We all know getting older is a hard fact of life. When you are young and healthy, it is easy to take care of yourself. For many, all through their childhood, your parents were there to support you and help you grow whenever you needed them. Naturally, as the roles of caregiver slowly changes, you want to care for them as they age. However, life’s responsibilities can make it difficult to become a full-time caregiver, no matter how much you want it. Perhaps you don’t live close to your parents or you have work commitments 40+ hours a week. It is in these circumstances that senior living options can give you peace of mind that your loved one is happy and cared for when you cannot be there for them all the time.

With so many choices and businesses that offer senior living services… How does one choose? Deciding on a senior living option for your loved one is an intimidating job – and one we know you do not take lightly. So what sets a senior living company apart from the rest? Let us be honest; there is a lot - but let us look at one big difference you should consider.

It is not uncommon for seniors to feel chronically lonely. In fact, loneliness affects around 1 in 5 seniors nationally. It is, unfortunately, a devastating complication of aging that can often lead to larger problems like increased disabilities, cognitive decline, and even early death. The great news is it is completely preventable as long as it is recognized and addressed promptly.

You had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones but noticed that your parent was not their usual self. Some things you may have seen were unopened personal mail or bills, letters from the bank about overdue payments or overdrawn balances, mail piled up in their mailbox, or the house not as clean as they usually keep it. All of these signs and much more are common signs that your mom may need to explore assisted living or potentially memory care.

If you are a family caregiver, ensuring your senior maintains their health can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Inevitably, little things snowball into big things and can often lead to a decline in overall health. To help prevent this cycle, let’s look first at establishing healthy habits for your senior (or even yourself)!

The successful businessman, philanthropist and founder of Virgin Group, Richard Branson is notable for saying, "Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients".

While this statement sounds counter to old business wisdom, it is inherently true. Employees are the first contact customers (or in the senior living industry – residents) have with an organization. Employees who are treated well, educated and routinely challenged in their roles are undeniably happier – directly affecting how they interact with residents. So what are senior living companies doing to help employees and caregivers reach their full potential and therefore improving overall customer service for residents?

We all have those days… Where it feels like a Monday, a million things are being thrown at you, and your stress ball might actually disintegrate in your hand from pressure. Try experiencing all of that and being responsible for another adult who depends solely on you for care. That’s the daily life of a family caregiver.

According to statistics, the stereotypical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman who is married and employed. She cares for her widowed mother who does not live with her; she does however have children or grandchildren under 18 living with her.

Budgeting for elderly care and the costs of senior living facilities are as varied as seniors themselves. We will take a look at the things you need to consider when determining what you can afford and how to pay for it.

Most people hope and plan to live independently in their own home for the rest of their lives, but at some point, you or someone in your family will likely need some form of assisted living. Determining what it will cost can be confusing and daunting. Following are some factors to consider.

When it comes to aging loved ones, looking to the future can often be overwhelming and full of unknowns. The prospect of transitioning your elderly parent out of their home is difficult and emotional from the start and without a clear understanding of your options can be downright agonizing.

If your parent is not able to live independently any longer, your first thought may be to place your loved one to go into a nursing home, but that is not your only option. Assisted living communities offer a long-term care option for adults who can retain independence but need to receive some level of care on a daily basis. To help you understand the services offered by an assisted living community and how it differs from a nursing home, we’ve put together a list of the top differences.

Steve Iroff is an accomplished and seasoned Executive with over 15 years in the Senior Living industry in operations, marketing and sales where he has managed premier senior living communities.