News Archives - Page 6 of 10 - Jackson Creek Senior Living

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)

What is assisted living? At senior living communities like Jackson Creek Senior Living, assisted living provides residents with lifestyle options designed to help them thrive independently, along with access to safe, comfortable surroundings, a supportive environment of friendly peers and caring team members, healthy, chef-prepared meals, and a schedule of stimulating events and activities. Let’s take some common misconceptions about assisted living and debunk them one by one.

Myth #1: I’ll lose my independence

Assisted living residents do not need around-the-clock help, but at most senior living communities, services and amenities are available to ensure they enjoy a simplified, maintenance-free lifestyle. At Jackson Creek, residents live in their own private apartments with access to services for every household need, including housekeeping, maintenance and laundry. Residents who prefer a break from cooking in their own private living apartment kitchenettes can enjoy three healthy, chef-prepared meals a day served in our restaurant-style dining room. We also offer scheduled transportation to nearby points of interest and appointments so residents can venture off campus when desired.

Myth #2: Assisted living = nursing home

At most senior living communities, assisted living offers personalized supportive services that foster independence in a residential setting. Services at Jackson Creek are tailored to the needs of each resident and are developed in collaboration with our care team, the resident and family. In some cases, this may mean only housekeeping and dining services, and in others, support might include medication management and assistance with using the bathroom, dressing and grooming. We see each resident as unique, so their care plan will match their needs.

Myth #3: I can’t enjoy my favorite hobbies

The hassle-free lifestyle of assisted living allows residents more time, energy and freedom to exercise their independence and pursue the activities and interests they love. Most senior living communities, including Jackson Creek, have a large list of daily activities and amenities to suit whatever interests you. For example, Jackson Creek is home to exercise and therapy spaces with fitness equipment, a massage room and salon, theater/chapel space, library and game rooms. If you love being outdoors, we also have a putting green, raised gardening beds, outdoor dining, gazebos and walking paths.

Myth #4: I’ll be lonely

Assisted living residents at most senior living communities, including Jackson Creek, have the option to join resident groups and clubs to meet new people as well as access to communal spaces that make socialization easy. In addition, our full-time Life Enrichment and Wellness Director, who develop our scheduled social events and activities so residents have plenty of opportunities to make connections with new friends.

Want to learn more about assisted living at Jackson Creek Senior Living? Give us a call at (719) 259-1331 or go online to schedule a tour.

Jackson Creek Senior Living residents Jim and Roberta Swanson will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in March. In honor of Valentine’s Day, they spoke to us about their long, happy marriage.

How did you first meet?

R: We met at church. It was a very small village church, and we knew all the people there. I was 17 years old and playing the organ at an evening service when I immediately noticed a good-looking guy in the congregation who hadn’t been there before. I wondered, “Who is that?”

J: My parents moved to a new community while I was in the Navy. When I returned home in 1946, I went to church with them and didn’t know anyone, but I was intrigued by the young lady playing the organ. I wondered who she was! But we didn’t meet face-to-face until a couple of weeks later at a youth meeting.

When did you get married?

R: Seventy years ago, March 5, 1950, on an unusually warm day in Iowa following a huge snowstorm. There was deep snow, slush and mud everywhere. We worked so hard to keep my long dress and train out of the mud. It was a beautiful day in every way!

Discuss your personal background. Where did you grow up?

R: I grew up in a small Swedish community called Boxholm. I lived there until I left for college. I had never traveled. My father died when I was just 18 months old, but I had a strong relationship with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. My mother was a certified institutional cook, which is how she supported us. We had a nice house and never wanted for anything. She was such a good manager and a strong woman.

J: I was a “Depression kid” — born when my father was in seminary in Evanston, Illinois. We moved to Butte, Montana for my dad’s first assignment, but when the church closed, we moved to Oregon and then to Iowa. My parents did whatever they could to make a living, including managing apartments, hotels, a raspberry ranch and operating a sawmill. We moved many times and I attended 10 schools before

graduating high school. I was drafted into the Navy at 19. After I was discharged, I went to my parents’ home in Boxholm, and that’s where I met Roberta.

What did you do as a career?

J: We were both public school teachers. Roberta taught for 28 years in elementary school and as a special reading teacher, and I taught business education for 37 years.

What are some of the benefits to living together at Jackson Creek?

J & R: Before COVID, we were enjoying the concerts and various programs here, and we met some lovely residents. Since COVID, we have spent a lot of time in our apartment, but we are grateful for the beautiful surroundings, and we have made our apartment feel like our home. We are thankful that the two of us are together here. Jackson Creek offers us the care and assistance we need, plus meals. We especially enjoy the in-house TV channel!

Why do you think you’ve had such a long-lasting marriage?

J & R: Everyone has always considered us a pair. Always Jim and Roberta. We agree to disagree at times, but we always arrive at a final decision together. Everything that we have belongs to “us,” not to just one. We are each other’s rock, and that has carried us through good times and tough times. We have many mutual interests, and we’ve never felt bored.

How do you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?

J & R: Our Valentine’s Day will be spent together in our apartment. This will be our 74th Valentine’s Day as sweethearts!

If you’re a caregiver for an older adult, you likely know the steps you can take to protect them from phone or online scammers. But the pandemic has created a new breed of fraudster you might not know of — scammers who exploit today’s headlines to prey on vulnerable seniors’ virus-related fears and make off with their money.

But, with a bit of savvy and an abundance of caution, seniors can learn how to identify fraudulent calls and emails and guard against scammers. Use this list of dos and don’ts to help the older adult in your life avoid falling victim to a COVID-19 scam artist.

Five Dos for Seniors to Avoid COVID-19 Scams

Do be wary of emails, calls and social media posts that advertise free COVID-19 test kits, then ask for your credit card information. You can refer to the FDA website for a list of approved tests and testing companies.
Do ignore text and phone scams that advertise new drugs, vaccines, and devices that purport to prevent or cure COVID-19.
Do be suspicious of callers who claim to be from the Social Security Administration who say your benefits will be suspended due to COVID-19 unless you provide information or payment.
Do look critically at emails that offer low-cost health and life insurance and “free gifts.”
Do disregard emails and phone calls in which the sender claims to be from the federal government and asks for bank account information so your stimulus money can be “released.”

Five Don’ts for Seniors to Avoid COVID-19 Scams

Don’t answer calls or respond to text messages that come from unknown or suspicious numbers.
Don’t click on links or download files from unexpected texts or emails, even if the email address looks like someone’s you recognize.
Don’t share personal information such as Social Security, Medicare and credit card numbers on an unsolicited call, text or email.
Don’t trust any caller who pressures you to make an immediate payment or share your personal information.
Don’t donate money to anyone claiming to be calling from a COVID-19 relief charity. Always call or check the organization’s website first.

If you or an older loved one receives a suspicious text, call, or email related to COVID-19, the best course of action is to file a complaint with the FCC so that authorities can minimize the potential damage and prevent future fraud.

To learn more about how to protect your older loved one or yourself from COVID-19 scams, visit the FCC website for a list of additional consumer resources.

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released the following statement in response to the decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to include long term care residents and staff, including nursing homes and assisted living communities, for the first round “1a” of vaccine distribution.

Read full article

For senior couples who require varying levels of care, it’s important each have access to the appropriate level of support. But, because humans age at different rates, adult children seeking accommodations for their aging parents must often reconcile their differing health needs.

Fortunately, many senior living communities, including Jackson Creek, offer a range of living options — featuring independent living, assisted living and memory support apartments in the same location — that allows senior couples to remain together while caring for their own personal well-being.

Senior living communities that offer multiple levels of care are often an appropriate solution for spouses with differing health and wellness challenges or who are experiencing the effects of aging at varying rates. For example, perhaps your mother is relatively healthy but spends much of her time taking care of your father, whom recently returned home from a rehab stay. Or maybe your mother has shown symptoms of Alzheimer’s, but your father has not experienced any cognitive decline. Their differing health and wellness stages shouldn’t have to keep them apart.

In addition to varying health and wellness care, senior couples can also have different social needs too. One half of the couple may still love activities with friends, going on local outings and attending exercise classes. They may want to keep their own private apartment to entertain guests; they may want to keep driving to the grocery store or visit a local nature preserve for a walk. At the same time, the other member of the couple may be more isolated, whether due to necessity, like mobility issues, or by choice, like an introverted personality.

But at communities, like Jackson Creek, it’s possible to keep spouses together even if one may be best suited for assisted living, while independent living may be a better fit for the other. Jackson Creek features communal dining and activity spaces so that spouses who live in different types of units have frequent opportunities to socialize together.

Plus, the more mobile or social spouse can get his or her needs met at Jackson Creek’s community may need additional assistance with daily living doesn’t mean the other must limit his or her life or independence in the process. Jackson Creek also provides peace of mind and a guilt free break to go and enjoy activities or outings because a team member is there to check in as needed.

In addition, Jackson Creek’s various types of apartments and wellness programs are all located within the same building, so it’s easy for spouses to move about and to spend time with each other. Even if one spouse has differing health and wellness care needs.

We have many couples who have chosen to make Jackson Creek Senior Living their home and they enjoy senior lifestyle choices that encourage them to Live Well and Age Well.

To learn more about Jackson Creek Senior Living’s independent living, assisted living and memory support apartments, and how we help senior couples with unique care needs stay together, give us a call at (719) 259-1331 or schedule your personal tour.

Memory Support Apartments Available