Category: Blog

Independent living and assisted living can sound deceptively similar, but there are actually many differences. We want to make sure you or your loved ones are getting the right amount of care and comfort as they age, so we thought we’d clear up some of the main differences between independent living and assisted living.

Most of the differences between independent and assisted living are about how much care is provided for the residents by the community’s staff. Those in independent living should still be able to take care of their everyday needs, while those in assisted living may need help with basic tasks like washing and dressing.

Here are some of the services provided in assisted living that usually aren’t available in independent living:

Memory care

Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s can get the memory care they need in assisted living. Activities are provided that are designed to help control the symptoms and slow the progression of these conditions. Staff will also be trained to assist memory patients and extra safeguards may be put in place to protect the patients.

Medication management

Some seniors may need help with taking and managing their medication. Medication management is provided by assisted living care staff to ensure that residents are taking the correct dosage at the right time.

Transport

If assisted living residents need to leave the complex for a hospital appointment or to visit family, for example, then they may be provided with transport by the facility. This allows residents to have a sense of freedom outside of the community while still keeping them safe.

Rehabilitative care

Assisted living patients may have additional needs if they have had an illness, injury, or surgery. Most assisted living communities provide rehabilitative care to get patients back on the feet and to improve their mobility during recovery.

On-call assistance

For anything else residents need, like help with chores or with getting dressed, assisted living care staff and nursing staff are on-call around the clock whenever they are needed. So, residents can always get the assistance and support that they need.

Here at Bermuda Village, we offer both independent living and assisted living services and apartments, so you can always balance the level of care you need with the level of independence you want. Our community is set within the Bermuda Run Country Club and has been voted one of the best places to retire. Contact us if you would like any more information.

As we age, we will have slightly different requirements when it comes to our home environment. Many older people move into single-story homes so that they don’t have the challenge of walking up and down stairs several times a day. You might need to install grab rails in the bathroom and flooring that is less slippery. Changes like these help us to avoid common risks we might face in our homes.

For people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, these risks are even greater. Alzheimer’s can affect both cognitive and motor functions, making accidents all the more likely. So, if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, home safety should be one of your top priorities. Here are some safety tips to help you prepare your home for Alzheimer’s care.

Remove locks from interior doors

You should remove the locks from bathroom doors and any other rooms that have locks on interior doors. Someone with Alzheimer’s might lock the door behind them and then be unable to get out, causing them a lot of distress and potential injury.

Keep medication out of reach

Your loved one probably has different medications to take throughout the day. It is important to support them with their medication regime and keep everything locked away or out of reach in between times. They may forget that they’ve already had their dose and end up taking too much.

Remove trip hazards

Floors should be kept as clutter-free as possible to avoid tripping. Eliminate any loose wires by repositioning appliances or tacking the wires to walls. You may also need to reposition any furniture that juts out.

Make sure your home is well-lit

Light your home well, especially in hallways and around the stairs if you live in a multi-story property. You may need to leave lights on at night so that it is easier for your loved one to find their way if they need to use the bathroom in the night.

Cover hot surfaces

Alzheimer’s sufferers are prone to burning and scalding themselves on hot surfaces, flames, and hot water. You can install safety covers around heaters to cover these hot surfaces, add safety knobs to stoves, and keep things like matches and lighters locked away. Also, lower the temperature of the hot water on your water heater settings.

You can visit alzheimers.net for more tips on Alzheimer’s home safety. At Bermuda Village, we provide various levels of care depending on the condition and abilities of our residents, from independent living to assisted living and rehabilitative care. Get in touch if you need additional care support in Bermuda Run.

Do you know what care solutions are available for you or a loved one as you age? Options come in all shapes and sizes, from completely independent living to around-the-clock nursing care. If you’re looking for something in the middle, then assisted living is the perfect choice.

Assisted living is great for those who need access to care but still want to retain their independence.

Why independence is important for seniors

As we age, we start to lose some of the mental and physical capabilities that we’ve been used to almost our whole lives. This can be extremely frustrating as we suddenly can’t support ourselves in the same way we have done since young adulthood. A lack of independence can contribute to a lot of problems among seniors, including loneliness, depression, and anger.

Because of this, it is important for seniors to retain their independence in whatever ways possible. Independent living is essential for feelings of fulfillment, control, purpose, and empowerment. Staying active and doing things for yourself also stimulates the brain, making memory problems less prevalent.

How assisted living balances care and independence

Assisted living is the best of both worlds for seniors who can still primarily live independently but also require a certain level of care. Residents have their own apartments within a wider assisted living complex. This means they have their own space where they can relax, cook, entertain guests, and retain their privacy as well as independence.

In addition to this space, residents also have access to communal facilities like a dining hall or restaurant and social spaces with organized events. They can also access medical care and rehabilitative care when they need, and there is care personnel that can provide assistance with tasks like bathing, taking medication, and household chores.

Keeping seniors active and engaged is important, so assisted living communities also usually offer regular events and opportunities to socialize, plus lessons and courses in life skills like using a computer, or pursuing hobbies like painting and drawing.

Moving into an assisted living community is a flexible way to access care as you age. Even if you don’t need much care when you move there, this may change in the future. So, you can enjoy remaining completely independent in assisted living and then access the care you need as your situation changes.

If you want to find out more about assisted living in Bermuda Run, NC, then get in touch with us today.

We know it’s difficult to get back on your feet after an injury, surgery, or a condition such as a stroke or heart attack. You want to get home as soon as you can, but going home too early can be detrimental to your recovery, resulting in readmission to hospital.

This is where inpatient rehabilitation comes in. It’s an important step between hospital care and returning home to a state of independent living. Here are some of the key benefits it provides for rehab patients.

Complete accountability

For both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, a similar amount of therapy is recommended. For inpatients, at least 3 hours of therapy is provided, normally at least 5 days per week. For outpatients, sessions typically last 1 hour and can be scheduled for 1-5 times per week. On top of this, additional exercises are assigned for you to perform on your own at home.

While this works well for some patients, others will not be as motivated or might not find the time to complete the recommended activities at home. This means they are getting access to much less treatment, making their recovery a longer process. With inpatient rehabilitative care, you don’t have to be responsible for managing your own care, meaning you always get the level of therapy you need to recover.

Monitored by healthcare professionals

After certain events, you might be at risk of further complications or accidents that could worsen your health. If an unfortunate relapse does occur, it is best to have professional care on hand to make sure you are safe and well looked after. Having this care available will help your recovery and also gives you peace of mind that you will be looked after in case of an emergency.

Specialized care

In an inpatient facility, you have a team of care providers available to treat you, all with their own areas of expertise. This means you get the best care in a variety of areas, which may include:

• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Nutritional advice
• Counselors
• Social workers

This ensures that your needs are met across the board, including your mental health, helping you to recover more fully.

Bermuda Village in the grounds of Bermuda Run Country Club has been voted as one of the best places to retire, and we provide inpatient rehabilitation to help you recover quickly and completely. Get in touch if you have any questions or are interested in seeing our independent and assisted living community.

At independent and assisted living communities like Bermuda Village, lots of different needs are catered to. Whether you’re just looking for a supportive environment to live in or are in need of around-the-clock care, we can help. Rehabilitative care is varied to suit the needs of the patients, with specific therapy provided in order to help you recover. Here are a few different types of rehabilitative care that may be provided.

Orthopedic Rehabilitation

This kind of therapy focuses on the bones, joints, and muscles. Residents may require short-term orthopedic rehab after a surgery or injury to any of these areas. It is also helpful in treating conditions like arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as alleviating the symptoms of chronic joint pain.

Occupational Therapy

Staying independent is a priority for a lot of seniors, and occupational therapy can help them to achieve this. It is used after an illness, injury, surgery, or disability to help the patient regain control and the ability to perform everyday tasks.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is used in a number of situations to generally improve the physical state of a patient or resident. It helps to improve strength and mobility, reduce pain, and overall improve quality of life.

Speech Therapy

Speech and language therapy can be especially important after suffering a stroke, as speech can become difficult. Our ability to communicate is extremely important at all stages of our lives, so this therapy helps to restore these skills and abilities.

Neurological Rehabilitation

Neurological rehabilitation is also useful following a stroke, along with various other conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord. It can help patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and more. This rehab helps to improve cognitive and motor function in these patients.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

After suffering a heart attack or any other condition that weakens the heart, cardiac rehabilitation is used to strengthen the heart muscle and improve its overall function. This improves the physical ability of patients and also helps to reduce the risk of further attacks.

Here at Bermuda Village, we provided top class rehabilitative care. Patients and residents in need of rehabilitation will benefit from on-site geriatricians, meals prepared daily with the option of room delivery, around the clock nursing care, and one-on-one physical, occupational, and speech therapy available.

If you or a family member require rehabilitative care or assisted living, contact us to find out more about our retirement communities.

It’s often the way of life that you end up having to look after the ones who looked after you for your whole childhood, and even throughout young adulthood. You want to make sure that your parents have the care and support that they need when they reach a certain age, but it can be difficult to bring that conversation up initially.

If the tough conversation is in your near future, here are some tips on how to approach it.

Have the conversation before you need to

When it comes to planning for your parents’ aging care, it is better to have the conversation sooner rather than later. If you only start talking about it as a response to their deteriorating health, decisions might need to be rushed. In the unfortunate event that a parent develops dementia, for example, they might not be in a fit state to have the conversation and make decisions about their own care. Having the conversation early makes sure you’re prepared for whatever happens in the future.

Do some research

It can be good to do some research of your own before you start the conversation. Understand the different options for your parents’ care, such as assisted living, independent living, retirement communities, rehabilitative care. Form an opinion about what you think is best for your parents and talk to any family members that’ll be involved to make sure you’re on the same page. When you then talk to your parents about it, you’ll be fully informed and able to tell them what you think.

Be direct, but empathetic

It might be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but beating around the bush isn’t going to help any decisions be made. Be direct when you approach the conversation, but make sure you’re empathizing with your parents’ feelings, too. Consider how they’ll be feeling in this situation and be sensitive about those feelings.

Listen to them

Your parents will probably want to retain as much control as possible as they age, including through this decision-making process. So, when having this conversation, it’s important that you’re not just talking at them and telling them what to do. Ask them questions, ask for their opinion, and, most of all, listen to their answers. You should offer your advice and your opinion, but it’s important that they’re still the ones making the decisions, as long as they are fit to do so.

Talking about aging with your parents can be difficult, but if you start early then you’ll be better prepared when the time comes that they do need extra care. Bermuda Village at the Bermuda Run Country Club has been recognized as one of the best places to retire. Get in touch if you’re looking for independent living in North Carolina.

Are you looking for a care solution in North Carolina for yourself or a loved one? Our retirement community in Bermuda Run is the perfect solution. But why should you choose us over the other options? Here are a few important reasons why Bermuda Village is the top choice.

1. You can still own your own home

We want you to retain your independence and control here at Bermuda Village, so our independent living options allow you to own your home within our grounds. This means you can decorate your home however you’d like, making it really feel like your own. You also benefit from maintaining your own equity.

2. We serve great food

You can forget the stereotype of unappetizing, mushy food in retirement communities. We serve food daily in our pub and Clubhouse dining room, with a variety of meals and specials on offer. You can even have your food delivered to your home for you.

3. You can enjoy the Bermuda Run Country Club

Our retirement community is contained within the grounds of the Bermuda Run Country Club. You can join to enjoy all of its perks and facilities on your doorstep, including a golf course, swimming pool, clubhouse, tennis center, and more.

4. There are lots of activities

We run lots of activities within our retirement community, too. We have groups for lots of different hobbies and interests, fun games like bingo and bridge, and more active things like fitness classes and ping pong. You can enjoy the outdoors in our Japanese garden or on our shuffleboard and croquet courts.

5. And opportunities to learn

If you want to keep your mind active as well as your body, then we also have programs to help you continue your learning. Our Lifelong Learning Program covers a variety of topics, or you can attend lectures with our Bermuda Village College series. We also have a library filled with a great range of fiction and non-fiction books.

6. We run social events throughout the year

Socializing doesn’t have to end after retirement. In fact, you’ve got even more time for it. We arrange regular social events to help our residents get to know each other and make real connections. Unwind over a drink at either our coffee hour or cocktail hour, enjoy some live music, or sit down for a movie with your peers. We also organize special themed events like murder mystery nights and beach bashes.

7. We provide care solutions to suit you

Whatever your needs, we provide a range of care solutions tailored to you. Whether you need around the clock care or occasional support, our team are here for you. We can provide rehabilitative care when necessary, too.

If you’re looking for an independent living or assisted living solution for you or a loved one, then get in touch to arrange a visit or to ask any questions.

Stress is something we all face in our day-to-day lives, but too much of it can cause a number of health problems. You may already be familiar with the role of stress in our heart health – high levels of stress can lead to high blood pressure. But is there a link between stress and the development of Alzheimer’s disease?

Let’s look at what the research suggests and what we can do to keep our stress levels down as we age.

What causes Alzheimer’s?

While there is no single cause of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, researchers and health professionals have uncovered a number of risk factors that make a person more likely to develop these conditions. These include:

• Old age
• Family history of dementia
• Head injuries
• Smoking
• Stress

How is stress related to Alzheimer’s?

In scientific research on the topic, stress has been found to be a potential contributing factor toward the development of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the extent of which has not yet been determined as there are so many contributing factors. Stress may be a risk factor because of its connection with other health problems, like depression, anxiety, and sleep problems, all of which have also been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Stress in itself has also been linked to memory problems. This is likely an evolutionary response. When we experience stress and enter the typical “fight or flight” mode, blood flow is directed towards parts of the body that are considered essential for this response. This means blood is diverted away from non-essential areas. So, if blood flow is restricted to the part of the brain that is responsible for forming short-term memories, then this could explain how memory loss is related to stress. If someone experiences chronic stress, then it can seriously change their brain chemistry and capabilities over time.

Another research study found that a hormone released in response to stress, corticotrophin releasing factor, actually boosts the production of protein fragments that have been consistently found in the brains of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. These proteins, amyloid beta, have been found to cause brain degeneration related to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Keep your brain healthy by reducing stress

While there is still more research to be done on the link between stress and Alzheimer’s, there are many health benefits of reducing your stress levels. If possible, remove yourself from situations that you know cause you a lot of stress. Luckily, stress levels tend to drop after retirement because work is a common cause of stress.

We can’t always avoid stressful situations, so you also need to practice ways to manage your stress levels. Meditation and light exercise are known to be good ways to reduce stress levels. But it’s about finding what’s right for you. This could be taking a hot bath or reading an interesting book.

If you need help caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, then Bermuda Village’s assisted living and independent living communities can support you with all your care needs in Bermuda Run, NC.

Visiting and looking after loved ones with dementia can be a difficult and upsetting experience. They may not remember who you are and their personality might have completely changed as their brain degenerates. But it’s still important for both of you to keep up those visits and try as much as you can to build and maintain a meaningful connection with them.

Here are some helpful tips for achieving this.

Understand their abilities

As their condition worsens, what they can do and how much they understand will change. It’s important that you are aware of this and adapt your visits to their ability level. If your loved one has a professional carer, then they can advise you on this as well. Trying to get them to do something that is too difficult for them can make them frustrated.

Are they mobile enough to go for a walk with you or are your visits better confined to their home? Are they able to have a conversation with you or would they rather just listen to you talk? Or maybe silence is a better option, relying on non-verbal communication like touch instead.

Share activities that they enjoy

Whether or not they remember their love for a hobby or activity, you can do those things together. Taking part in these activities could bring back memories or make them feel happy without them really knowing why. You could watch their favorite movie together, for example, or go for a walk if that’s what they liked to do. If they always loved animals, you could bring your pet along with you on your visits.

Use all their senses

Different senses can trigger different memories and emotions, so think about how you can stimulate the different senses in positive ways. If you loved going to the movies together, then the smell of fresh popcorn could bring that memory back to them. Playing their favorite song or piece of music could make them feel happy and even bring back memories of listening to that music. Tasting different foods can also raise the spirits or help them to recall memories of trips they took to different places.

Make the most of their good moments

Dementia patients will have some moments that are more lucid than others. Although you should be there for both, make sure to really make the most of those more lucid moments. Especially enjoy and cherish the conversations you have when they are better able to recall past memories and ask you questions about your life.

Overall, try not to get frustrated with your loved one or the situation you’re in with them. Be patient and remember that they’re still the same person. If you need additional care for your loved one in Bermuda Run, NC, then get in touch with Bermuda Village to learn more about our assisted living community.

Loneliness is one of the biggest problems facing senior citizens. Many of their friends will have passed away or moved out of the city or country as they’ve got older. Family members move on, start their own family, and don’t visit as much. And it can be more difficult to socialize and make new friends as we get older.

But it’s so important to maintain a social life at any stage of our life. It’s not just a way to enjoy our time more; becoming isolated can actually have real consequences for our mental and physical health.

The mental health benefits of socialization for seniors

Having an active social life with friends and family members helps to avoid major issues like depression and anxiety in seniors. Regular social engagements provide something to look forward to and give seniors a purpose in life, which is especially beneficial towards fighting depression.

Also, socializing often requires getting out of the house, into the fresh air and different environments, which also helps to fight problems like depression. Enjoyable social activities also help to reduce stress levels and improve self-esteem, helping seniors feel happier, more relaxed, and more confident.

Benefits to physical health

Social activities that involve getting out of the house and doing light exercise like walking, or even a social exercise class like tai chi or bowling, improve the activity levels of seniors. Staying active is important for seniors to help them stay physically fit and maintain bone and muscle strength.

Socializing also has an amazing ability of keeping away illness. It has been found to improve the immune system, making them less likely to contract minor illnesses that can lead to further complications. Since it reduces stress, socializing can also help to prevent high blood pressure and to keep the heart healthy.

The cognitive benefits of socialization

Staying social also has lots of benefits for the cognitive health of seniors. Communicating with friends and taking part in novel experiences, which every conversation can provide, keeps the brain active and engaged. This helps the brain maintain its strength and health, keeping the mind sharp and helping to prevent conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Even for patients suffering from these conditions, socializing can help to slow down degeneration, especially in the early stages.

A thriving social life is an important part of staying healthy as we get older, but it can be difficult, especially for seniors who live alone. Moving into a retirement community or assisted living can make socialization easier because events are held on the complex and residents can share meals together. If you’re interested in assisted living for you or a loved one, then get in touch to find out more about our community in Bermuda Run, NC.