aging

Commonwealth Senior Living

5 Tips for Long Term Care Planning Month

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Oftentimes seniors find themselves blindsided by the need for additional care. Consequently, the choice of a senior living community ends up being made by an adult child or family member. Planning in advance can be an incredible gift to your family. Talk to them about any concerns you may have about senior living and what you’d like to see in a community. There are many more options in senior living and levels of care today than ever before. It’s important to know what options are available when the time comes.

5 Tips for Long Term Care Planning

  1. Visualize your ideal senior living lifestyle. Finding the right fit for you means asking yourself these questions – Would you prefer a studio or a companion suite? Do you envision gardening, utilizing walking paths, or reading in the library? Would you like to get involved in a cooking club, explore international cultures, and go on excursions? Do you want your future home to be near friends and family? Not only does a move to a senior living community offer the opportunity to continue things you love, but also allows you to spend less time doing the things you don’t love. All home maintenance like landscaping and housekeeping is taken care of.
  2. Assess your financial picture. Pulling together your finances will help to paint a clear picture of what is available to you. A few things to gather include a monthly and annual income, insurance premiums and other monthly expenses, owned real estate, as well as Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits.
  3. Meet with professional advisors. These include professionals from your elder law attorney who helps prepare your legal documents to your physician who will be able to provide input on the appropriate level of care while understanding your preferences. Commonwealth Senior Living has relationships with all these experts. If you need a recommendation, we are happy to provide them.
  4. Take the time to plan. Just like any decision you make for the future, it’s worth the time and effort to choose the right community and design a plan that makes sense for you. The cost of senior living **link to cost comparison depends on the size suite you select as the amount of support you require, but ultimately the formula of senior living is different for every family.
  5. Think about what life will be like after a move. Settling in, getting to know people (including caregivers) and starting to feel like you’re at home can take time. Everyone reacts differently. Where one person may feel relief at not having to maintain a big house alone, another might feel a little lost and miss their home, friends, and belongings. However familiar faces can make living in a new place a lot easier. Consider encouraging your family to visit as often as possible, whether it’s in person or virtually!

It’s never too early to start, let us help. For more personalized guidance on approaching long term care planning, reach out to the community nearest you today.

Commonwealth Senior Living

Signs Your Loved One May Need Additional Support

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You just returned from a visit with mom and are finding yourself wondering, Is Mom really safe living alone? Will she be able to keep up with the house? Should we start talking about senior living? We want you to know you aren’t alone and that we’re here to help you navigate these concerns.

Here are 5 signs that it may be time for your loved one to get additional support:

  • A loss of interest in things they once enjoyed. One of the top reasons seniors and their loved ones begin looking into senior living is due to a concern for loneliness. A loss of interest in things they once enjoyed doing can be a sign of depression or a memory or thinking issue.
  • Concern for the safety of their current environment. Older adults are more susceptible to accidents and injuries than younger adults. Falls are one example of a leading cause of many serious health issues and hospitalizations for seniors. A concern that their care needs aren’t being met or that their current environment isn’t safe is one sign your loved one may need additional support.
  • Change in weight or appearance. While aging is a gradual process, changes associated with illnesses or lifestyle choices are not a normal part of aging. Gaining or losing weight rapidly, for example, can be a sign associated with various lifestyle changes for a senior.
  • Having difficulty completing daily tasks. Maybe you’ve noticed a few bills have gone unpaid or your loved one no longer feels comfortable driving to the grocery store. Having difficulty with daily tasks can range anywhere from frustration with using your telephone to struggling to communicate a need for help with instrumental activities of daily living.
  • “It’s just too much space.” When the kids are living at home and family comes to visit once a month, having a big, family home made sense. But now that the kids have moved away, you may be spending most of your time completing tasks like cleaning, landscaping, and preparing for the winder, instead of making the most of your retirement years, making now the right time to consider downsizing.

If you’ve realized that your loved one might need more care, but still aren’t sure what type of support they need, let us help you get started. Click the button below to complete our complementary assessment based on your unique situation.

Commonwealth Senior Living

Staying Home: Tips for Home Improvement

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The golden years of retirement should be a time of relaxation where one can enjoy doing what they love most in the comfort of their home. The truth is, however, there are often physical struggles that get in the way of this. For instance, one might find it harder to move around the house with ease, have difficulty with bathing, or find it harder to cook a nutritious meal by themselves. “It becomes a challenge because we live in Peter Pan houses, designed for people who never grow old,” said Susan Bosak, a social scientist who oversaw a program to boost intergenerational engagement. Aging in Place says an overwhelming amount of seniors plan to stay in their current homes. Read the full article here.

Maybe you’ve discovered that Mom and Dad have been having these issues but would like to stay at home for as long as possible. This likely means making some adjustments to the home. Fortunately, there is a way to make re-modeling happen in a timely, cost-effective manner. Fixr.com suggests it can take $350 to $9,500 on average to remodel a home for elderly care. This, of course, varies greatly on the amount of work needed and your location.

The re-modeling depends on what type of care you need as well. For instance, if mobility is an issue, you may consider widening doorways or installing ramps. If vision is an issue, installing light sensors that turn on when someone enters the room may be a consideration. It may be as simple as installing “grab rods” costing only $150 on average. It may even be as simple as lowering counter space height from the average 36 inches to 34 inches so they are more accessible to wheelchair users. You may find this is the best option for your parent or loved one who may not necessarily need full-time care in a senior living community.

When it comes to remodeling homes for seniors, there is plenty of research to support you. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 seniors over the age of 65 have fallen while at home each year. Falls are more likely within homes that don’t offer physical supports such as non-slip rugs. Similarly, senior remodeling is a growing market within the construction field. The number of contractors certified in remodeling homes for the elderly grows each year as the public realizes the many benefits they have to offer. Kris Lindahl Real Estate created a room-by-room guide beneficial improvements and helpful tips to minimize fall risks and increase accessibility.

With so many options for support, from remodeling and home health to senior living, it’s important to understand the costs, benefits, and lifestyles each of these options offer. After all, the most important thing is to ensure the comfort and safety of those you love.

For recommendations on realtors, repairs, home health, or senior living options in your area, please reach out to the community nearest you.

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10 Tips for a Safe Summer

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Take a look at the forecast for the summer, and you’ll see that most days are projected to be well over 90 degrees. According to the Center for Disease Control, almost 40% of heat related fatalities in the United States from 2004-2018 were among individuals 65 years or older. As we age, our bodies become more vulnerable to the negative impacts of higher temperatures and direct sunlight. The combination of the summer heat waves and the added desire for visits outside with family and friends can make for a dangerous situation for seniors.

Here are our top 10 tips for navigating this summer safely:

  1. Stay hydrated. The single most important thing that seniors can do during warmer weather is to stay hydrated. Water and fruit juices that are low in sugar help to replenish the body of important vitamins and fluids that are lost during the perspiration process.
  2. Wear sunscreen and eye protection. The number of melanoma diagnoses in seniors has increased dramatically as adults ages 65+ continue to enjoy outdoor recreational activities. Our skin’s ability to attract T cells to damaged or burned areas diminishes over time which necessitates the need to protect it with plenty of sunscreen. Protecting the eyes is also crucial as they can be damage by direct sunlight.
  3. Protect your head with wide-brimmed hats. One of the first areas where skin cancers develop are on the ears, neck, and top of the head. As we age, the hair follicles begin to thin which removes the natural barrier to direct sunlight. Wearing wide-brimmed hats will protect all of these problem areas.
  4. Appropriate attire. Loose fitting clothing made out of natural fibers such as cotton allows the skin to breathe and cool itself naturally. Synthetic or tight fitting clothing restricts that breathing process and continues to increase the body’s temperature.
  5. Avoid mid-day hours. The hours between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. are when the sun is most intense. Older adults should avoid strenuous activities outside during this time period in order to minimize heatstroke or other heat related illnesses.
  6. Monitor heat index. The heat index is the calculation of moisture or humidity in the air as it relates to the evaporation process caused by the sun. A high heat index can limit the body’s ability to perspire and cool itself. Monitoring both the temperature and the heat index will help protect seniors from heat exhaustion.
  7. Low intensity exercise. Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is important or adults ages 65 and above, but the summer months create challenges to exercising outdoors. Seniors should limit their exercise activities to air-conditioned spaces. If exercise is conducted outside, it should be a low intensity activity such as light gardening or walking near areas where they can quickly seek water and shelter if needed.
  8. Apply bug spray. Mosquitoes and ticks can carry a variety of diseases which are harder for the immune system to fight in older adults. Wearing bug spay can help protect seniors from unwanted illnesses.
  9. Inform neighbors, friends, and family. It may seem inconvenient, but seniors should inform someone if they decide to undertake outdoor activities during the summer. Having someone check in on them will provide a safety net in case anything happens and will provide a certain level of comfort to loved ones.
  10. Knowing the signs. Seniors should know the signs of heatstroke which can take the form of muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Experiencing any of these signs should alert seniors that they need to seek shelter in an air-conditioned environment and rehydrate.

By keeping these tips in mind, seniors will be able to enjoy an active and healthy summer. Stay safe!

To join us for a safe, summer activity, contact the community nearest you for a visit.

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Taking the Reins of Your Retirement

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Join us on June 29th at 3pm for this free presentation by Hook Law Center on how to prepare for senior living. RSVP by emailing Marketing@commonwealthsl.com.

You likely began saving for retirement early in your career and made sure there was a plan in place for your kids’ college expenses. You are the kind of person who prides yourself in taking charge and being in control. You always made sure your loved ones had the very best and knew you were there to support them. Now is the time to reassure them that you have prepared for your next step in choosing a senior living community.

Many seniors find themselves blindsided by the need for additional care. Sadly, only around 1% of the US population is educated about senior living due to experiencing it as a family or from working in the industry. Oftentimes the choice of a senior living community ends up being made by an adult child or family member. This decision brings with it tremendous guilt and unnecessary stress. Planning in advance can be an incredible gift to your loved ones. But how much should this cost?

The cost of senior living depends on the size suite you select as well as the amount of support you require. On average this works out to be between $3,500-$5,000 per month. Families pay for senior living in a variety of ways. If you have invested in Long Term Care insurance, this is the time to reach out to your insurance provider and ask about qualifying for benefits. This is also a time when it might make sense to sell the home and use part of the sale to pay for senior living. There are also tax benefits to paying for senior living as well as bridge loans to cover payments for senior living while the house is on the market. Finally, if you served in the military during wartime, or had a spouse who served, you may be eligible for Veterans Aid & Attendance. This benefit combined with social security payments and savings often covers the cost of senior living. Ultimately, the formula of how it is paid works out to be different for every family. Just like college planning, it is worth the time and effort to choose the right fit and craft a plan that makes sense for you.

Join us for this free presentation to learn how to prepare for senior living financially, logistically and emotionally. We’ll give practical tips on how to organize your finances to create a budget, what steps to take, and how to choose the right fit for you if and when support is needed.

RSVP today at marketing@commonwealthsl.com for the day and time to join us locally in person or to join us virtually on June 29th at 3pm.

Click here for instructions on joining a Zoom meeting.

For more information about paying for senior living and receiving a personalized assessment, reach out to the community nearest you today.

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Coping Techniques for Caregivers

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Join us virtually on Thursday, May 27th at 4:00pm. RSVP today by emailing Marketing@CommonwealthSL.com 

There’s no getting around it. Caring for an aging family member can be difficult and stressful. Their care, health, safety and happiness of your loved one all rests on your shoulders, and sometimes that responsibility can be overwhelming. The last year, in particular, has been incredibly stressful with a dramatic impact on everyone’s lives. Everything you know about human connection and touch has been put to the test, but understanding how to cope with these challenges can help you become a better caregiver to your loved one.

While you’re taking care of your loved one, it’s important to take care of yourself too. The basic principles of self-care still apply and are still available to you, they may just look a little different now. Take time for yourself to still do the things you enjoy like reading, writing in a journal, or gardening. Taking a walk around the block is still one of the best ways to clear your mind, get fresh air and sunshine, help you refocus, and stay energized. It has also been proven effective in reducing anxiety and depression. Enjoying these quiet moments gives us the opportunity to take advantage of the simple things in life we may have taken for granted in the past.

In this free presentation, we will help you learn how to cope with caregiving stress as well as share tips and tools that you can use to make sure you keep yourself healthy and strong. We’ll go over points from setting goals to providing resources so you can continue to give your loved one the care they deserve.

RSVP today by emailing Marketing@CommonwealthSL.com for the day and time to join us locally in person or to join us virtually on Thursday, May 27th at 4:00pm.

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The Loneliness Solution

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April 30th at 2pm, we will be meeting virtually to discuss the connection between aging, isolation, and depression.

During the past year of stay-at-home orders and social distancing protocols, many of us felt the sting and side effects of isolation. As our loved ones get older, they are more likely to live alone or spend more of their time alone even after COVID-19 mandates are lifted. And the truth is that isolation, loneliness, and depression go hand in hand. This is also the number one reason seniors begin looking into senior living.

Depression affects not only your mental health in how you feel and think, but also affects your body physically. Some of these signs may be difficult to recognize in older adults because they may present differently than in younger people. A few of these physical symptoms include:

  • Insomnia, or the inability to stay asleep at night
  • Weight fluctuations due to overeating or appetite loss
  • Increased sensitivities to headaches and other pains
  • Fatigue from decreased energy levels
  • Constricted blood vessels, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks
  • Weakened immune system for diseases like the common cold and more serious illnesses
  • Cognitive changes such as trouble remembering or making decisions

The AARP Foundation lists these four signs that a person might be feeling isolated:

  • Deep boredom and a general lack of interest and withdrawal
  • Losing interest in personal hygiene
  • Poor eating and nutrition
  • Significant disrepair, clutter and hoarding in the home

If you have been noticing a loved one showing signs of loneliness, you may be feeling concerned and worried. Join us for our free presentation while we explore the connection between aging, isolation, and depression. Our goal is to show how these three are linked and give practical tactics to reduce the cycle of isolation and depression. This presentation will provide you with ways to help your loved one feel connected.

Join us for this free virtual presentation on April 30th at 2pm to learn about of the effects of loneliness and solutions that can improve your loved one’s quality of life. RSVP today by emailing marketing@commonwealthsl.com. 

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What’s the Difference?

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Up until the 1980s, seniors who could not live safely in their own home or with family had little access to institutional care. Since the 1980s, senior living has developed from adult care homes to a variety of vibrant lifestyles and progression of care options ranging between Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. We want to make sure you understand the differences between the levels of care as well as the difference between senior living and nursing homes, in order to help you make the best decision for you and your loved one.

Only about 1% of the U.S. population is educated about senior living due to experiencing it firsthand as a family or through working in the industry. Outside of that 1%, when individuals hear the term “senior living,” they may lump all the options into the same category based on their experience.

So, what exactly are the differences between these options when it comes to Commonwealth Senior Living?

Independent Living
This is the perfect lifestyle choice for those who want to maintain their independence and freedom, but want to be free of the worries and responsibilities of home ownership. Choosing to live in one of our communities offers the comfort, convenience and  amenities you want, and also includes many opportunities to be active, engaged, and enjoy a healthy social life. This lifestyle offers the simplified and improved living that our residents deserve. Delicious restaurant-style dining options, weekly housekeeping, maintenance-free living, and access to a variety of engaging programs means you never need to worry about anything but living life to the fullest.

Assisted Living
There may come a time when you are no longer able, or no longer wish to live alone. Normal daily activities such as cleaning, bathing or cooking may become too much for you to safely handle anymore. Assisted Living is an ideal option to provide a balance of personalized support, delivered with dignity, respect, and independence. At Commonwealth Senior Living, you will be able to continue living an active, rewarding lifestyle with support from our associates in managing these daily activities. If safety or quality of life have become a concern, it is time to consider assisted living. With robust and multi-dimensional programming, our residents live a vibrant life focused on doing more want to’s verses have to’s.  Our communities offer the best of both worlds where residents have the independence they desire with the knowledge that personal care and support services are available if and when they need them.  With 5 different levels of care within our Assisted Living, our residents have the peace of mind that their address does not need to change even if the level of support they need does.

Memory Care
Our Sweet Memories program is specifically designed to deliver the highest quality of care, support, and engagement to our residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as the safety and security they require. This award-winning program goes above and beyond the standards of care, blending the warm, homelike feeling of our memory care neighborhoods with personalized care delivered by compassionate, specially trained caregivers. Our memory care communities are intentionally designed to be cozy and offer the calm familiarity of routine schedules and consistent staffing with engaging programs and activities. We understand that no two Sweet Memories residents are at the same place in their journey and their needs, abilities, and preferences are unique. We provide person-centered care to ensure each resident enjoys the most appropriate support possible.

Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Homes
Skilled Nursing Facilities are designed for seniors who are no longer able to care for themselves independently, are not mobile without assistance, require  around-the-clock clinical care and medical monitoring due to chronic or deteriorating physical and health conditions, or require extensive rehabilitation following an injury or major surgery. In a more clinical setting, residents receive assistance with all activities of daily living, but primarily need ongoing palliative care. Some recreational activities are provided, but the main focus is on skilled care, safety, and comfort.  Due to the highly skilled care and physician oversight required at Skilled Nursing Facilities, this is the most expensive level of residential care available for seniors.

Today, our seniors are presented with more options than ever before. Understanding the differences between each of these is the next step in deciding which option is right for you or your loved one. For more guidance and support in this process, click the button below to take a free, anonymous assessment that will recommend options that could help based on national research.


If you would like more guidance on finding the right fit for your loved one,
our community’s Sales & Marketing Directors are only a call away.
Click here to learn more about the lifestyle in the community nearest you.

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Planning for the Future

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You’re the kind of person who plans ahead. You chose a home that fit your budget and helped the kids pay for college. Now is the time to start preparing for your future by choosing a senior living community. But how much will it cost?

The cost of senior living depends on the size apartment or suite you select as well as the amount of support you require. On average, this works out to be between $3,500 – $5,000 per month.

Families pay for senior living in a variety of ways. If you have invested in Long Term Care Insurance, this is the time to reach out to your insurance provider and ask about qualifying for benefits. Many families sell their home and use part of the sale to pay for senior living. Finally, if you served in the military during wartime or had a spouse who served, you may be eligible for senior living benefits from Veterans Aid & Attendance. This benefit combined with social security payments and savings often covers the cost of senior living.

Ultimately, the formula of how senior living is paid works out to be different for every family. But just like any decision you make for the future, it is worth the time and effort to plan ahead, choose the right community, and design a plan that makes sense for you.

To receive a personalized assessment of the price of senior living, contact the community nearest you. 

Deciding to make the move to senior living is a huge step and again, seniors pay for this lifestyle in a multitude of ways. We want to make sure you have everything you need to make that decision.

To help further understand your full financial picture, take a look at our cost comparison tool by clicking the button below.

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What is the secret to a long life?

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Watch as Susan Pinker, developmental psychologist and TED speaker discusses “the blue zone”, an area on the Italian island of Sardinia where there are six times as many centenarians as on the main land and ten times as many as North America. Why? Friendships and regular social interactions. The harm of being isolated is a real and present danger. The importance of human interactions is the most important factor in longevity. Watch below. If you’re curious how Commonwealth Senior Living is engaging residents in activities, social events and daily excursions, watch our Facebook pages for pictures of our programming, schedule a community experience or contact us with questions at AsktheExperts@commonwealthsl.com.