If you've noticed a drop in your loved ones quality of life, now's the time to talk to them about their future. Its normal to be nervous about this. The conversation is all too often portrayed in popular culture as an emotion-driven showdown. In real life, its more likely to be the first of many discussions in which you and your parents find the right ways to help and support one another. Here are some tips to help you start that process:Be proactive, not reactive. If your parent has skipped some meals or forgotten to fill a prescription, that's a time to help, not a time to start the conversation. Choose a relaxed environment, and set a time when no one needs to be rushing.Do some homework. What are the pros and cons of home care vs. community life? What are the financial implications? Your parents will have more confidence in their decisions if you can show you've researched questions like these.Express feelings, not fears. Using I and We statements will help with this. You are losing your mobility and could suffer a bad fall at any moment is better rephrased as I am worried that you cant get around as well as you used to and want to know you're safe at all times.Emphasize the positive. Instead of talking about what your loved one cant do now, focus on aspects of their independence they will gain or regain in a senior living community.Finish with a plan of action. This could be as simple as fixing a time to bring the wider family into the discussion, or as involved as arranging a tour of Cappella of Grand Junction.

The short answer: yes. An assisted living community can provide significant advantages to older adults who are feeling isolated and would benefit from extra support with activities of daily living or families who are struggling with caregiver burnout.An Assisted Living Community Surrounds Your Loved One with Experts. You are definitely an expert when it comes to knowing your loved one. However, you may not be trained and educated on taking care of them. The staff and administrators at assisted living communities have extensive backgrounds in the type of work needed to make sure your loved one feels at home while also receiving the best possible care. Additionally, staff in assisted living communities have had months of training and experience in creating a safe environment during the pandemic. There is no doubt you are trying as hard as you can to do the same, but you do not have the same resources. At Cappella of Grand Junction, our clinical teams receive daily briefings from government and health professionals and are able to keep residents informed with accurate, up-to-date information. These teams can adapt that information into evolving protocols and procedures, and provide immediate training to team members. You can rest assured knowing your loved one is receiving the best care available.Caretakers Have Less Chance of Being ExposedIf you or other family members have been taking care of your loved one, it is safe to say that is not your only responsibility. You may be working from home, but you still have to leave and risk exposure occasionally. While the virus may not affect you terribly, you could still pass it along to your loved one even if you are trying to be careful. At Cappella of Grand Junction, we continue to implement rigorous virus sanitizing protocols daily. The county health department continues to direct our actions. Residents temperatures are taken twice daily and the team is vigilantly monitoring all signs and symptoms for everyone who lives and works in our community. You can read more about how we are keeping residents and team members safe here.Your Loved One Will Have More Resources to Weather the PandemicSocial distancing has been difficult for everyone, introverts and extroverts alike. Older adults were already at a higher risk of experiencing loneliness and isolation pre-pandemic, and that risk has only risen in the last few months. You want your loved one to get what they need, especially socially. It can be difficult to do that safely right now if they live alone.Some older adults rely on restaurants and do not cook for themselves. While restrictions have eased in many areas of the country, some elders may not feel comfortable going out to eat. In an assisted living community, residents have access three chef-planned meals every day. Housekeeping and linen service, medication management, transportation to medical appointments are all part of the services and amenities your loved one will receive at Cappella of Grand Junction.Vital Social ConnectionA neighborhood of potential friends is part of an assisted living community. At Cappella of Grand Junction, our goal is to strike balances between the crucial need to maintain physical health with mental health leading to happiness. Our philosophy in serving older adults is designed to encourage growth, passion, and enthusiasm for all of lifes promises and possibilities, regardless of age or individual ability.During this unprecedented time, our Life Enrichment team is finding creative ways to keep residents active while keeping them safe, as well as keeping residents connected with their families in ways that feel fulfilling, but without the fear that you might expose them to the virus.How the Virus Affects Your DecisionUltimately, the pandemic should not affect your decision to move or not move. However, it should affect how you move. In other words, if you would consider moving your loved one to an assisted living community before the pandemic, or would be considering it, then odds are you should still be considering this now. You just need to consider if the older adult in your life would feel safer and more supported in an assisted living community. We are here to help you navigate this important decision. Learn more about what our unique community has to offer and check out our Assisted Living Floor Plans. Contact us with your questions or to schedule a virtual tour.

During this holiday season, give the gift of peace of mind by supporting the Resident Assistance Fund. Your gift allows qualified residents to stay in the home they love and continue to receive the exceptional care they so deserve. You may also receive a tax benefit if you donate by December 31st.By giving to the Resident Assistance Fund, you are helping residents like Faye Dixon remain in her home at Clermont Park.Enjoy your holidays and, again, thank you for your support of older adults.It means she can stay here, where she wants to be. For those who have donated we offer a heartfelt thank you.'Fayes daughterp.s. If you plan to give a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA, please contact your financial advisor to avoid any potential penalties. The giving date is important.

Not familiar with this term? Your required minimum distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount you must withdraw from your retirement account each year. You generally have to start taking withdrawals from your IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or retirement plan account when you reach age 70.For some, these mandatory disbursements are a key part of retirement income you saved for a comfortable retirement and your IRA is a part of your plan. For others, however, the required portion creates a question, as RMDs can increase taxable income when it might not be especially needed.A few people have found a creative way to handle RMDs. They give them to the charity they love.Clearly, these gifts wont make sense for everyone, or even most. But if you find yourself with an unwanted RMD, donating all or part of it to Christian Living Communities could be a creative way to support the organization or a specific community that is part of the CLC family.For more information about this option, please contact Olivia Mayer at OMayer@clcmail.org or 720-974-3675.  All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.

Dementia doesnt rob someone of their dignity, its our reaction to them that does. Teepa SnowLike most people in the field of senior living, Ive learned everything I know about dementia from other professionals and service providers. I recently attended a session at the LeadingAge PEAK conference that completely shifted my paradigms.This session was different. It was taught by a different type of expert a panel of individuals who have a diagnosis of, and are living with, dementia. It included advisory board members of the Dementia Action Alliance, an advocacy and education organization of people living with dementia, care partners, friends and dementia specialists.Rather than speaking of decline and deficits and despair, these panelists spoke of hope and possibility. They shared a new paradigm in which people dont just exist with dementia but truly live and craft new hopes and dreams for the future. They shared stories of the gifts that come with a dementia diagnosis such as heightened spirituality, closer connections to people and to nature, and a deeper enjoyment of life.The panelists also shared stories of the devastating and dangerous impact of the stigma that surrounds dementia. From the moment a diagnosis is received, and a doctor says, Im sorry go home and get your affairs in order, our current framework is focused only the losses that come with dementia an approach that serves to marginalize and ostracize those who are living with dementia and their families.By fighting back against the stigma and shame that surrounds dementia, the panelists believe that we can reduce fear. And, with this new approach, people will be more likely to get an early diagnosis rather than hide their symptoms. This puts the person in the drivers seat in control of his or her own future. Rather than dreading the future and isolating him or herself, an individual can choose how to live life from that moment of diagnosis forward. He or she can learn to use technology like Amazon Alexa or a smartwatch to retain independence and plan what should happen when living independently is no longer an option. Its time that the voices of those living with dementia are heard we have much to learn.

To stop the spread of coronavirus, health officials have instructed the public to practice social distancing, which means staying home, avoiding crowds, and keeping your distance at least 6 feet from others. Many people who have been self-quarantined for the past week feel lonely and frightened, although they know their isolation is for the greater good. Senior living communities, if managed properly, can provide significant advantages to residents and their families with strong prevention protocols, access to medical monitoring, and safe socialization.Senior Living Communities can be a safer place to live.The clinical teams that are part of our senior living communities receive daily briefings from government and health professionals and are able to keep residents informed with accurate, up-to-date information. These teams can adapt that information into evolving protocols and procedures, and provide immediate training to all team members. Residents can rest assured knowing they are receiving the best care available to keep older adults protected.Highly trained and experienced team members know the protocols for preventing viruses, and they are equipped with proper protective gear and the appropriate disinfectants for even tough viruses like Norovirus.Residents enjoy nutritious meals every day.Although communal dining is not available given CDC guidelines for social distancing, our senior living community is still providing nutritious meals for our residents. Many older people rely on restaurants to eat and dont cook for themselves. With the current closure of restaurants and empty shelves at many grocery stores because of panicked hoarding, elders may struggle to get the nutrition they need when they live alone. In our communities, we continue to provide high-quality meals delivered directly to resident apartments to help keep bodies healthy.There is plenty to do at a Senior Living CommunityOur dedicated staff is an extension of our residents families. After following all proper infection control and safety protocols, team members continue to show up daily in resident apartments and suites, providing care as well as much-needed human interaction. Recently, teams got creative keeping residents busy and cheerful with activities like daily brain games, hallway bingo, SingFit music, and happy hours. Rather than the usual pub crawl for St. Patricks Day, a group of residents enjoyed Rueben sandwiches and trivia while a cart that went room to room with beer flights to commemorate the occasion instead. Residents love the friendly faces of our staff and appreciate the enrichment these interactions provide.Residents get help connecting with technology.Research has shown that loneliness and social isolation can be damaging to our health. Social distancing has made technology more valuable than ever before, but the reality is that many older adults dont have the latest devices in their homes to communicate with loved ones during self-quarantine. Our communities are equipped with technology to help residents stay connected with their family and friends. We are utilizing a variety of video platforms, including Facetime and Skype, so that residents can have meaningful dialogue with family and friends and still see their children and grandchildren. This helps ensure residents dont miss important milestones during this time of isolation.Trained Medical ProfessionalsEven with proper social distancing, all senior are at risk for COVID-19. In a community, residents have immediate access to trained medical professionals. They are monitored on a daily basis and when illness occurs, it can be more quickly treated. Those same professionals are also educated when it comes to taking extensive steps to prevent illness from spreading to other residents.This is a far less lonely time for our residents than it is for other seniorsespecially those who live alone. Not only are there more opportunities for fun and safe socializing, but our residents have access to better nutrition, medical care, and supplies. As COVID-19 continues to test the bonds that connect us all, our residents can benefit from the advantages of community living.

A glimpse into each others lives thats what 22 University of Denver students and 22 residents of Clermont Park have been exchanging for the past few weeks. Those insights are being shared via photography and story as part of a partnership between DU and Clermont Park.The students are currently enrolled in a Life Walks photography and writing course led by Roddy McInnes. Roddy approached Clermont Park Life Plan Community to see if residents there would be open to participating. Students and residents were paired with the goal of interviewing and portraying each other through photography and story.Clermont Park resident Shirley Brown, an avid photographer for more than 50 years, met with McInnes and helped map out the project. She jumped on the idea but wasnt sure whether her neighbors would share her enthusiasm. She was very surprised that they were able to fill the 22 spots fairly quickly and that the reaction has been so positive. Once the residents had met with the students and were sharing their experiences, other residents came forward and said theyd be willing to participate if such an opportunity presented itself again.It was great to find out people really enjoyed it, she said.For her personally, it has been gratifying. It was so refreshing to have a chance to meet with a young person, she said. A lot of kids dont have a close relationship with a grandparent, and they have a lot of preconceptions, as do we. Its really good to get to know somebody and find the generalities you thought about them are not necessarily true.The Life Walks photography exhibit was at Clermont Park during May 2017. This project documented the partnerships of Clermont Park residents and DU students as they shared personal photographs with each other and then wrote essays about the experience.9News was there to cover the exhibits opening. See the story here.

If you would like to remember Christian Living Communities in your estate plans, but dont have other reasons to update your will or living trust, there might be another optiona Beneficiary Designation.People choose beneficiaries for their IRAs, life insurance policies, and company retirement plans. If appropriate, you can also name CLC as one of your beneficiaries.The process is quick and easy. You simply obtain a Beneficiary Change form from your IRA custodian, life insurance provider or HR Departmentits often a one-page document and it might be available online. After you choose the percentages, you would like to give to CLC and others, you simply complete and return the form and your gift will be in place.And, if you do remember CLC with a gift, please let us know. We would love to welcome you as a member of the Compassion Circle.If you have any questions about beneficiary options or any estate gift to Christian Living Communities, please contact Olivia Mayer at OMayer@clcmail.org or 720-974-3675. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.