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It’s never an easy decision, but sometimes, moving a parent into assisted living is the most responsible choice. As a caregiver, you may be under significant stress or may no longer be able to provide for your aging loved one’s needs. Moving your loved one into an assisted living center can alleviate stress on you while ensuring their safety and overall well-being.

Because there are so many options when it comes to assisted living communities and what they provide, it’s essential to research several spots to figure out the best fit for your family. Look at location, rules of living (such as whether they can have their own car or if the staff is allowed to administer emergency care), and amenities first, then move on to the details.

St. Anne’s Living Center shares some ways you can help your loved one flourish in their new home.

Plan Ahead

While there are many details to consider when looking for the right assisted living situation, one of the most important is budget — and not just for the foreseeable future. You will also need to think about what they can handle years down the road and whether or not the community they choose has access to medical care or emergency services. Even if they are in good health now, it’s a good idea to start planning for the future to make sure your loved one can get the care they need without worrying about finances.

If finances present a hurdle, there are steps you can take to help your loved one afford assisted living. If savings won’t provide enough cushion, the most obvious choice is to sell their home. While this will be an emotional upheaval for everyone, in the end, it could cover the costs of care, leaving your loved one to enjoy this next chapter.

Talk to an expert real estate agent about selling and what you need to do to get the home ready. If your loved one already has a mortgage — or wants one — you can also contact a mortgage company like Penny Mac US about any financial hurdles you may face as you assist your loved one with this process.

Time to Move

Once it’s been determined that your loved one is indeed moving to assisted living, it’s time to assess their belongings and plan for the big move. Since it’s likely they’ll be downsizing quite a bit, survey what they can realistically keep and what should be sold, given away, or donated. Large furniture might be too bulky, and family heirlooms may need to be sorted and passed on to other members of the family. Be patient with your loved one here, since this is another difficult part of the process.

Once you have a move-in date, reach out to a moving service to help transfer your loved one’s belongings. Simply search for “moving companies near me” to find a list of highly-rated moving professionals with competitive rates. Make sure that anyone you plan to hire is also licensed, bonded, and insured.

Driving Dilemma

Many older adults feel comfortable driving for as long as they’re able to, but others have a vision impairment, anxiety, or health condition that makes driving difficult or impossible. In some cases, seniors who move into an assisted living community don’t have access to their vehicle, and that can lead to some worries about whether they can remain independent.

The good news is, there are lots of options when it comes to getting around; you just have to find the right one. Rideshare services like Uber, public transportation, and senior ride services offered by a local church or hospital are all great options. Plus, assisted living communities typically offer shuttle service daily to a variety of stores and doctors’ offices.

Get Social

A major benefit of moving into an assisted living community is that your loved one has the chance to meet new people and remain social. If they live alone or with you, they might not see or speak to many of their peers throughout the day. Having these connections can boost their mental health and even help them stay physically healthy. Help them make the most of these opportunities by encouraging them to join clubs, get involved in groups, and meet like-minded adults who also want to remain active and engaged.

Stay Connected

A move to a senior community doesn’t mean they need to cut ties with friends and loved ones (even if they are busy with their new friends!). Make an effort to remain connected by meeting your loved one for lunch, calling regularly, or attending functions together. This will help them feel less isolated while they are getting used to their new living arrangement. If you have a smartphone, consider using an app that will help you make calls and video chat easily.

Making a move to an assisted living community can be stressful for everyone if you aren’t prepared. Help your loved one get to know the community and the people who live there. With a little time, your aging parent will thrive, and you won’t feel as stressed because you know they are safe and well-cared for.

By Beverly Nelson of standupforcaregivers.org

At St. Anne’s Living Center, your well-being is our top concern. We believe in creating an environment that makes it possible for residents to enjoy life and all that it still has to offer. Visit us today for a tour and to find out more. (701) 746-9401

If you look at the stained glass window in the front sitting area at St. Anne’s, you’ll see a lovely depiction of two saints.  One is Saint Francis, and the other is St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

Today marks the latter’s feast day.  She is the patron saint of the Third Order of St. Francis, the order to which the Sisters at St. Anne’s belong. 

We thought it would be nice to share a little bit about the history of this stain glass window with you.

Back in the early to mid 1950s, when St. Anne’s was near the river (old St. Michael’s hospital), the Franciscan Sisters had the window installed in the chapel. 

Later, when St. Anne’s moved to its current location, the stained glass windows were placed in the lobby, where they remain to this day.

Last week at Mass, I was edified to see our visiting priest gesture with his hand, indicating which Eucharistic Prayer he would be using, for the benefit of a hearing impaired individual in our chapel.  This made me think of developing an article, providing tips for better communication with individuals, especially the elderly, who suffer from hearing loss. 

Hearing loss is a very common difficulty.  Even when the person has a hearing aide, make sure you practice good protocols. 

Some seniors, unfortunately, respond to hearing loss by isolating from others.  If we can take some simple, small steps, we can, hopefully, making the communication process easier for them and avoid such isolation.  

Hearing loss, unfortunately, is usually marked not only by loss of hearing volume, but also includes diminished ability to decipher soft sounds and high pitches.  Face the person, with light on your face. Speak slowly and do not shout.  Start conversation on the listener’s name.  Perhaps, touch their hand and make eye contact before starting to speak.  Sitting at a round table can make it easier for the hearing impaired person to lip read with all individuals present.  Make sure they can easily see your face.  Visual clues are very important. 

Make the topic of the conversation as clear as possible.  Shouting and exaggerated speech actually changes one’s lip pattern and makes it harder to lip read.  Use simple sentences and stop in between.  Pausing at appropriate times helps give a hearing impaired individual the chance to catch up on processing what you are saying.

Make sure you are understood.  Stand or sit near their better ear.  Try to eliminate background noise.  Many people with hearing loss don’t tolerate loud sounds well.  Don’t change the subject quickly.  If you need to change topic, make sure you let them know.  Have them repeat things back to you.  Remember that if they are tired or not feeling well, they will have a harder time comprehending. 

Keep your hands away from your face, and don’t have anything else near (food, gum, etc.).  If you are not understood, re-phrase the statement rather than repeating it over and over.  Apps on a phone can convert spoken words into text, and this may be helpful.  Try to make sure only one person speaks at a time.  Ask the hearing impaired person how you can help improved communication. 

Half of individuals over 75 suffer from hearing loss, and one in three between 65 and 74 do likewise. 

Resources:

• www.uofazcenteronaging.com/care-sheet/providers/communication-improving-communication-people-who-have-hearing-loss
• www.allaboutseniorsinc.net/tips-communicating-hearing-impaired-seniors/
• www.ucsfhealth.org/education/communicating-with-people-with-hearing-loss
• www.agingcare.com/articles/hearing-loss-communication-techniques-144762.htm
• www.hearinglink.org/living/partners-children-family-hearing-people/how-to-communicate-with-a-hearing-impaired-person/
• www.healthyhearing.com/report/51744-Communication-strategies-when-talking-to-individuals-with-hearing-loss
• my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4050-hearing-loss-tips-to-improve-communication-with-people-with–hearing-loss
• www.ucsfhealth.org/education/communicating-with-people-with-hearing-loss

We all know that friendship is a wonderful thing in life.  But, did you know that multiple studies support the important role it plays in health and wellbeing as you age?

Friendship and socialization has been linked with enormous health benefits.  On the other hand, being lonely has been compared to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day because of its detriment to your health.  Even people facing serious health defects, who had a good network of friends, did well physically compared to others who lacked socialization. 

Friendship can even boost your immune system!  Good sleep and heart health are also facilitated by friendship.

Friendship has an added benefit in that people around you can help encourage you in healthy habits, such as exercise.

Having a close friend is powerful in fighting stress and depression, according to MissouriFamilies.org.   Strength of social bonds even in other primates, has been seen to be a leading factor in longevity. 

In a study of almost 300,000 people, friends were found to be even more important than family in well-being and functioning.  Friendship is a powerful impetus for good in the sphere of both physical and mental health.  Strain in friendship has been found to lead to impaired health.  Feelings of loneliness, on the other hand, can increase with age.  It’s even said that the importance of friendship grows as you get older.

It is sometimes difficult for elderly people to make friends.  They are often not as able to get out and about, and sometimes face disabilities that place limits on them.  At the same time, it is well-known that reduced social contact is harmful.  However, this is often overlooked in circumstances when elderly people live alone at home.  Physical contact is so important.  If you have a loved one who struggles with loneliness, remember the importance of physical contact.  Outings are also helpful in lifting mood.  Prolonged solitude can be detrimental.

Friends provide support that even family members may not be able to give.  They may be going through a similar difficulty, dealing with there age-related limitations.  They can relate with you in a special way, unlike adult children who have not yet gone through the aging process as you are.  Additionally, an older person can gain from wisdom and insight a friend in their own peer group can offer.

It has been found that friendships are more effective in wellbeing among the elderly even than close family!  For one thing, younger family members are often busy with their own lives and have limited time to devote to an aging parent or relative. 

Resources:

• https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/importance-of-friends-as-you-age.html
• http://missourifamilies.org/features/agingarticles/agingfeature11.htm
• https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2017/friendships-improve-health-older-adults-fd.html
• https://briahs.com/the-importance-of-friends-and-family-to-the-well-being-of-the-elderly/
• https://www.24hrcares.com/blog/the-importance-of-friendship-as-we-age/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/open-gently/201706/age-well-you-need-friends
• https://www.dailynews.com/2020/02/22/successful-aging-the-importance-of-friendships-in-a-long-healthy-life

Who doesn’t love a tasty ear of corn, fresh from the field?  It can be a little messy, but boy, is it worth it!

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to keep that tasty goodness throughout the year?  Actually, in a way, you can!

While some people like to take the quick and easy way out and freeze ears of corn whole, blanching and cutting corn off the cob has some definite benefits.

There’s kind of a science to it, and it works better if you have your system ready.  I was reminded of that recently, when we got a pickup truck load of corn in last week.  The Wald family from East Grand Forks always generously plants a section of their land in sweet corn for us.  Mid-August, we have come to expect a phone call say that the corn is ready, and asking when they can bring it in. 

We used to usually bag the corn raw on the ear, and freeze it that way.  This year, we went a different route.  Many of our residents have dentures and have trouble eating it off the cob.  Also, cutting it off the cob saves a lot of freezer space!  Blanching kills enzymes that diminish corn quality over time in the freezer, so that’s what I did.

In this blog, I’ll share some things I’ve learned from reading, experience, and even insight from others, in case you’ve got some extra corn you’d like to put up for winter enjoyment.

When I was a kid, our family friends on a farm south of us had an abundance of corn to salvage.  We picked a bunch and formed an assembly line: husking, blanching, and cutting it from the cobs.  I remember my mom putting the kettles in the bathtub of cold water to cool!

Fast forward quite a few years…(and yes, I have done corn in the meantime!)

Last week, we got all the corn husked and de-haired by around 10 in the morning.  Beforehand, I marked several zip baggies: “Corn – 8-16-21, so I could save time and hassle later. 

I got two big kettles of water boiling and added several ears (about 8 or 9) of corn to each one.  I am learning that I maybe shouldn’t do so much corn at a time because it took a while to return to boiling.  Once it was rapidly boiling again, though, I timed it for 3-4 minutes before turning off the burner and putting the ears into an ice bath I had prepared. 

The ice tended to melt quickly, unfortunately, because it was crushed ice from the kitchen.  I had to make multiple trips back and forth for fresh ice during my corn blanching marathon.  I kept dumpling and refilling a large plastic bin we have on hand for bussing dishes.

After the fact, a friend of ours said that she used to fill cardboard milk cartons with water to freeze for this purpose.  I’m going to try this next time!  Larger ice chunks won’t melt so quickly.  The purpose of the ice water bath it to stop the cooking process on the corn that has been removed from the blanching kettle.  Another idea I found is to fill plastic bags with water and freeze them.  I’m trying this also.  This should make my life easier tomorrow when I attack another batch of corn that came in. 

Now, for the cutting process!  A trick I have found very helpful, which our former activity assistant told us about, is resting your ear of corn on the middle of an angel food cake pan, and cutting the corn off that way.  It really works slick!  Another person who was helping us last time used an electric knife to cut off the corn.  This worked well for her. 

After we got a bunch of corn cut off, I would scoop it into gallon sized double seal freezer bags, and seal, trying to push as much air out as possible.  It was kind of juicy, and I also avoided getting excess fluid in there.

I read somewhere that you can create more of a vacuum seal by submerging the bag in a bowl of water with just a small space in the zipper unsealed.     This didn’t work well for me, though, because the bags, filled with corn, were more bulky than flat.  Tomorrow, I might try and see if I can’t flatten the filled bags out more. 

Most people don’t freeze corn in gallon size bags, but when you’re serving 30-40 people at a time, it makes sense. 

If you’re doing smaller bags, a trick one can try is freezing them flat on a cookie sheet, which saves space later.  You can just take them off the cookie sheet once they’re frozen and put them in a plastic grocery bag. 

One thing to keep in mind when freezing corn is not to put too much in a small freezer at once, as the freezer will be overworked. 

I hope some of this is helpful to you if you decide to get corny this summer!

Sr. Rebecca shares a humorous happening from years past. Click here or on the graphic above to hear it.

Happy upcoming 4th of July!

Enjoy a story for the occasion from Sister Elaine.  Click on the graphic below.

Sr. Christina shares a little story this week that we hope you enjoy. 

“Do You Have Trouble with Your Hearing?!”