For more information on Springwood Court, Click Here.For the more than 15 million family members who are caregivers to a loved one with dementia, there will come a time when their loved ones needs will be greater than they can handle. At this point, your loved one will need around-the-clock care in a community that provides memory care. However, making the choice can be confusing and stressful for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is navigating the differences between the types of communities.There are many different types of senior communities that offer memory support, but there's a real difference when you choose a community that has been specifically designed to offer care to those with cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, says Jayne Sallerson, Chief Operating Officer of Charter Senior Living. The specialized lifestyle available in these types of communities is incredibly beneficial to those living with dementia and provides peace of mind for family members, who know that their loved one is happy, healthy and well-cared for.Why Are Memory Care-Specific Communities So Exceptional?You may be wondering why moving your loved one to a senior living community, especially a senior living community that specializes in dementia care and Alzheimer's disease, is the right decision. There are many benefits to moving your loved one into one of these communities. Discover the difference of a memory care-specific community for an individual living with dementia:24/7 professional support. Because dementia is a progressive disease, your loved ones health and abilities will slowly deteriorate until they need around-the-clock support. Memory care communities offer staff available at any time of the day, every day of the week, to provide aid and assistance to residents as necessary. There is often a high caregiver-to-resident ratio, and care team members are generally assigned to specific memory care residents so that those with dementia are always surrounded by familiar, friendly and caring faces.Specialized care designed for the resident. Memory care assisted living communities know that the very best care comes from knowing the person their stories, their history, their likes and dislikes, and their dreams and goals. Staff members at memory care communities take the time to learn about residents so they can create therapies, experiences and interactions that have been designed specifically for them. This approach helps bring exceptional quality of life for residents, helping them feel loved, valued and cared for.Dementia-specific programming .People with dementia want and need to participate in meaningful activities and events, just like everyone else. Memory care communities have a robust calendar of events filled with specialized programming that helps engage residents through activities that are tailored to their interests and level of care. This helps reduce boredom, increase engagement, boost happiness and help reduce unwanted behaviors that cause stress and discomfort. At the same time, the programs are designed to help promote cognitive function and overall health. Exercising mind and body can help slow and sometimes stall the progression of dementia for a time.Meaningful socialization. When someone with memory loss lives at home, there aren't always a plethora of options for socialization. Living in a memory care community makes it easy for individuals to interact with each other, caregivers and staff on a regular basis. Staying socially active is incredibly important for cognitive and emotional health, and having easy access to that provides well-being like nothing else.Caring assistance from trained caregivers. People with dementia will need assistance with the activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing and other tasks. Dementia caregivers have been trained to care for people with cognitive issues in a caring, professional and dignified way. Caregivers also provide much-needed emotional and social support, not just for those with dementia but for family members as well.A healthy, balanced diet. Dementia care provides health for the whole person, which includes diet. Individuals with dementia can struggle to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy (and it can be a struggle for family members to get their loved ones to eat those foods). Memory care nursing homes can ensure that residents are eating healthy diets while also receiving any assistance they may require. Dining teams create rotating menus that are filled with nutritional elements and make them delicious and tasty.Allowing family members to become family again .Perhaps the most significant benefit of these types of senior living options is the permission they give family members to become spouses, children and friends once again without having to worry about being caregivers. Visiting a loved one in memory care allows people to enjoy quality time together free of stress, planning and the exhaustion of daily tasks. Instead, those relationships can be nurtured and deepened, creating meaningful moments that will last a lifetime.Your Journey. Your Way.Charter Senior Living is a caring and compassionate leader within the senior living industry. Charter manages 40 senior living communities throughout the U.S., offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care services. A family-owned business with an executive team with more than 100 combined years in the senior housing industry, Charter Senior Livings mission is to enhance the human spirit of our residents, families and employees while serving with heart, purpose and courage and to have fun while serving.

For more information on Springwood Court, Click Here.Lets get physical, physical sings Olivia Newton-John, and though we aren't ready to jump back into leg warmers and headbands, it does relate to the fact that we, as human beings, are incredibly motivated to improve our health and wellness. For older adults, this isn't just a great way to stay in shape its the best way to age well.Jayne Sallerson, Chief Operating Officer of Charter Senior Living, says staying healthy as you age means reaping the benefits that exercise brings to mind, body and soul.Staying healthy and aging well truly is a state of mind, she says. While the physical things you do have very real, significant effects, there are many other benefits that exercise has to your mental and emotional health.We all understand the benefits of staying physically healthy, such as a better metabolism, stronger bones and muscles and overall better quality of life, Jayne explains. On the other hand, not staying physically active can be detrimental to not just our physical bodies, but our mental and emotional states as well.Jayne says that 2020 showed us all the importance of staying physically active, even when it seems difficult to do so. Seniors, especially, have to deal with a use-it-or-lose-it aspect of their overall wellness, she says. As we get older, we can develop things like sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle and strength due to aging. Unfortunately, that's a vicious cycle, because as we lose strength, its harder to be active.When we do the recommended amount of exercise, our risk of various diseases go down, we sleep better, our metabolism is high just to name a few benefits. Staying physically active also helps us stay mentally healthy, which the COVID-19 crisis has shown us is incredibly important, Jayne says. Loneliness, depression and sadness is very common for older adults.Research has shown that when we don't get enough physical activity for example, if we reduce the amount of daily steps we take from 10,000 to 1,500 we start seeing the physical issues almost instantly. Insulin sensitivity reduces almost immediately, as does muscle tone and other physical factors. Unfortunately, when muscle tone is lost, its a lot more difficult to get it back again.But don't despair. Even if you've never exercised in your life, its never too late to start. As the old saying goes, The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now. Now is the perfect time to take steps literally and figuratively to improve your health and get more physical activity.Jayne says that moving beyond the challenges we face, physically, is the key to healthy aging. There is so much research that shows how being optimistic and practicing positive thinking can improve our physical health, she says. When you approach anything in your life from a place of positivity, its easier to stay dedicated to maintaining your physical health as well as your mental and emotional health.Healthy aging, according to Jayne, means finding ways to reinvent your approach to life as you move through your golden years. It means finding new passions, adapting to change and staying as active as possible: physically, socially and mentally. Staying positive translates into adaptability and flexibility which is incredibly important as you get older. Being flexible means you are more likely and willing to follow doctors orders and take steps to control your health, Jayne says.Here are some of the steps you can take to achieve health and wellness physically, mentally and emotionally during your retirement years:Eat well.Dont think of eating well as a diet. Instead, think of it as a whole new approach to your nutrients. Reinvent the way you eat by eliminating or limiting processed and packaged foods, and instead load up your plate and your life with whole foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. Research suggests that this way of eating can improve your physical health and protect you against chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and even dementia.Get moving.Our bodies are not designed to simply sit around in a chair. Were meant to get active, so take steps every day to be active literally. Thirty minutes a day is the minimum recommended amount of exercise that experts suggest, but you don't have to do it all at once or even that much at the beginning: even as little as five minutes a day can allow you to reap huge health benefits. Regular exercise helps you control your weight, improve your cardiovascular system, lessen your risk of many diseases, boosts your mood and basically has zero side effects.Stay connected.Being lonely hurts our hearts, figuratively and literally. Lonely people often develop depression and dementia, and tend to have shorter lifespans than those who remain socially active. On the other hand, staying connected to friends and family reduces stress, boosts immunity and helps you live a better life. Any activity that has you connecting with others is a benefit one of the reasons why many older adults choose to continue working or volunteering during their golden years.Find ways to add a little extra exercise to your day.Going to the grocery store? Park at the back of the lot so you have to walk that much further. Watching TV? Do jumping jacks during the commercial break. Practice balancing at the counter while you're cooking, or do resistance exercises while you're reading the news.Try something new.If you have the internet, the world is your oyster. There are countless exercise videos available for free or low-cost, and the majority of them don't require you to purchase new, expensive equipment. This is the time to try out new exercises like yoga, tai chi or anything else that strikes your fancy.Your Journey. Your Way.Charter Senior Living is a caring and compassionate leader within the senior living industry. Charter manages 25 senior living communities throughout the U.S., offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care services. A family-owned business with an executive team with more than 100 combined years in the senior housing industry, Charter Senior Livings mission is to enhance the human spirit of our residents, families and employees while serving with heart, purpose and courage and to have fun while serving.

What does culture mean to you? In senior living, culture is all about the atmosphere and experience of living in a particular community. As you very well know, there are many different facets and options when it comes to senior living community culture. Some communities may be more reserved and individualized, while others are more socially oriented and designed for a lively environment. Depending on what you're looking for or what's important to you, one community may be better for you than another.Culture is very important for our Charter Senior Living family, says Jayne Sallerson, Chief Operating Officer of Charter Senior Living. We believe its our calling to give everyone in our care and their families peace of mind and the chance to be their best selves. Thats why were dedicated to our communities offering the warmth of home and exceptional service and never losing sight of the little things that make us different. The experiences we create help our residents feel loved, follow their inspirations and inspire others.Jayne says that everyone hired at Charter Senior Living has been chosen for their big heart and their devotion to service. We admire our residents for their stories that make them who they are, she says. Our caregivers are trained to respect and ensure their dignity while providing care that is tailored to their preferences and specific needs.Of course, there's a lot more to culture than just the staff and the philosophy. Location, care types, dining structure, activities offered, community demographics the list is seemingly endless. But don't fret. Finding the right culture for you may actually be easier than you think.Think of moving into senior housing like moving into a new home, Jayne suggests. Beyond looking for payment structures and care types, you'll also want to come up with wants and needs that will allow you to live your best life in your retirement years. Knowing what you want and understanding what to look for will help make your search a lot less stressful and a lot more fruitful.Finding Your Culture Fit: Top Tips from the ExpertsUnderstand what makes you happy in your home.What is it that you love about your current home? Is it the location and convenience? Is it the proximity to friends, family, and activities that you enjoy? Do you like the atmosphere for example, is it a little more rural or a little more urban? Take some time to think about what makes you happy in your living space and what could make it even better.Consider your future goals.Retirement is the time for you to say goodbye to cares and chores and instead do the things you've been wanting and waiting to do. Perhaps you've wanted to buy an RV and head out on a long cross-country trip (while still having a home base to return to). Or maybe youre ready to live a jet-set lifestyle, visiting all sorts of foreign countries you've read about but never been to. Maybe you'd like to go back to college or start a new business or career. Or perhaps you want a quieter, less stressful life living near your children and grandchildren so you can be a part of their lives. Knowing what it is you want to accomplish now and in the future will help you look for a senior living culture that will be more apt to help you make those goals a reality.Know the type of lifestyle you want.While variety is the spice of life, and it is important to be exposed to a wide variety of ages, stages, demographics, and interests, most of us intrinsically know what type of lifestyle and location would suit us best. For example, if you enjoy being outside and taking part in the worlds natural beauty, you probably wouldn't necessarily want to move to a location that's completely urban and far away from walking trails and natural landmarks. If you prefer being near the ocean with a warm temperature year-round, you probably wont want to move to a landlocked state. What sort of interests do you have woodworking, bird watching, artistic endeavors, or something else? Having those options available to you will make your retirement fulfilling and enriching, so be sure that whatever community you choose has the culture to support that.Think about your future needs.What you want from a community culture may change as you age. Right now, you may be active and independent, looking for a lifestyle and culture that provides countless opportunities to stay engaged, be inspired, and find adventure. As you age, perhaps requiring assisted living or memory care services, what type of culture will make you feel most at home? If you're planning on moving into a community that provides all levels of care, be sure to check out how culture translates to all those aspects. The best community culture is one that is focused on helping residents live as independently as possible with dignity and respect, no matter how much assistance they may need.Do your research.The best way to get a feel for a community's culture is to experience it firsthand. You can start by asking friends and family about different communities they know or have experienced, going online, and doing some Google digging. Once you've selected several locations that seem promising, schedule tours so you can actually see, hear, smell, feel, and understand the culture. What looks like a perfect place on paper may end up being completely the opposite of what you want. You may want to consider doing a short-term stay at different communities to give you an even more insider feel for what life is like. These days, many communities allow potential residents to spend a night (or more) so they can experience the community in many different ways.Talk to residents.As you're looking around at communities, take some time to meet and talk to residents there. What are the people like? What are their interests and hobbies? Are these people whose company you can see yourself enjoying? While the location, building, and amenities are incredibly important, so is the community's community aspect. After all, you're probably moving into senior living because you want to be around peers who are interested in the same things as you. Listen to your gut whats it saying to you? Sometimes, you just know when a place is right for your future adventures.There's no right or wrong culture; only the one that's right for you, says Jayne. Take your time, do your research and think about what really matters to you. By following these six steps, you will be more likely to find a senior living community culture that meets your needs, wants, values and goals.Your Journey. Your Way.Charter Senior Living is a caring and compassionate leader within the senior living industry. Charter manages 24 senior living communities throughout the U.S., offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care services. A family-owned business with an executive team with more than 100 combined years in the senior housing industry, Charter Senior Livings mission is to enhance the human spirit of our residents, families, and employees while serving with heart, purpose, and courage and to have fun while serving.