55 Communities Baby Boomer – Fighting the Holliday Blues

Holiday Blues Receipe – For The Over 50 Active Adult

So, you are a baby boomer active adult living  in one of America’s posh over 55 communities with all the ammenities one could only dream about and you’ve got the “blues”.   Well here is a receipe for relief:

1.  Accept all Invitations – play a round of golf with a buddy or two at one of the outstanding Active Adult Retirement golf courses.  Take a walk around and mingle with fellow retirement community neighbors; socialize at all costs.  55+ active adults are suppose to be “active” not sitting around alone watching tv.  If you are living in one of those retirement gated communites – bust out and go drinking, eating and enjoy what the good life is all about. 
   
2.  Help Others- it always feels good to help another.  Go out of your way to lend a helping hand to someone who needs it.  Your own retirement community is filled with people needing your love and attention.  To find out about local opportunities, contact area schools, churches and charitable organizations. Seek out and you shall receive big time! 

3.  Eat Healthy and Often:  put the diet asside and enjoy gourmet dining with great conversation while relaxing with friends.  A local 55+ community resort could be your meal ticket.

4.  Travel to Your Favorite Resort – if you got go, then go – what are you waiting for.  Arizona is loaded with cheapo or mucho expensivo gettaways.  Either one, will do you.  This is not the time to count pennies – throw some money around, it will make you feel good.

5.  Get Plenty of Rest:  you will need it to overcome the “Holiday Blues” and keep you in the “Holiday Spirit”.  Just try not to sleep alone.

Do the above and feel the results – happiness or depression, which one sounds good to you?

Baby Boomer or Bust

Many of you over 55 living in a beautiful Active Adult Living New Home are concerned about availability of your retirement funds and sufficient medical care to meet your needs.  As Baby Boomers cycle into Social Security and Medicare, the question arises – “Will my social security and medicare benefits be available to provide the active adult community  lifestyle I envisioned?”.  After all, we are still active adults and living life to the fullest -  we expect to receive what we were promised and what we planned for.

Governments are worried. Physicians are scarce. Retirement funds are in jeopardy. Will older adults and the up-and-coming Baby Boomers—a combined age group described as a tsunami—spell catastrophe? Or, is the large number of older and aging adults an untapped resource that will add value to the world?

Gain the broad perspective of older adults in “Active Aging Industry Outlook 2010,” the new research report prepared by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA). The active-aging industry provides facilities and programs that are part of a prevention/wellness model focused on quality of life for people who are 50 years and older. On the eve of the first Baby Boomers turning 65 year old, ICAA searched the analysis and research results of many organizations and compiled them into a single source of credible information.

Among the seven key drivers identified in the report are key concepts for the future:

1. An aging population is a large, growing market;
2. Functional ability among “older adults” is so diverse it requires a diverse range of services; and
3. The 50+ community population envisions their future lifestyle as active and involved.

The majority of older adults, according to the findings in the report, are happier, healthier and living longer than any other generation. While the prevalence of chronic health conditions is an important issue, so is the ability of older adults to contribute to society and change the way they age. Their interest in health and lifestyle creates ample opportunity for businesses and for service providers to tap into the older adult market by understanding their needs and wants today—and in the future.

The explosion in up-scale  55 communities and affiliated businesses are examples of new home developers meeting the requirements  of a Baby Boomer active adult community lifestyle

It is time to witness how the Boomers and their parents—together the largest, richest and fastest-growing segment of the overall population—are changing the way society responds to their expectations, needs, desires and dreams.”

Adult Communities for the Best Elder Care

Getting older should be an exciting part of life, but sometimes it comes with some physical impediments. In this case, it might be a good idea to think about checking into adult communities to get top-quality elder care. Such elder care services allow family members to go to work and enjoy their personal lives without having to worry that the senior citizen is safe and being cared for. One of the main purposes of these services is to delay or prevent the need to move into a nursing home by offering alternative care opportunities to stay social. Caring for an aging parent can be a real challenge for family members, but with senior retirement options, senior citizens can get the right kind of care and attention that they need.

When a senior member of the family is left at home for the whole day, it can be a burden for the children who are at work. It’s important to be with the senior member at all times, and elder care services can guarantee this. From cooking and cleaning to ensuring that medications are taken at the right time, adult communities give peace of mind to families that are unable to take care of a loved one throughout the whole day. To make sure that seniors are living a safe and happy life even after retirement, it is advisable to look out for a senior retirement facility that offers recreational activities along with the right elder care. Elders sometimes need a lot of help with daily tasks, be it bathing, walking, eating, cooking, washing, or personal care. For family members it might not be possible to take care of all of these things, but the elder care services provided in adult communities should be taken note of.

Before deciding on an elder care service, some questions need to be taken into consideration, like whether the aging person prefers a male or female to help and things that might make the person uncomfortable. With a large number of adult communities, a variety of services are being offered and can be chosen accordingly. The best elder care can also be experienced at senior retirement communities where special staff is assigned to each individual so that their needs and requirements are properly addressed. The staff at these facilities listens to the elderly people to help them with their personal care, meals, and other basic requirements.

For seniors, whether or not they require assistance to live a happy life can be determined by their physical abilities. The senior retirement lifestyle is an option that children can select to offer some of the best elder care services to their aging parents. Elderly people might need help with cooking, bathing, and washing, among other things, and if they move into adult communities, they can rest assured that they will receive the best services.

Camarillo Assisted Living Facilities Help Families Cope

You put a lot of time and effort into finding a home for your older loved ones like parents and grandparents. You try to determine their needs, and you research different centers, trying to figure out which one is the best option for them. Senior citizens deserve to live a peaceful life after they retire, and every child wants their parents to live out their golden years in comfort. At 11% of the state’s population, California’s senior citizen number lower than most states. The national average is about 12.6% for residents older than 65, but retirees should not overlook all this state has to offer. This includes some exceptional options when it comes to assisted living.

Some older people can no longer live in their own homes, but assisted living facilities offer independence and care at the same time. Take the city of Camarillo, for example. Assisted living in Camarillo is available in a wide variety of options that include different types of housing, length of stay and the services available. The area features centers that specialize in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Some are designed for short-term stays while others offer options for long-term residence and independent living. Most assisted living centers are well equipped to take care of elderly residents with skilled nursing and other medical options. There are also several social communities created specifically for elderly residents, and these assisted living centers are generally customized for peaceful living. They include gardens and walking paths, as well as active social groups.

The rent for assisted living in Camarillo ranges in price, based on the services offered, amenities, location within the city and surrounding neighborhood, among other factors.  That does not mean that the care suffers in certain places, though. All the facilities offer quality care. State and national regulations govern the development, construction and operation of assisted living centers.

If you are researching assisted living facilities in California, you should note that not all facilities are licensed by the California Department of Public Health. It is important to research any assisted living center you are considering before moving in. Some things that you should look ingot when you are researching facilities include making sure that the facility follows proper regulations regarding cleanliness and quality meals, as well as safety and security of the center.

Most centers for assisted living in Camarillo are located in clean and well-maintained surroundings, and the area has several facilities to take proper care of senior citizens. They are designed to provide a comfortable, homelike atmosphere. These facilities strive to provide all the necessary support for the elderly to lead a peaceful life.

 

Assisted Living at Riverside: Almost Like Living at Home

California is seen as something of a young person’s state. And it is true that only a small portion of California’s population is older than 65, which is well below the national average, but the beauty and variety of the area has made this a popular retirement destination in recent years. No other state in the U.S. has so much to offer. Whether you prefer the mountains or the coast, a desert or a lush forest, you can find everything that you want right here. For those who need a little extra help from day to day, Riverside has some great assisted living facilities.

It is time consuming to find for a home for your older loved ones. You have to figure out what they need, then research the facilities, and try to figure out which one is the best option for them. Senior citizens deserve a peaceful life after retirement, and every child wants his or her parents to live out their golden years in comfort. Riverside can help.

Riverside offers senior citizens a peaceful setting. There’s certainly no need to settle on one place because seniors have virtually unlimited options when they’re looking for assisted living centers. Assisted living in Riverside is available to meet every need and income level. There are communities that cater to more active seniors. Many offer fitness centers and entertainment facilities. Some of the assisted living centers in Riverside also have facilities for those with Alzheimer’s. Other options include general care for the elderly, skilled nursing, communities that stress sports and outdoor games, fitness centers, pools along with spas and various other options for senior citizens who want to lead peaceful and happy lives.

The costs associated with assisted living in Riverside are influenced by a number of factors that include the amenities offered, the neighborhood the center is located in and its proximity to various facilities. Most assisted living centers in Riverside are located in scenic neighborhoods, which provide a pleasant atmosphere.

It should be noted that not all facilities are licensed by the California Department of Public Health. It is important to research any assisted living center that you’re considering before moving in. Some things to look into are making sure they follow proper regulations regarding cleanliness and quality meals, as well as safety and security of the center.

Most of the centers for assisted living in Riverside are located in clean and well-maintained surroundings and have several facilities to take proper care of senior citizens. They are designed to provide a comfortable, homelike atmosphere and to provide all the necessary support for the elderly to lead a peaceful life.

 

Retirement Living And Care At Bonaventure Senior Living

Temporary Stay Program Bonaventure Senior Living

We offer a Temporary Stay Program designed to introduce you to our amenities and services while you make your long-term care decisions.

There are three ways the Temporary Stay program can work for you:

Recovery Care
This option is perfect if you are recovering from an illness or hospital stay. Our communities offer full time caregivers who are on duty 24 hours a day to assist in your recovery.

Experience the Lifestyle
Our Temporary Stay apartment is the perfect way to experience senior living on a temporary basis. This opportunity will help you make the best decision concerning your future.

Respite Care
Our Respite Care program provides both physical and emotional relief for caregivers. Whether the stay is only overnight, several days or lasts a month, this program allows family members peace of mind while they take time to rest.

Why You Should Experience Temporary Stay
Your furnished apartment has a barrier free shower and a 24-hour security call system. Personal care staff is on duty 24 hours a day to assist you. We also encourage participation in the planned social and recreational programs on site.

Extras Bonaventure Senior Living
For a nominal fee our communities will provide personal care services, medication management, assistance with bathing, specialized nighttime needs and much, much more!

We can customize a service plan that is just right for you!

Memory Care

Dignity, choice and independence are more than just words in our Memory Care communities. They are the basis of our care philosophy.

We believe in family involvement. For family members, we offer monthly support groups and educational series. We understand the fear and sadness you feel as your loved one progresses through the stages of Alzheimer’s. Your regular involvement in service planning is encouraged and will help you fully understand the changing needs of your loved one.

Our communities offer individually tailored programs designed by our qualified staff. You can relax knowing that the one you love is truly being treated with respect and dignity while being encouraged to be as independent as their disease will permit.

Our residents are surrounded with mementos of yesteryear along with their own personal belongings in either a private or semi-private home-like apartment. Our beautiful landscaped grounds allow residents to safely enjoy the outdoors and the changing seasons.

For more information about our Memory Care Program, we invite you to contact one of our Memory Care communities directly to speak with a caring staff member

Retirement Living Bonaventure Senior Living

Enjoy a carefree retirement lifestyle in a comfortable private apartment in our beautifully decorated communities. Mingle with friends, sit and chat by the fireplace, or join in on one of the many planned outings and activities. At a Bonaventure Senior Living Community, you can truly call your time, your own.

We cater to older adults who are independent and active yet want supportive services to make their lives more carefree. We offer large deluxe studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, some with private patios or balconies. Every apartment has a full kitchen along with individual climate controls. Furnish your home with your own furniture and special treasures to truly make it your own.

There are no buy-in fees or long term leases. Instead we offer a simple month-to-month plan that allows great flexibility. Retirement living with Bonaventure Senior Living is the perfect choice!

Adult Children, Aging Parents: When Caregiving Roles are Reversed

Her daughters grown, 42-yearold Georgette Smith faced a new challengecaring for her disabled mother. Chronic emphysema sapped what little strength remained in the 68-year-old womans frail, wheelchair bound body. The care needs were overwhelming. Georgette began to look for relief by checking out a nearby nursing home. On that fateful day, when she overheard Georgette discuss the nursing home with a friend, the mother responded quickly. Suddenly the conversation was frozen in time by a single bullet that severed Georgettes spine and rendered her paralyzed. Shirley Egan shot her daughter because she feared confinement in a nursing home. Shirleys new home became the Orange County Jail. The Smith-Egan story is true.

Although the circumstances are extreme, it reflects the dilemma adult children face trying to balance the needs of aging parents with other life demands. A survey by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) discovered that more than 22.4 million U.S. households (1 in 4) care for an older relative or friend or have given such care within the past year. The value of family caregiving exceeds 200 billion dollars.1 Daughters and daughters-in-law are the primary caregivers for older adults, even though many of these middle-aged caregivers still have children or teenagers at home. Caregiving concerns are reaching more and more families. Listen to the water-cooler conversation and you are as likely to hear a co-worker seeking adult daycare options as finding after-school programs. The percentage of Americans over age 65 has tripled. The fastest growing population group is over age 85. As older adults live longer, increased longevity results in greater likelihood of exhausting assets, outliving a spouse, and losing potential for independent living. The high costs of long-term care prompts many families to provide shelter and caregiving in the home. The pressures of this economically driven trend toward family caregiving has given Baby Boomers a new title: theSandwich Generation,â caught between the demands of children and aging parents.

For Christian Baby Boomers, parenting their parents is more than an economic necessity; its an expression of faith. If we do not provide for our relatives, and especially for our immediate families, we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers (1 Tim. 5:8). Even under the best circumstances, the escalating needs of aging parents and the nsacrifices required of adult children present both challenges and blessings.

Caregiving Challenges

As long as Mother is mentally alert, she wants to stay in her home. Physical problems are the greatest threat to independent living. Approximately five million older adults need help withactivities of daily living,â such as bathing, food preparation, medication, shopping, and money management.2 Giving direct assistance or hiring a care aide along with regular telephone contact and visits may extend Mothers ability to live independently.Dont most older adults go to nursing homes for care assistance?â NO! Only 4% of persons over age 65 receive long-term care in a nursing home. The majority (67%) live in the community with spouse, children, relatives or in assisted living facilities. The remaining 32% of older adults live alone.3My wife and I must work five more years to get full retirement benefits, but my father cant stay alone all day.â Depending on the level of care, the older adult may participate in community senior programs, attend adult daycare, or require a care aide. A time limited option available to some individuals is the Family and Medical Leave Act (1993), which allows an employee in a company with 50 or more employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave a year to care for a family member without losing job security. Some companies allow flextime to retain experienced workers.

Our home wasnt built for caregiving. How can we make it safe?â Many adaptations are simple and inexpensive. For example, rearrange furnishings to make clear paths within and between rooms. Add handrails in the bathroom and hallways. Replace doorknobs with lever handles. Ask

your physician to recommend a home evaluation by an occupational therapist for a wealth of safety and mobility enhancement tips.My husband doesnt understand the stress I have dealing with menopause, teenagers, and an aging parent.â Caregiving families must share the primary caregivers load, so that she also has time to be a wife, mother, and individual. Intergenerational families are most successful when each person has responsibilities in the care process suitable to his or her skills.

A teen can read or offer to write letters for a grandparent while the parents go out. The spouse may bring home deli dinner on the night Mom goes to Bible study. Another relative may be called to stay with the older adult when the parents attend the teenagers soccer game. Primary caregivers need time alone and with others to return refreshed for routine caregiving duties.I love my Mom, but Im overwhelmed as a single parent. How can I care for her?â

Providing direct care is not always possible. Distance, the need to work, absence of spousal or sibling support, and lack of patience are all reasons to find other care options. Look for the least restrictive care suitable to the needs. Choosing an assisted living facility, maintaining contact with the staff, frequent visits, or hiring a geriatric case manager keeps adult children involved in the

care decisions.

Caregiving Blessings

Scripture speaks the heart cry of older adults:Do not cast me away

when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is goneâ (Ps. 71:9).

The bond between an adult child and an aging parent was forged from the

crib. Today, that adult child functions as a parent to the aging parent. Few are emotionally prepared for these role changes. Counselors and pastors can show caregivers how to find the blessings in these changes for themselves and their families. Accept the role changes as functional

rather than intrinsic. The medical, financial, and daily care decisions made by the adult child are for a limited time. A lifetime of being

Daddys girl or Moms beloved son transcends present infirmities. Picture dependence as an extension of trust. An aging adult often feels powerless in so many ways. Looking to the adult child for guidance, the love and trust between parent and child comes full circle. Be honest with the entire family about caregiving responsibilities. Becoming a caregiving home affects the whole family, not just the primary caregiver and care receiver. The most successful caregiving families periodically shift the duties, regularly spend time away from caregiving, maintain outside interests, and find ways to include the care receiver in normal family activities. Balance demands with delights. So much caregiving interaction is repetitious. Take help from telephone psychologist.

Find ways to share time for treats with the care receiver. Pack a picnic lunch for the patio. Watch old movies together. Read aloud the comics or a humorous book. Seek emotional support. Caregiving with no end in sight can be physically and emotionally exhausting. The primary caregiver who sees this role as a ministry may feel too guilty to express the frustration and anger that is being suppressed in the line of duty. Find an appropriate support group where the caregiver has a safe place to verbalize concerns. The primary caregiver may also need individual counseling to deal with any past conflicts or resentments toward the care receiver. Share spiritual connections. As the older adult gains strength from spiritual expressions, so the entire family grows from shared faith. Move the family altar to the care room. Invite the pastor and Christian friends to visit for evening prayer. Sing old hymns. Reminisce about faith-affirming events such as dedication of children, baptisms, and marriages.

Plan a time after breakfast or before dinner when the entire family gathers to pray for one another. Choose whether to be caught in the middle or active within the center. Thinking of yourself as asandwichedâ caregiver reinforces a trapped image. In reality, the primary caregiver is like an air traffic controller, the center of all activities, directing services that sustain the care receiver. Caregiving in the Community of Believers Caregiving is an intense experience. Caregiver and care receiver have to be free to express their deepest concerns to a willing listenerpastor, counselor, friend, or relative. Communication within the caregiving family and with an encouraging church spreads an understanding of how adult children and aging parents find fulfillment and spiritual growth in their final years together.

Epilogue

Georgette Smith won court approval to remove life support. Shirley Egan was at her daughters side. Reports say that with dying breaths, the daughter and mother shared forgiveness. Mrs. Egan was acquitted on August 18, 1999, of attempting to kill her daughter. Her lawyer said that Mrs. Egan was involuntarily intoxicated from prescription drugs and didnt intend to shoot her daughter.

Adult Children, Aging Parents: When Care giving Roles are Reversed

Her daughters grown, 42-yearold Georgette Smith faced a new challenge caring for her disabled mother. Chronic emphysema sapped what little strength remained in the 68-year-old woman’s frail, wheelchair bound body. The care needs were overwhelming. Georgette began to look for relief by checking out a nearby nursing home. On that fateful day, when she overheard Georgette discuss the nursing home with a friend, the mother responded quickly. Suddenly the conversation was frozen in time by a single bullet that severed Georgettes spine and rendered her paralyzed. Shirley Egan shot her daughter because she feared confinement in a nursing home.  Shirley’s new home became the Orange County Jail. The Smith-Egan story is true. Although the circumstances are extreme, it reflects the dilemma adult children face trying to balance the needs of aging parents with other life demands. A survey by the National Alliance for Care giving (NAC) discovered that more than 22.4 million U.S. households (1 in 4) care for an older relative or friend or have given such care within the past year. The value of family care giving exceeds 200 billion dollars.1 Daughters and daughters-in-law are the primary caregivers for older adults, even though many of these middle-aged caregivers still have children or teenagers at home. Care giving concerns are reaching more and more families. Listen to the water-cooler conversation and you are as likely to hear a co-worker seeking adult daycare options as finding after-school programs.

The percentage of Americans over age 65 has tripled. The fastest growing population group is over age 85. As older adults live longer, increased longevity results in greater likelihood of exhausting assets, outliving a spouse, and losing potential for independent living. The high costs of long-term care prompts many families to provide shelter and care giving in the home. The pressures of this economically driven trend toward family care giving has given Baby Boomers a new title: the Sandwich Generation, caught between the demands of children and aging parents.

For Christian Baby Boomers, parenting their parents is more than an economic necessity; its an expression of faith. If we do not provide for our relatives, and especially for our immediate families, we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers (1 Tim. 5:8). Even under the best circumstances, the escalating needs of aging parents and the sacrifices required of adult children present both challenges and blessings.

 

 

 

*Care giving Challenges*

As long as Mother is mentally alert, she wants to stay in her home. Physical problems are the greatest threat to independent living. Approximately five million older adults need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, food preparation, medication, shopping, and money management.2 Giving direct assistance or hiring a care aide along with regular telephone contact and visits may extend Mothers ability to live independently. Don’t most older adults go to nursing homes for care assistance? NO! Only 4% of persons over age 65 receive long-term care in a nursing home. The majority (67%) live in the community with spouse, children, relatives or in assisted living facilities.

The remaining 32% of older adults live alone.3 My wife and I must work five more years to get full retirement benefits, but my father cant stay alone all day. Depending on the level of care, the older adult may participate in community senior programs, attend adult daycare, or require a care aide. A time limited option available to some individuals is the Family and Medical Leave Act (1993), which allows an employee in a company with 50 or more employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave a year to care for a family member without losing job security. Some companies allow flextime to retain experienced workers.

Our home wasn’t built for care giving. How can we make it safe? Many adaptations are simple and inexpensive. For example, rearrange furnishings to make clear paths within and between rooms. Add handrails in the bathroom and hallways. Replace doorknobs with lever handles. Ask your physician to recommend a home evaluation by an occupational therapist for a wealth of safety and mobility enhancement tips.

My husband doesn’t understand the stress I have dealing with menopause,

teenagers, and an aging parent. Care giving families must share the primary caregivers load, so that she also has time to be a wife, mother, and individual. Intergenerational families are most successful when each person has responsibilities in the care process suitable to his or her skills. A teen can read or offer to write letters for a grandparent while the parents go out. The spouse may bring home deli dinner on the night Mom goes to Bible study. Another relative may be called to stay with the older adult when the parents attend the teenagers soccer game. Primary caregivers need time alone and with others to return refreshed for routine care giving duties. I love my Mom, but I’m overwhelmed as a single parent. How can I care for her?

Providing direct care is not always possible. Distance, the need to work, absence of spousal or sibling support, and lack of patience are all reasons to find other care options. Look for the least restrictive care suitable to the needs. Choosing an assisted living facility, maintaining contact with the staff, frequent visits, or hiring a geriatric case manager keeps adult children involved in the care decisions.

 

 

*Care giving Blessings*

 

Scripture speaks the heart cry of older adults: Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone(Ps. 71:9). The bond between an adult child and an aging parent was forged from the crib. Today, that adult child functions as a parent to the aging parent. Few are emotionally prepared for these role changes. Counselors and pastors can show caregivers how to find the blessings in these changes for themselves and their families. Accept the role changes as functional rather than intrinsic. The medical, financial, and daily care decisions made by the adult child are for a limited time. A lifetime of being Daddys girl or Moms beloved son transcends present infirmities. Picture dependence as an extension of trust. An aging adult often feels powerless in so many ways. Looking to the adult child for guidance, the love and trust between parent and child comes full circle. Be honest with the entire family about care giving responsibilities. Becoming a care giving home affects the whole family, not just the primary caregiver and care receiver.

The most successful care giving families periodically shift the duties regularly spend time away from care giving, maintain outside interests, and find ways to include the care receiver in normal family activities. Balance demands with delights. So much care giving interaction is repetitious. Find ways to share time for treats with the care receiver. Pack a picnic lunch for the patio. Watch old movies together. Read aloud the comics or a humorous book. Seek emotional support. Care giving with no end in sight can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

The primary caregiver who sees this role as a ministry may feel too guilty to express the frustration and anger that is being suppressed in the line of duty. Find an appropriate support group where the caregiver has a safe place to verbalize concerns. The primary caregiver may also need individual counseling to deal with any past conflicts or resentments toward the care receiver. Share spiritual connections. As the older adult gains strength from spiritual expressions, so the entire family grows from shared faith.

Move the family altar to the care room. Invite the pastor and Christian friends to visit for evening prayer. Sing old hymns. Reminisce about faith-affirming events such as dedication of children, baptisms, and marriages. Plan a time after breakfast or before dinner when the entire family gathers to pray for one another. Choose whether to be caught in the middle or active within the center. Thinking of yourself as a sandwiched care giver reinforces a trapped image. In reality, the primary caregiver is like an air traffic controller, the center of all activities, directing services that sustain the care receiver. Caregiving in the Community of Believers Care giving is an intense experience. Caregiver and care receiver have to be free to express their deepest concerns to a willing listener pastor, counselor, friend, or relative. Communication within the care giving family and with an encouraging church spreads an understanding of how adult children and aging parents find fulfillment and spiritual growth in their final years together. Christian Counselor is always available to help you out.

*Epilogue*

Georgette Smith won court approval to remove life support. Shirley Egan was at her daughters side. Reports say that with dying breaths, the daughter and mother shared forgiveness. Mrs. Egan was acquitted on August 18, 1999, of attempting to kill her daughter. Her lawyer said that Mrs. Egan was involuntarily intoxicated from prescription drugs and didnt intend to shoot her daughter. Take help from telephone counseling.

Finding Retirement Homes In Tampa Bay

Many retirees are drawn to Florida’s West Coast, specifically the Tampa Bay area. These folks relocate to Florida for its temperate climate and easy living.  Our nation’s baby boomers are coming into their retirement years, and they are a part of this group.  Modern trends are shifting to accommodate the lifestyles and needs of this largest segment of our population and the Tampa Bay area is a perfect example.

Florida’s Tampa Bay area has miles of pristine beaches and beautiful natural landscapes as backdrops for the finest living available for individuals, families, and retirees. Life here can only be described as “Treasured Living.”  The sun, silky-smooth sandy beaches, and the warm waters flowing into Tampa Bay from the Gulf of Mexico will allow you an escape from the ordinary stresses of daily life. The museums, restaurants, theatres, night clubs, recreational activities, and close-knit communities will add color, and vibrancy to your life!

When it comes to retirement, everyone has their own idea of what they want their retired living to look like. Some will want to live in larger, more metropolitan areas filled with lots of constant activity, while others want to get away and slow things down a bit. The type of housing desired, will also vary among individuals from condominium living, to manufactured home parks to large waterfront homes. Another consideration for folks coming into their well-earned retirement years is the opportunity to engage in the activities that they enjoy most such as golfing, fishing, boating, shopping, hobbies, and entertainment. The Tampa Bay area can offer a wide-range of options to ensure that your retirement years are truly “Golden,” as you rightfully deserve.

Consulting with a Tampa Bay Realtor is an excellent way to begin the search for your retirement real estate. These representatives are quite knowledgeable about all of the housing and amenities available throughout the area, and thus, they can be a great help as you decide where you would like to live, and what your retirement will mean to you.

If you enjoy an active lifestyle, you might consider relocating to one of the Tampa Bay’s many vibrant 55+, adult communities. These are tight-knit, mini-cities, made up of other retired people who share in the same desires for maintaining an active lifestyle as you.

Some of the best adult living communities are located within Tampa, Clearwater and surrounding areas. Highland Lakes, On Top of the World, and Imperial Cove, just to name a few, located in beautiful Clearwater Florida, are just minutes from the area’s beaches, and offer its residents a community center to gather together for some fun, as well as plenty of outdoor recreational activities to keep you busy. These senior communities are also conveniently situated to nearby shopping, dining, and entertainment resources. Pool and spas are located on the grounds of most of these properties.

Nearby Pasco County, another Tampa Bay area, offers many 55+ communities which are affordable and sought after.  Some of the most popular ones are Chateau Village, Eagles Point, Wedgwood Village, Summertree, Heritage Lakes, Timber Greens, and Linkside Village. These communities boast fitness centers to help you get into shape, plenty of recreational activities to help you stay fit, a pool and spa for residents to enjoy, community centers, gated-entries for added security, and spectacular landscaping.

If a 55+ community isn’t for you, and you would rather be among families or professional singles, there are plenty of alternative solutions for your perfect retirement destination. Your local Tampa Bay Florida real estate agent is ready to help you find that solution.

Emotional Problems in Later Life: Common issues in late life are retirement, divorce, widowhood, misuse of prescription drugs, suicide, and neglect

Getting old is no fun, the 83 year old told her daughter. Having lost her husband suddenly, the result of an aneurysm nine years earlier and currently recovering from a complicated spinal surgery, she expressed the sentiment of many elderly adults. We have all watched as our parents, grandparents, neighbors, or friends navigate their way through the minefields of aging, hoping to avoid the disruptive effects of physical, mental, and social deterioration. Aging has emerged as an area of concern worldwide. Life expectancy has increased, largely due to advances in medical science, improved health care, and improved nutrition. As a result, the elderly population has rapidly increased, bringing a growing consciousness of this distinct group to society.

The 60+ population increased 50.4% from 1960 to 1980 with projections of 57% from 1980 to 2000, and about 65% from 2000 to 2020.

 

This 60-year span from 1960 to 2020 has a projected increase of 410% while there will be only a 157% increase for the total population.1 The elderly are traditionally characterized in either a positive or a negative light. Some view the elderly as a source of wisdom, and they are respected, exerting influence in their families and in community life. Others see the elderly as dominated by major and irreversible losses, both physical and mental. Each view has demonstrable legitimacy. How individuals perceive old age is greatly influenced by how society as a whole views old age. The contrasting view of Asian cultures as opposed to our societies is evidence of these two views.

The idea that aging can be stressful is a prevalent notion. The aging process can be fraught with an endless list of physical problems that result from both normal and abnormal physiological changes. Physical deterioration is inevitable. Mental deterioration and memory impairment, while frequent in later life, may not be inevitable. Physical and mental problems can be devastating for aging adults and their families. In addition, older adults are faced with changes that constitute significant losses. Numerous adjustments are required of aging adults as they encounter: retirement with its altered daily schedule and economic decline; marital disruptions related to divorce and widowhood; changes in living arrangements; experiences of trauma related to abuse and neglect; confrontations about the misuse of alcohol and prescription drugs; and an inability to deal with the inner turmoil that can lead to suicide. This is not a complete list of problems faced by elders, but it is an indication that there are obstacles in the path of aging adults that impact their remaining years. Christian mental health professionals have the opportunity and obligation to minister to this segment of society and bring a measure of comfort, healing, and blessing.

Retirement

Retirement, in most cases is a onetime event. Retirees reactions to retirement may vary from delight to dread but typically involve moving through stages, according to Atchey.2 These stages are not fixed and are not necessarily experienced in sequence or in total.

1. Pre-retirement stageanticipation of impending separation from

employment.

2. Honeymoon stagea joyful phase of fulfilling old wishes and exploring

new things.

3. Immediate retirement routine stagea phase for those who made advance plans and now can organize their lives into activity patterns.

4. Rest and relaxation stagea time of respite often followed by boredom

and, for some, an attempt to reinstate some of the previous

lifestyle.

5. Disenchantment stagein some cases, this stage can deteriorate into depression.

6. Reorientation stagea search for more realistic and appropriate life

choices.

7. Routine stageselecting and committing to a new set of more satisfying patterns of activities.

8. Termination stageretiree either reenters the work force, becomes involved in new interests, or experiences poor health and chronic impairments that preclude other choices. Retirement can be viewed as an achievement, an accomplishment. The retiree has completed a major phase of life and now can enjoy the fruits of the labor. For those who have developed interests and hobbies, this is a welcomed time of life. But for others, who have lived to work, this may be a time of difficult adjustment. For some, retirement represents more than just a cessation of work. It may represent relinquishing of power, control, and/or authority. The sense of accomplishment is lost as is the security of a daily routine.<!–[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]–><!–[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]–> <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} span.apple-style-span {mso-style-name:apple-style-span; mso-style-unhide:no;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> <!–[if gte mso 10]> <! /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} –> <!–[endif]–> Take help from internet counseing.

For those whose life was their work, there can be a loss of identity. Even in the best of circumstances, retirement requires some adjustment and problems may emerge. Marital problems develop when couples have difficulty adjusting to changes in their roles or to different lifestyles. Most couples have evolved into specific roles and division of labor. Retirement may disrupt this structure. Isolation can result for those whose social life revolved around time spent with co-workers and who never developed a circle of friends outside the workplace. If retirement is accompanied by the decision to sell the marital home and relocate, the adjustment can be more difficult. Moving to another state, away from support systems in the neighborhood, the church, and the community, can result in times of loneliness and isolation. Older adults tend to find comfort and security in familiar surroundings.

Financial concerns are a major issue when facing retirement. Most people have not been able to arrange their retirement income to maintain the same standard of living experienced during the employed years. Incomes are usually fixed and are only a portion of the previous income. Social Security alone is well below poverty level. Adjusting to a reduced income can result in stress and worry about the financial stability of the future. Plans for a wonderful retirement may not be realized. Adjustment to retirement is not automatic. Retirement means change, whether welcomed or dreaded. Counselors can help the process along by being aware of the impact of this major life transition and can facilitate the adjustment by offering realistic suggestions for problem solving. For example, retirees have much to offer, and serving as a volunteer can enhance ones self-image and fulfill the need to be needed.

Late Life Divorce and Widowhood

Marriages are dissolved in two ways: by death or divorce. Either way, the loss is painful. Divorce is a time of crisis and one of lifes most stressful events. It is often compared to the death of ones spouse, especially with regard to the emotional impact and the need to reorganize ones life. Divorce in late life is especially difficult and profoundly affects the quality of life for the elderly. It tears apart a relationship that has existed for many years and forces both parties into new lifestyles that bring changes in every facet of everyday life.

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