Spring Has Sprung: The Healing Power of Being Outdoors for Seniors

It’s time to shake off that coat of winter hibernation and let the sunshine in! The cold weather makes movement a lot more challenging for those who have trouble getting around. Spring’s warmer weather invites us outside to celebrate the beauty of the crocuses and the lilacs blooming and inspires us to move about while giving us a renewed sense of freedom. Exercise and the warm sun are good for our stimulating our minds and moving our bodies. This is especially important to seniors that may have been homebound during the winter months.

5 Ways for Seniors To Enjoy The Warm Weather Outdoors

1) Take A Stroll

Getting outside in nature and taking a walk is beneficial to people on so many levels.

It strengthens muscles, can stop bone mass loss, can improve sleeping and boost the immune system, and is a great way to lose weight. The benefits of walking for seniors are tremendous.

2) Have a Picnic

Pack a little snack, and find a quiet, peaceful spot and enjoy “al fresco” dining. Bringing cards and playing a game outside is always fun too. This is a great way to enjoy social time together and the beauty of the outdoors.

3) Get a Bird Feeder

Who doesn’t enjoy watching birds at a bird feeder. You can make a game out of it and get a bird identification book to help name the different birds that come to visit - helps stimulate our minds and memories as well.

4) Just Be

Simply sitting outside and enjoying the sights and sounds of being outside is a fulfilling way for everyone to improve their physical and mental health. Getting outside breaks up the day-to-day routine and brightens our mood. Just 15 minutes a day outside in the sun can boost your vitamin D levels, which can improve your immune system and help foster a more positive outlook.   

5) Simply Open a Window

Seniors with limited mobility may have limits to their ability to go outdoors. But even sitting by an open window can bring the fresh air in, brighten the senses - and make a world of difference.

The Scottish Home is located North Riverside, Illinois, in a beautiful location with lovely outdoor spaces that allows its residents and guests to go outside, enjoy the fresh air - and feel better! Come see for yourself this special assisted living community where friends become family. http://www.thescottishhome.org

Senior Living That Feels Like Home

Putting loved ones into a senior living facility can create more worry than relief for family members who wonder if they are making the right decision. If your parents are struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, there is even greater importance that their new living space feels like a home and not a hospital. The Scottish Home and the Caledonian House in North Riverside, Illinois offers a unique living arrangement that provides you with peace-of-mind knowing that your loved one is well cared for. Here are five unique advantages to The Scottish Home:

1.     A step above assisted living – The Scottish Home is licensed to provide Sheltered Care. This means that we offer your loved one the same level of care they would get in assisted living, plus nursing care around the clock. We give personalized assistance based on patient need as well as friendship, emotional, and physical support for whole patient care. In addition, our residents get three meals a day, housekeeping, beauty and barber shop services, and regular activities and outings.

2.     Skilled nursing and intermediate care – If your loved one requires more care because of an injury, surgery, or prolonged illness, our staff is trained to provide skilled nursing care as well as therapeutic recovery services in a comfortable, homelike setting. We provide a personalized approach for each of our residents so the level and type of care is tailored to meet their specific needs.

3.     Memory care – Our facility offers an environment that helps patients struggling with the impact of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A homey setting comforts them and is free from long, confusing hallways and an institutional feel. Residents have private bedrooms and a full bathroom that open to a center common area with a comforting fireplace, seating area, and open kitchen. 

4.     Family setting – All meals are enjoyed with fellow floor residents. Additionally, our certified nursing assistant staff are trained to help patients with personal care, culinary requirements, housekeeping, and dementia care. They take the time to engage with each resident and make them feel at home.

5.     Respite care – We offer respite care for family members who need a short break to recharge from the demands of caring for their loved ones.

The Scottish Home is the only facility that offers this type of elder care model in the Chicagoland area. Contact us to schedule a visit. 

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Every 3seconds a new case of dementia is diagnosed. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. This is not a normal part of aging, there is no method of prevention and there is no proven cure. November is Alzheimer’s awareness month. Do what you can: donate, educate someone, educate yourself, wear purple, throw an event, pledge your birthday, share your story, share the message. Together, we can educate the population and decrease the stigma placed on Alzheimer’s. We can educate the young population that will one day be doctors, researchers, and caregivers. We can light the fire inside their hearts. Such an awful disease can only be fought, defeated, treated, cured if we fight together.  

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is currently the 6^th leading cause of death. Currently, there are 46.8 billion people worldwide fighting dementia. This means that 1in every 3 senior citizens die with some form of dementia. This number will increase to around 74.7 million in the next 44 years. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease; this means that the symptoms will worsen over time. Per the Alzheimer’s Association, here are ten early warning signs of Alzheimer’s:

   1.      Memory loss in daily life

   2.      Challenges problem solving

   3.      Difficulty with familiar tasks

   4.      Confusion with time/place

   5.      Trouble with visual images

   6.      Problems with speaking & writing

   7.      Frequently misplacing items

   8.      Poor judgment

   9.      Changes in personality and mood

   10.  Withdrawal for social activities

To formally diagnosis Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, visit your doctor.  Your doctor will perform memory tests that involve problem solving, counting, and language followed by brain scans; CT scans and PET scans. 

If diagnosed, there are some wonderful facilities that provide caregivers specifically for dementia and Alzheimer’s. The Scottish Home recently added The Caledonian House to their facilities. This new location specializes in best in class memory care. Our memory support program understands the challenges, changes, and difficulties associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. The program focuses on emotional and physical health of your loved ones.

The Scottish Home provides loving care, friendship, and enriching activities. Because of our small size, the environment is very intimate; this makes our residents and staff feel like a family! In addition to the new memory care facility, The Scottish Home also offers assisted living and nursing home care facilities. Schedule a Tour of our facilities located at 2800 Des Plaines Avenue in North Riverside Illinois. For more information, visit our website or give us a call at (708) 447-5092!

Thanks For a Great Holiday Season!

Thank you to our residents, family members, volunteers and employees who participated in The Scottish Home holiday celebrations!  Even though residents were away from home, we were happy to provide our seniors with the comforts of home during the holidays.  Take a look at what made the 2015 holiday season at The Scottish Home great!

The holidays were a busy and festive time as residents and staff were hard at work creating a magical atmosphere throughout The Scottish Home.  Carolers from churches, schools and scouts filled the air with joyful holiday sounds.  The residents enjoyed the glow of Christmas lights during an evening, guided bus tour through Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo.

By far, the highlight of the season had to be the annual Resident Family Christmas Party.  Residents and their families indulged in a variety of sweets while listening to carolers.  They were even surprised with a performance by the Thistle and Heather Dancers.  The night was closed out with a visit from Santa and plenty of goodies for the residents and children at the party.

Once again, thank you to all who participated in our Holiday festivities and we look forward to a great 2016!  Even after the holidays end, we are proud to provide our residents with warm, friendly and loving care.  No matter the time of year, The Scottish Home is a place where friends become family.  To learn more about The Scottish Home, please visit our website and schedule a tour today!  We are conveniently located at 2800 Des Plaines Avenue in North Riverside, Illinois. 

Craft & Vendor Fair at The Scottish Home

On October 17^th from 9 am to 2 pm, The Scottish Home will be holding a craft and vendor fair for residents and their families!  Everyone is welcome to this fun-filled event and guests are encouraged to purchase a table beforehand.  At The Scottish Home, we had a fun summer with our residents partaking in a number of activities.  We are looking forward to a fun-filled fall with plenty of autumn-inspired events.

The importance of special events throughout the year is important to the happiness of residents in nursing homes.  Helping residents cope with aging into long-term facility care can be challenging for everyone involved including residents, families and even nursing home employees.  A poor adjustment can lead to health problems and a diminishing quality of life.  One way that The Scottish Home helps adjust residents is with social interactions through activities and events.

Activities play an important role in helping residents of all physical abilities live as fully as possible.  They should be designed to fit resident preferences and needs as well as engage the body and mind.  Studies show that a mixture of physical activity, intellectual challenge, socialization and spirituality can help add to a fulfilling life.  At The Scottish Home, we are proud to offer assisted living and nursing care to residents of need.  With all of our residents, we encourage physical activities and social events.

Autumn-inspired crafts are a wonderful way to get seniors involved.  The Craft & Vendor Fair on October 17^th will feature handmade items and crafting tools to connect residents and their families.  This is the perfect opportunity to create something special to decorate your living space this Halloween!

To learn more about the Craft & Vendor Fair, contact The Scottish Home as 708-447-5092 or visit our website.  

Aid and Assistance for Veterans

For America’s heroes, life after war is never easy.  Not only do they have to adjust to life back home but they also must worry about financial income.  Many wartime veterans and their spouses are not aware that they may be eligible for financial benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs that may improve their monthly income.

Serving veterans and their families since 2002, the AAWV is a privately held community outreach service educating wartime veterans, surviving spouses and their families on the Aid and Attendance pension under the Improvised Pension Program payable by the Department of Veteran Affairs.  AAVW works in harmony with assisted living and private pay nursing home communities to educate veterans and families on the benefits, qualifications and what is necessary to apply.

If you are a wartime veteran interested in Aid and Attendance Benefits, there are 3 key eligibility requirements that must be met:

• The veteran must have served in active military for 90 or more consecutive days, with at least one day during a period of wartime as defined by the Veterans Administration.
• The veteran must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
• The veteran must be over the age of 65 or disabled.

With this in mind, the Veteran Affairs defines Aid and Assistance eligibility following four criteria including who is eligible, income, assets and medical requirements.  All of these criteria areas must work together before the Aid and Attendance pension is approved.  This tax-free benefit is paid out monthly to the veteran and/or spouse who are approved.

At Scottish Home, we work with AAWV to educate and assist the veterans in our home.  Providing both assisted living and nursing care, we aim to enrich the lives of our residents in every way possible.  To learn more about what the Scottish Home has to offer, visit our website.  For more information on veteran Aid and Assistance, contact AAWV.

Where Friends Become Family

The Scottish Home has been in North Riverside for over one hundred years.  It was started by a group of Scots who wanted to provide service to their fellow country people who came across to the Chicago-area.  The Scottish Home has been able to succeed after many years by the fact that they are a very small, individual-oriented home.  Licensed for only 85 residents, the Scottish Home is one big family that places importance on individual’s wants, needs and preferences.  This is a place where friends truly do become family.

Many people that grow into old age garner a sense of loneliness and depression.  At The Scottish Home, we strive to foster a sense of belonging within a safe and nurturing environment.  We provide quality care while respecting individual routines, interests and abilities.  In addition, we focus on wellness and assisting residents to remain as independent as possible.

As one’s needs become more advanced, so does the level of care and attention we provide.  Residents receive the specialized care they need in a supportive and dignified setting.  The Scottish Home is not just another nursing home.  We provide an atmosphere of nurture, sincere care and real empathy about what’s going on in the lives of our residents. 

For anyone considering bringing a family member or loved one to The Scottish Home, you could not make a better decision!  Your loved one will gain a new family from our maintenance staff all the way up to our home director.  The intimate size allows our staff to develop close bonds with the residents as well as their families.  Most importantly, you will love how much our staff cares.

The Scottish Home is a place with history, culture and an atmosphere that is unmatched.  Although we have roots in Scottish Culture, we are proud to provide a home for seniors of all ethnicities.  To learn more about The Scottish Home, visit us online.

At The Scottish Home, we celebrate life each day!