Magnolia Manor Blog

What did your mom always say when you were a kid? “Go outside and get some fresh air!”

You may not be a kid anymore, but your mother’s advice still pertains. In fact, it’s even more important for seniors to get outside to enjoy the tangible and intangible benefits. Quite simply, sunshine and fresh air refuel the body, mind, and spirit – the fundamentals of life, as we see it here at Magnolia Manor.

Nobody wants to admit they can’t do everything for themselves, especially after a lifetime of independence. The thought of having to move from one’s own home to assisted living or a memory care community can be so daunting that some seniors simply choose denial. Everything is just fine, thanks.

Long-term care insurance can significantly impact your healthcare options as you age – certainly your ability to pay for whatever care you need. And chances are very good that you will need some type of advanced care. That’s the case for nearly 70% of adults aged 65 and older. And 20% of those seniors who need advanced care will require care for more than five years.

March is National Nutrition Month – no better time to talk about healthy eating! Proper nutrition is vital to fuel strong bodies and minds at any age, especially seniors. You may not realize that as you age your relationship with food changes. For one thing, your metabolism slows, which means you need fewer calories each day to energize your body. Aging also tends to diminish the sense of smell and taste, which can diminish interest in eating.

Power of attorney. It sounds official, and it is. A power of attorney, or POA, is a document that gives another person the legal right to make certain important decisions on your behalf. There is such a thing as a temporary POA, but a durable power of attorney is something every senior needs because it is your chance to direct your future.

February is the month of love, and nothing says love like taking good care of your heart. No wonder folks all around the country celebrate American Heart Month in February each year. You can wear red to show your support, but taking action is the best way you can get involved. This is especially important if you’re a senior because adults 65 or older are a lot more likely to experience a sudden heart attack, a stroke, or develop long-term heart disease.

For families who are close-knit and live near one another, the first line of “defense” when an aging loved one needs a little help is family members. Of course you want to help, it’s only natural. You might say family caregivers are the ultimate “cottage industry”:

At Magnolia Manor, our mission is to provide exceptional, loving care to every one of our senior residents. However, every senior who is capable – regardless of where they live – should actively participate in maintaining their own health and wellbeing. It’s called self-care.

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.