News Archives - Page 6 of 11 - Jackson Creek Senior Living

When it comes time to talk with a loved one about assisted living the way you go about it will determine if the conversation goes well. Downsizing from a house full of memories, leaving a familiar neighborhood, fearing the loss of autonomy and control of their lives can make many seniors hesitant to even discuss the subject. Allowing them to voice their concerns rather than being dismissive of them and being a good listener when you bring up the topic will help make it a positive conversation.

Getting the Conversation Started

It’s best to broach the subject of assisted living well before your loved ones need it. Try mentioning it in casual conversation by asking if they have thought about it or are considering it for the future. Ask open-ended questions and really listen to what your loved one has to say about how they see their lives in the next two, five or ten years.

Don’t be surprised if the first attempt at discussing assisted living is rebuffed and even met with resentment. If that is the case, drop the subject and give it time before you bring it up again. An opportunity may prevent itself to restart the conversation if your mom falls and sprains her wrist or your dad complains about the endless chores involved with maintaining the house.

Unless your senior loved one’s situation is urgent keep in mind the old saying, “patience is a virtue” and don’t press them into talking about or making a big life decision like moving into assisted living if it will cause hurt feelings or anger.

Have Some Prepared Responses

When your loved one is ready to talk about assisted living have some prepared responses if they express doubts about their finances, losing their independence, or leaving a familiar place.

Offer to go with them to speak with a financial adviser who specializes in helping seniors prepare for the transition to assisted living. Having a professional lay it out for them will be helpful in their decision-making process.

If they are worried about losing their freedom point out how liberating it will be to not have constant home-upkeep to manage or endless lists of chores for cooking and cleaning. Muse with them about how they can use their free time to pursue their hobbies, try new things and focus on doing the things they enjoy instead. Remind them they deserve to be unburdened by heavy responsibilities and focus on what they really like to do.

If they are worried about leaving a familiar place offer to join them on a tour of Jackson Creek Senior Living so they can see what the living accommodations look like, all that our menu has to offer and the fun activities we have scheduled like our small group fitness classes on Wednesdays, arts and crafts on Thursdays, and our Saturday matinee movie. These scheduled activities will give them an opportunity to meet and talk to residents already living and thriving here.

Keep It Positive

Always emphasize the positive when it comes to their decision regarding assisted living. Offer support and be a sympathetic listener as they work through their concerns about it. Keep reminding them it’s their turn to focus on having fun pursuing their hobbies and interests with new friends and experience the things they’ve never had time for.

If you would like to learn more about assisted living or memory support, we’re here for you as a resource and glad to answer your questions. You can schedule a personalized tour online or call us at 719-259-1331 and let your loved ones see for themselves all our community has to offer.

Visit Jackson Creek Senior Living at 16601 Jackson Creek Parkway, Monument, CO 80132.

For over half a century, researchers have focused on the importance of community and a sense of belonging as factors boosting human health. Social connections are essential for health and well-being at all ages, but experts have found they are especially important for promoting health in later life. In a bad news, good news situation, we can’t avoid declines in physical, sensory, and cognitive function as we age. That’s the bad news. On the flip side, social functioning remains malleable and can expand as we age – in other words, social connections in later life are strengths that can boost mental health and well-being.

Why do social connections matter? The list is long, including disease prevention, fewer physical health problems, longevity, improved cognitive function, better self-esteem, purpose in life, and a sense of belonging—especially powerful for older adults.

It turns out, people who are confident with their place in the world are less likely to question their faith and beliefs, providing stronger spiritual health. This sense of belonging is so important that seniors who have that sense report their health as higher than those who have a lower sense of community—regardless of their actual state of health.

Over the last two years, the pandemic has reminded those of us in senior living how important social connections—and being part of a community—are to well-being. Even when we had to stay “socially distant,” the residents in our community remained connected, even if just to open the apartment door and participate in a sing-along, visit with team members throughout the day, or connect with family and friends via Zoom, Skype or Facetime, which we helped to facilitate.

As things “open up” again and people return for tours, we have heard the same thing from many of our prospective residents and their families – being home alone just wasn’t working. The National Institute on Aging estimates three out of 10 American seniors live alone, and the pandemic left many too isolated and without social connection.

Seniors Staying Connected

Yes, we agree that social connections are important. Even the American Public Health Association highlights that socialization improves mood, cognition, memory recall, and is associated with healthy behaviors, including exercise. But as we age it can be more challenging as friends and family may pass away, physical limitations make it harder to get out and visit, and busy families are often caught up in their own lives. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to connect with others socially, but older adults have to be proactive in seeking out these opportunities. Here are some ideas for seniors:

Exercise classes and walking groups
Happy hours and group outings
Regular phone calls and video conferences with friends and family
Bingo or card games
Billiards, darts and other parlor games
Fitness and other health classes
Attending lectures at senior living communities (usually free!)
Join a support group
Organize a coffee group to talk sports, current events, or knitting, whatever feeds your fancy

As a WellAge Senior Living community, Jackson Creek Senior Living spends a lot of time and energy coordinating events, clubs, and activities for residents living with us. Residents can decide what they want to partake in, but the bottom line is they have choices to connect socially. Even the introverts who enjoy a good book in their suite for most of the day love to see their neighbors at dinner. We have dedicated team members whose job is to organize the social events – and get folks involved. If you’d like to learn more, give us a call as we like to think of ourselves as a resource to local seniors and families.

Considering a move to senior living for yourself or a loved one? Call 719-259-1331 or contact us online to learn more about our studio and one-bedroom apartments and how moving to Jackson Creek Senior Living offers seniors access to a built-in community of friends.

One of the best ways for older adults to improve their physical health, mental well-being and overall happiness is by socializing and making new friends. Studies show friendships and socialization benefit older adults’ health in a variety of specific ways, including:

A longer lifespan

Friendships can play an important role in helping seniors live longer. Having close social ties can strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Motivating healthy habits

A good friend can also be a good influence! Friends can help encourage one another to stick to healthy habits, maintain an active lifestyle and keep an eye on each other’s mental and physical well-being.

Fighting loneliness and depression

Studies show that loneliness is a leading cause of depression in older adults. Avoiding isolation, getting involved in social activities and pursuing friendships can play a positive role in helping seniors maintain the connections necessary for good mental health.

Protecting cognitive health

Neuroplasticity means that, throughout a lifetime, the brain can continue changing, reorganizing and creating new neural pathways. The social interaction associated with new friendships helps to change the brain, strengthen memory and improve cognition.

When it comes to building a social circle, life in a senior living community improves the chance of making friends and meeting new people. Residents need only walk outside their apartment door to feel like part of a close-knit community — and to encounter opportunities to meet people. In this way, senior living communities offer so much more than just a place to live and find help when and if it’s needed — they’re places where residents can make connections, explore activities, and share experiences.

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, not only do residents have a healthy community of peers to connect with — they also have a wealth of resources at their fingertips: the community team members support their health and fitness goals, the life enrichment director organizes engaging social, cultural and educational activities, and the wellness director oversees their personal wellness plan. Residents also have access to a range of quality amenities and services, including a fitness center, a putting green, an onsite Chef to prepare healthy meals, exercise classes in-room through JCTV, a garden and outdoor patio for sunlight and socializing.

If you are looking to “rightsize” your retirement, moving to a senior living community offers benefits you just can’t get if your only focus is finding an apartment with maximum square footage.

In her book RightSizing: A Smart Living Guide to Reinventing Retirement, Kathy Gottberg defines “rightsizing” as “the conscious choice to create a life and a lifestyle that more sustainably aligns with your unique self in the best possible way at every stage.” In essence, you can create a more fulfilling life by making changes to align your lifestyle — the way you spend your time, energy and money — with your highest priorities and values.

Many senior living communities offer studio and one-bedroom apartments. For many older adults, this offers plenty of space to personalize yet still access what they came to the community for in the first place – opportunities for socialization and caring support. Although it may seem counterintuitive, downsizing to a smaller space can actually help seniors lead a more fulfilling, “upsized” lifestyle that offers myriad benefits, including:

More free time. Home upkeep can be stressful and costly, but senior living apartments offer a more streamlined space that is easier to clean and maintain, giving residents more time to spend however they like. Seniors seeking an active lifestyle will benefit from a community’s on-site health and wellness programs, while those who prioritize friendship will appreciate the social aspects of joining a community. Seniors looking to spend more time on their personal hobbies will enjoy having access to activities, clubs, classes, lectures and events designed to satisfy many interests.
More practical space. Apartments at senior living communities feature just the right amount of space for residents to choose the furniture and decor that means the most to them. A rightsized space also helps seniors to physically navigate a space more easily, while the streamlined aesthetics of the new space can help reduce stress. Move-in coordinators can help ease the relocation process by providing a detailed floor plan with measurements to help seniors visualize how to decorate their new home.
Supportive care services. At senior living communities, residents have access to a range of health care and healthcare tools if, and when, they need it, including fitness equipment, a personalized care plan, and healthcare services. These benefits can be especially helpful for senior homeowners who find it too costly to hire a home health aide, or who would simply like the peace of mind access to 24/7 care can provide.
Choose how you live. At communities like ours, residents spend most of their time at activities, gathering with friends in common areas, dining venues and venturing out into the community at large. While they can engage with their neighbors when they choose to, residents also have the option to retreat to their private residence for some quiet time. One resident recently told us, “I enjoy my apartment so I can relax, but if I want company, I simply have to open my door and catch up with someone walking by. Or I can venture out to find others. I have everything I need here.”

By rightsizing to a smaller space, seniors who sell their home and move to a senior lifestyle community get so much more than just an apartment. Communities like Jackson Creek Senior Living provide welcoming common spaces for residents to gather with friends, spacious dining venues to share meals and conversation, a robust schedule of social, cultural and educational activities, and more. With all this at their fingertips, residents come to see that living space size is just a portion of the equation for happiness and that sometimes smaller is better.

Considering a move for yourself or a loved one? Call 719-259-1331 or contact us online to learn more about our studio and one-bedroom residences and how Jackson Creek Senior Living can help to “rightsize” your retirement.

In December 2018, more than 300 people attended an exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony at the grand opening of Jackson Creek Senior Living that included remarks by the owners, Rob Oldach and John Raycraft, as well as Jay Moskowitz and John Brammeier of WellAge Senior Living, and Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Terri Hayes, among others.

Three years later, Jackson Creek is thriving, with more than 120 senior residents supported by a dedicated team of caregivers. The senior living community, which offers independent living, assisted living and memory support, was designed to meet the growing need for senior housing and health care in northern El Paso County. The owners and the WellAge leadership team shared a vision for senior living in Monument that would be unique to the local community and not a template reproduced in other markets. Their shared vision has since become a reality, to the benefit of the residents and team members.

To commemorate Jackson Creek’s anniversary, community team members coordinated a simple but special way to recognize and celebrate the occasion, three years after the grand opening date. Since the event falls in the middle of the holidays, a festive flair was added. The Colorado Dickens Carolers returned to perform once again, and our Life Enrichment Director put together a heartwarming 3-Year Anniversary video compilation of residents and team members sharing short messages of thanks.

We are so grateful for all our wonderful residents, families and referral network members who have supported Jackson Creek Senior Living these past three years, and to our team members who continue to work hard to maintain quality programs and services designed to enhance the lives of our residents.

Just a short drive from historic downtown Monument, Jackson Creek is located near restaurants, grocery stores, medical services and shopping, and is home to abundant amenities including three separate dining venues, housekeeping and laundry services, wellness programs and social activities, nursing staff scheduled 24/7, a fitness center and therapy space, courtyards and gardens, as well as advanced technologies that have kept our residents safe, secure and connected during the pandemic.

To learn more about Jackson Creek Senior Living, call Sales and Marketing Director Laura Hale at 719-725-6060, or visit our website to schedule your private tour.

The holidays are fast approaching, which provides an opportunity to ensure a loved one’s health and safety, and to check on the potential need for additional assistance or care. Visiting with your parents and elderly loved ones at family gatherings or in their homes, allows time to observe their physical and emotional well-being. Take time to examine the cleanliness and condition of their residence and make note of unopened stacks of mail, or expired foods in their refrigerator or pantry. These are all signs that it could be time for a discussion about assisted living and how it might be necessary and helpful for your loved one.

We understand that moving to a senior living community can be emotionally and physically difficult for everyone. When the time comes, Jackson Creek Senior Living has a caring team in place to help ensure your loved one’s move goes smoothly. To reduce some of the uncertainty, we’ve prepared a moving timeline to help with the transition. Before you know it, they will be settled into their new apartment, enjoying a maintenance-free lifestyle, nutritious meals, experiencing 24/7 access to care and assistance with daily tasks, participating in activities, and meeting new people.

Two months before moving: Ask friends or family to help pare down and pack your loved one’s belongings. Downsizing is a wonderful time to reminisce and share stories about their life. Decide what items to bring and which to donate or discard. If you prefer to hire professionals, look for businesses that specialize in later life moves. Visit the National Association of Senior Move Managers’ website for resources in your area.
Six weeks before: Give family members a deadline to pick up any personal belongings they may have stored at your loved one’s home. Schedule a moving sale or donation pick-up if needed. Change their mailing address and work together to notify their doctors, service providers and utility companies about the move.
One month before: Once your loved one has selected their new apartment, reach out to the community’s sales team to request a detailed floor plan with measurements. This can help to visualize how much space they’ll have to fill, think about what furniture to take, and consider how to decorate their new home.
One week before: Make sure all their important documents are in hand, including their will, power of attorneys, medical records, military records, diplomas, birth certificates, and passports. Pack an essentials bag with a change of clothes, pajamas, medication and toiletries, just in case they don’t get everything unpacked the first night.
One day before: Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is sure to be an exciting day!

Jackson Creek has assisted living studios, one- and two-bedroom residences available. Services and care plans are tailored to residents’ interests and needs, with an emphasis on resident-centered wellness programs that engage the social, spiritual and physical components of a fulfilling lifestyle.

Are you or someone you love considering making the move to assisted living? Call 719-259-1331 or visit the Jackson Creek website to find out how our senior living community provides everything you need to live well and age well.

This Veterans Day, local TV station Fox 21 News visited Jackson Creek Senior Living to hear the war memories of 104-year-old memory support resident Earl Depner, one of the Pikes Peak region’s oldest living veterans.

Earl, who turned 104 on Nov. 12, joined the Army Air Corps at age 24 following the Pearl Harbor attacks. In 1945, his fighter plane got shot down over France. He parachuted out as he crashed to earth and landed in territory recently occupied by the Germans. Luckily, an American found him and he survived the harrowing experience with seven broken ribs.

In all, Earl ended up flying around 100 missions in P-51 fighters during World War II and went on to fly one mission in the Korean War. He received the Purple Heart for his service and remained in the Army Air Corps for 24 years before retiring as a Colonel in 1965.

Earl was previously profiled along with four of his fellow Jackson Creek resident veterans in The Gazette’s 2019 podcast series “Last of the Greatest.” One of Earl’s two sons, George Depner, was at the community on Veterans Day to help his father tell his story. “It is nice to know that he still remembers that stuff and still recognizes as much as he can,” said George.

“I feel fairly lively for 104,” added Earl, who celebrated his 104th birthday by Zooming with his six grandchildren. “I never expected to live this long! I’ve got so many memories I can’t remember them all.”

Watch the video from Fox 21 to hear more about Earl’s wartime experiences.

As we approach the Veterans Day holiday, observed annually on November 11, let us be mindful of how we can show our thanks and appreciation to the military veterans who served in the armed forces to protect our country. Veterans in general, but especially senior veterans, offer so much value beyond heroic service and personal sacrifices they made for our country. Their stories offer perspective, their demeanors teach us respect, and their service and duty demonstrate what it means to be an honorable American sacrificing much, for the good of many.

Whether they fought in World War II, the Vietnam or Korean War, served domestically or in the reserves, our veteran family members and friends can teach us lifelong lessons, if we simply provide them with the opportunity whenever we spend time with them.

However, as we age, our health status can decline, our financial resources may diminish, and we often become isolated from our families, friends and others. Sadly, this is no different for our honorable veterans. It’s just one more reason why senior service members shouldn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated, especially on or around Veterans Day.

One way our Jackson Creek team honors and supports our veteran residents throughout the year, is through regular meetings of our veterans’ groups, which provide a social and emotional outlet for these residents with military backgrounds. We also host events, so our veteran residents can get together to share their experiences and bond with fellow service members.

In addition, we actively encourage veterans and surviving spouses to apply for the Veterans Administration’s Aid and Attendance Benefits*, to significantly offset the cost of monthly rent for our assisted living and memory support services. We also strive to maintain ties with local veterans’ organizations, so residents have a chance to give back to veterans in the community.

Our residents who have served in the U.S. military are in good company at Jackson Creek. We are very lucky to have several U.S. veterans living in our community and to be close to many outstanding local military bases, including Schriever Air Force Base, the United States Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base.

This Veteran’s Day, our team members here at Jackson Creek will be holding a patriotic performance and a presentation by a resident of ours who served as a surgeon in Vietnam. It’s important for us to find special ways to recognize and honor our resident veterans for their time in service. We would love to have you or someone you love join our resident veteran family!

Are you or someone you know a U.S. military veteran in search of a senior living community that honors your service every day? Visit the Jackson Creek Senior Living Website to schedule a tour and learn more about what our community offers veterans like you.

*Please note that Jackson Creek cannot determine eligibility for Veterans’ Benefits; only the Veterans Administration can determine an applicant’s eligibility.

Many people have come to describe that phase of life after retirement as the “Golden Years.” What a great way to look at aging. While most of us think of youth as life’s most carefree time, the Gallup Global Emotions poll published in 2019 found that as those surveyed got older, they also reported less overall life stress.

Embracing aging and the unique joys it affords can be just as beneficial as the idea of “aging well” or “healthy aging.” Here, we’ve compiled a few suggestions for how you too can start making peace with aging and living life to the fullest:

Manage expectations:

Aging helps us calibrate our expectations for what we can accomplish and how happy it will make us feel. Once we realize and accept that the time left for us to significantly change our lives is limited, the idea of focusing primarily on the things that bring us joy can be quite reassuring.

Appreciate the abundance of free time:

Getting older makes it easier to develop insight into what we personally need to achieve contentment in this life. Once we do, we can start focusing on enjoying the present! Some people choose to fill their days with friends and activities, others prefer to relax in their apartments and some like to maintain a healthy balance of each. Life at a senior living community provides residents with opportunities to use their free time however they wish.

Abandon “old age” stereotypes:

Aging looks different for everyone and today, many people are choosing to make the move to a senior living community in retirement and beyond, where they have more options and access to amenities and services as well as encouragement and support from a caring team. This allows them to embrace their age and their abilities and make the most of every day.

Explore your hobbies:

The “Golden Years” of adulthood are a wonderful time to revisit interests and passions that you may have put aside while holding down a career, maintaining a home or raising a family. Residents at senior living communities like ours have the time, space and resources to truly engage in what they love. For some that might be taking an exercise or strength training class, or meeting friends in our dining room for a meal. Others might enjoy some of the group activities like painting or jewelry making, or simply reading a good book by the fire in one of our comfortable gathering spaces.

At Jackson Creek Senior Living residents enjoy access to quality services and amenities that make it easy for them to grow and thrive. Unlike most home settings, our community provides access to a fitness center with classes and equipment, a massage room and salon, a putting green and walking paths, a library, theater and chapel space, as well as scheduled activities and programs. Our senior lifestyle community also employs a dedicated Life Enrichment Director who oversees a full activities calendar driven by residents’ interests and requests. On any given day residents can enjoy chair yoga, crosswords, ice cream socials, strength training, movies, bingo, wine and food tastings, scenic drives, pet therapy, bread baking, celebrations, concerts and more!

Are you interested in a senior living community where age is no object, where expanding your horizons is encouraged and where you can try something new every day? Visit Jackson Creek Senior Living to find out how our programs and services can provide you with the opportunities to live a lifestyle that suits you, at any age.

Whether you are a freshman leaving home and heading to a college dorm, a family transitioning into a new home, or a senior moving into a senior living community, the change can be both exciting and intimidating at first.

At Jackson Creek Senior Living, we know there is much to catch up on when seniors first move in, so we’ve implemented a getting to know staff and resident event. At this get-together, we offer some tips and advice for getting into the swing of the community for new residents, as well as offer several activities that help us, and the new residents learn more about each other.

Many thanks to Melinda Sukle, our Life Enrichment Director, for organizing a “Welcome Gathering” recently for a batch of new residents. It was also a chance for residents to meet many of the community leaders, including Chef Michael, Executive Director Cindy Batey, Wellness Director Tina Reynolds and Assisted Living Director Stephanie Ortiz. In addition, Melinda filled the new residents in on the robust calendar of activities at the community and introduced her support team, Rachel and Michelle.

We also did some “break the ice” activities, like pairing up into smaller groups to answer some fun questions to better get to know each other — this was a huge hit.

Melinda covered some of the nuts and bolts of the community operations, such as fire safety systems. Kara Frisbie also walked the new residents through all the materials contained in their Welcome Packets, including who to get in touch with at the front desk for specific, ongoing questions.

We’re excited to have this new “class” of residents join our community, and we look forward to them becoming an important part of the fabric of our community culture.

(Photos taken prior to reinstituting masks)