This is our first issue of The Gardens Monthly Tribune!
It's November Already?
November has snuck up on us! Thoughts of turkey legs and holiday gatherings are in all of our minds. As we get closer to the holiday season, the staff at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids want to extend our assistance. If you wish to host a family gathering in one of our beautiful community areas, please reach out to Andrea, Community Relations Director, or Eva, Activity Director, to reserve a space. Be watching our calendar for upcoming celebrations for you to participate in as well.
Joining us for a meal?
We would love to see you! But as a reminder if you plan to join a loved one at any of our wonderful meals, be sure to let us know in advance so that our kitchen staff prepares enough food for everyone! As a general rule we would greatly appreciate 24 hours notice for 1-4 guests and 48 hours notice for 4 or more. And with the exception of our monthly brunch which is complementary, all meals are $5 per person and you may give that to any staff member at the time of the meal.
Limited availability!
We are so happy to have welcomed a number of new tenants to our community since our first move-in day, August 23rd, 2017. Due to the great interest in residing at The Gardens of CR, we are becoming limited on availability of our assisted living and memory care apartments. With the winter weather upon us, we would like to encourage those considering a move to reserve an apartment as soon as possible before the options are no longer available!
Contact Andrea Weiss, RN at 319-930-6666
Long Term Care and Skilled Nursing
We want to ensure that each tenant's clothes are washed and returned to their proper owner. So just as a reminder if your loved one resides in our long term care or skilled nursing facility, please make sure their clothes are all labeled with their name.
(Just for fun)
No Matter What Your Age, It's Never Too Late to Get Started!
Authors: Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D
There are many reasons why we tend to slow down and become more sedentary with age. It may be due to health problems, weight or pain issues, or worries about falling. Or perhaps you think that exercising simply isn’t for you. But as you grow older, an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever to your health. Getting moving can help boost your energy, maintain your independence, protect your heart, and manage symptoms of illness or pain as well as your weight. And regular exercise is also good for your mind, mood, and memory. No matter your age or your current physical condition, these tips can show you simple, enjoyable ways to become more active and improve your health and outlook.
What are the benefits of exercise for older adults?
A recent Swedish study found that physical activity was the number one contributor to longevity, adding extra years to your life—even if you don’t start exercising until your senior years. But getting active is not just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years. You’ll not only look better when you exercise, you’ll feel sharper, more energetic, and experience a greater sense of well-being.
Physical health benefits...
Helps you maintain or lose weight. As metabolism naturally slows with age, maintaining a healthy weight is a challenge. Exercise helps increase metabolism and builds muscle mass, helping to burn more calories.
Reduces the impact of illness and chronic disease. People who exercise tend to have improved immune and digestive functioning, better blood pressure and bone density, and a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain cancers.
Enhances mobility, flexibility, and balance. Exercise improves your strength, flexibility and posture, which in turn will help with balance, coordination, and reducing the risk of falls. Strength training also helps alleviate the symptoms of chronic conditions such as arthritis.
Mental health benefits...
Improves sleep. Quality sleep is vital for your overall health. Regular activity can help you fall asleep more quickly, sleep more deeply, and wake feeling more energetic and refreshed.
Boosts mood and self-confidence. Exercise is a huge stress reliever and the endorphins produced can actually help reduce feelings of sadness, depression, or anxiety. Being active and feeling strong naturally helps you feel more self-confident.
Does amazing things for the brain. Activities like Sudoku or crossword puzzles can help keep your brain active, but little comes close to the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain. It can help brain functions as diverse as multitasking and creativity and can help prevent memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia. Getting active may even help slow the progression of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
What is Life Enrichment?
Author: Terri Glimcher is a Contributing Writer at Inside Assisted Living
Regardless of your age, it is important know that you’re part of a larger picture. Seniors often live with their family members, and during this time, we observe certain behaviors that lead us to encourage our loved one to seek assisted living. More often than not, we do this for safety reasons, because our loved one has become a danger to themselves or others.
But in the minds of our loved ones, our move to protect their safety may be perceived as the “end of life the way we know it.” Take driving as an example. Many times, our loved one’s right to drive has been taken away because their vision or hearing has changed. Cognitively, they are aware that they cannot do or remember the things they used to. Thus, their connection to the community, favorite eateries, and shopping has been weakened.
It is the responsibility of the assisted living community to provide activities that rebuild and strength that connection.
Take a look at The Gardens' monthly calendars to see some of the many ways we enrich our tenant's lives!
http://www.thegardenscr.com/activity-calendar/
Have a great November!