Category: News

Taking simple precautions to avoid overheating or becoming dehydrated is especially important for older adults. As we age, our sense of thirst diminishes and our bodies naturally hold less water. Follow these sun safety and hydration tips to help stay cool this summer.

Tip #1

The best times of the day for outdoor activities in the summer are early morning and evening. Avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day, usually noon until the sun sets. If you are outdoors when temperatures soar, be sure to wear sunscreen on exposed skin, a wide-brimmed hat to shade your eyes and neck and try to stay in the shade as much as possible.

Tip #2

Taking frequent breaks to replenish fluids is important for avoiding dehydration and overheating in the hottest months of the year. Don’t rely on your thirst to alert you to take a drink, try to get in the habit of doing so a few times every hour, especially when you‘re active outdoors.

Tip #3

Staying cool and hydrated does not mean drinking gallons of water. All beverages, except alcohol, count towards your daily fluid intake. Add sparkling water to your apple juice for a refreshing zing and dress up water with a slice of lemon, cucumber, or frozen berries to be more appealing and encourage regular sipping.

Tip #4

Drink up in style by putting your iced latte or sports drink in a stylish colorful water bottle. Insulated water bottles and tumblers keep beverages cool and ice cubes intact longer so you can enjoy every drop.

Tip #5

You can eat to stay cool and hydrated too. Many fruits and vegetables have a heavy water content, like celery, lettuce, cucumbers, oranges and tomatoes. Snacking on watermelon, grapes and kiwis is a healthy and delicious way to maintain optimum hydration levels.

Keeping Cool at Jackson Creek

Healthy, hydrating fruits and vegetables are always on the menu at Jackson Creek Senior Living, and residents have a variety of refreshing beverages like iced tea, juice and milk to choose from. Our numerous community indoor spaces are comfortably cooled to relax during peak hours, there are shaded areas to safely enjoy outdoor activities and every apartment has an individually controlled cooling system.

Ready to start planning your cool new retirement lifestyle? Call us at 719-259-1331 to learn more about our independent and assisted living and memory support services for those 62+.

Are you facing the challenges of caring for a loved one living with memory loss? Whether you’re a family member, friend, spouse, or professional caregiver, navigating the complexities of dementia care can feel overwhelming at times. The good news is, you’re not alone on this journey. That’s why the memory support care team at Jackson Creek Senior Living has curated a collection of recommended books on Alzheimer’s and dementia care, featuring experts and acclaimed authors, that offer valuable insights, practical advice, and emotional support for caregivers like you.

Visit our Resources Portal to learn more and download your free copy of our reading list today.

DOWNLOAD NOW →

As loved ones age, it’s natural to consider alternative living arrangements to enhance their quality of life. Many seniors and families start this process by researching assisted living communities. But what exactly is assisted living, when is it time to consider this option, and what are the benefits?

Assisted living is a type of residential care that provides support for seniors who need help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, medication management, or preparing meals. Seniors who receive this level of care can communicate their needs but don’t require the intensive and round-the-clock medical care often provided in nursing homes.

This living option emphasizes autonomy and fosters independence while providing extra peace of mind for residents and families who know that additional assistance and personalized care are available if, and when, it’s needed.

Seniors and families should consider assisted living when several factors become apparent: an individual needs help with activities of daily living; the risk of falls increases; health challenges; cognitive decline; and importantly, social isolation.

If your friend or family member encounters difficulties with activities such as personal hygiene or meal preparation, it could indicate that an assisted living community might provide the assistance they require. Many assisted living communities offer restaurant-style dining and chef-prepared meals to ensure residents receive proper nutrition without the hassles of shopping and cooking.

Safety is always a concern for seniors who are prone to falls and other injuries. In assisted living communities, residents may have an emergency call device like a pendant as well as call buttons in their apartments and daily check-ins from team members to ensure they are generally in good health.

If your loved one’s health or cognitive function has declined, they may require more assistance than you can provide at home. Many assisted living communities offer different levels of care and memory support services for those living with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.

Depression and social isolation are common for seniors who live alone. Study after study highlights that being around others and socializing at some level is imperative to a senior’s health and well-being. Assisted living communities offer an array of activities and opportunities for residents to socialize and engage like painting, playing board games, going to live musical performances, daily exercise, and educational forums.

If your loved one is beginning to exhibit signs that they require additional care, assisted living could provide the necessary support within a stimulating and autonomous setting. By researching assisted living communities now, you’ll ensure your loved one has options to age well, even if their needs change. It’s much less disruptive to get additional support in the environment you live in than to move later in life.

Your Senior Care Partner

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, we help families find the best living situation to meet their loved one’s needs. Call 719-259-1331 or contact us online if you have questions about assisted living or would like to schedule a personalized tour.

Our Memory Support Neighborhood is designed specifically for residents living with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other memory loss conditions. We provide a comfortable, secure, home-like environment featuring outdoor courtyards that offer fresh air, walking space and sunshine and tie in with a community room and dedicated dining area. As a community familiar with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory support conditions, we talk to families regularly about their options. Our goal is always to be a resource for families as they explore their options in supporting a loved one.

Based on the comments we receive we’ve organized 10 questions you should ask when looking for memory support for your loved one.

1. How large is the community?

Memory support communities range from hundreds of apartments and residents to smaller boutique communities with 100 or less people and every size in between. Be sure to find out:

• How many resident apartments are there?
• What size are the apartments?
• Are there private and/or companion residences?
• What are the indoor spaces like? Is there an activities room, fitness and wellness center and plenty of community gathering places?
• What type of outdoor spaces are there? Are they secure?

2. Who is the leadership team?

The leadership team ensures the community is safe and clean, offers plenty of opportunities for socialization and that residents are well-looked after. Meet with the leadership team and members in the memory support segment of the community you are considering to get a sense of their philosophy of care and how they interact with residents and their family members.

3. What is the staff like?

Memory support communities have specially trained personnel and are often staffed with a Resident Care Director who oversees the care team and residents’ health needs. It is important to know what level of care can be provided to your loved one in the community and how outside care is managed.

4. How do team members interact with residents?

Observe how a community’s team members interact with residents. If possible, speak to family members of a current resident to find out how they interact with the caregivers. You should feel very comfortable with the care team and have a good relationship with them.

5. What kind of training do the caregivers have?

People living with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia require specially trained caregivers who understand the signs and symptoms of both. They should have experience caring for those with dementia and be capable of managing any situation, no matter how unpredictable. People living with dementia often experience extreme anxiety and confusion, may be prone to angry outbursts or try to leave the community alone, and require caregivers who are prepared to calmly redirect that energy and address these issues.

6. What is the dining program like?

Memory support communities typically offer three meals a day with snacks available in between. Ask to see a sample menu. Visit the dining room, inspect the food that is being served and inquire if special diets can be accommodated. Also ask where the food is sourced from and what percentage of it is served from fresh, not frozen.

7. What does a day look like and what activities are offered?

Many studies show people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s greatly benefit from specialized life enrichment activities like creating memory books, taking art or music classes, or attending fitness classes. Ask what kinds of activities are scheduled and who supervises them. And importantly, see how the team will accommodate the interests of your family member into the daily routine.

8. What is included in the monthly cost?

Always find out what is included in the standard monthly fee. All meals, comprehensive resident care, assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, maintenance, housekeeping, laundry services and community activities should be included.

9. What additional costs are there?

Be sure to ask what is not included with the base monthly apartment rates and what are typical extra expenses like community living fees and incontinence programs. This is important for creating a realistic budget for your loved one’s care.

10. Does the community offer care options?

As we age, our needs change. Some communities offer just independent living, others just assisted living, and others just memory support. It’s nice to know when you research a community that it has options for you or your loved ones if health needs change. It’s much less disruptive to get additional support and care in the environment you live in than to move later in life.

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, we help families find the best living situation to meet their loved one’s needs. Call 719-259-1331 or schedule a personalized tour online and come meet our team.

When looking for a memory support community that meets the needs of your loved one who is living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory loss, the best possible place for them to be is in a community where they will have the proper support and care necessary to maintain a high quality of life even as their cognitive issues progress.

Research has shown that residents in memory support communities experience a multitude of benefits. They generally take less medication, have a reduced risk of falls and injuries, have improved wellness and nutrition, enjoy more independence and socialization, and visit the hospital less often.

Here are five important factors to consider when searching for the right memory support community and program for your loved one:

1. Staffing

It’s important to ask yourself whether the team in the community you’re evaluating appears to be knowledgeable and caring. Find out their level of training and experience and whether any team members are certified dementia care managers. Another important factor to consider is the staff-to-resident ratio, both during the day and at night. At communities like Jackson Creek Senior Living, team members are trained in compassionate, person-centered care and on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2. Safety

Six out of 10 people living with Alzheimer’s have the tendency to wander, so it’s a good idea to find out if the memory support community you’re considering has safeguards and electronic safety features against residents leaving the premises. Some communities are equipped with a wander alert system, while others implement access-controlled, video-monitored entry or emergency call systems and pendants in resident apartments.

3. Services

Think about what level of care your loved one needs, from basic services like meal prep and laundry to specialized medical care and assistance with activities of daily living. Find out a community’s standard procedures for medical emergencies, especially if your loved one has underlying conditions. You may also want to ask what kinds of therapies the community offers, such as pet, music, reminiscence, light, art, or another type of specialized therapy.

4. Levels of Care

Other important information to gather is whether the community’s Health and Wellness Director and memory support team develop an individual care plan for residents upon moving in, and how residents are engaged by team members with verbal queues and prompting. If necessary, ask whether the community can care for residents who exhibit disruptive behavior. If your loved one is not quite ready for memory support, you can also ask whether they have an assisted living to Alzheimer’s support bridge program for early-stage residents.

5. Amenities

Finally, determine what the living arrangements are in the community you are considering: are there memory support neighborhoods? Are the apartments arranged around shared common areas like a homelike living room or dedicated activities space? At Jackson Creek, we offer a memory support dining program and two outdoor courtyards to encourage movement and fresh air. Other services include wellness and life enrichment programs, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and laundry services, and scheduled transportation.

Before deciding, determine your loved one’s personal needs and then evaluate the memory support program and community as much as possible: schedule a tour, read online reviews, talk to residents, families, and team members, and most importantly, ask questions!

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, we help families find the best living situation to meet their loved one’s needs. Call  719-259-1331 or visit jacksoncreekseniorliving.com if you have questions about memory support or would like to schedule a personalized tour.

Do you or a loved one need help with activities of daily living as you age? Does a spouse or friend need help because their memory is declining? When you begin your search for long-term care for an aging loved one, knowing the difference between assisted living and memory support is important. While some of the services are the same, there are several differences in the level of care provided.

What Does Assisted Living Mean?

Seniors in an assisted living community typically need help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, incontinence management, medication management, and mobility. While they require help with some of these tasks their reasoning skills are still intact, and they can communicate their needs.

What Does Memory Support Mean?

Memory support residents also require assistance with activities of daily living but to a higher and more personalized level. Seniors experiencing memory loss may forget how to turn off a faucet or burner, or even how to navigate to and from their apartment. They often cannot clearly articulate their needs which can lead to frustration. Memory support team members have special training to enhance engagement and communication with residents so they can be successful and still maintain purpose in a community.

Safety

Safety is always a concern for seniors who are prone to falls and other injuries. In assisted living, residents have call buttons in their apartments and daily check-ins to ensure they are generally in good health. Some residents may have pendants for emergency help as needed.

Residents in memory support need more personalized and enhanced security services to keep them from wandering from the community, which typically includes keypad access for team members and visitors to enter and leave the memory support neighborhood. Memory support communities are often designed to minimize confusion with plenty of open space for walking and movement, color-coded walls and personalized shadow boxes to help residents navigate the building, and lots of signage.

Socialization and Activities

Assisted living communities offer lots of fun activities and opportunities for residents to socialize and engage like painting, playing board games, going to live musical performances, daily exercise, and educational forums.

Memory support residents have access to most of the same socialization opportunities, but with more personalization to ensure they are meaningful and purposeful. Special activities may be scheduled for these residents that have been shown to help slow cognitive decline, reduce falls, and decrease the use of some medications, and are done with the support of trained team members.

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, we help families find the best living situation to meet their loved one’s needs. Call 719-259-1331 or visit jacksoncreekseniorliving.com if you have questions about assisted living or memory support or would like to schedule a personalized tour.

Visit most senior living communities, and you will see plenty of women. Some industry estimates suggest the gender ratio in senior living is 70% female to 30% male. Experts document several reasons for the disparity, including women tend to live longer, men often foster self-sufficiency and tend to live alone longer, and, sometimes, they just aren’t comfortable that 90% of the staff in senior living is female. 

But some senior living communities, such as Jackson Creek Senior Living in Monument, Colorado, are making a concerted effort to make men comfortable choosing senior living, and it’s paying off. To foster a welcoming environment for men at Jackson Creek, the community incorporated many amenities and activities geared to making men more comfortable, and the community has tapped into the extensive local veteran population to let them know they are respected and welcome at the veteran-proud community.

Amenities Catered to Male Interests

When developing Jackson Creek, owners focused on creating a facility and environment that catered to all genders. Several of the amenities incorporated at Jackson Creek specifically geared to appeal to men in senior living include:

• Raised gardening beds: Tending to plants provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
• Outdoor putting green: Golf enthusiasts can practice their putting skills and enjoy a recreational activity they love within the community.
• Exercise and therapy spaces: With a wide range of equipment, male residents can maintain physical health or recover from any ailment or injury.
• Theater: Watching sports events or classic movies on the big screen provides entertainment and a sense of community during screenings.
• Library: Men who enjoy reading or engaging in intellectual pursuits find solace and enrichment in a well-stocked library.
• Game room: Activities like cards or other games offer a social outlet while fostering friendly competition.
• Basic cable with 140 channels/Wi-Fi: Access to entertainment through TV and Wi-Fi for those who enjoy staying updated on current events or indulging in their favorite shows.

Activities That Create Connections for Men in Senior Living

• Veterans Appreciation Activities: Jackson Creek is just miles from Colorado Springs and home to several military installations, including Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, and the prestigious United States Air Force Academy. Hosting events for veterans has made many of the community’s veterans feel at home.
• Car Shows & Automobile Exhibitions: Yearly, the community hosts events that showcase classic cars for resident auto enthusiasts.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Talks: Discussions to connect veterans create understanding and support.
• Adventurous Initiatives like Dream Flights: Thrilling airborne adventures for those seeking unique experiences.
• Sports Discussions and Competitions: From cornhole to bingo nights and even Wii tournaments, Jackson Creek offers an array of competitive games.
• Ice Cream Socials: Regular events, especially when welcoming new residents, help create fast friendships.

Create Lasting Connections

These amenities and activities geared to men in senior living serve as catalysts for forging new friendships among our male residents. It’s about going beyond just passing time—we want to create avenues for genuine connections, shared enjoyment, and mutual support. 

For families seeking communities that prioritize their male family members’ interests, communities offering a range of activities and groups tailored for men can be invaluable. By embracing a multifaceted approach to engagement and fun, communities ensure that every male resident feels celebrated and valued for their unique interests.

Life Enrichment at Jackson Creek

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, our goal is to enhance the lives of individuals aged 62-plus with exceptional residences, programs, services, and amenities in one of Colorado’s most picturesque settings. Dedicated to helping seniors live well and age well, we create a warm, inviting atmosphere where residents live on their terms with peace of mind knowing additional assistance and care are available.

If you have questions or are looking for the perfect community for your father or loved one, contact the team at Jackson Creek Senior Living at 719-259-1331. We’re here to support you in times of transition.