The long, dark winter months can bring with something with them called seasonal depression. This is a specific type of depression that becomes worse in the darker months and lessens a bit in the spring and the summer. Anyone can be affected by seasonal depression, but it can be especially damaging for older adults.
Many assisted living communities across the country have gone into what some might consider “lockdown” mode. This basically means visitors are not permitted on the grounds, at least not without a careful and thorough check to ensure they are not sick.
As people age, they run an increased risk of dealing with certain health issues, such as vision-related problems. In fact, by the time a person reaches 80, it is nearly a certainty they will have some form of vision related problems, most commonly cataracts.
People are often talking about the ‘new normal’ in light of the shutdowns. The main focus has been to keep people healthy, especially protecting the elderly and more vulnerable population, but whether this ‘new normal’ is truly how things will operate from here on out or things go back to the way they once were (eventually), winter is here and that means a major draw to stay inside. For seniors at assisted living, they may very well be struggling to understand this new normal.
November 23, 2020
Subject: Springs at Simpsonville Monthly Newsletter
Dear Springs Residents and Family Members (or as I like to say “Our Extended Family”),
Happy Thanksgiving & and early Merry Christmas! I am pleased to continue to report that The Springs remains COVID FREE. This is a wonderful blessing and something we are especially grateful for this Thanksgiving.
Everything changes. That’s the overall theme of life, isn’t it? No matter how much we wish things stayed the same, the passage of time and the natural process of aging force us to deal with change. Coronavirus roared into 2020 and has changed American life as we know it. For those seniors at assisted living, many of those changes have been unsettling, to say the least.
So now looking forward, how might things be permanently different even long after coronavirus is well in the past?
Perhaps you never imagined you would be caring for your elderly mother, but that’s what’s happening now. As a family caregiver, you are experiencing a tremendous amount of stress. That stress can be affecting your career, relationships, and your health. You don’t have to continue down this road, though. Assisted living is a wonderful option.
We’re all familiar with “The Talk.” It can be sensitive, uncomfortable, and awkward. You want to make sure you’re providing useful information without embarrassment, and you want to create a safe environment for questions or concerns.
There’s nothing like sharing a good laugh with an old friend, hugging a grandchild, reminiscing on the past with your now-adult children, or even sitting in comfortable silence with your spouse. All of these are forms of connection, something that—at our core—is a basic human need.
The Springs at Simpsonville is proud to announce our August Employee of The Month, Paige Urrutia! Paige is hard-working and caring and we are glad to have her on our team. Paige was born in Greenville and has spent…
