Issue 30.10

It’s estimated that millions of Americans now care for one or both of their parents in their homes & many silently sacrifice everything from their jobs to their spouses to take on this daunting responsibility.  The ever-mounting difficulties and challenges that face these Caregivers often result physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. 

In an effort to recognize the sacrifice of these heroes of our Community, BeeHive Homes and Zion’s Way Home Health and Hospice are partnering together to “Give Back” to Caregivers that are facing these often overwhelming circumstances.   We are joining forces to provide Caregivers of our Community with the “gift of time”.  We will be providing a weekend of respite care for the chosen Caregivers’ loved ones, and thereby give the Caregiver a well deserved break to recharge their batteries. 

BeeHive Homes will be providing accommodations in our safe, family style assisted living environment with a full complement of health care services, nutritious meals, housekeeping services, 24 hour on-duty staffing, social & recreational programs, along with all our other amenities.  Zion’s Way will be enhancing these services by coordinating a team of experienced professionals to add assistance that will care for the spiritual and emotional needs of the loved ones including, but not limited to, social services, spiritual support, aroma therapy, massage therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, and reflexology.

Initially, two Caregivers of the Community will be awarded 3-5 days of Respite Care for their loved ones including all the amenities and services listed above.  These Caregivers will be selected from those nominated before the deadline of August 15, 2010.  To nominate a Caregiver that you know, please email a short essay or favorite story about that Caregiver & their loved one to mary@beehivecottages.org  or gjean@zionswayhospice.com .  

Entries may also be submitted by phone to Mary at BeeHive Cottages (435)773-7966 or Gil at Zion’s Way (435)688-0648.   (Or entries can be mailed to Caregiver Contest, c/o BeeHive Cottages, 2041 S. Mesa Palms Drive, St. George UT 84770).  All nominated Caregivers and their families will be invited to an awards ceremony where the first 2 Caregivers selected will be announced. 

Excerpts from selected essays will also be published in future articles for this publication.  Help us to honor our neighbors & friends doing heroic work as Caregivers!

Issue 26.10

It’s estimated that millions of Americans now care for one or both parents in their homes & many silently sacrifice everything from their jobs to their spouses to take on this daunting responsibility.  The ever-mounting difficulties and challenges that face these Caregivers often result physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. 

In an effort to recognize the sacrifice of these heroes of our Community, BeeHive Homes and Zion’s Way Home Health and Hospice are partnering together to “Give Back” to Caregivers that are facing these often overwhelming circumstances.   We are joining forces to provide Caregivers of our Community with the “gift of time”.  We will be providing a weekend of respite care for the chosen Caregivers’ loved ones, and thereby give the Caregivers a well deserved break to recharge their batteries. 

BeeHive Homes will be providing accommodations in our safe, family style assisted living environment with a full complement of health care services, nutritious meals, housekeeping services, 24 hour on-duty staffing, social & recreational programs, along with all our other amenities.  Zion’s Way will be enhancing these services by coordinating a team of experienced professionals to add assistance that will care for the physical, spiritual & emotional needs of the loved ones including, but not limited to, social services, spiritual support, aroma therapy, massage therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, and reflexology.

Two Caregivers of our Community will be awarded 3-5 days of Respite Care for their loved ones including all the amenities and services listed above.  These Caregivers will be chosen from those nominated before the deadline of July 31, 2010.  To nominate a Caregiver that you know, please email a short essay or favorite story about that Caregiver & their loved one to mary@beehivecottages.org  or gjean@zionswayhospice.com . (Or mail entries to Caregiver Contest, c/o BeeHive Cottages, 2041 S. Mesa Palms Drive, St. George UT 84770).  All nominated Caregivers and their families will be invited to an awards ceremony where the winners will be announced.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mary at BeeHive Cottages (435)773-7966 or Gil at Zion’s Way (435)688-0648.

Excerpts from selected essays will also be published in future articles for this publication.  Help us to honor our neighbors & friends doing heroic work as Caregivers!

Issue 23.10

Caregivers come from every walk of life & from every state in our nation.  These extraordinary individuals deal with the most complex of issues – physical, emotional, psychological, and financial – on a daily basis.  Most especially, the families of wounded veterans — those caregivers often make the greatest personal sacrifices & dedicate their lives to provide daily care to their loved ones.  It’s often said that when a service member goes to war, their entire family also “goes to war”.  The same premise can be made for a service member who returns from duty with severe injuries and disabilities.  These circumstances can become a daunting challenge for those family members who take on the caregiver role. 

Fortunately, these caregivers of our Veterans have received national attention & become a top priority in recent years.  A major step forward was taken this month to help these disabled veterans and their caregivers.  President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 into law on May 5, 2010.  This law includes provisions that help provide support for the caregivers of seriously injured veterans.   These provisions include, but are not limited to, providing information and training, ongoing supportive services, respite and counseling.   In addition, those caring for Veterans who were injured in the line of Duty after 9/11/01 can receive healthcare coverage and a modest caregiver’s stipend.

This legislation honors the sacrifices of our brave men & women who serve our country proudly, and the dedication of those who care for our wounded service members every day.  To read a full text of this legislation you can go to the following website:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-1963

In honor of this Memorial Day, our BeeHive Cottages Family encourages everyone to take a moment to reflect on the courage & sacrifice of the fallen heroes that served our Country.

Issue 18.10

While there are other Senior Living Facilities in St George, there is no place quite like the BeeHive Cottages.  Here, you’ll find Senior Independent Living the way it was meant to be.  Our Community contains one & two bedroom fully equipped homes surrounding a large Community Center that provides the enjoyment of delicious meals prepared by a Chef, entertaining activities, and the sounds of stimulating conversation & laughter.  The entrances to the Cottages are private front porches, and each has an attached garage with storage areas.  No upstairs or downstairs neighbors to worry about.  Here you are choosing to live in a Community – not a facility.

It’s no secret that a healthy mind & body can contribute significantly to the anti-aging process.  At BeeHive Cottages our Community Center buzzes with the noise of our seniors enjoying card games, dominos, board games, and Wii tournaments, along with our regular showing of Friday Night Movies.  Many of our residents take on Humanitarian projects from the local churches, and also work diligently on genealogy research.  In addition, our Activities Director also plans outings for our residents to see local plays, events, and educational seminars.  Whether it is a trip to a local art museum, or an excursion to Zion’s National Park, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary or Mesquite – our activities are both engaging and challenging.  Here you are choosing friends to have fun with — not couch mates.

Retrieved from “http://seniors.lovetoknow.com/Activities_Crafts_for_Senior_Citizens“

Studies also show that seniors who exercise regularly live a longer life.  Each of our residents receives an automatic membership to the Summit Athletic Club, in addition to access to exercise classes and a smaller workout room on site.  All Transportation to the Summit Health Club, Shopping, Doctor’s Appointments & Activities is provided at no additional cost.  Here you are choosing to live where there is only one monthly fee – no hidden additional charges.

Along with all of the above, our residents no longer have to worry about cleaning or struggling to maintain a home.  All housekeeping & maintenance services are provided, even issues as simple as changing a light bulb.  In addition, families have the peace of mind knowing that each Cottage has a twenty four hour emergency call system connected to an on-site response team.  Our residents (and their families) take tremendous comfort knowing that there is a live-in Administrator available anytime day or night.  And residents can be reassured that their beloved pet can join them here.  With all our amenities & activities here at BeeHive Cottages, this is Senior Independent living that you actually want to live in.  And, here, you are choosing to live!

Issue 14.10

There has been a lot of focus on the importance of eating a balanced diet, keeping your mind/body active, and reducing stress to help you make the most of your life as you age.  However, some unrealized opportunities lie in screening for chronic diseases and immunizations.  Many of the key strategies for protecting the health of older adults include broadening the use of preventative services and health assessments.   There are tremendous benefits to obtaining preventative care services and detecting problems early, when treatment is likely to be more effective.    Screening tests are tools used for early detection of potential deadly diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.   

First and foremost, your doctor should complete a thorough physical exam at least once each year and design a personal health strategy specifically for you.  At that point, your Doctor will recommend which screening tests are right for you & how often you should have them.  The key screenings which are commonly recommended include Blood Pressure Checks, Cholesterol checks, Colorectal Cancer tests, Diabetes screening, Mammograms, Pap Smears & Pelvic Exams, Prostate Cancer Screening, and a Bone Density test for Osteoporosis.

It is also important to get your eyes checked every 1-2 years as well.  Eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration increase with age.   In addition, get your hearing checked every 2 years by an audiologist; have a routine dental check-up at least once a year; and have annual skin examinations done by a dermatologist each year to check for skin cancer.

Health screening exams play a principal role in preventative health care for a wide range of common diseases and some that are not so common.  In addition, vaccinations play another key role in preventative medicine.  Common recommendations with vaccinations are yearly flu shots, a tetanus booster every 10 years and for seniors over 65 a pneumonia vaccination.  As always, talk to your doctor about which vaccinations are right for you.

And, finally, remember the old adage – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

At BeeHive Cottages, we focus all our resources on helping our residents to stay as healthy as possible.

Issue 6.10

There has been a lot of focus on the importance of eating a balanced diet, keeping your mind/body active, and reducing stress to help you make the most of your life as you age.  However, some unrealized opportunities lie in screening for chronic diseases and immunizations.  Many of the key strategies for protecting the health of older adults include broadening the use of preventative services and health assessments.  There are tremendous benefits to obtaining preventative care services and detecting problems early, when treatment is likely to be more effective.  Screening tests are tools used for early detection of potential deadly diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.   

First and foremost, your doctor should complete a thorough physical exam at least once each year and design a personal health strategy specifically for you.  At that point, your doctor will recommend which screening tests are right for you & how often you should have them.  The key screenings which are commonly recommended include blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, colorectal cancer tests, diabetes screening, mammograms, pap smears & pelvic exams, prostate cancer screening, and a bone density test for osteoporosis.

It is also important to get your eyes checked every 1-2 years as well.  Eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration increase with age.  In addition, get your hearing checked every 2 years by an audiologist; have a routine dental check-up at least once a year; and have annual skin examinations done by a dermatologist each year to check for skin cancer.

Health screening exams play a principal role in preventative health care for a wide range of common diseases and some that are not so common.  In addition, vaccinations play another key role in preventative medicine.  Common recommendations with vaccinations are yearly flu shots, a tetanus booster every 10 years and for seniors over 65 a pneumonia vaccination.  As always, talk to your doctor about which vaccinations are right for you.

And, finally, remember the old adage – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

At BeeHive Cottages, we focus all our resources on helping our residents to stay as healthy as possible.

Issue 2.10

Last time I focused on the definition and causes of Caregiver Burnout.  Today, I’d like to talk about the options available to help you handle it.  First and foremost, remember that you can’t be a good caregiver without taking care of yourself — maintain your physical health by eating properly and exercising regularly.  Also, take advantage of every minute when you get a break – utilize relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.  Next, I encourage you to lean on your family, friends, and members of your church community for help.  In addition, consider joining a support group where you can share ideas with others facing similar situations. 

If you find that you need more than just the normal break from care giving consider “respite care” – short term temporary care provided to your loved one by outside resources.  Often referred to as the “gift of time”, respite enables caregivers to take a few hours off or even a couple days.  Home based services include those provided by trained volunteers and by home care businesses.  For longer respite options Adult Day Care Centers can offer a safe, supportive environment.  In addition, several Assisted Living Centers, including the BeeHive Homes, offer temporary overnight respite care.

Lastly, keep in mind that what works for you today may not be the best decision tomorrow.  Sometimes the situation may change requiring you to care for your loved one in a different way – even change where your loved one resides.  Options like the BeeHive Cottages and BeeHive Homes may actually be better for your loved one from a therapeutic perspective and less stressful than home because of the interaction with like-aged residents and the availability of group activities and fitness programs.

Whatever you decide to do, always cherish the relationship that you have with your loved one that is still very much alive.  Find your joy in the moment!

Happy New Year from our BeeHive Cottage Family!

Issue 52.09

Are you one of the millions of sons or daughters caring for an aging parent in your home?  Then chances are that you may be close to being physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted.  Especially if you are a member of the “Sandwich Generation” - caring for your elderly parent and your own children at the same time.  I know from personal experience caring for my father with Alzheimer’s the abundance of stresses you are living through.  Being a caregiver places you in a situation where you may feel physically exhausted, financially drained, emotionally depleted, seldom appreciated, or perhaps even have strong feelings of despair, grief and hopelessness.  Often the most frustrating part is that the more time and energy you devote to care giving the greater the progression of your loved ones illness.  Therefore, their health continues to decline in spite of all of your efforts.  The snowball effect of the endless demands and stresses can eventually result in “caregiver burnout”.  Simply put — caregiver burnout is the culmination of physical, mental, and emotional fatigue as a result of accumulated frustration that cannot be resolved.  Have you ever felt like just screaming?  Holiday times can be the most difficult to endure.  Understand that you are definitely not alone, and the best advice that I can give you is to recognize when you are at the point of needing help and then reach out for it.

The key to Caregiver Burnout is how you handle it — some utilize negative methods to deal with stress – using drugs or alcohol, overeating/binging, chain smoking, etc.  Others focus on positive methods to counteract their stress – eating healthy & exercising regularly, utilizing relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation, maintaining a strong spiritual life, or just spending quality time with other family members or friends. 

Next time I will focus on other options and available resources to help handle caregiver burnout.

At this time, our entire family at BeeHive Cottages wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Issue 50.09

What can you do to maintain your brain health & lower your risk of dementia?  There are several steps that you can incorporate into your daily life to delay the negative effects of aging.  While everyone is aware that eating a healthy diet and improving your cardiovascular & muscular fitness by exercising help to maintain overall health.  Are you aware that socializing and exercising your mind is equally important as we age? 

Many recent studies have all come to the same conclusion – that having an active social life helps to keep our minds sharp.  These studies suggest that having strong social ties through your family, friends and community can preserve your brain health.  Those individuals that stay socially active have less memory decline than those that are socially isolated.  Most experts also agree that social isolation is unhealthy for people at any age but especially our seniors.  This type of isolation is closely associated with many health related concerns including depression.

In addition to socialization, mental exercises can also assist in keeping your brain young.  There are many memory games that you can play including crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and even the newest craze – “Sudoku”.  But you can also perform mental exercises when you do the simplest things like learning a new dance, starting a new hobby, playing a new card game, or learning to play a musical instrument. 

Many believe that living in a Retirement Community promotes the overall quality of life by increasing ones’ ability to socialize and therefore improve mental well-being.  Communities like the BeeHive Cottages provide the opportunity to socialize at all meals in addition to the ability to participate in mentally stimulating activities.

Call (435)773-7966 today to schedule a tour!

Issue 46.09

With winter approaching there are several things that Seniors can do to prepare for cold months. 

Prepare your home by reversing the spin on your ceiling fans to re-circulate the warm air down into the living area.  Experts recommend that furnaces receive a yearly maintenance check & thermostats be set no lower than 68 degrees.  Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly.  Have your fireplace chimney cleaned and keep the damper closed when not in use.  Make sure that any warm-air registers and radiators are clean and not blocked by furniture or curtains.  Remember to close your curtains when the sun goes down to prevent heat loss.

Seniors should keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water along with at least a seven-day supply of prescription medications in case the power goes out for any length of time.  Also, keep a supply of fresh batteries, extra flashlights and a battery-operated radio available.

When you leave your home, remember to dress properly – older adults are more susceptible to hypothermia which occurs when too much heat escapes the body.  It is important to dress warm by wearing layered, loose fitting clothing & a hat.  To avoid slips and falls, wear non-skid boots and shoes to help with traction. 

Lastly, remember to eat properly to ensure that you maintain a strong immune system and drink plenty of liquids to keep hydrated.  In addition, don’t forget to keep exercising – even in the winter you body needs to get exercise. 

Winter can still be an enjoyable season for seniors – especially if they take the necessary precautions to protect their health and safety.  It is also a great time of year to enjoy with friends – feel free to stop by, have lunch on us and meet some new friends at BeeHive Cottages!