- Assisted Living, Blog, Garden Apartments, Independent Living, Lifestyle, Marden's Place Memory Care, Nursing Care, Rehabilitation, Residential Care, Sierra View Terraces, Skilled Nursing
Macular Degeneration
There is something mystical about sight. Vision is so mechanically complex that we all take our eyesight for granted until something goes wrong. As we age there are numerous ways that our eyesight can be compromised. Many of us are familiar with cataracts and understand what they do to blur vision. Cataracts are one of many possible vision problems as we age. Lately, my attention has been drawn to a number of my friends at Sierra View Homes and family members who have been diagnosed with macular degeneration. I realized I did not know much about the disease and became interested in understanding macular degeneration better. In a healthy eye,…
Train Your Brain
Your brain is like a muscle – don’t use it, you lose it! The following are online resources for training your brain, and some argue that they can increase your intelligence and functional ability in daily tasks: Luminosity – The recognized leader in online brain training, with 40 million registered users. Cognifit – An online brain training program that also offers a downloadable app for iPhone and iPod. Jungle Memory – Brain training designed specifically for children. Cogmed – This offline brain training program claims to help those with traumatic brain injury or ADHD, and has been implemented in hospitals and over 100 U.S. schools. The health of your brain has also been linked…
- Assisted Living, Blog, Garden Apartments, Independent Living, Lifestyle, Marden's Place Memory Care, Residential Care, Sierra View Terraces
Do You Own a Pet?
Pets can be good medicine. Do you own a pet? Pet lovers are quick to tell you about the immediate joys of pet ownership. At Sierra View, we pride ourselves in our lenient pet policy, which has allowed many independent and assisted living residents to bring their furry loved ones with them. As a result, our campus boasts many non-human residents – from small dogs, cats, birds, and fish to a friendly bunny who hops down the Sierra View hallways on a leash! One resident of Sierra View Terraces senior apartments told me she has always had a pet. “When you live on the ranch you must have dogs,” she…
What is Assisted Living?
Question: I see advertisements in the newspaper for assisted living facilities, and it is difficult to understand what is offered there in comparison to other care services, such as skilled nursing. Can you explain the differences? – K.A. Reedley CA. Answer: Great question! The term “assisted living” became popular in the 1980’s. At that time, it was a new level of care that allowed retirement communities to provide personal care programs. Before retirement communities provided assisted living, personal care was mostly handled by small board and care facilities or nursing homes. Assisted living facilities provide help for seniors who struggle with daily chores but do not need 24-hour medical care. One room apartments…
Are All Assisted Living Communities Alike? How to Choose.
I am thinking it is time to move my mother into an Assisted Living Residence. How do I go about choosing one? Are all assisted living facilities alike? How do I deal with helping her adjust to the changes in her life? This is a very good question because not all assisted living residences are alike. There is no standard blueprint for what an assisted living facility should look like. Assisted living facilities go by many different names, like “personal care home,” “board and care home,” and “congregate living facility.” Some are multi-story buildings, some are private homes that have been converted into a group living environment, and others are more like…
11 Benefits of Living in a Retirement Community
Wondering if retirement community living is really better than living in a house? It is! Below is a list of reasons that retirement community living beats living alone in a home every time. Benefits of Living in a Retirement Community: Friendships As we age, we often lose roles, spouses, and friends. As a result, living at home can become lonely. Living with peers offers friendship, companionship and a sense of community. Neighbors become traveling companions, friends who share a cup of coffee, and often a fellowship and support group in times of need. On the day I arrived and moved into my apartment, I was welcomed by many of my neighbors,” said Mary Lou Martens. “One of…
- Assisted Living, Blog, Garden Apartments, Independent Living, Lifestyle, Marden's Place Memory Care, Nursing Care, Rehabilitation, Residential Care, Sierra View Terraces, Skilled Nursing
Retirement Communities and Eating Habits
Could moving to a retirement community improve my eating habits and help me eat a healthier diet? – D. Mc. of Reedley, California Yes! Living in a retirement community does encourage better eating habits. Very often, socialization during meals results in an increase in appetite. Having a healthy diet with proper nutrition has benefits, such as increased mental ability, better mood stability, a strong immune system, more energy and faster recuperation times. As we age there are factors that cause our eating habits to change, such as the loss of a spouse, a limited budget, metabolism starts to slow down around age 40. Activity levels change due to medical or physical problems. Our sense of taste and…
