Issue 38.09

I am a young 80 year old retired school teacher & I lost my husband last August after a long illness.  When she saw how deeply his loss affected me, the wonderful nurse from Zion’s Way Hospice suggested I check out BeeHive Cottages.

Well, I can tell you that the loving support of the staff & residents has helped me tremendously to deal with my grief & heartache.  I get out & socialize every day.  We meet at the community center for three nutritional meals a day prepared by our chef.  I am focusing more on my health and physical fitness.  I meet once a week with our Physical Therapist who developed an individual exercise program to help me strengthen my back muscles & help fight osteoporosis.   And, I go twice a week to the Summit Athletic Club for the water aerobics program.  My doctor told me that I am in the best shape in years!

Not only do I feel better, but I have a great sense of Independence.  I live in my own private 1 bedroom cottage which is a separate little home, so it’s not like living in a facility type of atmosphere.  And all the maintenance inside & outside is totally taken care of, so I don’t have to worry about any responsibilities related to my home.  Also all my transportation is provided, so I don’t need a car anymore which saves me a lot of money in maintenance, repairs & insurance.  They drive me to the health club, shopping, and all my Doctor’s appointments.

I feel like I am on a small “cruise ship on land”, and I am free to make new friends and be at peace with my life now.  BeeHive Cottages has given me the opportunity to enjoy life to its fullest, with the loving care of someone looking over me without intruding on my life.  I came here to enjoy life & celebrate it!

Are you ready for fun?  The opportunity is now……….get a new lease on life with BeeHive Cottages!  Call 634-9299 to learn about your new cottage today. (Betsy Jordan’s story.)

Issue 36.09

It has been my pleasure to talk with Seniors and their family members as they evaluate Senior Living options.  I hope that some of the issues raised in these articles assist you in making the best decision for you.

When you are evaluating a Senior Independent Living Community check its stability first.  Does the perspective residence have a track record under the same name or has it changed its name due to previous problems in the Community?  Are the owners & management companies committed to maintaining the quality of the buildings & property?  Is there clear evidence of an ongoing investment by the owners demonstrating this commitment or is the physical environment deteriorating?

Next, do owners put the safety and welfare of the residents first and foremost?  Are there smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and sprinkler systems throughout all Community buildings?  Is there an Emergency Alarm System available with an onsite response team rather than an outsourced service?  Are there Video Monitors and other security systems in place to ensure residents security?  Are all floor surfaces safe & covered with non-slip materials, and are safety grab bars installed where needed?  In addition, when evaluating a “facility type” of community with all individual living “apartments” under one roof – is the floor plan easy to learn & navigate?  Will you or your loved one be required to walk through a maze of confusing and depressing hallways?  Is there an Emergency exit plan in place?

Positive answers to each of these questions are a strong indication that the owners put the safety and welfare of their residents first.  Stability and life safety should not be overlooked concerns when evaluating Independent Senior Living Communities!

We invite you to evaluate BeeHive Cottages – Senior Living with Flair!  Call 773-7966 to schedule a tour.

Issue 34.09

Planned Activities – Don’t be stuck in a rut doing the same activity over & over.  There are endless new & exciting activities for you to join, and learn things that you always wanted to.  You can be as socially involved as you want to. 

Movie Night – who doesn’t love a good movie?

Neighbors – Instead of worrying about neighbors with barking dogs or screaming kids, you will live next to people who are like-minded & understand you.  These neighbors become your friends & opportunities to socialize increase exponentially.  Remember when you used to meet up with your friends in the neighborhood cul-de-sac?  Those days have returned………….

Less Work – Have home maintenance & repairs become too troublesome or expensive?  Constant upkeep of a large house and yard can be not only exhausting, but also consume all your leisure time.  Remember, you worked hard all your life to enjoy your retirement years!  You can now enjoy a well manicured lawn without all the work!  All together now – “No more chores”!!

Less Stress – Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live somewhere that is dedicated to your peace of mind, well being & happiness.  These communities can insulate you from the day-to-day stresses of the outside world.  Maybe your current neighborhood is not as safe as it used to be.  Come live where your community is secure & someone will watch over your place.

Less Worry – Especially about future health care issues.  As we age & begin to experience the initial signs of a disability or illness, the fear can be debilitating.  Maybe you can’t drive anymore & public transportation is not an option.  Independent Living Communities can provide just the right assistance to enable you to continue to live independently & maintain your privacy.  You won’t have to worry anymore…….

Come check out Senior Independent Living at its best – BeeHive Cottages!  Call 773-7966 to schedule a tour.

Issue 32.09

There is no place in St. George quite like the BeeHive Cottages.  Here you’ll find Senior Independent Living the way it was meant to be.  Our residents’ lives are enriched and stimulated by the quantity & quality of our amenities and our activities. 

It’s no secret that a healthy mind & body can contribute significantly to the anti-aging process.  Many of our seniors are proving that you will stay active & healthy as long as you continue to use your mind & body.  Spending time with others enjoying activities will also help you to build friendships and feel better about life.  At BeeHive Cottages we have a broad range of activities run by our Activities Director, Libby Swonson, who brings extensive experience and a sincere enthusiasm to her position.  All activities are listed on a monthly calendar of events distributed by Libby to each resident.

On a daily basis 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 or Mesquite – our activities are both engaging and challenging.

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, where they can attend water aerobics classes which are wonderful for strengthening the muscles without causing wear & tear on the joints.  The Summit also has weight training, cardiovascular machines, yoga & Pilates classes, tennis & pickleball courts, and other aerobic classes.  In addition, the BeeHive Cottages also has exercise classes and a smaller workout facility on site.

We invite you to participate in any of our activities to experience Senior Independent Living at its’ best.  Call 773-7966 for a calendar of events.

With all our activities here at BeeHive Cottages, your forecast is sunny with a strong chance of friendships developing overnight!

Issue 30.09

With the many options out there for seniors, sometimes it can be a challenge to decide which choice is right for you.

The first question you should ask yourself is “Do I need help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, taking medication, or eating?”  If you need this type of assistance, then Assisted Living is the better option for you.  An Assisted Living Facility offers 24 hour supervision and comprehensive assistance with personal care.  You make this decision when medical, memory or aging issues make it unsafe to stay in your own home.

Sometimes, seniors that are still healthy & self-sufficient find themselves getting overwhelmed by household responsibilities and immediately think, “I need to go to Assisted Living.”  What they don’t realize is that there is another option for them, and that option is Senior Independent Living.  These individuals can still live independently but no longer want the burden of cooking, cleaning or maintaining a home.   

What should you look for in choosing an Independent Living Community?  First, do you want to live in an apartment in a facility environment with residents at mixed levels of care?  Or, do you want a private home in a community with other similar residents’ homes nearby?  Either way, you should choose a home that is built on one floor without any stairs.  It is also important to examine the parking options – is there convenient, well lit parking?  Are safety features built in to assist your needs as you age – walk-in showers, grab bars in bathrooms, and sprinkler systems in addition to smoke detectors?  Does the community offer fine, restaurant style dining with a variety of menu options?  Is there a 24 hour emergency call system connected to an on-site response team?  Can you bring your beloved pet with you?  Do they take care of all housekeeping & maintenance issues?  Do they have an activities program that develops activities to complement their seniors’ current interests as well as help them to discover new ones?

Stop by & get some of your questions answered by checking out the BeeHive Cottages.  For information or directions call (435)773-7966.

Issue 24.09

As our parents get older we want to ensure that they’re taking good care of themselves and staying healthy.  Sometimes our family/work responsibilities, or where we live, make it difficult to monitor how well they’re managing on their own.  Oftentimes our parents won’t admit that they are struggling to handle daily responsibilities.

If you have concerns about your aging parents, there are several things you can “watch for” to help you gauge if your parents need help.

First of all, look closely at your parent’s appearance.  Are their clothes clean & neat, and are they keeping up their personal hygiene?  Failure to keep up with basic grooming & daily routines may indicate underlying health problems.

Next, are they having any difficulty moving around?  Joint problems or muscle weakness can cause them to be unsteady on their feet & at risk of falling.  Falls can cause major injuries or even death to our loved ones.

How safe is their home?  Has it become more difficult for them to maintain it?  Is the home cluttered?  Has the yard become overgrown?  Are the stairs or narrow hallways becoming difficult for them to navigate?  Keep your eye out for changes that indicate problems with maintaining a home.  For example, have they burned anything on the stove lately? 

How is their appearance?  Physically, have they lost weight?  Being thin may be admired in Hollywood, but as we age losing weight can be a sign of health problems (i.e. Cancer, Heart Failure).  Are they simply forgetting to eat?  Or are they having trouble following recipe directions, or grasping cooking utensils?  Emotionally, how do they look?  Do they seem reasonably happy to you?  Have they lost interest in activities or socializing with friends? 

If your parents are struggling with any of the above issues, talk to them & let them know that you are concerned.  Depression, dementia or physical impairments may cause any of these issues and seriously impact your parent’s ability to live alone.  It may be time to discuss assistive devices, home care workers, or you might decide that it is time for a higher level of care like we provide at BeeHive Cottages.  Feel free to stop by and explore the newest innovation in Senior Independent Living.  Or call (435)773-7966 with any questions.

Issue 22.09

There is no place in St. George quite like the BeeHive Cottages.  Here you’ll find Senior Independent Living the way it was meant to be.  Our residents’ lives are enriched and stimulated by the quantity & quality of our amenities and our activities. 

It’s no secret that a healthy mind & body can contribute significantly to the anti-aging process.  Many of our seniors are proving that you will stay active & healthy as long as you continue to use your mind & body.  Spending time with others enjoying activities will also help you to build friendships and feel better about life.

On a daily basis 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. 

Frequent musical events are also scheduled, including a local pianist who plays the piano for our residents every Wednesday.  Our Executive Chef, David Gilgen, is a member of the talented Rocky Mountain Revival Show quartet which performs shows in our Community Center.  In addition, our Activities Director also plans outings for our residents to see local plays, events, and educational seminars.  There are monthly Queen Bee & King Bee luncheons scheduled at local restaurants.  Whether it is a trip to a local art museum, or an excursion to Zion’s National Park or Mesquite – our activities are both engaging and challenging.

Studies also show that seniors who exercise regularly live a longer life.  A good place to begin with exercise is water therapy or water aerobics.  Each of our residents receives an automatic membership to the Summit Athletic Club, where they can attend water aerobics classes which are wonderful for strengthening the muscles without causing wear & tear on the joints.  These classes not only build strength but also endurance & help our seniors to breathe better.  Along with swimming, it is one of the best activities that a senior can do to increase fitness.  The Summit also has weight training, cardiovascular machines, yoga & Pilates classes, tennis & pickleball courts, and other aerobic classes.  In addition, the BeeHive Cottages also has exercise classes and a smaller workout facility on site.

We invite you to participate in any of our activities to experience Senior Independent Living at its’ best.  Call 773-7966 for a calendar of events.

With all our activities here at BeeHive Cottages, your forecast is sunny with a strong chance of friendships developing overnight!