Category: News

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.

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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.

Thank you to all the wonderful residents, families, caring team members and the community at large for being part of our Jackson Creek community. Check out some highlights of the last two years in this video.

If you are planning to visit an aging parent or older loved one over the holidays, it can be a good opportunity to make sure they are living in safe and healthy conditions. While enjoying their company this holiday season, try to take a moment and assess the state of their house or apartment, observe their emotional state and personal care habits, and check for strange or illogical behavior. These 10 signs can help you determine whether it’s time for your parent or loved one to consider assisted living.

1. House in disarray

Is their home or apartment dirty or disorganized? Look for broken fixtures or appliances, extremely dusty surfaces and dishes piled up in the sink.

2. Unkempt clothing or appearance

Have you noticed poor personal hygiene habits? Take a good look at their appearance, clothes and body to gauge whether they have been taking care of themselves.

3. Expired foods

Check for evidence they are keeping their refrigerator stocked and emptying it when food goes bad. If not, there will be a bad smell coming from the refrigerator or pantry.

4. Medication mismanagement

Is your loved one missing doses of their medication or giving themselves the wrong ones? Check that they are sticking to their correct medication schedule.

5. Change in diet, weight loss or gain

Take note of what your loved one is eating. Do you notice new excessive weight loss or weight gain? If so, it may be a sign they are losing track of their meals or overfeeding themselves.

6. Concerns with their driving

Look for evidence that their car or garage have been damaged. Multiple dents are a good indicator that their driving skills are no longer up to par.

7. Change in mobility

Take note of how much your loved one is moving around. Are they having trouble sitting down, walking or standing up?

8. Experiencing confusion

Look for signs of strange or irrational behavior or statements. Does your loved one seem to have a strong grasp on reality?

9. Dangerous behaviors

Check if they regularly put themselves in harm’s way whether out of forgetfulness or due to a cognitive lapse. For example, have they left the stove on or water running?

10. Mail stacking up

Is there a lot of unopened mail or bills on your loved one’s kitchen counter? If you can, check their financial statements to see whether they are still paying their bills on time.

If you’re concerned about your parent or loved one, don’t hesitate to connect with a member of our Jackson Creek care team. We can provide you with community resources, offer you a well-being assessment, arrange a short-term stay while you assess your options, or introduce you to our senior living options, which include independent living, assisted living and memory support. To reach our team, call (719) 259-1331 or contact us online.

At Jackson Creek, we are grateful for the U.S. military veterans who served our country, and we’re honored to have 38 of them, including Norman F. M., living in our community. In honor of Veteran’s Day, we spoke to Norman about his service in the U.S. Army.

Norman was born 1920 in Muskegon, Michigan, where he grew up and got a job as an apprentice production tool designer. Eventually, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a student mechanic, about four months before Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Norman was sent for basic training at the air base in Wichita Falls, Texas and later participated in programs such as pilot training, bombardier training and artillery training.

After attending army artillery school at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Norman was deployed to Italy and France to serve in World War II, where he was assigned as a Reconnaissance Officer for the 995th Artillery Battalion. When his tour of duty was completed, Norman returned to the United States and was given an interesting assignment as a prisoner of war officer in Gaithersburg, Maryland until the war was over.

During the Korean War, Norman was a commander who led his artillery observation company from Fort Sill to Korea. While serving in Korea, their job was to accurately locate enemy artillery through flash, sound and radar.

“I had a group of men located on the mountaintops with scopes to locate enemy fire as well as men positioned up there to hear,” said Norman. These men were tasked with identifying the location of Korean weapons using microphones buried in the ground several miles away; radars generated pulses of electromagnetic energy that were sent out in the direction of enemy fire to quickly locate enemy guns so soldiers could return fire.

Some of these methods were newer concepts since World War II, so it took a lot of organization to get all the platoons working together and communicating, and Norman played a big role in leading this effort.

“That was, I think, the best army job I had,” said Norman. “I knew how to talk to soldiers, and I knew what they expected.”

Although there were not yet manuals available for this command position, when arriving at an assignment, Norman quickly saw areas that needed improvement and was ready to innovate to correct problems, whether related to designing bunkers, locating the best beams and materials sent over from the U.S., or tracking down the right men to build them. Getting the bunkers installed on top of the mountain was quite a project but was essential for the health and safety of his men, said Norman. Despite some challenges along the way, Norman was glad for his experience in the military and 24-year career in the U.S. Army.

Norman turned 100 this year and after all those years, he simply wants to be remembered as a husband, father and a family man. His biggest hope for the future is that his grandchildren will be able to go to any college they choose — or maybe even join the Air Force one day!

Today, at Jackson Creek, we continue to honor Norman’s sacrifice and commitment as a former U.S. service member, especially on Veteran’s Day, which takes place this year on Wednesday, November 11. Thank you for your service, Norman!

Readily accessible care and frequent peer interaction have always been key benefits for residents at senior living communities. Now, as we navigate life through this pandemic, families of older adults who live alone are increasingly discovering the benefits that senior living communities provide for their loved one.

Not only do these seniors need more responsive care to manage both their health and activities of daily living, but many are also feeling extremely isolated and in need of social opportunities that a home health aide or relative dropping off groceries just cannot provide.

According to the AARP, more than 70 million Americans aged 50 and older have at least one chronic medical condition. With age, these conditions require more care, so transitioning to a senior living community would provide these individuals with the care team and resources needed to handle or prevent a medical crisis.

In addition, senior living community team members can help residents complete daily living activities such as dressing, bathing and medication assistance. They are also trained professionals who can provide care in a way that protects privacy and promotes dignity.

During the pandemic, daily tasks have become more difficult with the new health protocols and social distancing restrictions, especially for those who are physically frail or experiencing cognitive decline. Assisting residents with transportation to procure groceries, prescriptions and other essential supplies is woven into the services provided by many senior living communities, eliminating the concern of their residents on how to get essential goods.

In addition to having health and personal care resources readily available, senior living communities also provide frequent social interaction. This alone tends to improve intellectual and emotional engagement in seniors and helps to ward off the negative effects of social isolation including anxiety, depression and immunosuppression.

Benefits like these have become even more essential in the face of social distancing restrictions during COVID-19. As these restrictions begin to ease, communities looking to increase residents’ social connections are beginning to establish safe visiting areas for families. Many are also providing high-speed internet services throughout their communities and assisting residents with technology, for easier online social interactions with family and friends.

When a formerly homebound senior moves into a senior living community, they have opportunities to walk around the community, enjoy chef-prepared meals and snacks with restaurant-style dining, interact with other residents and team members and take part in stimulating activities. This simply cannot be replicated by an occasional visit from a home health aide or relative.

As a result, there are improvements to the mood and activity levels of the resident new to life in a senior living community. These individuals also experience a positive impact on cognition. In fact, scientists who study how to prevent or forestall the development of Alzheimer’s disease, have come to understand that socialization is essential in combating cognitive decline.

Jackson Creek Senior Living independent living, assisted living and memory support accommodations for seniors are accompanied by frequent resident engagement and accessible healthcare assistance when and if needed. Learn what our community can offer you or your loved one by calling (719) 259-1331 or scheduling your personal tour.

Jackson Creek team members and residents performed in a music video to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, dancing and walking energetically to Queen’s iconic song and performing a choreographed line dance to “The Git Up” song. For the past few months, the Jackson Creek community has been raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s to help advance the Association’s care, support and research efforts. To see Jackson Creek residents “get their steps in” for a good cause, check out the music video on YouTube!