Feel-Good News from Nursing Homes Around the World

Buried in the stacks of nursing home news covering healthcare and other politics is a special kind of news that captures the overlooked vitality of senior residents and the heartfelt emotions experienced by staff and residents alike.

During the month of January 2014, quite a few stories caught our eyes that are worth sharing.  These stories made us laugh, smile, and even cry.  Not because we were sad, but because of the connection we made with the story and the people involved – like the people we see day-in and day-out who give meaning to our lives.

If you've ever come across a story about nursing homes that has touched your heart or made you smile or laugh, feel free to share it in the comment section below.

Now, for the headlines …

Nursing Home Calendar Features Residents in Prominent Acting Roles

Residents at a nursing home in Essen, Germany, lived out their childhood dreams of becoming movie actors after organizing a photo shoot that incorporated settings of popular movies.  To make the shoot even more fun and memorable, residents dressed up as move characters.  Characters included Wyatt and Billy in Easy Rider, Jack and Rose in Titanic, Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and James Bond.

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iPods Offer Nursing Homes Residents Sounds and Memories of the Past

Music and Memory, a non-profit dedicated to collecting unused iPods for people in nursing homes, has successfully expanded its program to 341 homes in 35 states and 8 countries, according to Fox News.  The founder of Music and Memory, Dan Cohen, was inspired to create the non-profit in 2006 after thinking about the ubiquity of technology but the lack of it in nursing homes.

Recently, he spoke to Fox News about what inspired him to create Music and Memory:

I was listening to a journalist on the radio talking about how iPods are ubiquitous, and I said, "If I’m ever in a nursing home, would I be able to have my favorite 60s music?"  I did a search of iPods and nursing homes, and even though there are 16,000 (nursing homes) in the United States, I couldn’t find one using iPods.

Now, thanks to Music and Memory, residents in at least 341 homes throughout the world are listening to their favorite songs – songs they can easily share with friends down the hall, and songs they can use to remember people and places of the past.

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What is the Minimum Age for Senior Living Communities?

Senior Living Communities differ on their minimum age depending on where they are, what their main focus is, and basically what their renters want out of a community.

Most senior living communities generally have a minimum age of between 55 and 62. Because of the potential “age discrimination”, all retirement communities have to follow certain regulations to allow for minimum ages. For instance, if the community is 55 or older, then at least one person in the apartment or home must be at least 55 and the entire community can have no more than 20% of its residents under the age of 55. If it’s a 62 or over community, then ALL residents must be at least 62. There are some exceptions made for people under the required age if they’re handicapped.

All senior living communities usually offer certain amenities, like maintenance, groundskeeping and security. But the level of service and activities beyond that differ with every community, some are just a group of apartments or homes with a similarly aged group of residents, while others go beyond this and offer a full array of activities for active seniors. Some communities are a tightly knit group of people with many group activities and events to cater to its residents’ desires.

Copeland Oaks, for example, is a 55 and over full service senior living community, focusing on active seniors. They have a golf course, scheduled shows and sporting events, and a whole spectrum of services and activities for their residents. They even have a full suite of wellness services and even an on-site Health Clinic and Medical Center. With such widely differing communities, it’s important to look deeply into each senior living community to determine exactly what you want out of your new home before you make a decision.

Copeland Oaks Provides Stress Free, Independent Senior Living

For over 40 years, Copeland Oaks Retirement Community has been providing the active seniors of Ohio with a stress free, independent living environment that they are proud to call home. At Copeland Oaks, we are proud to offer a variety of floor plans that include both roomy apartments and charming villa homes full of pleasing features that are certain to satisfy any type of tastes. When you choose to make Copeland Oaks your new home, your life will suddenly become stress and worry free because we handle all maintenance of the property, making the transition to this new phase of your life an easy one.

If you are looking for a beautiful retirement community in Ohio, Copeland Oaks has something for everyone. From the Beeghly Apartments and assisted living to our Villa Homes, we at Copeland Oaks provide the highest standards of independent living for all the senior citizens of Ohio. We believe that health and wellness are two of the most important issues that affect seniors and for these reasons we provide a variety of amenities that specifically cater to these needs like a 24 hour health clinic, pool and exercise facility. When you choose to make Copeland Oaks your new home, not only will you have a beautiful, worry free home, but you will also have access to activities that help contribute to an overall healthy lifestyle and by combining the two, you are guaranteed a high quality of life.

If you live in Ohio and it is time for you to make the transition to a retirement community, make it a smooth transition with Copeland Oaks. At Copeland Oaks we offer a variety of beautiful apartments and villas to choose from that come with amenities that are certain to provide you with a well-rounded life, so if you are looking for the best retirement community in Ohio, there really is no other place to live other than Copeland Oaks.

What Skilled Nursing Can Do For You or Your Loved One

Those who are interested in skilled nursing in Ohio should consider many variables before choosing between skilled nursing and assisted living. Those who choose skilled nursing get the reassurance that their loved ones will be under the constant care of a trusted professional. People who need constant attention will be well-cared for with a skilled nurse, which will allow them to retain privacy and independence that they need. Skilled nursing will allow them to have their room and bathroom, and still get all of the attention that they need from medical personnel.

Not only do they get great care with skilled nursing, they also provide great rehabilitation for their patients. Patients are offered different rehabilitative therapies such as speech and aquatic therapy. These simple therapies can help a patient regain freedom and help them get back to being able to perform everyday tasks. Being able to bathe and perform other daily tasks makes a huge difference in a patient's quality of life, so the option of therapy is a great reason to choose skilled nursing over assisted living.

Skilled nursing has many great amenities to offer those who need a short -term or longer stay . Residents get the care they need in a peaceful setting. Assisted living doesn't offer as many amenities and it is better for a patient who does not require around-the-clock care. These skilled nursing Ohio facilities will offer the care your loved one needs and deserves.

The Need for Skilled Nursing in Ohio Offers Opportunity

One of the best areas to pursue a career is in the health care field, and one of the best degrees to pursue is a Master's in nursing. The demand for skilled nursing in Ohio is at an all-time high and the future of this field will only see an increased demand for those who are well-qualified. We live in an aging society that requires more health care and higher quality services and treatments. Skilled nurses are often needed more today than doctors are.

A skilled nurse is generally considered to be one with a four year degree as well as a few years of experience on-the-job. The need for skilled nursing in Ohio and throughout the nation will continue for years to come.

Highly-skilled nurses will have obtained a Master's degree, which will take approximately six years. The good news is that you can work as a nurse and take classes on the side: with a full load of classes and a high school diploma, you can become a practicing nurse in one year; in two to three years you can become a registered nurse; another two years and you can get a Bachelor's degree; two years more and you can get your Master's degree. As your education increases, so will your salary.

One of the areas that skilled nurses will be able to apply their skills is with the elderly. Although some of this work is done in a hospital or convalescent setting, it is getting more common for nurses to go to a patient's home and assist them in various ways. The work done in eldercare can be very fulfilling and is always important. As a group, the elderly are the most in need and appreciative of the services of a nurse.

While skilled nursing in Ohio requires dedication, it will lead to a stable career that will never leave you out of a job.

Helpful tips for choosing a Retirement Community in Ohio

The decision to place an elderly relative in a retirement community in Ohio will be a difficult one. Oftentimes, your relative will be attached to their home. After all, many of them will have lived in the same place for several decades and may not want to leave their memories behind or lose their independence. Sometimes a retirement community is the best and safest option, though. When the time comes to find an appropriate place for your elderly family to live, you'll want to make sure to choose the right place.

Here are some tips for choosing a retirement community in Ohio that will make the process easier for everyone:

Location, location, location… It is important to find a community that is close to family and friends so that they can be easily reached and so that their sense of displacement is not as severe.

When choosing a retirement community in Ohio, make sure they are Accredited or Medicare and Medicaid certified. Consider your current and future medical needs. It is important to ensure that should the need for it arise, the community provides quality care for your family no matter what their condition.

There are various types of retirement living available, such as Independent living, assisted living or nursing home care. Consider what your current situation is, but also be aware of what your future living needs might be and find a community that offers more than one option.

Tour all retirement communities you are considering and take note of how well the grounds and buildings are kept up and if the communities look and smell clean. The last thing that you want to do is to choose a community of cheap housing with unsafe conditions that could lead to illness or injury.

Check the staff to resident ratio and make sure that there are adequate personnel on hand at all times in case an emergency should arise. When meeting the staff are they friendly and respectful? Watch to see how the staff treats other residents. Trustworthy staff is essential when dealing with the elderly and disabled who could easily be taken advantage of.

Compare the costs of each retirement community in Ohio and find the one that best suits your budget. Also, find out what is included in the costs. Check to see what other services are offered. Do they offer transportation for visits to the doctor or shopping trips? Do they offer social activities for residents?

Inquire into the policies of the community. For instance, you could see if there is a policy for guest visits or whether or not they are pet friendly. Being able to bring a beloved cat with them might be the difference between convincing your relatives to move and knock-down drag-out arguments.

Check the community's most recent rating with the Ohio State Health Department.

Keeping these tips in mind when searching for a retirement community will help you make an informed decision.

How a CCRC Is the Prudent Choice

You spent your entire life preparing for the future. You saved your money and took precautionary measures to preserve your health. Now you're ready for retirement, and you want to live in a place that will cater to your needs and aspirations. However, as with everything else in your life, you want to be prudent. You want to make sure you live in a place that will take care of your interests and needs if your situation changes. This is why a CCRC, like Copeland Oaks, is the best option out there for seniors looking for the best place to retire.

 

What exactly is a CCRC? It is a combination of the different types of retirement centers out there. Whether you're a perfectly able senior who wants a living center that has fitness classes or social events or a senior who needs a little help or assistance from a skilled staff, a CCRC encompasses all of this. There are few certainties in life. Plans can go off course, and you may find yourself in need of extra help. If you don't live in a retirement center that offers assisted living, you might have to move. A CCRC ensures that you will have a home for life.

Contact a representative today to learn about all of the amenities Copeland Oaks offers. As a CCRC, we have facilities, staff, and programs to meet your expectations and needs, whatever they may be.