Magnolia Manor Blog

Some people are thrilled to call it quits when their “working years” are over. Retirement – finally! This is your chance to spend the days doing whatever you want, on whatever schedule suits you. But that’s not the case for everyone. If you really love your job, you may choose to stay with it longer; something that wasn’t an option to past generations who were forced to retire at age 65.

Every year in September, many of our Magnolia Manor communities celebrate National Assisted Living Week. Started in 1995 by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), this week pays tribute to seniors and all of the extraordinary people who help them live life to the fullest, every day.

Magnolia Manor is a senior living organization that has a foundation and commitment to our faith tradition. We fulfill that commitment through servant leadership. “As servant leaders we want our main focus to be on the well-being of our senior living community from our residents to our employees,” explains Ty Kinslow, Senior VP for Communications. “Our main goal is to serve and care about our residents through love and support for a lifetime.”

So, What Is Servant Leadership?

Even though it seems as if life completely shut down for nearly all of 2020 because of the pandemic, the truth is that life goes on, no matter what. Sometimes that includes moving from one home to another. So, with all the restrictions surrounding COVID-19, what was it like to move to a senior living community during this time?

Surely, you’re not one of those people who thinks senior living communities have lousy food! If so, you haven’t had a meal at Magnolia Manor! Long gone are the days when bland was the order of the day.

This is the South, and we’re all about Southern cuisine. That’s what our residents want, and our mission is to serve our seniors in every way – body and soul.

So fire up your taste buds, and let’s see what’s cooking. Derinda Harris, Dietary Manager at Magnolia Manor in Macon, is our guide.

Have you decided on a Mother’s Day gift yet? Mom’s official day of recognition is almost here, you know! Thanks to a year of pandemic seclusion (or something akin to that), your mother is now up to her elbows in puzzles, videos, and cozy socks. So this Mother’s Day, it’s time to get creative with a gift that’s more personalized. You can pick something for pampering or for pleasure, but that doesn’t mean your gift can’t be practical as well.

As we get older, most of us find it a bit harder to handle certain chores around the house. Seniors develop arthritis that can make dressing or cooking more difficult, or mobility issues that make it harder to get around or handle heavier work such as housekeeping.

Aside from these physical changes, many seniors also suffer from one or more chronic health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes which require proper monitoring. That, too, can be difficult to manage daily and stay on top of your medications.

At What Point Do You Qualify for Assisted Living?

You love your parents dearly, but sometimes it feels so hard to be their adult child. Mom and Dad know you have only their best interests at heart, but whenever you suggest (however gently) that they might need help with daily activities, they bristle and tell you to mind your own business. They’re doing just fine, thanks. Sure, some things are a bit more difficult, but that’s to be expected, right?

Aging and the “slowing” that comes with it may be expected, but you worry for Mom or Dad’s safety and well-being. So how can you have “the talk” in a way that feels less threatening and more positive?

When you hear that Magnolia Manor is a faith-based organization, you might assume that we cater only to a certain group of people. Nothing could be further from the truth! Our family of residents is diverse in many ways, and that’s just the way we like it. We happily welcome seniors of all faiths and from all walks of life.

We all know there is no shortage of apps to communicate with others and play games. Where would we have been these past many months during the pandemic without these essential digital tools? But apps can help seniors in so many other ways.

As we age, most of us worry about losing our memory or cognitive abilities. In addition, Senior Living notes that:

• Many seniors have vision issues, and a third of those over 65 especially have trouble reading small print
• About half of prescriptions are not taken as directed
• Some seniors don’t fill prescriptions in the first place due to high cost

Sound familiar? No worries. There are apps that can help solve all these problems and more. Apps can help seniors monitor and maintain good health, simplify daily life, and learn new things. And a lot of them are easy to use and even free. Here is a smattering of apps you might consider for yourself or for an older friend or loved one.