Page 17 - Mid Valley Times 11-5-20 E-edition

Thursday, November 5, 2020 | A17 | Mid Valley TiMes
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Why would I want to live in a Retirement Community?
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“I sold my house,” one of our resident announced a couple of weeks ago. Ordinarily we hear that phrase a lot as residents come to live in our retirement community. is an- nouncement was di er- ent.
e resident with the news ash was a person that had been living in one of our Garden apartments
for more than a year. She did not really try to sell in earnest until recently. While living in the retirement com- munity the “getting the house ready for sale,” became a family af- fair. Her family and a couple of friends went about reconditioning the house and property. Our resident is so hap- py she waited a while since a family member has come forward to buy the beloved family home.
is resident came to live on the retire- ment campus to take advantage of the ameni- ties and yet have time to lovingly dedicate time to make her house “ready for the next oc- cupant.”
Retirement com- munities have indepen- dent living residences for residents who wish
Now What?
to enjoy the freedom
of a private home, but remain free of the many responsibilities of home ownership and mainte- nance.
Retirement com- munities are set up
to provide an option for seniors when the maintenance and care of owning a home becomes overwhelm- ing. As people age, the ability to keep up with a yard and house main- tenance becomes more and more daunting. Projects that were at one time were easy can become di cult and sometimes next to im- possible to complete. If one spouse has passed away or has the need
to be in a long-term care facility, the task of keeping up the house falls to the one remain- ing at home. at can mean needed repairs are not completed well and the living environment can become dangerous.
Social interaction is an important part of aging. We need con- nections with family and friends. Aging can bring social interac- tion complications when driving, vision and hearing become a ected. Retirement communities bring people together. Friend- ships are formed when
By Ro Linscheid
you live close enough to walk over. Here friends look after each other, spend time together do- ing mutual interests or simply chatting at the mailbox with acquain- tances.
Retirement com- munities o er varying meal plans so residents can gather in a common area to eat together. Options are to buy
each meal separately
or one or more meals
is included in the rent. Usually, there is a main dining room where the meal is served. is helps the residents of the community to have to socialize with others during a meal. Having at least one nutritious meal during the day can help the resident main- tain his or her health and energy.
As we age, our ability to drive safely can diminish. Retire- ment communities typically have a van or
a bus to provide trans- portation for grocery shopping, general shop- ping trips and outings. e Campus Activity Director of a retirement community plans out- ings and activities of interest. ese outings could include going to a see movie, visiting local attractions, at-
tending a local play or musical concert. When we are free of the CO- VID-19 virus Sierra View Homes will plan trips to areas of interest to our residents, giving opportunity to see and enjoy excursions they would not have an op- portunity to participate in any other way.
Retirement com- munities vary in the
housekeeping ser-
vices that they provide. Some include house- keeping services in the rent, others o er ser- vices for an additional cost, and some o er
no housekeeping ser- vices at all for those in an independent living setting. Some residents have family members that want to participate and make their home more pleasant.
Health care ser- vices for residents in independent living facilities are minimal. e expectation is that the residents are able
to care for themselves and maintain their own health needs. ere is a call system in the inde- pendent living where the resident simply needs to pull a cord to call for help. Retire- ment communities have a system of response to
these calls so they are handled quickly and e ciently. ere are communities that of- fer weekly or monthly blood pressure checks and some facilities have a nurse designated to help residents with short-term dressing changes or other short- term needs.
Most facilities of- fer beauty and barber shop services on the premises. e shops can be run independently or through the company. e opportunity to get one’s hair or nails done helps seniors maintain a positive self-esteem and enjoy a little pampering without ever leaving the campus.
Today’s seniors are looking for retirement communities that o er opportunities to exer- cise, which will enable them to stay healthy and maintain indepen- dence. When someone looks at a commu-
nity, the opportunity
to peddle on stationary bikes, walking on tread- mills, swim or do gen- eral exercise is usually high on the prospective
resident’s list. Most retirement communities provide opportunities to exercise. A swimming pool can be the best source for low impact exercise. e residents on campus frequently use the indoor heated swimming pool at Si- erra View Homes.
For our well- seasoned resident who came here still holding on to her home, our campus provided a re- prieve to get away from the mundane chores
of a house. It was also an opportunity to live among new neighbors and continue to live in a retirement campus with no regrets.
e bene ts of living in a congregate arrangement have been well documented in scienti c studies done throughout the world. So if you are sixty years of age or older and want to live a longer, happier and more ful- lled life, consider liv- ing in the company of friends in a retirement community.
RETIRED...
Jolana Woodruff, M.S., Pa-C.
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