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We think it’s important to keep having fun no matter what age you are. Independent living in Bradenton, FL, should include plenty of lifelong learning opportunities like making holiday crafts with friends. 

So get out your glue gun and your creative spirit and brighten up the holidays with these festive crafts.

1. Flannel Trees

This craft could not be easier to complete, yet it looks like you purchased it from a high-end department store. You will need:

• A foam or cardboard cone
• Small pearl-headed pins
• A hot glue gun and glue
• 1-inch wide strips of flannel from old, unwanted flannel shirts
• A rustic metal star to place on top

Wind the strips of flannel around the cone from bottom to top. If using foam, pin the fabric in place as needed, being sure to put pins in the back of the tree. Use hot-glue to attach fabric if you are using cardboard cones.

Glue a star at the top, and that’s it! These trees are cozy and cute. They make wonderful gifts, or you can use them to dress up your independent living apartment.

2. Buffalo Fleece Hand Warmers

These smart hand warmers are useful and thoughtful. We like buffalo check fleece, but you can use any pattern you like.

You’ll need the following supplies:

• Two four-inch squares of buffalo check fleece
• Needle and thread
• Plain uncooked white rice
• A funnel
• Straight pins

Place two pieces of fleece right sides together with edges aligned. Pin into place if needed. Whipstitch three of the four sides together. Use the funnel to fill the pocket with rice, and sew the last side closed.

To use, pop the hand warmers into the microwave for about 30 seconds. The rice will warm up and keep your hands toasty for a surprisingly long time.

3. Festive Candlesticks

This is a great upcycling idea if you have old candlesticks that you never use. You can also purchase inexpensive wooden candlesticks online or at the craft store for this project.

You will need:

• Candlestick(s) for taper candles
• Glass ornaments in assorted sizes
• A hot glue gun

Arrange a variety of ornaments around the candlestick to create a pleasing design. Once you have a plan in mind, begin gluing the ornaments to the candlestick, taking care to cover as much of the surface as possible. The final result will look like a circle of ornaments effortlessly surrounding a candle.

4. Salt Shaker Snow Globes

What’s winter without a snow globe? You can make your own miniature winter wonderland or share it with friends at your independent living facility.

You will need:

• Clear salt and pepper shakers (clean and dry)
• Salt
• Miniature trees, animal figurines, or other small items
• A funnel
• Long-handled tweezers

Remove the top from the shaker and fill it about one-third full with salt using the funnel. Use the tweezers to place the decorative items securely in the salt. Arrange a pleasing vignette and replace the top carefully without disturbing the design. These fun items would make a wonderful addition to the holiday décor in a shared dining room.

A “Hot” Tip from Westminster Point Pleasant Independent Living in Bradenton, FL

Hot glue can cause painful burns on your fingertips if you’re not careful. Keep a dish of ice handy just in case an accident happens. Better yet, consider investing in a safe, budget-friendly “cool glue” gun. Cool glue isn’t ideal for every type of adhesion, but it will work well for the lightweight materials used in these projects.

Moving to a high-quality assisted living Sarasota facility doesn’t mean that you can’t leave. Instead, you can drive when you want and go wherever you’d like on your schedule. However, it is important to follow a few safety guidelines to minimize the risk of serious injury or harm you may experience.

Know Your Capacities

As we age, we lose some of our physical capabilities. These can affect how safely we drive. For example, if you can’t turn your head to the right and left easily anymore, you could easily miss out on warning signs for potentially dangerous driving situations. Also, talk to your assisted living Sarasota home to learn more about how your medications may affect your driving skills. Doing so could save a life.

Understand Driving Guidelines for Your Center 

Does your assisted living Sarasota home have driving guidelines for its seniors? For example, do you have to drive at a specific speed when you’re at the center? These guidelines are important to follow because they’re set up to help seniors avoid serious accidents. By taking the time to understand these facets, you can do what you can to minimize your struggles in this situation.

Get Your Vision and Hearing Checked 

As a senior, you may have some vision and hearing troubles that should be regularly checked. It’s a good idea to get checked at least once a year, minimally. However, we strongly recommend that you get tested at least every four or five months, as it isn’t uncommon for hearing and vision loss to affect seniors late in life. Getting help can be key to avoiding serious driving dangers. 

Consider a Driving Partner 

When you move into an assisted living Sarasota home, you’ll likely make a broad new range of friends that you can spend time with every day. Thankfully, this should make it easier for you to find a driving partner whenever you go out. An assisted living Sarasota, Florida, facility may even help introduce you to someone who needs to go out when you drive, helping make your experience safer. 

You Can Stay Safe

If you’re moving into an assisted living Sarasota, Florida, facility and plan on driving, it is important to continually assess your abilities to ensure that you don’t take any unnecessary risks. By keeping track of your abilities and being honest about them, you can minimize your risk of serious driving dangers.

Are you looking for an assisted living Sarasota home and aren’t sure where to start? You’re not alone. Finding the kind of assisted living Sarasota Florida can trust requires a lot of careful attention and research. You need to know a few different things about each care center to ensure you get the best experience. Here’s what you need to know about this situation and what to expect. 

Basic Elements You Can’t Ignore 

The most important things about assisted living homes don’t change from state to state. You need a high quality of care and much more. Just a few things to consider include:

• Price – How much is your assisted living Sarasota home charging you to stay there? This factor is very important because you need to find the right option for your budget!
• Size – Don’t gauge just the overall size of the facility, but also where you’ll be staying. Will you feel comfortable where you plan on living? Do you have all the personal space you need?
• Personality of Caregivers – Are your caregivers friendly and warm? Do they welcome you when you come to visit? Do you feel comfortable with them?
• Location – Do you want a care facility that is as close to the ocean as possible? Or would you like one closer to your kids? Consider these factors carefully as you make your decisions.

A Checklist for Finding an Assisted Living Sarasota Home

After you find a handful of assisted living Sarasota Florida homes that meet your needs, it is time to weigh them using a detailed checklist:

• Housekeeping Help – What kind of services do they provide for day-to-day care?
• Transportation Options – Will your care center take you where you need to go?
• Meal Choices – Are all delicious dining options served at your assisted living Sarasota Florida home?
• Personal Care – How much personal care does your assisted living home provide you?
• Visitation Options – Can you regularly welcome guests to your assisted living facility with ease?
• Recreational Choices – Does your care facility provide you with many fun activities? 

Find the Sarasota Assisted Living Home You Want

By paying attention to these facets, you can ensure that you don’t end up in an assisted living Sarasota home that doesn’t suit your needs. In this way, you can protect from any complications or regret in choices!

Depending on you or your loved one’s situation, if you are looking for Bradenton assisted living, you may want to consider a memory care facility. Memory care facilities are usually built for retirees with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive degenerative condition that affects memory. 

While there’s currently no cure, there are several treatment options that a memory care facility can provide that will help those suffering from memory loss.

How Memory Care Facilities Helps with Memory Loss

Memory care facilities are designed to address the unique needs of people with memory loss. These facilities employ specialized caregivers that provide residents with day-to-day supervision, guidance, and support in a structured setting. The structure each day helps residents minimize confusion and settle into a regular schedule. 

Memory care facilities provide peace and comfort to the residents and the family members of residents. Caring for a loved one with memory loss is not easy, and it can bring a lot of stress and unnecessary agitation to a family. Memory programs eliminate this stress while still giving loved ones a friendly and supportive community.

Memory Care Facility Amenities 

Memory care facilities often feature the same amenities and health care services as assisted living facilities, with some minor differences.

Standard amenities at memory care facilities:

• Private dining rooms and visitors corners
• Fitness center
• Therapeutic pool
• Common areas including recreation rooms and TV rooms
• Game rooms
• Courtyard
• Walking paths
• WiFi service

Additional amenities that you may also find at memory care facilities include:

• Memory boxes to help guide residents
• Anti-wandering devices
• Security systems 
• 24/7 on-site security

Conveniences like these can make a big difference when deciding where to place a loved one. All facilities that offer memory care in Bradenton offer different amenities that you should consider before choosing the place for you or your loved one.

Memory Care Services and Therapy

When it comes to quality care for those suffering from memory loss, amenities are usually not enough to ensure residents are safe and happy. That’s why many memory care facilities also offer a variety of additional services and therapy to the residents.

Standard services and therapy provided on-site include:

• Music therapy
• Animal therapy
• Memory games
• Memory exercises

Many memory care facilities also offer speech therapy to stimulate cognition and help your loved one maintain independence for longer.

Memory Care Facility Living Spaces

While every facility is different, most memory care facilities look and feel more like a traditional residential setting. Some communities even feature individual housing units that connect to the community spaces. 

Most facilities will have private living spaces that can be personalized and usually include cable TV and telephone service. Usually, memory care units do not include cooking appliances to keep residents safe. While residents are free to enjoy their private living quarters as much as they want, they are also encouraged to spend time in community areas and engage in social activities.

Bradenton Assisted Living

Bradenton is a wonderful community for all types of assisted living, whether it is an independent living facility, fully assisted, or a memory care facility. Rest assured that you or your loved one will find what they are looking for in this community.

Living in an assisted living community can be a great option for many retirees. Assisted living communities are becoming more popular and have begun to feature more options for retirees as the years have gone on. 

Pursuing assisted living in Sarasota can be a great decision as you move to the next stage of your life. Here are five benefits to assisted living communities that many seniors enjoy.

1. Safety and Security

One of the most important things to consider as you enter retirement or the next stage of your life is your safety and security. As we get older, accidents are not only more likely but more dangerous, so safety needs to be a top priority. In addition, we are more vulnerable to security incidents in later stages in life, so security needs to be a priority.

Assisted living communities provide ample safety and security. Most facilities have protection in place, including security staff, secured entrances, and alarm systems. You’ll always have someone around to help you in case of an emergency in assisted living in Sarasota.

2. Easy Access to Healthcare

Living outside of assisted living communities means healthcare can sometimes be inconvenient or inaccessible. Depending on where you live, a doctor, skilled nurse, or general emergency assistance could be far away. Living in an assisted living community usually means that you’ll have access to healthcare just feet away from you. Many assisted living facilities in Bradenton, FL, have doctors and nurses on-site 24/7.

3. Social Activities

Most assisted living facilities host a variety of social activities for residents. These range from games to lessons to classes. You can meet new friends that also live in the facility and get to know the staff on-site. Maintaining a healthy social life is key to longevity and happiness and should be part of your consideration no matter where you decide to retire. This is something you’ll want to consider whether you are pursuing assisted living or independent living in Bradenton, FL.

4. More Free Time

Retirement is all about enjoying your time! You’ve worked hard to get to this stage in life, so you don’t want to spend extra time doing chores and everyday tasks. As we get older, it can take longer and longer to complete our necessary daily activities. The staff can help with these tasks in an assisted living community, leaving more time for what you enjoy. 

5. Personalized Care

One of the best things about an assisted living community is the staff. Some of the best service and healthcare staff work in assisted living communities, and you’ll get personalized care that you won’t get anywhere else. You’ll get to know the staff, and they will provide care around your schedule and preferences, unlike hiring a service or going to a hospital. 

Assisted Living in Sarasota

Sarasota is one of the best communities in the country for retirement. It is also home to some of the most luxurious and sought-after assisted living communities. Whether you are looking for your next forever home or a short stint while you figure out what’s next, Sarasota is a great place to be.

A significant portion of retirement communities are individuals past sixty-five years of age. They are at a stage where they can enjoy their new profound freedom, like freedom from doing house chores and cooking. Since these individuals are mostly separated from their families, communication is necessary to eliminate loneliness and ensure they maintain good mental health. Here are the best devices and apps for residents of assisted living facilities in Bradenton, Florida to help them keep in touch with their loved ones.

BeClose

BeClose is one of the most innovative technologies available to residents of Bradenton assisted living. It uses discreet wireless sensors to track an older adult’s daily routine, and the caregiver can check on the data using a secure web page at their convenience. An email, phone, or text alert is sent to the caregiver in case of any disruptions. The fact that the entire system is wireless makes it very easy to set up and operate.

The GrandCare System

The GrandCare system is another innovation that has transformed the care routine in a few Bradenton, Florida assisted living facilities. It runs on a wireless system and connects to any dedicated internet connection to communicate with sensors located in the senior’s residence. The caregiver gains control of multiple aspects like viewing activity, sending communications to their loved ones, and customizing its alerts. It is ideal for residents in Bradenton assisted living  because the caregiver can get alerts on things such as unusual activity.

Great Call Responder

Great Call Responder is a wireless mobile device that allows for tracking and protecting the elderly, and it is common in some Bradenton assisted living institutions. It is a joint effort with a five-star urgent response rate and a small GPS-enabled responder attached to either a keychain, backpack, or purse. This device helps you keep in touch with your loved one by sending out alerts to family members and emergency response teams when pressed. Regardless of your situation, you can get immediate assistance in assisted living in Bradenton, Florida if you have this device.

Bradenton assisted living is even easier with devices like these that make communication between caregivers, family members, and the senior community such a breeze. These devices and apps utilize technology to create a perfect environment for seniors to relax and have peace of mind while receiving the necessary attention.

For older adults living in assisted living facilities in Bradenton, Florida, music has the potential to make a comfortable situation even more inviting. Senior citizens receiving assisted living services can gain a variety of mental and emotional benefits from listening to music. Here is a closer look at the importance of music to residents of assisted living in Bradenton, Florida.

The Transformational Power of Music

Music has the power to transform a negative situation into one that’s brighter, more manageable, and more enjoyable. Assisted living facilities such as those in Bradenton are designed so that support staff can work directly with residents who might benefit from the healing power of music. When people hear songs they like, their brain recognizes the tones in the music as those that are enjoyable, resulting in the release of chemicals in the brain that makes that person feel better.

Breaking Free from Loneliness

The happiness that comes from listening to music is important for anyone that might be feeling down. Being separated from family and friends might make older adults feel sad. In some facilities, music therapists may even enter the facility, which means that residents can feel even more profound effects of music. Without music, senior citizens may start to worry about a lack of interests or things to do. Along with great amenities and services, music can transform a resident’s entire day.

Bradenton assisted living has plenty of advantages. Residents get access to a wide range of medical services and monitoring. The result is a safer environment for everyone involved. Soft music could be all it takes to help someone calm down and relax after a challenging day. In Bradenton assisted living, we use music to give our residents a better way of life.

Many seniors may not be living the fulfilling retirement life they anticipated. Transitioning to assisted living may provide the ideal solution for multiple reasons. Here are top reasons people are moving to assisted living in Bradenton, Florida!

1. Low-Maintenance Residences

Larger aspirations, such as long-term travel or impromptu road excursions, may be hampered by home obligations. Moving to assisted living facilities in Bradenton can provide you with the low-maintenance, stress-free living you’ve always wanted.

2. Consolidating Expense

Entertainment, utilities, food, and rent can all be packaged as one monthly lease in retirement communities, which can help you save money.

3. Luxurious Living

There are benefits to living in a community that focuses on establishing a happy life. Many retirement communities provide high-end facilities that you would never consider having in your own house. Spas, golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, walking pathways, and a variety of other activities are available.

4. An Active Social Life

Making new friends is difficult at any age, but it becomes even more difficult in retirement. If you’re looking for a way to fill your time yet still have an active social life, a Bradenton assisted living facility can be the answer. There’s a group for everyone, from happy hours and brunches to fitness and book clubs.

5. Maintaining Your Fitness

Remaining active as you get older might help you keep your independence and avoid falls or injuries. If you struggle with motivation, many retirement homes offer fitness lessons and outside activities such as yoga, swimming, and hiking.

6. Eating Healthily

It’s not always easy to go through the work of preparing a healthy dinner. Opting for memory care in Bradenton can assist you in resuming daily meals that nourish the mind, body, and soul.

7. Educating, Developing, and Traveling

Through scheduled trips and travel, retirement communities may make it easier to get out and find engaging new experiences.

• Excursions to museums, art galleries, and theaters
• Trips to the store
• College courses on national and international travel
• Gardening programs on-site
• Services for personal care

Whether you require assistance with housekeeping or personal hygiene now or in the future, retirement communities assure you that when that time comes, you will be in good hands.

9. Security and Safety

Accidents and falls in the home do happen, and if you live alone, the prospect of not getting the aid you need can be frightening. In a Bradenton assisted living home, you can always count on someone to assist you!

10. Getting Around

Driving can become a chore due to bumper-to-bumper traffic, new routes, and “that one man” constantly in a rush. Residents of Sarasota assisted living homes can take advantage of transportation services to keep active in their communities and beyond.

For assisted living in Bradenton, Florida, it’s the thrill of being able to arrive home and control lights, speakers, and security systems with a few words and a couple of taps. You built your smart home because you wanted convenience and flexibility. Here are three tips to make smart home technology work in an assisted living program.

Find and Eliminate Dead Spots

Dead spots occur wherever there are places your internet service cannot reach. Dead spots mean repeated incidents where you can be somewhere and have no service, leading to a whirlwind of connectivity issues for your network. Running into interference or allowing greater distances to interfere will slow down your entire network operation. So, consider updating your firmware, making sure everything’s attached correctly, and that there are no signals interfering with your smart home setup.

Minimize Battery Life

Pushing your batteries to the limits and not charging them correctly could be draining your wallet when you think of the energy costs getting flushed down the drain. Charging devices should be switched to airplane mode. More battery is used when multiple applications are open at once. This is especially true with video applications or those that consume large amounts of media and data to operate. Industry experts recommend not overcharging your devices and charging them slowly if possible can help you reduce the need to recharge your devices.

Get Reliable Internet Service

Reliable and fast internet service is a must in Bradenton assisted living. You should be able to connect to the internet quickly and remain connected without drops in the connection. According to internet experts from reviews.org, it’s best if smaller families with average smart home use to use 100 Mbps, while smart home users working their systems to the max should stick with 940 to 1,000 Mbps. The right speed matters depending on your primary reasons for building a smart home setup. Should you bring gaming equipment into an assisted living facility, you’d need more. But perhaps less if you need only lighting and extra security.

For serious smart home users in assisted living in Bradenton, having a wide range of components will make building a smart home system a less complex task. 

It is important as we age, to pay attention to our surroundings and our health. As we get older, our chance of falling and getting injured increases. Falls often occur due to a medical or environmental hazard or a combination of both. Here are some facts about fall risks and how assisted living communities in Bradenton Florida help minimize them.

Fall Risks & How to Minimize Them

• Vision & Hearing: Bradenton assisted living communities work with their residents to make sure that every precaution is taken to help reduce fall risks. Did you know? Even a slight change in vision or hearing might have an impact on stability. At Westminster Point Pleasant, we recommend regular visits to the eye doctor and audiologist to aid in the prevention of falls.
• Blood Pressure: Blood pressure variations could cause falls due to fainting or light-headedness. It’s possible to assess this risk by measuring our resident’s blood pressure while sitting and seeing if it declines when they stand.
• Medication: It is important to talk to your doctor and pharmacist about the medications you are on. There may be side effects that can increase your chances of falling. If you are aware that you are at a higher risk, then you can take proper precautions to lower your environmental risk factors. 
• Medical Risks: Infections, illnesses, and other medical issues might make you feel weak or unbalanced, resulting in falls. It is important to let the staff and your physician know if you are feeling under the weather. They can help ensure that it is nothing serious and help you identify what steps you should take to stay safe and improve your overall well-being. 
• Vitamin D: A vitamin D deficiency can weaken bones and increase the risk of falling. Seniors who spend a lot of time indoors and have low vitamin D levels may be at a higher risk than their peers who have normal vitamin D levels.

Our staff at Westminster Point Pleasant in Bradenton Florida is here to help ensure that our assisted living communities are clear of environmental fall risks. We also help work with the seniors living in our community and their families to identify any fall risks and do everything we can to help prevent them.