Magnolia Manor Blog

What? You don’t have a will? You really need to correct that, for your own peace of mind as well as to protect your estate, your wishes, and your loved ones. Many people shy away from this subject, but making a will is not morbid, it is sensible and practical. It gives you control over what happens to your belongings and assets after you pass away.

Yet, 40% of Americans over the age of 45 do not have a will.

No one wants to think that someday they might have to leave their home and move into assisted living or another type of long-term senior care community. Nonetheless, almost 70% of those over 65 will eventually need some kind of long term care. You may not have to move, though, at least not so soon. Instead, you may be able to age in place.

Pet therapy, formally known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is known to provide both physical and mental benefits for seniors with dementia. Prior to COVID-19 concerns, many Memory Care facilities around the country had adopted pet programs of some kind. Some chose to bring in animals as full-time residents, others chose visiting pet programs.

All types of senior living communities are including pets to make their communities feel homier and offer a special kind of comfort and stimulation for residents. However, AAT can be especially beneficial for those suffering from mild or more advanced memory loss.

Few things are more refreshing than a good night’s sleep. But for many older adults, a good night’s sleep is elusive. In fact, more than half of seniors suffer from insomnia. Lack of sleep makes you feel fatigued, cranky, and inattentive during the day, taking the joy out of life and increasing the risk of falls or other injuries. Lack of sleep can also exacerbate existing medical or psychological issues.

I’m sorry, what did you say?

If you find yourself frequently having to ask this question during conversations, in person or on the phone, it might be because you need a hearing aid. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month according to the National Institutes of Health, or National Audiology Awareness Month, if you listen to the American Academy of Audiology. Whatever you call it, the message is the same.

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!

Most adults start to notice a need for glasses as they reach middle age – at least for reading. But aging can affect our eyes in other ways as well. And some of those changes pose more serious problems than the need for a stronger eyeglasses prescription. That’s why regular eye exams are essential for seniors. But how often should you (or your older parent) get your eyes checked?

These days we are so enthralled with all the ways we can connect with loved ones electronically, we almost forget about good, old-fashioned postcards and letters. You know – the ones that come in the mail. We rudely refer to it as “snail” mail because it takes a few days (so long!) to arrive. Hardly the split-second communication we’ve become accustomed to in our impatient world.