Category: Assisted Living

Did you know that living in an assisted living in Raleigh can actually improve your quality of life? 

Many people think that moving into an assisted living is the end of freedom and independence, but if you have had a chance to read our latest blog, then you already know that assisted livings can actually improve your quality of life. The following is a list of the last few ways that an assisted living can improve your quality of life:

#6. You’ll have all of your nutrition needs taken care of. 

At each and every one of our LiveWell assisted living communities, you will find healthy and mouth-watering meals. Every meal we serve is prepared by a licensed dietician, and we utilize real, whole foods for all meals. We can also accommodate for any special dietary needs you may have. Living in an assisted living community means that you won’t have to worry about going to the grocery store or taking the time to prepare all of your meals, and it also means that all of your nutritional needs will be met in a tasty, satisfying way.

#7. You won’t have to worry about housekeeping.

The golden years can seem a lot less golden when you have to think about dusting, mopping, sweeping, vacuuming and all of the other chores that are required to keep your home in great shape. Luckily, when you live in an assisted living community, you won’t have to worry about the housekeeping, instead you can focus on learning new things, making new friends and enjoying your golden years to the fullest.

Want to improve your quality of life? If so, it’s time for you to think about moving into an assisted living community!

There are many benefits to living at home, but as you age, it gets more and more difficult to live on your own. Not only is living on your own isolating, it can also be dangerous. In our last blog, we went over just a few of the ways that you can improve your quality of life by moving into an assisted living in Durham. Keep reading to learn about more exciting ways that living in an assisted living can improve your quality of life:

#4. You’ll get more intellectual stimulation. 

The brain can be compared to a muscle, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. The brain needs to be stimulated every single day, and when you live by yourself, that can be difficult to do. When you live in an assisted living, you’ll have access to groups and classes, like art classes and book clubs, where you can get the intellectual stimulation you need.

#5. Assisted livings promote independence. 

Many people are under the impression that living in an assisted living means the end of independence, but actually the opposite is true. While assisted livings do offer help for activities of daily living that you may struggle with, they don’t just do it for you, they will help to teach you to care for yourself as well.

These aren’t the only ways that an assisted living can improve your quality of life. Stay tuned for our next blog to learn more.

Some people see an assisted living as the end of their life, but in reality, an assisted living can improve your quality of life in many ways. 

Moving into an assisted living can be difficult, but the fact of the matter is that change is never easy, no matter what kind of change it is. However, as difficult as it can be to leave your home and move into a new place, living in an assisted living in Chapel Hill can actually improve your quality of life in many different ways. The following is a list of a few of the ways that an assisted living can improve your quality of life:

#1. You ‘ll have easy access to physical fitness and other activities.

In many of our past blogs, we’ve talked about the importance of staying active for people of all ages, but especially for people who are elderly. Living in an assisted living community gives you access to many activities that will get you up and moving, which will reduce your risk for falls and improve your quality of life.

#2. You’ll have many opportunities to be social. 

For seniors who live at home, isolation and loneliness are very real problems. Assisted livings not only offer group meal times, they offer a variety of structured activities, like field trips, parties and cultural events, to give you plenty of opportunities to make friends and be social.

#3. You’ll be living in a safer environment. 

A fall or a slip when you live on your own can be a disaster, but when you live in an assisted living, you’ll have access to emergency care in a manner of seconds or minutes. Assisted livings are also equipped with shower railings, medical alert systems and so much more.

Want to learn about more ways that living in an assisted living could improve your quality of life? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.

 

Isn’t yoga just for young people?

Although, when many people think of yoga, they imagine young, lean people forcing their bodies into awkward positions, many seniors love to practice yoga as well! When practiced safely and correctly, yoga can actually be incredibly beneficial for seniors, but it is important to consult your doctor before starting any new form of physical activity. The following is a list from our assisted living in Raleigh of a few of the many benefits of yoga for seniors:

#1. Chronic Pain Management

Yoga helps to build muscle that supports the joints, which can help ease some of the pain that comes from chronic illnesses, like arthritis.

#2. Increased Happiness

Exercise, as well as movement in general, can help to boost your mood and lift your spirits, but for seniors who practice yoga, this is especially true. The breathing practices that come with yoga help to calm the mind and put the body at ease.

#3. Weight Management

It can be difficult to keep the pounds off as we age, but you’ll be glad to know that practicing yoga for just a half an hour every week can help you manage your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight can improve your confidence, reduce the stress from your joints and increase your energy.

Although we’ve only touched on a few of them, the benefits of practicing yoga are numerous. If you would like to learn about a few more of the benefits of practicing yoga, please stay tuned for our next blog!

Don’t let the common misconceptions about aging ruin your golden years!

Our expectations are incredibly powerful. If you expect something to be bad, then there’s a strong likelihood that it will. That’s why, in our last post, our assisted living in Durham shed some light on common misconceptions about aging. Keep reading to learn the truth about more of them:

#4. Health problems are inevitable when you get older.

It’s true that our bodies start to feel the wear and tear of life as we age, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get sick or lose all of your independence. There is a lot to be said for a healthy lifestyle. Staying active and healthy can help to improve your balance, prevent falls, increase your independence and make you feel better as a whole.

#5. When you get old, you can no longer learn new things.

While the learning process is different for older people than it is for younger people, older people are more than capable of learning new things. In fact, learning new things is one of the best ways to keep your brain strong and sharp!

#6. You won’t be happy when you get old.

Although loneliness, depression and misery are often associated with old age, you can still live out your later years with a smile on your face and joy in your heart. In fact, studies have shown that people are at their happiest at the age of retirement. Aging doesn’t mean that you can no longer have a life, it actually opens up the possibilities for you to learn, travel and play at your heart’s desire!

There are a lot of people who have the wrong impression of aging.

Aging can be a beautiful part of life, and there is a very good reason why the later years are often called the golden years. However, if you expect aging to be a negative thing, then chances are, for you it will be. Perception is a very powerful thing, and that is why you need to be aware of the many common misconceptions about aging:

#1. As you age, your brain power decreases.

While degenerative diseases, like dementia, are most common in older people, many people actually enjoy improved abstract reasoning, math and verbal skills as they age. However, the brain needs “exercise” in order for it to keep getting stronger, so keep it sharp by using it!

#2. You get lonely when you get old.

The fact is that aging doesn’t cause loneliness, but being isolated does. Isolation is a major problem for older people in our society, but there are plenty of ways to combat isolation and loneliness. In our assisted living communities in Chapel Hill, you will find plenty of older adults making new friends, participating in activities and staying social.

#3. You’ll have to live with your bad choices.

Whether you need to quit smoking or you want to change your eating habits, old age doesn’t mean that you can’t change. Sure, a lifetime of habits may be a little more difficult to change, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try. You can still enjoy many benefits of living a healthier life.

Stay tuned for our next blog to learn the truth about more common aging misconceptions.

If you want to remain active and healthy, protecting your joints is essential.

As we discussed in our last blog, when you have painful joints, it limits your activity and leads to weight gain, which puts even more pressure on your joints. Painful joints are often the beginning of a vicious cycle, but the good news is that there are things you can do to protect your joints. In our last blog, we went over a couple of them. Keep reading to learn more:

#3. Sit up straight.

Slouching is hard on your joints. That is because, when your body is lopsided, it puts a lot more stress on them. Maintaining good posture is essential because it actually helps to guard your back muscles and hip joints.

#4. Eat a healthy diet.

Unhealthy fats, carbohydrates and preservatives have a reputation for increasing inflammation, so it’s a good idea to cut back on processed and fatty foods. Try to eat more foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, as they can help to fight inflammation. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you get plenty of calcium in your diet to support strong bones.

#5. Drink plenty of water.

Dehydration can be troubling for many well-known reasons, but not many people realize that it can actually aggravate aching or painful joints. Be mindful about drinking plenty of water each and every day.

Protecting your joints is essential for your overall health, and when you have healthy joints, you can stay active for a whole lot longer. Break the vicious cycle that starts with painful joints and start taking steps to protect your joints today!

Painful joints are the beginning of a viscous cycle.

When your joints are in pain, regardless of whether it is caused by arthritis or something else, it makes it difficult to do just about anything. As humans, we are inclined to listen to our bodies very attentively. When we are in pain, we rest until the pain subsides, but when you have joint pain, resting often makes the problem worse. The more you rest, the more weight you gain and the more muscle you start to lose. This leads to even more pressure being put on your joints and as a result, more pain. So, how do you keep your joints healthy? Our assisted living in Durham has come up with these tips to help:

#1. Stay loose by stretching regularly.

Stretching is a great way to reduce inflammation and improve your flexibility. Although stretching may not be at the top of your list, taking a few minutes to loosen up in the mornings and evenings will go a long way to reducing your pain.

#2. Make time for regular exercise.

As we stated earlier, the more weight you carry, the more pressure you are putting on your joints, especially your weight-bearing joints, including your knees, back and hips. One of the best things you can do to lose weight is to start exercising regularly. Not only will exercise help you to lose weight, it’ll also help you build muscles that support and protect your joints.

There are many things that you can do to protect your joints and keep them healthy. Would you like to learn more? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.

 

We all need a break every once in awhile!

There is nothing more rewarding than caring for a loved one. You get to spend a whole lot of time with them and get to know them in a new way, but it isn’t always an easy job. No matter how devoted and dedicated you are to caring for your loved one, you need a break every once in awhile, and you can get that break by turning to our beautiful assisted living communities in Chapel Hill for respite care.

Respite care is essential for both you and your loved one.

You can’t put your entire life on hold to care for your loved one, and we all have to make a little time to care for ourselves every so often. With respite care, your loved one will be in capable and compassionate hands for a short predetermined period so that you can manage your own life and take care of yourself! Whether you need a break to visit the dentist, go on vacation or get a massage, respite care is a great option. Not only will respite care give you a much-needed break, it also enhances the level of care that you can provide. When you are feeling refreshed, renewed and at ease with the world, you can provide your loved one with the quality of care that they deserve!

Do you need a break from caring for your loved one? LiveWell Assisted Living can help. Learn about all of our respite care options by visiting us online or contacting us today.

Are you having trouble finding the right assisted living facility for your loved one?

Finding the right assisted living in Raleigh for your loved one is incredibly important, but it can also be very difficult. In our last blog, we went over a couple of questions that you should ask as you tour a prospective assisted living. Today, we’ll be finishing up our list with the last couple of questions to ask on your tour:

#5. What is your move-out policy?

Each and every community that you tour will have its own move-out policy. You need to be prepared for any possible issues that may arise in the future, and one of the best way to do that is by understanding all of the specifics of the community’s move-out policy.

#6. Can I afford this community?

Although finances are probably the last thing that you want to think about when you are trying to find a home for your loved one, they are something that you absolutely have to think about. Ask the tour guide about deposit requirements, any additional fees for amenities or services, what’s included in the monthly rent and what kind of lease options they offer. Again, the more you know, the fewer surprises you are likely to run into in the future.

Although there are many assisted living communities for you to choose from, not all of them will be able to provide the compassion and care that your loved one needs and deserves. Is LiveWell Assisted Living the right choice for your loved one? Contact us today to schedule a tour of one of our beautiful communities!