Magnolia Manor Blog

What’s in a name? Shakespeare famously posed this question centuries ago, referring to a rose in Romeo and Juliet. Today, we’ve taken to reducing names we find too long to say or write easily to acronyms, using initials as a type of shorthand. They’re certainly more convenient. But although acronyms have become ubiquitous, many people don’t actually know what they stand for.

If you don’t know what they mean, acronyms aren’t convenient, they are confusing. In the senior living and care field, we’re just as guilty of using acronyms as those in any other field. But we don’t want our seniors and their loved ones to remain in the dark, so we thought it would be informative to explain some of the most common examples. Give yourself extra credit if you already know what these stand for!

When you were young, Mom always told you to spend plenty of time playing outside because the sun would provide vitamin D to help keep your body healthy and strong. She was right. And now that Mom is aging, it turns out vitamin D is an even more important factor in her daily life.

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.

Almost every adult looks forward to retirement with great anticipation. Finally, a chance to spend your days as you want. But where will that be? You could stay where you are. However, for many empty-nesters with distant children and grandkids, this is your chance to move closer. Or maybe you simply want a change of scenery, or pace.

Here at Magnolia Manor, we know a few things about retirement, and we’re well-rooted in the state of Georgia, too. So when we say this is a great place to retire, you can believe us. The benefits of retiring in Georgia are many, whether you will be new to the state or you already live here.

Ah, spring. The season of renewal. It’s uplifting to see the world around us come alive again – this year, especially, as it also heralds our gradual emergence from the pandemic. But it’s hard to feel blessed by spring’s beauty when you’re busy sneezing, coughing, and wiping your watery eyes thanks to seasonal allergies. Spring allergies can also give you a stuffy or runny nose, make your eyes itch, and impair your sense of smell or taste.

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.

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.