acre retirement community has to offer. You’ll have ample opportunity to tap into your new and rekindled interests for a better life. And your future health care worries – including skilled nursing and rehabilitation – will be buttoned up with the security of Life Care, a smart plan that covers your care and protects your nest egg.

Offering independent living, skilled nursing, home health, memory support and rehabilitation services, residents at Harrogate enjoy all the perks of an independent living lifestyle minus the homeownership hassles. Perks like spacious, maintenance-free, newly renovated senior apartments with numerous options in a variety of floor plans. A built-in neighborhood of friends – most from the Toms River, Lakewood and Brick areas – just outside your door. Plentiful services and amenities always at your fingertips.

Community, security, purpose, all at one “worry less, live more” spot: Harrogate. Contact us today for more information about our amazing community and see what makes us such a one-of-a-kind experience.

Living the 8 – Your Guide to Healthy Harrogate Living

When you put together your “wellness plan” or your “live right list,” what’s on it? Eating right? Getting enough exercise? Staying happy? If so, you’re on the right track, says Charles Benjamin, Executive Director of Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community.

 

“Eating a healthy diet, staying physically fit and taking care of your mental health are all important when it comes to overall wellness, but those are only a few pieces of the puzzle,” he says. “There are eight dimensions of wellness that encompass total, overall health, and each of them play an essential role in helping seniors – and everyone else – live their best lives possible.”

 

A MacArthur Foundation Study found that only 30% of how we age is determined by our genetics. A whopping 70% of how we age is determined by our lifestyle. That’s good news for Harrogate’s seniors, who experience an amazing lifestyle the minute they step foot onto the 52-acre campus.

 

“Living the 8 is our proprietary program designed to help seniors age happier and healthier,” says Charles.” It goes beyond the physical aspect of wellness to enrich your days and help you live a happier, well-balanced life. When you come to Harrogate, you know you’re coming here to enjoy life.”

 

What are the eight dimensions of wellness? At Harrogate, we focus on emotional, intellectual, spiritual, physical, health services, environmental, vocational and social wellness.

 

  1. Emotional: An even keel through life’s ups and downs

Emotional wellness is defined as the ability to cope with the situations life presents you, as well as the ability to build rich, satisfying relationships with those important to you. If you have strong emotional wellness, you’re more confident, feel more in control of your life (and your feelings) and are able to handle life’s changes with grace and flexibility. It builds an optimistic outlook, which is great – because studies show that people who are optimistic are more likely to live longer.

 

  1. Intellectual: Staying sharp and engaged

In a 2017 study published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, it’s suggested that acquiring skills in our senior years can help reduce or delay cognitive decline. That’s the basis of intellectual wellness, which revolves around finding ways to be creative, seeking out new information and knowledge and continually developing your skills. It’s important to find activities that are interesting to you and get your brain cells firing. Reading, doing crossword puzzles, learning a new language or trying out a new hobby are all excellent ways to improve and maintain your intellectual wellness.

 

  1. Spiritual: Finding meaning in each day

Spiritual wellness involves finding a “higher purpose” in life, and aligning your beliefs and values with what matters to you. This doesn’t necessarily have to be religious – spiritual wellness can be fulfilled by volunteering, meditation, self-reflection or spending time in nature. By focusing on spiritual wellness, individuals have a sense of inner peace, a clear understanding of their values and a self-confidence that’s unmatched. People with healthy spiritual wellness also have a curiosity and optimistic view of the world – which, again, is something that helps us age well.

 

  1. Physical: A lean, mean moving machine

Physical wellness means eating right, staying in shape and getting enough sleep. Just doing these things will put you on the right path to whole body wellness. Experts say that senior adults should get at least 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic exercise every week. That translates to 30 minutes a day – totally manageable, right? Exercise can include a brisk walk, yoga, bike riding or even gardening. Pair that with a Mediterranean-style diet, avoiding too much alcohol and fatty foods and getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and you’re set with this level of wellness.

 

  1. Health Services: A proactive approach to health and disease prevention

This aspect of “wellness” is unique to Harrogate and makes up a key component of our “Living the 8.” We help seniors thrive through a combination of expert health care services and person-centered hospitality and attention, and a robust activities calendar. We provide health services so our residents can have their needs and wants met – everything from independent living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and home health services.

 

  1. Environmental: Promoting a healthy personal atmosphere

This dimension of health is linked to your surroundings and the space you occupy – both your living situation and your community at large. When your environment is healthy, you feel better. That’s why Harrogate focuses on providing a community that has a happy, supportive, welcoming feel. We also encourage our residents to get involved in the community in many ways so they can truly feel a part of life here.

 

  1. Vocational: Sharing your talents, skills and life experience

It feels good to give back to our community, as well as find your purpose sharing your talents. Vocational wellness involves finding meaningful work – whether paid or volunteer – that allows you to share your interest, skills and values. This can translate into a new career or it can be something less formal, like tutoring neighborhood children.

 

  1. Social: Building healthy relationships and minimizing isolation

43 percent of seniors say they feel lonely on a regular basis. Loneliness isn’t just sad – it’s bad for your health, increasing your risk of dementia, heart disease and other issues. Moving to a community like Harrogate, on the other hand, provides an immediate sense of connectedness and belonging. Having people we care about and rely on feeds our souls, helps us feel happier and healthier and makes us better people overall.

 

“At Harrogate, our Living the 8 program provides our residents with a happier life, a more supported life, a life focused on wellness and themselves,” says Charles. “Harrogate offers so many opportunities to engage, enrich and challenge yourself and provide you with whole-body wellness, health and happiness.”

 

This is what “worry less, live more” looks like.

 

Let go of worries, and embrace a more fulfilling, experience-rich life – at Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community, conveniently located between Toms River and Lakewood, New Jersey.

 

At Harrogate, you’ll have a newfound freedom to enjoy everything our 52-acre retirement community has to offer. You’ll have ample opportunity to tap into your new and rekindled interests for a better life. And your future health care worries — including skilled nursing and rehabilitation — will be buttoned up with the security of Life Care, a smart plan that covers your care and protects your nest egg.

 

Offering independent living, skilled nursing, in-home care, and rehabilitation services, residents at Harrogate enjoy all the perks of an independent living lifestyle minus the homeownership hassles. Perks like spacious, maintenance-free, newly renovated senior apartments with numerous options in a variety of floor plans. A built-in neighborhood of friends – most from the Toms River, Lakewood and Brick area – just outside your door. Plentiful services and amenities always at your fingertips. And day trips around Monmouth and Ocean County.

Community, security, purpose, all at one “worry less, live more” spot: Harrogate. Contact us today for a tour of our amazing community and see what makes us such a one-of-a-kind experience.

Why a Life Care Community Makes Sense During Uncertain Times

It’s no secret that life can be uncertain at times. While this tends to make anyone a little nervous, by planning ahead, knowing what to expect and securing peace of mind, it can help to make the uncertain moments a little more peaceful. This is why many seniors take advantage of Life Care Communities!

 

“Life Care at Harrogate ensures our residents have access to everything they need when it’s needed,” says Gloria Walsh, Associate Executive Director at Harrogate, an active senior living community in Lakewood, New Jersey. “No matter what uncertainties come their way, we are there to lend a hand, assist when needed and provide the care, support and lifestyle they deserve.”

 

“In light of recent events, we’ve seen now more than ever how this peace of mind is valuable,” she adds. “Not only are we prepared and ready to face each day as it comes, but we are also helping residents, families and friends feel more comfortable and more carefree, in spite of all the uncertainty, change and frustration surrounding this time. Our residents are consistently remarking how safe, engaged and cared for they feel, and we couldn’t be prouder to serve them through everything life throws their way.”

 

Why Life Care Makes Sense During Uncertain Times

Life Care can do so much for seniors through certainty and uncertainty. Consider some of the following ways that Life Care Communities can benefit you or a loved one!

  • There is no fear about rising costs. When your health needs unexpectedly change, your costs do not. This ensures you can continue paying for care at the same cost you were previously while keeping costs considerably lower than market rates.
  • They take care of everything for you. You don’t need to think about grocery shopping, housekeeping, maintenance, yardwork or anything you don’t want to. This is because they’ve already thought of it all for you. Spend your time doing as you please, when you please, and rest assured knowing that your needs will be met with no issues.
  • Care is available if and when it’s needed. No matter how you or your spouse’s health needs change, Life Care ensures your needs are met. With independent living, skilled nursing care and rehabilitation, you can get the care you need all in one place. If your spouse needs a higher level of care, you don’t even need to worry about paying for two residences if you don’t want to move along with them! Instead, you can enjoy predictability, a plan for the future and peace of mind.
  • The team ensures you can remain connected and social. From engaging programming and activities to innovative ways to connect with others, no matter what’s going on, the team in a Life Care Community can ensure you remain happy, connected and engaged.
  • They are prepared for the unexpected. With an array of policies, procedures and plans in place, the team at a Life Care Community can help to ease your mind when things that are far outside of your control happen. With years of experiences, plans laid out and quick reaction times, the unexpected becomes expected, making you safer, calmer and even more comfortable.

 

No matter when uncertainty strikes, we are here keeping our residents Harrogate Happy. To learn more or speak to a member of our team, contact us today!

 

Discover what it means to be Harrogate Happy and learn more about how we can provide you with the lifestyle you deserve and aspire to. Call ​866-606-0178 for more information today!

 

This Is What “Worry Less, Live More” Looks Like

Located near Toms River, New Jersey, Harrogate offers a worry-free, fulfilling and experience-rich life. Here, you’ll be free of the hassles of homeownership while having access to all of the best that life has to offer. From opportunities to engage, enrich and challenge yourself, to the peace of mind of future care, socialization and so much more.

No matter what your needs may be, we can meet them, ensuring you are worry-free for years to come. With our Life Care, you can enjoy independent living, home health, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory support and more for one entrance fee and a monthly fee that covers everything our lifestyle has to offer.

 

Worry Less and Live More at Harrogate!

Call for information at ​866-606-0178 or visit our website.

Harrogate: Offering Exceptional Senior Living to Toms River, NJ

When it comes to senior living, no one should settle for anything less than exceptional. At Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community, located between Toms River and Lakewood, New Jersey, that’s exactly what residents get.

 

“Residents at Harrogate can enjoy the freedom to explore everything our 52-acre community has to offer while enjoying the opportunity to embrace and experience the best of life every day,” says Gloria Walsh, Associate Executive Director at Harrogate. “Harrogate is our residents’ happy place and it’s easy to see why. With exceptional value, community, security, purpose and a worry-free lifestyle, our residents wish they’d made the move years ago!”

 

“Worry Less, Live More” at Harrogate

Have a look at our lifestyle and explore what makes living at Harrogate a one-of-a-kind experience!

 

  • Expert health care services. With independent living and an array of health services, residents can enjoy the peace of mind that their needs will be able to be met without leaving the community they love. Each level of health services meets the specific needs and wants of the individual whether they desire independent living or require home health care, skilled nursing care, rehabilitation or memory support. No matter what our residents need, we have a care team consisting of on-site specialists including physicians, therapy staff, nursing professionals and more.

 

  • An array of services and amenities. Because we take all the worries off your plate, you can enjoy everything our community has to offer. Enjoy a class, attend a variety of events, hear from special speakers, go on trips and attend concerts. No matter what you’re looking for, we have an option for you.

 

  • A healthier and happier you with Eight Dimensions of Wellness. We combine the eight aspects of wellness to help ensure our residents live healthy, happy and well. We help residents age successfully by focusing on spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, physical, emotional and vocational health as well as wellness and so much more.

 

  • Delicious dining. Our dining team strives to provide a restaurant-style dining experience. Menus are varied, we know your personal tastes and dietary preferences and we make your meals from scratch, just how you like them. Eat in our Kettle Creek Cafe, enjoy al fresco dining, and experience our Schnetzer Dining Room. The options are all yours.

 

  • A robust activities calendar. At Harrogate, we offer so many opportunities to engage, enrich and challenge yourself. Whether you want to enjoy your long-held hobbies, focus on hidden talents or learn something completely new, you can find your purpose and fill your days with socialization and happiness.

 

  • Floor plans to fit your desires. Our spacious, maintenance-free and newly renovated senior living apartments are available in a variety of floor plans. Pay a one-time entrance fee based on the size of residence you choose and then a monthly service fee that covers your maintenance, utilities, housekeeping, meals and so much more! Choose a plan to meet your needs and desires and experience the lifestyle you deserve.

 

  • A smart plan for tomorrow. At Harrogate, we know that life isn’t perfect. This is why we offer Life Care. With a one-time entrance fee, you will have access to the care levels you need, no matter when you need them. Life Care offers predictable monthly fees, even when you can’t predict what’s going to happen from day to day.

 

Discover what it means to be Harrogate Happy and learn more about how we can provide you with the lifestyle you deserve and aspire to. Call ​866-606-0178 for more information today!

 

This Is What “Worry Less, Live More” Looks Like

Located near Toms River, New Jersey, Harrogate offers a worry-free, fulfilling and experience-rich life. Here, you’ll be free of the hassles of homeownership while having access to all of the best that life has to offer. From opportunities to engage, enrich and challenge yourself, to the peace of mind of future care, socialization and so much more.

 

No matter what your needs may be, we can meet them, ensuring you are worry-free for years to come. With our Life Care, you can enjoy independent living, home health, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory support and more for one entrance fee and a monthly fee that covers everything our lifestyle has to offer.

 

Worry Less and Live More at Harrogate!
Call for information at ​866-606-0178 or visit our website.

Importance of Eye Care for Seniors

In our brains, hundreds of millions of neurons, or 30% of our cortex, is devoted to processing visual information (compared to 8% for touch and just 3% for hearing). Each of our two optic nerves, which carry signals from the retina in the back of the eyes to the brain, consists of a million fibers, while each auditory nerve consists of only 30,000 fibers. But that’s no surprise when you consider how important vision is in our everyday lives.

We see friends, navigate our world, read blogs, and watch our favorite forms of entertainment. That’s why vision care for seniors is vital. Because as we age, the effects of vision loss in seniors is more than just loss of sight. It can include feelings of isolation and fear of leaving the house. This post will provide tips on how to address the impact of vision loss on quality of life.

The Eyes of the Beholder

As the candles accumulate on your birthday cake, you’ve probably already experienced some vision changes. But with a good senior eye care program, including regular eye exams, and some simple lifestyle changes, you can often limit the impairment of vision due to old age on your daily life.

  • Bright Idea: Use specialized lamps and bulbs to increase contrast and reduce glare. Direct task lighting is best for things like reading, playing cards or crafting. If you use a task light, the lighting in the rest of the room should also be increased. Keeping lights on during daytime hours will help equalize lighting from both indoor and outdoor sources.
  • Reduce Risks: Nightlights in bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms can help reduce the chance of tripping and falling. You should also eliminate clutter and throw rugs, and consider replacing or relocating short or difficult-to-see furniture.
  • Get Organized: Designating spots for commonly used items — keys, TV remote and eyeglasses — can make it easier to find things.
  • High Contrast: One result of vision loss in older adults has to do with color perception. Colors that are too similar can make it difficult for those with vision impairment due to old age to detect doorways, stairs and furniture — especially smaller objects that blend into their surroundings. Using wall and floor colors that contrast can make navigating around a room easier. Using light colors for table tops, counters that contrast with dark objects like eyeglasses, keys, scissors can make daily activities much easier for aging eyes.
  • Think Bigger: Look for items that come with larger print, such as books, checkbooks, calendars, clocks, watches, appointment books and playing cards. You can also use a magnifying glass to see things, and there are electronic magnification units that use a camera to capture an image and project it onto a built-in monitor. Also, today’s smartphones have magnification apps to help with reading small print and flashlights for use in low-light environments.

See Yourself as Part of Our Community

No matter what type of physical limitations you may have, at Harrogate we believe staying active and being social is an important part of enjoying life. That’s why we have a calendar full of on-site activities, and scheduled transportation for outings, shopping trips and appointments. We also feature a philosophy of wellness and offer a team of on-site specialists to provide health services, including optometry and vision care for seniors. To learn more, call us at 1-866-606-0178.

Importance of the Continuum of Care for Seniors

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No amount of time spent reading tea leaves, tarot cards or your palm can tell you what will actually happen tomorrow. But although this moment right here is the only one we can experience, it’s good to have a general idea or direction you want to go tomorrow, with the flexibility to adjust.

What if there were something that let you maximize today while also giving you a smart plan for the unpredictable future? It’s that combination of today and tomorrow that’s drawing many seniors to Life Plan Communities, also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities and their continuum of care. But why is a continuum of care important and can it help with aging in place for seniors?

“I moved here to anticipate that I MIGHT need extra help. I really may never use it, but the security I feel knowing that it’s available to me is more than you can place a dollar sign on.”

– Clare Papp, Harrogate independent living resident

What is continuing care?

One of the biggest selling points of continuing care senior living is aging in place: not having to move if the unexpected happens and you suddenly need help with daily activities or round-the-clock care. That’s because Life Plan Communities (also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities) have higher levels of care – assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation – on-site, which provides you with a solid plan for the future. But what if you’re healthy today?

Perhaps the biggest reason an active senior like you should choose a continuing care retirement community – like Harrogate in Lakewood, NJ – before you need care is for their independent living. Designed for healthy, independent seniors who want more from their retirement than just home upkeep, independent living takes care of all the maintenance, cooking and housekeeping. They also feature thoughtful amenities like restaurant-style dining, community gardens, a fitness center, an indoor pool, and a calendar full of wellness classes, speakers, events and more. With all their responsibilities taken care of, residents of a continuing care senior living community have the freedom to travel, dine with friends, go on outings, try a new hobby or reignite an existing one.

“If one of us gets sick, we’re still under one roof. That’s one of the big advantages of Harrogate: everything is under one roof.”

–  Frank Monaco, Harrogate independent living resident

Will I need continuing care?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of seniors over 65 will need some form of long-term care for an average of three years. If the unforeseen happens and you or your spouse need care, at a continuing care community, you’ll both have the benefit of aging in place. Seniors who are still living in their homes would have to make a move when they least want to deal with it.

As families gather for the holidays, now is a good time to talk about the future. A move to a continuing care community might be the perfect holiday gift for you and your family. You can join like-minded seniors, enjoying life while knowing one move took care of today and tomorrow. This time next year, we could be helping you host your senior friends during the holidays.

Learn more about your options

If you’re ready to learn more about Harrogate’s independent lifestyle backed by a continuum of care, call us at 1-866-606-0178. We’ll show you how we can help you Worry Less. Live More.

The Key Benefits of Life Care

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of seniors over 65 will need some form of long-term care for an average of two years. Now while you may be one of the 30% who won’t need long-term care, what about your spouse? Is long-term health care worth it, and how much is long-term care going to cost? According to a 2018 Genworth study, the average cost of long-term health care in New Jersey is as follows:

  • Home health care: $4,576/month
  • Assisted living care: $6,065/month
  • Semiprivate skilled nursing room: $10,646/month
  • Private room skilled nursing room: $11,863/month

That’s why many seniors are considering a move to a Life Plan Community, also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC, which often has on-site long-term health care facilities. A Life Plan Community with Life Care — like Harrogate — offers health and long-term care at about the same monthly rate as independent living. But why is a continuum of care important?

According to Harrogate independent living resident Frank Monaco, having on-site care means “If one of us gets sick, we’re still under one roof. That’s one of the big advantages of Harrogate: everything under one roof.”

Marjorie Hibberson, another independent living resident, sums it up this way: “I appreciate having Life Care because the responsibility is taken from the shoulders of my children. They know I’m in safe hands. They know if anything happens, someone is there for me.”

Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail

 

The time to plan for care is before you need it. But planning for vacations or to buy a house is more fun than planning for future health care needs. Especially if you’re in good health now. For former nurse and current Harrogate resident Claire Papp, planning has always been part of her life. “As a nurse, we were always taught to anticipate. I moved here to anticipate that I MIGHT need extra help. I really may never use it, but the security I feel knowing that it’s available to me is more than you can place a dollar sign on. Being responsible for my life is really what it is.”

When planning for future long-term health care costs, there are two important questions to ask yourself:

  1. What kind of services will I or my spouse need?
  2. How will I pay for these services?

What Kind of Services Will You Need?

Think of long-term care as a menu of services. As you age, you may need one or a few kinds of services. If you’re active and independent now, you can limit the amount of relocating by only considering independent living communities with on-site long-term health care facilities that offer a variety of services, just in case. This type of community will be able to help with daily activities — cleaning, cooking, medication reminders, getting dressed, bathing, etc. — and, if you ever need it, also have options for round-the-clock care.

Paying for Care

As noted above, long-term care can be very expensive. Here’s some general information about how you can pay for it.

Medicare: Medicare pays for very limited skilled nursing home care after a hospital stay. If you need skilled care in your home after an illness or injury, and you meet certain conditions, Medicare will pay for some of the costs of nursing care, home health aide services, and different types of therapy.

Medicaid: This federal-state program pays for health services and long-term care for low- income people of any age. The exact rules for who is covered vary by state, and Medicaid only covers nursing home care for people who are eligible. In some states, Medicaid also pays for some home and community services.

Private Insurance: You may be able to supplement your policy with private insurance. Most of these policies, often called Medigap insurance, will help pay for some skilled care, but only when that care is covered by Medicare. You can also consider long-term care insurance to cover services like home care, adult day care, assisted living and skilled nursing. These plans vary widely, so ask your insurer what each specific plan covers.

Personal Savings: Most people who enter long-term care start by paying out of their own pocket. As their personal resources are spent, they may eventually become eligible for Medicaid.

Get Advice from Someone Like You

Before deciding on what you’re going to do, you may want to talk with someone who’s been through it like a friend or other family member. You could also talk to your family doctor or financial adviser.

When her friends and family ask her about her decision to move to a continuing care senior living community, Claire sums it up this way. “Make this decision on your sense of well-being. Coming here doesn’t mean I’m old. It just means I want a better life for myself. I encourage people to love themselves enough to want a better life for themselves.”

To learn more about the benefits of Life Plan Communities or Life Care, call us at 1-866-606-0178. If you want to compare the cost of Harrogate to staying in your home, including long-term health care costs, download our Big Benefits Sheet.

Find Your Purpose by Exploring Spirituality as You Grow Older

Have you ever thought about aging as a spiritual journey? For many people, aging creates different stages of self-identity and spiritual growth when seeking to find meaning at each milestone.

Retirement and later years in life offer the opportunity to redefine your purpose in life, and spirituality can contribute in creating a positive outlook, as well as bring you closer to achieving inner peace.

Spirituality has proven to be essential to many seniors as they seek new sources of fulfillment and joy after jobs, careers and family no longer define their central identity. When shifting out of a role that focuses more on production (providing for yourself, family and career), you’re able to focus your energy inward and find greater peace of mind.

What Spirituality Means

A common misconception is that someone must be religious to be spiritual. However, spirituality has to do more with how you see yourself in comparison to the grand scheme of life, and is a deep feeling of interconnectedness with all that is. Spirituality can also create a strong sense of meaning, purpose and connection, and oftentimes creates a more engaging life. According to research by Merk and Co., many seniors see spirituality as a positive force that helps them face life with more resilience and hope.

Benefits of Spirituality

As one of the health dimensions in Harrogate’s “Living the 8,” spirituality plays a big part in gaining holistic health and longevity. Through hundreds of studies, the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found spirituality and health are heavily linked. Mental and physical health outcomes were much better for those whose spirituality was at the core of their value systems.

The Mayo Clinic report states that if you’re connected with your spirituality, you’re less likely to experience cardiovascular disease, hypertension and high blood pressure. It also found that spiritual people tend to practice healthy living in other aspects of life, including exercising more, eating better, smoking less, and attending preventive screenings more regularly.

Spiritual Activities for Seniors

To determine how strengthening your spirituality can help you age holistically, you first have to ask yourself what being spiritual means to you. Whether you’re looking to find deeper connection with yourself, others or the environment around you, there are plenty of spiritual activities for seniors that can help you with feeling connected.

Connecting with yourself:

  • Finding a greater sense of purpose through volunteering
  • Meditating and/or practicing yoga
  • Accomplishing a project that you’ve been meaning to finish

Connecting with others:

  • Lending a helping hand to a friend or neighbor
  • Expressing gratitude toward others

Connecting with the world around you:

  • Painting, dancing, or listening to music
  • Walking through nature
  • Taking time to tend to the earth or garden

At Harrogate, healthy aging is our goal, and we make sure there are many opportunities for residents to exercise their spirituality — in whatever way suit them best. If you have any additional questions about spirituality and health, or want to learn more about “Living the 8,” call us at 866-606-0178.

The Real Cost of Senior Living — It’s Not as Expensive as You Think

What’s the value of predictability and peace of mind?

You’ve worked hard to save for your retirement, and deciding how to best protect your nest egg while continuing to live the life you want can be difficult, especially when life can be so unpredictable. While you might prefer to stay in your home, it can be a challenge to keep up with home maintenance and feel almost impossible to find reliable people you can trust to work around your house.

So it’s not surprising many seniors turn to the maintenance-free lifestyle of a senior living community. But with all the senior living options out there, how can you figure out which one is right for you? In my experience, the biggest question seniors have is how much does senior living cost? And when you compare Life Plan Communities with senior living entrance fees and monthly fees versus rental communities with just monthly fees, you may want to know what you’re getting for your money. To help, here are five questions to ask yourself as well as a brief overview of both community types.

Choosing your best option

 

The culture and friendliness of residents and staff vary from community to community. So while looking at the cost of senior living communities is important, you should also visit as many places as possible to see if they fit with what you want.

As you start your search, here are five questions to consider that can help you make the best decision:

  1. What are your current and future needs? Consider the services and support you want now and in the future. Does the community have a continuum of care for seniors on-site, and how much does it cost? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of seniors 65+ will need some type of long-term care. A Genworth Cost of Care Survey conducted by CareScout® indicated that in our area, 2024 market rates for assisted living averaged $5,900/month, and a private room in skilled nursing costs $10,646/month.
  2. What can you afford? Senior living communities have a monthly fee to cover meals, utilities and other expenses, so it’s a good idea to figure out what you can afford. (These are expenses you’ll probably have whether you live at home or in a community.)
  3. Where do you want to live? Do you want to be near family and friends? Would you prefer to live near popular vacation destinations? Think about where you want to go, and remember, location can impact the cost of senior living.
  4. Where can you do your research? Online is the easiest way to do research. Visit a community’s website and Facebook page. Are there online reviews? Once you narrow down your list, you can call and ask questions, request more information, or schedule a personal visit.
  5. Who do you trust for advice? Asking friends, family and loved ones for advice is a good way to get a second opinion. If they have time, ask them to visit a community with you. They can help ensure you’re making the right choice.

Life Plan Communities

Life Plan Communities with Life Care, like Harrogate, require an entrance fee, but what does it cover, and is it a good idea? People who buy into a community through an entrance fee tend to be more invested in the culture and direction of where they live. At Harrogate, residents have a lot of input, which is why we offer a wide variety of services and amenities — like housekeeping, as well as indoor and outdoor maintenance — and a full calendar of fun activities, engaging clubs and educational opportunities.

If you’re healthy and active today, you’ll have the freedom and independence to do the things you love to do. And if you need a higher level of care in the future, you have guaranteed access to our continuum of care right on-site. So you won’t have to relocate to another community, and your monthly fee will remain about the same. While a portion of your nest egg is tied up in an entrance fee, at Harrogate we have several options to fit your budget, and a portion of your entrance fee is refundable to your or your estate.

Your monthly service fee also covers your utilities; provides you with delicious, chef-prepared dining options; gives you access to our fitness center and indoor pool; and much more. It’s also possible a portion of your monthly service fees are tax-deductible because you’re prepaying for your medical expenses. Talk with your tax adviser for all the details.

Rental communities

 

Not all senior living communities charge an entrance fee. Rental communities can have either a year-long lease or be month-to-month. While it does give you greater flexibility and control, you may not have access to higher levels of care, and if you do, you’ll be charged the market rates we discussed earlier on top of your monthly rent. Because rental communities only collect one fee, less money is typically spent offering services and amenities. Plus, your rent could also increase more quickly to produce additional revenue.

I hope you found this information useful and it answered the question of how much does senior living cost. At Harrogate, we have options to fit your budget that give you access to everything our community offers. If you’d like to learn more, give us a call at 732-385-5617 or use our contact form.