3 Creative Ways to Personalize Your Senior Living Apartment

You’re prepared to take one of the biggest steps of your life!

You did your research and found the perfect senior living community that exceeds all your expectations! It fits your needs and you’re ready to relocate.

To make the transition from your old home to the senior living apartment smooth and easy, make sure you design and personalize your space. This way you can feel right at home in your new living space.

No, you don’t have to be an interior designer or hire one just to make the most of your new apartment. All you have to do is follow these tips and turn the foreign place into a familiar and comforting environment.

Let’s now head into discussing some ways you can personalize your senior living apartment.

1. Hang Up Pictures

Getting used to a new living space can be exceptionally hard. It can take a toll on your emotional well-being. The best way to make a foreign place to start feeling like home is to fill it with happy memories you share with your loved ones. You can hang pictures of your children, your grandkids and your friends in your new apartment which will ease up the transition period.

2. Paint the Walls (If Allowed)

A large number of senior living communities allow their residents to paint their apartments with the color of their choice. If the community you’re relocating to provides this flexibility, then you can customize your new living space with a color that’ll help you settle right in.

3. Put Indoor Plants

You can brighten up your new apartment by adding indoor plants to the interior. There are many benefits that come with having plants in your living space; these include improved air quality, lower levels of depression and more feelings of happiness.

Before you personalize your new living space, here are some things that you should keep in mind.

Accessibility

While you’re decorating your apartment, make sure you give extra attention to the aspect of accessibility. If you have fellow senior living residents coming over to your apartment, you should consider that they may have walkers or wheelchairs.

Lighting

It’s important to keep your apartment well-lit. Install bright lights in the kitchen, bathroom, corners, balconies and wardrobes.

Storage

Storage might be limited in the new apartment, so before you move in, make a note of downsizing your belongings, especially your wardrobe, and give away what you don’t need.

Are you looking for a senior living community in Calabasas, CA?  Get in touch with AvantGarde Senior Living and Memory Care.

We’re one of the most reliable senior living communities in the area, committed to providing senior adults with excellent retirement facilities, and a spectrum of services tailored to the needs of all our residents.

We offer luxurious senior living apartments and a wide range of amenities to make our residents feel loved and satisfied.

Connect with us today!


Sins of Senior Isolation

Social isolation has long been victimizing senior people in our community. From being too embarrassed to take our aging parents out with us to a fancy place or too shy to introduce our friends to them, we’re all complicit.

On top of this, retirement from work and physical illnesses can further isolate them from social company. The same bed they used to crave during their work years becomes a prison that chains them during old age.

Here are some sins of senior isolation that you need to be mindful of.

1. Increased mortality rates

A study by the National Academy of Sciences revealed that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of mortality in people who are older than 50 years of age.  One possible explanation for this phenomenon may be that in the absence of someone’s company, elderly people are more likely to fall prey to fatal accidents. Delays in getting medical attention can turn into loss of life in many cases. Fatal outcomes may also occur if seniors have a terminal illness; this worsens in the absence of a vigilant helper.

2. Negativity and mental health

Sitting by themselves all day in their armchair can cause elderly people to develop a chain of negative thoughts. This leads to a vicious spiral of negativity that’s bad for their mental health.

Senior people who are subjected to isolation are also more likely to display signs of poor physical health. This is because your mental wellbeing has a serious impact on your overall health, and problems may surface in the form of physical symptoms.

3. Cognitive decline and dementia

Even though there’s a certain degree of forgetfulness and inattentiveness that comes with age, dementia is a more intense level of memory loss that can jeopardize quality of life. Social isolation can also trigger the process of cognitive decline and seriously dampen cognitive performance in simple tasks. These findings have been confirmed by doctors at the University of Chicago. The reason behind the problem being the same: humans are social species and they function optimally in the company of other people.

We’re an assisted senior living community in Beverly Hills, California that welcomes your loved ones wholeheartedly. Our doors are always open to those who are looking for new friends because no age is ever too old for friendships. You can find your lifelong friends among the family of seniors that our roof is home to.


Ways To Find Meaning and Happiness In Old Age

What does it mean to be happy when you cross 50 years? Does it only come in the form of young grandchildren running about and giggling from the next room? Or does happiness stem from the achievements of your children?

While it’s true that there’s nothing like the relief of knowing that your family is well-settled and satisfied, their happiness is not personal happiness; it’s more like happiness by proxy. Then what does it really mean to be happy in old age?

Finding happiness and meaning in the simplest of things is often what motivates senior members of our community to get through the difficult journey through old age.

Medical conditions that arise during our later years often restrict them to the confines of their house, while a general cognitive decline may also isolate them from their friends.

Over time, the struggle to find reasons to be happy becomes as real as the struggle to reach for the glass of water on their bedside table. So what do you do to make it better? We’re glad you asked.

Books Are A Man’s Best Friend

When people fail to stick by your side through sickness and in health, it’s all those hardbacks that had been lying on your shelves for decades that come to your aid. There’s a different kind of comfort to be found in enveloping yourself in the pages of a book.

The fictional setting becomes your world and you become a character in it. If anything, it’s like a recreational drug that allows you to escape reality for as long as you wish to.

Often times, the characters and their life struggles serve as a mirror to your own life, and make you feel recognized. It’s through someone else’s lens that you learn to find beauty in the minute details and become happy.

Use Your Age As Your Aid

Most people disdainfully reflect on the time when they were able to ride on horseback without the fear of falling or swim long laps without running out of breath. True, old age does put a limit on your physical mobility, but it’s important not to discount what it adds—years of experience and knowledge. If you’re a mastermind at planning and strategizing, for instance, we bet there’s no one who’s as good as you in a game of chess.

If you’ve been able to con people and come out unscathed—all in good fun of course—maybe you can become a master of card tricks in your circle! Remember: with seniority, comes the advantage of experience and expertise, both of which are invaluable assets to the entire community and definite reasons for lasting happiness.

At AvantGarde Senior Living and Memory Care, we help an assisted community of seniors live independently in Beverly Hills, CA. Join hands with us and find new reasons to smile under our shelter! Contact us for more details on how and where to reach us. We’ll be waiting for our new family!

 


3 Most Frustrating Things About Being Chronically Ill

The next time you read the words: ‘health is the greatest blessing,’ pause before you mock the cliché. When a young and healthy person is derogatory toward such statements, it reeks of privilege. Health and fitness are nature’s gifts, but this gift doesn’t come without the responsibility to value it while it lasts.

It’s convenient to stereotype old people as cranky, frustrated and weak when you don’t know the struggle they live through every day. While aching joints and weak muscles are problems enough, their drooping shoulders are further weighed down under the burden of chronic illnesses.

If you’re wondering why terminal or chronic illnesses strike during our later years, it’s because your immunity weakens with age, making you more susceptible to them. Chronic illnesses not only take a toll on your overall health and wellbeing, but also severely affect your mood. Imagine living with searing back pain throughout the night and day and still keep a smile on your face. It’s hard to stay happy in the worst of times. Here are a few things that make you sick of being sick!

Monotony

Experiencing the same kind of pain monotonously every day is a different degree of painful. When you talk about chronic pain, we can’t emphasize the word chronic enough, because we literally mean all day, every day. Under such circumstances, random bouts of frustration over the ceaseless pain are reasonable.

Confusing Diagnoses

When you’re in pain, there’s nothing like the hope of a cure to make you smile on the bluest of days. Even though a ‘cure’ is sometimes a fantasy for people with chronic pain, the struggle of going from doctor to doctor is the only hope you have.

The medical industry has made huge strides in the last few decades, but patients of chronic conditions still complain about confusing diagnoses. You may be suffering from an illness that has been ruled out on several grounds by multiple modalities before. Therefore, dealing with the confusion that comes with conflicting diagnoses is an added stressor that affects your mood.

Rigid Schedules

Being on pain medication and other prescription drugs can put you on a pretty stringent schedule. This will most likely rule out socialization, family time, and professional growth.

If you can’t stay up past your prescribed bedtime because of the effect of tranquilizers, that won’t stop your friends from hanging out and, naturally, you’ll miss out.

 

If you’re told to cut down on certain foods due to cholesterol problems, you can’t hang out with your buddies at a barbecue party.

The point is, your medical condition will do more than impede routine things; it’ll go the extra mile and influence your social life as well. It’s important to protect our senior loved ones from social isolation because of their illness. The best way to start their emotional rehabilitation is by not criticizing them for being frustrated all the time, because they really can’t help being in pain.

We’re an independent assisted living community in Beverly Hills CA which helps senior loved ones dealing with chronic illnesses enjoy the simpler luxuries of life. With our amenities, we intend to make their life as comfortable (apart from their illness) as possible. Contact us for more details.


How To Make World A Better Place For The Elderly

Have you ever felt like a foreigner in your own home? Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But that’s exactly how we treat elderly people in our society.

Not only are they made to feel obsolete, unproductive, unneeded and unloved, but they’re also made to feel like they’re not a part of the place they built their careers and families in.

As a community, we’re marginalizing the elderly by confining them physically and taking away their home.

If you really care about your senior loved ones and want to make the world a better place for them, begin with making them feel at home. There’s nothing one wants more in their later years than having a place and people to belong to. This can be in the form of a physical home, a family, work, friends, or social purpose.

Changing Perspectives

Change begins from the roots, and the root of the problem here is our mentality. We think of elderly people as a burden and a drain on our limited incomes. This is a faulty and inherently problematic view of a major segment of society. Instead of categorizing them as such, they should be valued and revered as an asset for society at large.

It’s an achievement on its own to successfully survive 65 years or more in this world. Just the wisdom they have to share is a privilege that we can benefit from. True, they require more care, but that’s a small price to pay for the favor they’re doing to the community by imparting their knowledge.

Being infatuated by the cult of youth will neither help us grow out of our misplaced arrogance or harness their expertise.

It’s 2019, and age is no longer a determinant of productivity or abilities. A 70-year-old can be equally (or more) contributing to the economy and community than a 20-year old. If the senior population can contribute £61bn worth of services in the UK, why can’t we allow them to do the same in our country?

Support, Not Censure

The aging population is expected to witness an 87% increase in the next few years. With a segment growing large at this pace, it’s wise to address their needs instead of condemning them. Stereotyping old people according will only serve to lengthen the intergenerational gap. With that generation-divide in place, there’s nothing that can change the living conditions of senior loved ones for the better.

In order to improve their living conditions, we need to provide for medical facilities and luxuries that make life more comfortable for them. They’re in a stage of life where the slightest inconvenience can vex them; hence it’s important to make it as easy for them to live through the day as possible.

At AvantGarde Senior Living and Memory Care, we provide for amenities such as a 24-hour management team which is just a call away to tend to all their needs. We’re an assisted living community for senior loved ones in Beverly Hills, CA and wish to open the doors of our home for all others seeking love.


It’s Never too Late! Smoking Cessation Tips for Older Adults

For a long time, smoking wasn’t considered a dangerous habit. Marketed as cool, the tobacco industry was promoting smoking through television, radio programs, newspapers—basically any medium you could think of.

However, we now have a complete report released by the World Health Organization that goes into detail about the systematic corporate deceit they practiced; how the industry knew that nicotine and tobacco were immensely addictive and dangerous due to their carcinogenic nature but kept on advertising it anyway.

And while the global population understands that now, the damage is done.

America’s Health Rankings reported that there are around 4.2 million smokers in the US who are over the age of 65. And 8.7 percent of these people smoke each day. Many of them understand that smoking damages almost every organ in your body and causes a number of diseases. But old habits die hard. And when that old habit is something as addicting as smoking, it can be almost impossible to let go of it altogether, but only almost!

How to Quit Smoking as a senior

If a senior loved one or you are thinking of quitting your smoking habit, here are some things you can do to get started on the right track:

  • Try Nicotine Patches or Products

Easily available and useful, nicotine gum or patches deliver very small doses of nicotine into your system through your skin, thus feeding your cravings just enough. Typically, your doctor will reduce your doses as you go so you can wean off them completely.

  • Opt for Prescription Medicine

There are actually prescription medications that you can take to treat your smoking habit. But like any allopathic medication, it will have side effects; never take anything without your doctor’s written permission.

  • Take it Nice and Easy

Going cold turkey works for some people, but if you’re used to smoking multiple packs a day, you’ll need to prepare yourself for bouts of cravings and the ensuing symptoms of withdrawal that’ll follow. Your patience and strength will be tested, but if you take things slowly and try getting to smoking once or twice in the morning, then in the afternoon, then at night, you’ll slowly start seeing the difference it can make in your health and energy levels.

  • Find a Companion

This is something we’ve seen a lot at AvantGarde Senior Living in Beverly Hills, CA. Often, one of our older residents will pair up with a friend or family member to quit smoking over time. Similar to how you go to the gym with a friend who encourages healthy living, having someone on the same journey as you will truly help since you’ll hold each other accountable.

Conclusion

The phrase “smoking can be hazardous to your health” is not an empty warning. Smoking causes 1 in every 5 deaths in the U.S. each year. It can cause lung disease, cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, diabetes, eye diseases and osteoporosis and a number of other illnesses as well.

For your own sake and that of those who love you, take the right steps toward rehabilitation!

 


4 Driving Safety Considerations Older Drivers Need to Keep in Mind

For someone who was active their whole life, realizing that they’re not as spry as they once were—especially when it comes to driving—might come as a nasty shock.

Realizing that you might have to be dependent on someone else for things like basic transportation is not something that’s easy to get on board with, after all.

But if you find yourself in this position, keep in mind that driving safety is important. Not just for your sake, but for other drivers and pedestrians as well. According to a 2015 news article from Consumer Reports, 14 million Americans were involved in accidents that were primarily caused by drivers over the age of 65.

This is why it’s crucial that you take some factors into consideration before hitting the road.

1. Physical Fitness

The fact of the matter is that your physical fitness isn’t what it was 20 years ago. And you need to be reactive, agile, and flexible enough to take the necessary steps to avoid accidents or collisions. In short, you need to still have good reflexes. You can keep yourself fit by power walking or opting for stretch exercises to keep your joints strong. But it always helps if you go to your physician to get an update on whether you should be behind the wheel or not.

2. Sensory Perception

Remember; objects in your passenger side mirror may be closer than they appear. Not being able to perceive distance, getting confused with directions, not being able to see or hear clearly—all of these are indicators that you might be experiencing some age-related sensory problems. You’ll need to get yourself checked and make sure to get the doctor’s approval before driving.

3. Skills

Take a defensive driving course. Switch your old manual car for an automatic car if changing gears is confusing you. Search for courses on driving safety that are especially for older adults in your local community. If you do face difficulties, never be afraid to ask for help when learning.

4. Limits

Be honest with yourself. If you know you won’t be able to drive safely on the road, don’t let your ego get in the way. Accept the fact that you’ll either need to choose a different vehicle or simply abstain from driving.

Want to Visit Our Community?

None of this will be a problem if you choose to live in either our assisted living or independent living community. We offer scheduled transportation 6 days a week using luxury cars such as a Lincoln Town Car and a Mercedes Sprinter Van so you should have no trouble going about errands in California.

So visit us in Beverly Hills, CA. AvantGarde Senior Living offers the best luxuries and amenities for all our residents. Find out more by visiting us in Tarzana!


Important Safety Tips for Keeping Seniors Safe during summer

Summer 2019 is set to be hot and sizzling in the Southwest!

With temperatures reaching upwards of 111°F, you can expect a wave of cooking-eggs-on-the-pavement memes to surface online and to take regular trips to the ice cream store.

However, while that’s all fine and a dandy for young people, this kind of weather isn’t as enjoyable for the older adults out there.

According to the CDC, people over the age of 65 are more susceptible to heat-related health problems. A lot of this has to do with the fact that their bodies aren’t able to adjust to sudden highs and lows in temperature. They may also have a chronic condition that changes their body’s reaction to heat. In addition, they might be taking medicines that affect their body’s ability to sweat.

In short, when it comes to the hot summers, the elderly need a lot more than just a dip in the pool to cool off.

If you have a senior loved one (or are a senior person) who’s susceptible to heat-related health issues, here are some tactics we employ at AvantGarde Senior Living for our residents.

Staying Cool during the summer

  • Drink More Water

While a no-brainer, drinking water is something more than a few people skip, opting instead for soda and coffee to quench their thirst. However, keep in mind that coffee and tea work as diuretics for your kidneys, and can be bladder irritants as well. So not a good choice! Instead, keep a bottle of water with you at all times and drink at intervals.

  • Layer

It might seem strange to layer your clothing during the hot summer. But if you’re out and about all day or coming in and out of hot and cold rooms, layering with some lightweight clothing made with cotton will not only allow you to breathe easy outside, but it’ll also give you the warmth you’ll need in places where the air conditioning might have been cranked up.

  • Stay Away from Sunlight

Sunburns, overheating, dehydration—there’s plenty that can happen if you stay out for too long. Stay inside and try to find shade wherever you may be. But if you must go out, be sure to ask a dermatologist for a good sunscreen, wear a hat that has a wide brim, as well as sunglasses.

  • Adjust Your Diet

Love to cook? You might change your mind once you step into a hot kitchen with an even hotter stove. Rather than spending your time cooking in front of a hot pan, opt for cold meals instead. Salads, sandwiches, smoothies; there’s so much you can experiment with. Although, if you were to live at AvantGarde Senior Living, you wouldn’t really face that problem since we offer chef-cooked meals, any time.

In Conclusion

There’s really no reason why you can’t enjoy the summer as an older adult!

Just take the right steps toward protecting yourself and get help when needed. If your health doesn’t allow you to move around so easily, come to AvantGarde Senior Living in Beverly Hills, CA. We offer independent living options so you can have your freedom along with premium health care.

Contact us today to learn more!


What to Do When Senior Loved Ones Refuse to Take Care of Their Hygiene

If a senior loved one doesn’t exercise the most basic forms of self-care, they become more susceptible to physical and mental health problems. However, before you dismiss this neglect as simply a side effect of aging, understand that there might be a much greater underlying problem.

The Root Causes of Self-Neglect and Lack of Personal Hygiene

Not everyone likes to show vulnerability. Especially those who took care of you when you were young. In fact, they’ll be reluctant to show any need for help because their pride might not allow it.

In many cases, the reason why your elderly loved one might not be paying attention to their personal hygiene may be because:

  • They have a fear of falling because of poor balance issues
  • They may have joint pain and might be experiencing issues while standing, sitting, bending, and moving in a small space
  • They might be experiencing a fear of the sound of water or its sensation (common among older adults with Alzheimer’s and Dementia)
  • The water temperature may be too discomforting i.e. too hot or too cold
  • Taking a shower or bathing may be too exhausting for them

Alongside these reasons, there are many other common causes that include depression, memory loss, and sensory decline, among others.

If this is the case, you’ll need to be proactive with your approach so you can be sure they’re paying their health and hygiene proper attention.

Tips on Helping a Senior Loved One with Personal Hygiene Issues

  • Talk to them about it

It might be difficult, given that your loved one might become defensive. But communication during this time is important because you want to get to the root of the problem and not draw conclusions yourself. You can never be sure whether it is pain, forgetfulness, fear, or something else entirely that’s keeping them from their basic care routine.

  • Use a Little Trickery

Dealing with an elderly person who thinks you’re bossing them around or babying them can feel like a power struggle. This is where you need to be tactful. Try to designate a meet-up with a close friend or family member at an outdoor venue, somewhere that requires primping. This’ll be a great reason for them to get cleaned up.

  • Make the Bathroom User-Friendly

Lack of support or fear of injury while bathing or showering is a major issue for most seniors. But this fear can be addressed pretty easily if you just add the right bathing aids and products to the room. Sturdy handrails, automatic sensors for raising the toilet seats, clear labels on bottles so your loved one can use the right products and proper lighting can do wonders for your senior’s care.

 

When it’s not enough

If your senior loved one is too ill, then the above tips might not be as useful for you.

In this situation, you might want to consider having your loved one shifted to a senior living community, one that specializes in memory care or assisted living and offers 24/7 care, like AvantGarde Senior Living in Beverly Hills, CA.

This way, you’ll be happy knowing that you’ve taken the right steps in ensuring your loved one’s health and care. And they’ll have the chance to socialize without worrying about their extending themselves over basic needs!


How to Deal with an Elderly Parent who has Alzheimer’s (And Doesn’t Realize It)

Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent issue among the elderly population. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50%–60% of all cases of the condition.

Almost 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases being registered each year. With such a large population, this means that there are countless adults and children who are taking care of their elderly parents who may have Alzheimer’s disease.

Despite that, there’s something to be gained from this; the fact that we have a lot of information on how to deal with a parent with Alzheimer’s, carefully and respectfully.

Relating to a Person with Alzheimer’s Disease

For someone who may not know they have Alzheimer’s disease, telling them they may have it to their face without employing tact will only make things worse.

Remember, Alzheimer’s disease is not to be taken lightly.

If they do show all the symptoms of the disease, they’ll also feel scared. But more than that, they’ll feel like they’ve done something wrong, or have been doing so without realizing it, which can be embarrassing.

The Argument

There has actually been a lot of debate around the subject. Should you tell your parent (or a loved one) that they have Alzheimer’s?

It might cause a lot of emotional distress for them. They might feel hopeless about their condition and will start over-thinking everything. They might even think that they’re a burden to their family and loved ones.

But your loved one has the right to know. While you might want to protect them from knowing, keep in mind that they know themselves best. So the chances are that they may actually have sensed that something is wrong, but they can’t quite put their finger on it.

Knowing the cause of all their anxiety might answer their health questions. Also, if they know they have Alzheimer's, they’ll be able to prepare for themselves long-term. Documentation, caregiving, legal matters—they’ll want to make sure they’ve organized everything so there’s no issue later.

So if you were to tell then, how do you go about doing so?

You rely on the medical reports and accounts, while surrounded by only their closest people. You want be gentle and supportive, but you also want to be sure you get the message across so you can take the next step.

The Most Important Part

If they know about their condition, this will greatly help them in making a decision on whether or not they want to live in an assisted living community.

Plenty of residents at AvantGarde Senior Living in Beverly Hills, CA come to us for our memory care services. With our help, people can be comforted knowing that they have the best people available for their loved one’s care.

So if your parent has Alzheimer’s and you believe telling them will help, do so. Treat your parent respectfully and do what is right by them, not you. It’s the best thing to do.