Woohoo! Summer is here! With all your fun plans for this hot season, it’s easy to overlook hydration. You don’t want to make that mistake!

It’s essential for seniors to maintain proper hydration levels. While drinking enough water is vital, did you know that certain foods can also contribute to staying hydrated? To help you stay cool and hydrated this summer, let’s explore the best foods for seniors to incorporate into their diet.

Watermelon

Nothing says summer like a juicy slice of watermelon! With its high water content of approximately 92%, watermelon is an excellent choice for seniors to stay hydrated. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this delicious fruit helps replenish fluids and prevent dehydration. Its natural sweetness and refreshing nature make it a perfect snack for seniors in senior living communities.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are a fantastic addition to summer hydration plans. Composed of 96% water, cucumbers are incredibly hydrating and low in calories. They are also rich in vitamins K and C, which support bone health and boost the immune system. Seniors can enjoy the cooling and refreshing crunch of cucumbers as a snack, or water infusion, or incorporate them into their meals to stay hydrated and nourished. Because cucumbers have a neutral flavor with subtle sweetness, they are easy to add to almost any recipe.

Berries

Berries, like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, are not only delicious but also packed with water content. These superfoods contain approximately 85-92% water, making them a hydrating option for seniors. Additionally, berries are rich in antioxidants and fiber, promoting heart health and aiding digestion. Seniors can enjoy these delightful treats as a refreshing snack, or add them to yogurt, smoothies, or salads to enhance both flavor and hydration.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale are not only nutritious but also high in water content. These greens typically consist of 90-95% water, making them an excellent choice for seniors in the summer months. Leafy greens are great for salads, sandwiches, and wraps. They provide essential vitamins, minerals, and hydration. Seniors in senior living communities can enjoy these versatile greens and their numerous health benefits while keeping their hydration levels in check.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is a natural and refreshing beverage that serves as an excellent alternative to sugary drinks. It is packed with electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium), which help replenish fluids and keep you hydrated. Coconut water is also low in calories and fat-free, making it a healthier choice for seniors. Like water and milk, you can use coconut water as a base for smoothies and mocktails, offering seniors a delicious and hydrating option.

How Will You Stay Hydrated This Summer?

Staying hydrated during the summer months is crucial, especially for seniors in senior living communities. By incorporating hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumbers, berries, leafy greens, and coconut water into their diet, seniors can enjoy delicious and nutritious options that help maintain proper hydration levels, support overall health, and beat the summer heat. Stay cool, healthy, and energized this summer with proper hydration!

As people get older, making new friends can become a challenging task. People often feel isolated as they age because their children and friends move, and there are seemingly fewer opportunities for seniors to gather together. These kinds of challenges lead to loneliness and isolation, which is the worst thing that can happen to someone as they grow older.

But have no fear, there are many senior living clubs and leagues that offer opportunities to connect with others and make new friends. Here are some senior living clubs we recommend: 

Senior Centers

One of the many great things about cities is that they’re often filled with senior centers. Senior centers are great gathering areas for a range of activities and programs. Your loved one can participate in fitness classes, arts and crafts workshops, games, and other social events. And the best part is your senior can make new friends and find people to spend time with.

Senior Sports Leagues

Almost every child spends at least one season playing sports in their lifetime. And now, your senior can do the same thing. There are senior sports leagues popping up left and right around the country. Seniors can participate in softball, golf, swimming, tennis, disc golf, and many other sports. These leagues are great for physical fitness and socialization.

Book Clubs

C.S. Lewis said, “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” If your loved one resonates with that statement, then a book club is the perfect option for making new friends. 

Book clubs are a great way to connect with others who share your love of reading. Many libraries and bookstores offer senior book clubs, and there are also online book clubs that you can join from the comfort of your own home.

Culture Clubs

The world is filled with culture. And people shouldn’t stop learning about other countries and cultures just because they’re getting older. Culture clubs are great opportunities for seniors to come together to travel around the world, share their stories, and participate in fun activities that teach them about other nations.

And the cool thing about culture is that it’s not limited to travel. Art and theater are great avenues for learning about other cultures, and they’re engaging. Art and acting aren’t just for the young in age but also for the young at heart!

So, whether you’re interested in theater, music, art, or travel there are many senior arts and culture clubs that offer opportunities to enjoy these activities with others. From attending concerts and plays to visiting museums and galleries, these clubs provide a fun and engaging way to make new friends and explore your interests.

Making new friends as a senior can be challenging, but joining a senior living club can be a fun way to meet new people and engage in meaningful activities. Research the different centers, clubs, and leagues in your area to find the best options for loving life and making new friends.

Moving a loved one into a senior living community is a big adjustment for your family and requires careful planning. Figuring out which community is best for your loved one requires you to determine the kind of care they need–but you don’t have to do this alone.

Let’s go over the four main types of senior assisted living care that you can choose from and how to determine which level of care your senior needs.

Type #1: Independent Living

Independent living communities are great options for seniors who can still complete activities of daily living (ADL) but need some help with the light maintenance of a home. Your loved one won’t have to worry about any light housekeeping or emergency services in independent living quarters because the community provides those.

If your senior can safely drive, travel, and maintain a healthy level of personal care, independent living is an excellent option.

Type #2: Assisted Living

Assisted living is a step up from independent living. In short, your older family numbers won’t have to lift a finger for home maintenance in assisted living. The community takes care of it all.

Additionally, the homes come with a kitchenette, linen services, and emergency services. This kind of living situation is an excellent option for seniors who need help outside of personal care. They can’t quite care for a home, but they can take care of ADLs.

Type #3: Short-Term Rehab

At Pivotal Health Care, many of our communities offer short-term rehab services. These services cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Residents who need short-term rehab can access these services 5-6 days per week.

We understand that rehab is essential for a senior’s well-being, so we offer these in-house services to help take care of our residents. Seniors need short-term rehab if they are recovering from an injury, surgery, or other accident.

Type #4: Long-Term Care

Long-term care is the ideal service for residents who need assistance with ADLs, health, and personal hygiene. Residents can qualify for long-term care following a thorough assessment from our nursing staff. Following the assessment, the nursing staff will determine which services your loved one needs to preserve their dignity and respect their wishes towards their medical care.

Residents in our long-term care communities have access to 24-hour nursing care, rehab services, and electronic medical charting–all the things necessary for excellent care.

Choosing the Right Level of Care

Finding the right senior living community is challenging. The best way to decide which senior living community is right for you is to schedule a tour and have a list of questions ready to ask.

It’s so important to choose the right level of care for loved ones, and senior living communities have trained professionals who can give you an honest assessment of your loved one’s needs.

If you’re ready to start your search, schedule a tour with one of Pivotal Health Care’s highly-rated communities.

Questions To Ask When On A Senior Living Community Tour

The time has finally come. Your family is looking at senior living communities because your loved ones need assistance with daily activities. Even though you knew this day would come, it’s still hard.

Finding a suitable senior living community is like finding a new home–there are plenty of options but you keep looking until you find the one that feels right.

Here at Pivotal Health Care, we want to help simplify the process for you. Ask these questions during your tours to find the best fit for your family.

Question #1: What’s the cost of living?

No surprise here–it’s important to figure out how much each senior living community costs. This isn’t a job interview where you don’t want to come across as too eager and ask about compensation. This is an important question that needs answering.

However, keep in mind that cost isn’t everything. Remember, your loved ones are living here full-time. Make sure the cost balances out with amenities, safety, food, and other accommodations.

Question #2: What amenities are available for residents?

Knowing what you’re paying for is good, so make sure you find out about all the amenities. Asking this question is especially helpful for seniors with physical limitations and disabilities. You want to make sure your loved one can enjoy their new home and everything that comes with it.

When you ask about amenities, don’t be afraid to ask about events. More and more communities are offering events, live music, delicious food trucks, and many other things. So, if a community has great gathering areas, a pool, or other community spaces, it’s not unreasonable to ask about events.

Question #3: How does the community keep its residents safe?

This one is a no-brainer. You need to find out how the senior living community is keeping its residents safe. There’s a burglary every 30 seconds in this country, and seniors can be at heightened risk because they often can’t physically defend themselves.

Although burglary trends are declining, you want to know if your loved one is protected. Asking about security systems, security guards, and gated communities is essential to making the right decision for your family.

But safety isn’t all about a burglary. It’s also about what happens in case of emergencies. Like when the weather takes a turn for the worse and the power goes out. It’s important to figure out how the senior living community takes care of its residents during these times of need.

Ask the important questions

It’s really easy to get overwhelmed in a senior living community. There are plenty of places to visit, and you’re absorbing information like water out of a firehose. During your tours, take in as much information as possible and grab as many pamphlets as possible. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and write the answers down.

But most importantly, listen to your gut. Trust how you feel about a community.

It’s that time of year when families gather together to share the holiday spirit. Christmas is a wonderful time to share meals and favorite recipes and give presents to loved ones. 

As you start checking people off your list, you finally come to your older family members. You’re ready to purchase them a beautiful, heartfelt gift, but you’re completely stumped. What do you get someone who can buy anything they want throughout the year?

We want to help you avoid this problem. Here are four great Christmas gifts for the seniors in your life.

Gift Idea #1: Coupon Book

This first gift idea is great for children to give to their grandparents or older family members. A coupon book can be filled with chores that the older family member needs help completing or fun outings and adventures.

The child includes several coupons with different activities, and the recipient “cashes in” on these gifts throughout the year. This is a great way to make a Christmas gift keep giving throughout the year..

Gift Idea #2: Tablets

Don’t live close to your loved ones? No problem. Tablets are a great gift for seniors who live far away. With a tablet, you can video call, share photos, text, call, and post on social media all with a click of a button.

There are so many tablets available on the market today. Find the one that works best for your senior and gives the best access to loved ones.

Gift Idea #3: Custom Calendar

As your family grows, there’s nothing sweeter than photos to remember special moments. Gifting a yearly calendar customized with photos from the year of family members and trips is a great way to spark excitement on every page.

A custom calendar is an excellent way to showcase birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Additionally, calendars are great for seniors with memory loss becuase it serves as a great reminder of important days and offers pictures of family members alongside the holidays.

Gift Idea #4: Cards and Board Games

Card games and board games are a great way to spend quality time with family and laugh with competitive spirit. Whether you’re playing Rummikub, Nertz, 42, Settlers of Catan, or any other game, you can gift your senior their favorite board game.

Want to make it more special? Find a game your loved one played as a child or young adult and surprise them with a new edition. A blast to the past is a great way to lift spirits and give your older family members the opportunity to teach the younger family members a new game.

Christmas Time is Here!

With the holidays around the corner, now is the best time to purchase a meaningful gift. With homemade gifts like coupon books, technology, customized calendars, and novelty games, you’re sure to shock and awe your loved one with a great gift this holiday season.

And from our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

It’s that time of year when family and friends gather for the holidays and enjoy each other’s company. This time together is precious, especially for families with elderly members. The last thing you want is not to see your grandparents on Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately, because of difficult travel conditions and dietary restrictions, Thanksgiving can be challenging for your elderly members. Help them enjoy the holidays with these simple adjustments.

Plan in Advance

Even though the holidays happen every year, it always seems like they come by surprise. Next thing you know, it’s November and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Avoid making hasty decisions and travel plans by taking the extra minute to plan the holiday in advance. When elderly members are part of your family, it’s best to consider how travel will affect them.

With enough notice, family members can buy plane tickets or drive into town. In most cases, it’s easiest to visit older family members than to have them come to you.

Adjust the Menu

Everyone has a favorite dish during Thanksgiving. But as people age, some food becomes more difficult to eat, like turkey.

When deciding who cooks what on this special day, consider what’s easier for your elderly family members to eat. This is where casseroles and potatoes come to play. Their softer texture is easier to chew and filled with flavor.

If you’re like most families, you plan on having a turkey. Help the elderly by cutting their turkey into small pieces for them so it’s easier to chew.

Part of adjusting the menu is considering health and dietary restrictions. Consider low-sodium and low-fat options. With a slight adjustment to the menu, everyone can be happy and enjoy their food.

Organize Fun Activities

Thanksgiving is about family time and appreciating one another. Although everyone loves to watch Thanksgiving Day football, have some other activities available.

We strongly recommend board games, card games, fishing (depending on your climate and location), strolls around the neighborhood, and anything else your family enjoys doing.

Better yet, find a way for your older family members to talk about their history and share stories–this will bring the family closer together and give a greater appreciation for the blessings in life.

Focus on Quality Time

Above all else, focus on quality time. Sitting in the same room together is different than visiting with each other. Spend time talking, laughing, cooking, and eating. No one ever complains about time well spent.

Take advantage of the time you have with your loved ones. Focusing on quality time ensures you have the best visit possible every year.

Now You’re Ready for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with family members, young and old. With the holidays around the corner, take advantage of the time you have with your loved ones with great food, company, and quality time.

We promise you won’t regret it!

In 2021, nearly 100,000 elderly adults fell victim to scams that cost them nearly $2 billion. The scam industry is growing every year, so everyone must learn how to spot a scam from a mile away.

Unfortunately, scams are constantly becoming more sophisticated, and scammers often target people they see as most vulnerable or those with a lot of money–the elderly.

Here are three of the most common scams to watch out for when you pick up the phone from an unknown caller.

#1: Grandparent Scam

You love your grandchildren dearly and want to help them in any way you can. While your motives are admirable, scammers anticipate your love and affection and take advantage of you.

In a grandparent scam, the scammer pretends to be one of your grandchildren and asks for money. Scammers will try to get you to name one of your grandchildren that they might sound like, so they can play off that trust and relationship to get you to send them money.

How to Avoid:

If you ever receive a phone call like this, never give a child’s name. But more importantly, immediately hang up the phone and call your grandchild directly to confirm whether or not they attempted to call you.

#2: Government Impersonation Scam

While scams are scary, government impersonation scams are downright terrifying. As an authority who can put people in jail, hearing the government call you can put you in a state of fear that short circuits logical thinking–the very thing scammers want.

When a scammer calls you impersonating the government, they’ll attempt to use a phone number similar to the government agency they’re impersonating. They’ll pressure you into making a payment online by giving your information.

How to Avoid:

Government agencies never call you on the phone to collect payments. The moment someone says they’re calling from the government to collect a payment, hang up immediately.

#3: Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams

When someone receives a call saying they’ve won a brand-new truck, an all-expenses-paid vacation to Europe, or an insane amount of money, “recipients” may be so excited about “winning” that they don’t think about whether or not the call is real.

These scammers will ask you to send them money or gift cards to cover the taxes and fees.

How to Avoid:

First things first, if you didn’t enter a giveaway of any kind, there’s no reason to receive a call about winning a prize. When you receive this call, immediately hang up. 

The challenge with this scam is if you have entered giveaways before, you might be tempted to continue listening. The big giveaway in this scam is when they ask you to pay upfront without first receiving your prize. If it’s truly a prize, you shouldn’t have to pay a dime.

Conclusion

Scammers are constantly improving their craft to make their scams more believable and appealing. And while the scammer might sound like your grandchild, the government, or Publishing Clearing House, your best defense is to use common sense, hang up the phone, and block the number.

You recently found out that your aging parents can’t live on their own anymore, so you’re now left with a difficult decision: do you look for a senior living center or attempt to care for them yourself?

As you think back on all the ways your parents helped you, you decide to try and help your parents yourself.

When you take on this task, you’ll go through many emotions. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this experience and give your parents the care they need and deserve.

Tip #1: Accept the Changes in Life

It can be challenging to accept the new changes in life when you start taking care of your elderly parents. You remember them as young and physically capable of anything. But now, the roles shifted, and you must care for them.

Tip #2: Objectively Determine How Much Care is Needed

Everyone needs different levels of care. Both of your parents may need help, or only one of them needs assistance. Regardless of how it all plays out, you need to objectively determine how much care each aging parent needs and whether or now you can give that care.

As a family caregiver, start by talking with the doctors and thoroughly learning about your parent’s health conditions. After speaking with the doctors, schedule and plan how you will care for your parents’ health in your home.

Tip #3: Set Realistic Standards for the Care You Can Give

You must set realistic expectations and standards for yourself as you work on objectively determining how much care is needed. You are not a professional caregiver. Therefore, you aren’t equipped to help your parents with every condition they might have.

Tip #4: Get the Right Help

Once you know what you can do to help your parents, get the best help you can find for the other things. Professionals are equipped and trained to handle every aspect of personal care and help with a medical emergency. Spend time researching and meeting representatives from multiple companies to find the best fit for your family.

Tip #5: Count the Cost

Regardless of how much you help your parents, there’s a financial, emotional, mental, and physical cost.

Families often overlook the cost of caring for parents because they want to help them. Unfortunately, senior care is expensive and can hurt your finances if you aren’t equipped to take on the cost of care necessary.  Talk with a family member about the cost and see how they can help.

Conclusion

We love families who care about their parents and want to help them every step of the way. We want to support those who diligently work to care for their aging parents, which is why we offer various plans at Pivotal Health Care.

Find a nearby community in the Midwest if you’ve reached a point where you can no longer give your parents the care they need.

Almost 70% of seniors need assistance at some point in their lives. Whether it’s short-term care, long-term care, assisted living, or memory care, there comes a time when a family member needs more help. 

With many different options, it’s tough to know which one is the right decision, especially if they sound the same. Understanding the difference between assisted living and memory care is the first step to making the right call for the type of care your loved one needs.

Five Differences Between Assisted Living and Memory Care

Assisted living and memory care are excellent programs that help seniors enjoy their golden years. But there are distinct differences in the purpose, daily life, safety measures, environment, and cost of each program and facility.

	Assisted Living	Memory Care
Purpose	Families should consider assisted living programs if their loved one needs help with daily living activities but still has sound reasoning and judgment.  Its sole purpose is to give the elderly a place to live their golden years with a bit of help.	Memory care communities are the right place for families who have a loved one who needs help with daily activities and is suffering from memory loss. The primary purpose of memory care programs is to give the individual the mental stability and help they need.
Daily Life	Daily life in an assisted living community is similar to life on your own, except for having people help maintain the facilities and grounds. Residents go about their day as usual without the additional responsibility of caring for a home.	Most activities in a memory care facility focus on slowing the effects of memory loss and helping individuals live their life to the fullest potential.
Safety Measures	People in assisted living communities often have emergency systems set up and daily check-ins to help ensure they’re safe. Most other security doesn’t exist.	People who suffer from mental diseases like dementia and Alzheimers can experience aggression and instability. Many facilities include more safety precautions like locked doors and curfews to prevent wandering.
Environment	Assisted living facilities replicate someone’s home and yard. They often include beautiful facilities and yards with trees, flowers, and gardens.	Memory Care communities feature safe environments with secured doors and a fenced courtyard. Staff members have specific Alzheimer’s and memory care training so your loved one will receive the proper care and treatment.
Cost	The cost of assisted living communities varies depending on location and amenities. You’ll need to reach out to the community you’re interested in to learn the current rates.	How much you spend on memory care depends on the location and facility. You’ll need to reach out to the community you’re interested in to learn the current rates.



What’s Right for Your Loved One?

When the time comes for your family to decide which facility works best for your loved one in need, consider the kind of care they need. The most significant difference between assisted living and memory care is the facility’s purpose, which dictates the kind of daily care your aging loved one receives.

Pivotal Health Care is proud to serve the community, and we offer several facilities with assisted living locations and memory care assistance. Call us today to start the conversation.

Do you still live where you grew up as a child? Chances are you don’t–only 42% of Americans live in or near their hometown. 

So as your parents get older and need medical assistance and support, you have a difficult choice: do you move them closer to you or leave them where they are? This predicament is all too common for Gen X, and soon it will become a hard decision for millennials. 

If your family members still live where you grew up, they’ve been there for decades, making it hard for them to leave. But if you move them closer to you, you can take better care of them.

It’s common to feel trapped In this situation. Use this guide to help you have this complicated conversation with your family member(s).

Why You Should Move Them Closer

When the responsibility to care for your aging parents is on your shoulders, the easy solution is to bring them closer to you, no matter how far you live.

Whether you’re single or have an entire family, it’s “easier” for your parents to move nearby than for you to uproot your life (home, work, school, community).

However, there is one thing to consider before moving your parents closer–what’s best for them?

The only way to answer this question is to have a conversation with the other family members.

When you talk to them about moving closer, consider using these talking points:

• You can visit more often.
• You can cater to their needs.
• You can travel with them to doctor’s appointments.
• You can care for them in your home (if you decide to have them move in with you).

Why You Should Leave Them Where They Live

On the contrary, not everyone is ready to move their elderly parents closer, or the elderly parent refuses to leave their home.

In situations like these, it’s essential to consider why it’s best to leave your parents where they live.

• They’re familiar with the local care and medical facilities.
• They have friends and family nearby.
• They’re comfortable in their home.

Although this decision can be hard for you to accept, aging adults need to enjoy their living quarters and the local area.

After decades of living in one place, your parents made many friends who helped them through various phases of life. But these friends have done more than help them physically. They’ve helped them emotionally–people are happier when their best friends live within a mile of them.

Having essential people nearby might be the difference-maker for someone’s health to improve or spiral out of control.

What Should You Do?

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer on whether or not you should move your parents close to you–the two of you need to come to an agreement on what’s best for everyone.

And if you speak with your parents before making a decision, you can work out a schedule that fits everyone’s life.

If you decide to look into an assisted living facility, consider Pivotal Health Care. Our facilities are excellent for helping older adults adjust to new stages in life.