Magnolia Manor Blog

The pandemic continues, and we could all use something new to occupy our time, not to mention our hands and our minds, as we wait it out – especially seniors still deprived of in-person visits with loved ones. So here comes some well-timed good news: January is National Hobby Month.

What better time to reacquaint yourself with an old-favorite hobby, or to take up a brand new one. Focusing on something engrossing and learning new things are proven winners when it comes to re-fueling your mind, body, and spirit.

Most folks today know November 11th as Veterans Day. But there are those still living who can remember far enough back when this important day of honor was originally established as Armistice Day. World War I officially ended at 11am on November 11, 1918. And in 1921, America created the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and began a tradition of formally recognizing those who have served this country in the military.

Congress officially named Armistice Day in 1926, and the date became an official national holiday in 1938. In 1947, following World War II, this day of remembrance was renamed to reflect the nation’s desire to acknowledge all veterans.

Medicare and Medicaid are both government programs that provide certain types of health care coverage for seniors. Although the programs are very different, they are often confused. And Medicaid, especially, is often misunderstood. So let’s clear up some of the confusion, to help you know if Medicaid may be a viable financial resource for you some day.

Just as the name implies, art therapy combines the creative process with psychotherapy, to help individuals improve their mental health and overall well-being. Art therapy addresses the mind, body, and spirit – a holistic approach to quality of life that we heartily endorse here at Magnolia Manor. But we appreciate art therapy for another reason, too.

We are proud of the outstanding care we give each of our residents here at Magnolia Manor. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do even better. We treat residents like family, and who doesn’t want the very best for their aging Mom or Dad?

So we created the Magnolia Manor Career Ladder Program. Employee satisfaction surveys revealed that our CNAs were very interested in finding ways to advance their career. After some research, we developed this 3-part progressive training program. We launched the program in 2018 at our Marion County (Buena Vista) campus, and now offer it at our Columbus campus as well.

One of the things that distinguishes Magnolia Manor from other senior living communities is the sense of family among staff and residents that permeates all aspects of everyday life and care. In this environment, it’s no surprise that everyone has stepped up to pitch in and make the best of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, boy, do we appreciate these everyday heroes!

When you hear the phrase “senior housing,” you get a mental picture of what that might be like. Some conjure up images of the worst nursing home they can imagine and think that’s what senior living is like. But does your impression match up with reality? Many people – including seniors themselves – have never seen a senior living community first hand, so they have only assumptions to go by. All too often, those assumptions are based on myths and misconceptions. The truth about senior housing might surprise you – a lot.

Catered Living. Just the name sounds inviting, doesn’t it? And it is. You might say it’s a specialty of the house here at Magnolia Manor because we offer this unique twist on Independent Senior Living at two of our campuses, Richmond Hill and St. Simons Island. With Catered Living, you can enjoy all the amenities of Independent Living plus a little more.

Getting assistance with personal care helps fill the gaps for seniors who find they can’t do everything for themselves any more. So does assisted living. So what is the difference between personal care and assisted living? This is a question we hear often at Magnolia Manor, as we talk with seniors and their families. It’s an important one, too, because there are distinct differences between personal care and assisted living.

As couples get older, it is likely that at least one spouse will eventually require assistance with certain tasks. The healthier spouse may step in to help, but what happens when the burden becomes too great? Or what happens when both spouses need assistance? Couples often fear (and, therefore, ignore) the possibility of assisted living, worrying that they will be separated. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Assisted living is for couples as well as singles. Even if only one needs assistance.