The Duties of a Caregiver for the Elderly

Does your elderly loved one need help with daily activities? 

According to aplaceformom.com, there are ten daily responsibilities that caregivers will face:

1. Prepare a care plan
2. Assess your care plan regularly
3. Assess medical needs
4. Monitor medications
5. Assist with basic needs
6. Help with housekeeping
7. Prepare meals
8. Assist with transfer and mobility 
9. Provide transportation
10. Provide companionship

Learn more about the duties of elderly caregiving here. 

Contact Hillside Terrace for Assisted Living in Ann Arbor

Some individuals need more care than others. For many people, excelling at these duties and keeping up with their own life is an incredibly difficult balance. This is one of the reasons that Hillside Terrace strives to create a happy, healthy environment for your aging loved ones.

To inquire about housing your loved one at Hillside Terrace assisted living in Ann Arbor, give us a call at (734) 761-4451 or contact us on our website!

Finding the Right Senior Care Center Can Be a Challenge for LGBTQ Elders

Are you worried about finding the right care?

Are you worried you’ll be singled out for being different?

Are you worried about how you’re going to pay for a senior care center in Ann Arbor or the surrounding areas?

According to SeniorLiving.org, LGBTQ elders face many challenges including:

• “Government social programs such as Social Security and Medicaid do not recognize or support LGBT families.
• Social Security does not pay survivor benefits to same-sex partners.
• Unlike married heterosexual spouses, unmarried partners in lifelong relationships cannot receive Social Security benefits.
• Medicaid does not protect same-sex partners' assets and homes when a spouse enters a long-term care facility.
• Many same-sex partners are denied visitation rights in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
• In some senior living communities, LGBT people are openly discriminated against and/or ostracized.”

Schedule a Tour Today!

We warmly invite you to see the difference we can make when your family shares life with our family. For more information about LGBTQ services and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today!

LGBTQ Elders Are Welcome at Hillside Terrace

At Hillside Terrace, we support LGBTQ elders. We won’t tolerate LGBT elders being bullied at our senior care center in Ann Arbor. 

“We want LGBT seniors to see Hillside as a welcoming place,” says Nanya Litz. “We train our staff to care for everyone who lives at our retirement community. It’s important to understand how LGBT elders feel the way they feel and how we can help them feel comfortable. We want to help them seek any help that they feel that they may need."

Learn more here!

Have Questions About How Hillside Terrace is an All-Inclusive Community?

Know your options for a brighter future. If you have questions about LGBTQ services at Hillside, give us a call at Hillside Terrace today.

How Do You Pick the Right Pet?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “before adopting a new pet, make sure that it is the right one for you. Do some research beforehand about the specific needs of the animal. Ask yourself these questions before getting a pet:

• How long will this animal live?
• What does the pet eat?
• How much exercise does the pet need?
• How large will it become?
• How much will it cost for veterinary care?
• Do I have enough time to properly care for and clean up after the pet?
• What type of habitat does this pet need to be healthy?
• What type of exercise does this pet need?
• Are pets allowed in my house, apartment, or condominium?
• Are there young children, older people, or people with weak immune systems who will care for or be around the pet?”

Make Hillside Terrace Your Home Away from Home! 

We can help give your family peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Hillside Terrace, “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today!

For other floorplan information and assisted living availability, please contact us today at (734) 761-4451.

Dance Your Way to Health!

When’s the last time you got up just to shake it? Wondering if dancing could be the perfect activity for you? Are you looking for ways to get more exercise into your daily routine?

Nobody’s expecting you to be the next great salsa star, but when you start hearing about all the undeniable health benefits of adding a little dancing to your day, you might be ready to try! Even if you think dancing might be too far out of your comfort zone, read on and see if the rewards can sway you to give it a go!

Fitness 

Research shows low impact dancing is a great way to get in shape and that you’re more likely to stick to it compared to other kinds of exercise classes. 

Relaxation

Dancing offers a great outlet for stress, anxiety, and can even help with insomnia. Add a dance class to your weekly routine, and you’ll likely feel the relaxing benefits in no time!

Mobility

Getting into a dancing class or dancing regularly will help reduce chronic stiffness. One study shows that dancing helped reduce the amount of pain medication seniors used. Increased mobility is always good for maintaining independence. 

Cardio

Regular dancing can replace some of the more monotonous cardiovascular activity you might be recommended to do for a healthy heart and lungs. More cha-cha anyone?

Brain Boost

Dancing really is good for the body and brain! When dancing, you challenge yourself to make split-second decisions. This activates your neurons, reduces the risk of dementia, and keeps you sharp.  

Researchers have studied actual dance classes from salsa to waltz, so you can’t go wrong with any kind of dancing you do to improve your health! Be sure to discuss with your doctor before engaging in a new fitness routine. 

If you have more questions about the health benefits of dancing for seniors or questions about assisted living in Ann Arbor, give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace Senior Living, our family shares life with yours.

6 Tips to Keep Your Loved One Safe at Home!

Are you worried about your parent’s safety?

Does your parent suffer from any medical conditions where safety is a major concern for their well-being?

Are you looking for ways to improve their safety at home?

According to A Place For Mom, there are some simple areas to focus on to make your home safer for your elderly parent, like:
1.    Let the light in-Install motion sensor lighting throughout their home where extra light is needed.
2.    Easy access to doors and window for seniors with arthritis-A lever style door handle may be easier to use than a round one.
3.    Restrict access to doors, windows and dangerous zone for seniors with dementia-child-locks and other child proofing products work well for this purpose.
4.    Assist with mobility- Remove tripping hazards like rugs (and if you have small children, keep the ground as toy-free as possible or establish a senior-free toy zone.)
5.    Make it easy to call for help-Consider using a call-assist service or personal emergency response system like Life Alert that your parent can wear around their neck or wrist and push a button should they need help.
6.    Use at-home safety devices- There are a number of different products out there designed to keep seniors safe like Pocketfinder GPS, GrandCare Systems, Impactactive Hip Protectors, etc.

Hillside Terrace Senior Living offers senior living services in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. Trust is an important factor when placing your family member under someone else’s care. We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!”

Looking For More?

For more information about our senior living services in Ann Arbor, call us today, or fill out our contact form here! We’re focused on holistically improving and maintaining the well-being of our residents through promoting independence, a stimulating environment, and building rapport. Schedule a tour with us today!

8 Ways to Prevent Medication Mistakes by Being Proactive with Your Parents’ Care!

Do your parents take multiple prescription drugs?

Are your parents able to remember when to take their medications?

Are your parents forgetful?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), “Nearly one-third of adults take five or more different medications. Given the volume of medications being taken, medication-related injuries may seem inevitable; however, injuries due to errors in medication prescribing, dispensing and administration are preventable.”

Taking medications properly is important to the health and well-being of your parent. If prescription drugs are not taken as prescribed by your parents’ doctors, they could suffer from complications.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services advises that the best way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your parents’ health care team by doing the following:

1.    Making sure that your parents’ doctors know about every medicine they’re taking.
2.    Bringing all of their medicine and supplements to their doctor appointments.
3.    Asking for more information on your parents’ medicines in terms you can understand.
4.    Making sure their doctor is aware of their allergies.
5.    If you have questions about the directions on your parents’ medicines labels, ask!
6.    Asking for written information about the side effects your parents’ medicine could cause.
7.    Speaking up if you have questions or concerns about your parents’ care.
8.    When they’re discharged from the hospital after a surgery, ask their doctor to explain their treatment plan you should follow at home.

Senior Care Centers in Ann Arbor: Make Hillside Terrace Your Parents’ Home Away From Home!

Nestled in the heart of the Old West Side on 10 acres of orchard and gardens, Hillside Terrace offers a diverse combination of residents that will quickly become members of your loved one’s family. 

Our "Aging by Choice" philosophy allows a flexibility of options for our residents and their families; you choose what is best for you, and we make it possible. We’re confident in our ability to provide the best quality of care, the security, and the family atmosphere that you’re seeking! We warmly invite you to see the difference we can make when your family shares life with our family. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today – a senior care center in Ann Arbor.

9 Ways to Introduce Assisted Living to Your Parents

Are your parents independent?

Are you worried about your parents getting older?

Are you dreading the discussion of assisted living with your parents?

According to a study conducted by Genworth Financial, “nearly 7 out of 10 Americans over age 65 will need long-term care, more than half of all respondents (55%) reported that their greatest fear regarding a long-term care illness or event was being a burden on their family. In fact, they reported being five times more concerned about being a burden than dying.”

Does your loved one still refuse proper care? Discussing moving your parent into a senior care center in Ann Arbor can be a scary thing for any adult to face. However, it’s the scary reality of so many in this country.

Care.com suggests nine strategies to help you overcome your parents’ objections of moving into a senior care center:

1. Start early: Be open to the discussion of assisted living and caregiving later on in life.
2. Be patient: Ask open-ended questions and give your loved one time to answer.
3. Probe deeply: Ask questions to determine why your parent refuses help –then you can tailor a solution.
4. Offer options: Let your parent choose certain days of the week or times of day to have a home health aide come. Emphasize that an aide will be his or her companion for walks, concerts, museum visits and other favorite activities.
5. Recruit outsiders early: Don’t hesitate to ask your parent’s social worker, doctor, nurse, priest or minister to suggest to your parent that they need help.
6. Prioritize problems: Writing them down and numbering by priority can relive a lot of stress.
7. Use indirect approaches: Don’t explain every aspect of care the aide will provide before the relationship has been formed. This may make your loved one feel less threatened.
8. Take it slow: Weave a new aide in gradually.
9. Accept your limits: As long as seniors are not endangering themselves or others, let your parents’ make their own choices.

Best Senior Care Center in Ann Arbor: Schedule a Tour Today!

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!”