Each week, Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond posts information about one or two retirement living communities in the Richmond or Northern Neck areas. 

Today, we are featuring  the Verena at Virginia Center.  The Verena is one of the newest 55+ independent living communities in the Richmond area.  

Their active adult apartments are beautifully designed and feature full kitchen with upgraded appliances and granite countertop, full-size washer and dryer, walk-in closet, 9-foot ceiling and architectural detail. They offer a wide variety of one- and two-bedroom floor plans, including some with den, balcony or patio.

The Verena at Virginia Center’s amenities include:

• New, nicely appointed apartment
• Two chef-prepared meals daily
• Private clubhouse
• Full size washer and dryer
• All utilities except phone and cable
• Concierge services, housekeeping and private transportation

The Verena at Virginia Center in Glen Allen, Virginia

“Active, independent seniors are considering their lifestyle options more than ever. Today’s seniors want a vibrant place to live where they can explore their interests, participate in social and cultural activities and pursue a higher quality of life without the day-to-day worries of home maintenance.

“At Verena we’re interested in making sure we provide the solutions today’s independent seniors are looking for.” - from The Verena’s website.

For more information about The Verena at Virginia Center, located at 10286 Brook Road in Glen Allen, you can reach them at 804.261.1100.

And for more information on how Home Instead Senior Care  can help you remain living independently in your home, wherever home may be, please contact our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100 anytime.

The saying “You’re only as old as you feel” seems to resonate with older adults, according to a Purdue University research study.

“If you feel old beyond your own chronological years, you are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides that we associate with aging,” Markus H. Schafer, a doctoral student in sociology and gerontology who led the study. “But if you are older and maintain a sense of being younger, then that gives you an edge in maintaining a lot of the abilities you prize.”

According the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, most people aged 55 to 74 identify with being 12 years younger than they actually are when asked what age they feel most of the time.

“We found that these people who felt young for their age were more likely to have greater confidence about their cognitive abilities a decade later,” Schafer said. “Yes, chronological age was important, but the subjective age had a stronger effect.”

Home Instead’s Get Mom Moving program offers many ideas to keep clients feeling enriched mentally, physically and spiritually (don’t be fooled by the name, that’s for dads, too).  It’s a great way to keep older folks active – and feeling young.

For more information, call your Home Instead of Richmond office at 804.527.1100 anytime.

Retiring from work in no way means retiring from life. As recently as 2008 a Consumer Affairs article examined the trends of the newly emerging retirement generation, and found that a large portion of this demographic is looking for a rural area that offers an active lifestyle as well as the traditional tranquility and slow pace of retirement.

While Florida and Arizona continue to rank at the top of the list of retirement destinations, some non-traditional retirement locales, such as North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, are becoming favorite spots as well, according to Pulte Homes’ annual baby boomer survey.

Many are looking for the same thing. They want a small-town ambiance, safety from crime, and a simpler, hassle-free life. In Virginia, the Northern Neck – surrounded by Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries – has drawn an influx of retirees and boomers who have purchased second homes, with an eye toward retirement.

And those who move to this area are not exactly looking to sit on the front porch all day. Most are seeking some form of community involvement, whether it’s a second career or volunteer work.

The four counties of the Northern Neck – Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland – are all in the process of moving from an extraction-based and agricultural economy (forestry, fishing, and farming) to one that is more service-oriented, with Lancaster County leading the pack.

The influx of retirees to the Northern Neck has created a new demand for services and amenities. In fact, the 2009 Northern Neck Housing Study cites Retirement Services as replacing Forestry as one of the top three local economic drivers in the region since 2000.

Two modern hospitals serve the area – Riverside Hospital in Tappahannock, which opened a new Urgent Care Center in late 2009 – and Rappahannock General Hospital in Kilmarnock. Private physician practices continue to grow, and there are several Richmond-based doctors that keep weekly appointments at offices in Kilmarnock and Tappahannock.  And Westmoreland County is home to a cancer center.

While there are retirement homes and assisted living communities in the Northern Neck, the region doesn’t have any more than you’d find in a typical rural area. Most retirees choose to live in their own homes.

Home Instead Senior Care is a perfect complement to the services needed by these transplanted residents, while at the same time creating employment opportunities for an economically underserved area.

For more information, simply call our Tappahannock senior home care office at 804. 443.4885. 

There is a gut-wrenching scene in the George Clooney film Up in the Air where a gruff auto worker – a man who appears to be in his late 50s or early 60s – is terminated from his job.  It is, undoubtedly, the culmination of a plot buildup that had been coming for some time, and the sequence is heartbreaking.

We feel for – and, in some cases, relate to – this man because he presumably had only a few years left until he could retire, and he now has been handed what seems to be an occupational death sentence. 

The economic crisis took a major toll on American workers, and those laid off at the higher end of the age bracket may have found themselves with rather difficult life decisions: “Do I try to find another job? Can I just retire early?” 

Or what about this one: “Should I start my own business?” 

Older workers, as the (often wrong) perceptions and stereotypes go, aren’t as fresh out-of-the-box thinkers as their younger counterparts.  They lack the newest, most advanced skill sets. They aren’t as tuned in to the latest and greatest technologies. 

The fact is, getting hired at a later stage in life can be difficult. 

But, if calculated risks are taken, becoming an entrepreneur in your senior years can be ripe with opportunity and reward. 

The number of individuals starting their own companies when most people their age would be retiring in the islands (or the mountains, if that’s your thing) is on the rise.  The AARP Public Policy Institute said that in 2008, 21 percent of the self-employed were between the ages of 55 and 64, while 10 percent were 65 and older. 

BusinessWeek paints a picture of how a man who was 61 did something that most would do in their 30s or 40s. 

Wally Blume worked in the dairy business for two decades, first for grocery chain Kroger and later as sales and marketing director for a large dairy in Michigan, where he helped market new ice cream flavors. But soon after another company purchased the dairy, Blume decided that the once-innovative company was falling short, prompting him and a couple of colleagues to quit to develop and market their own flavors. In 1995 the partners had a national hit with Moose Tracks (a combo of vanilla, peanut-butter cup, and fudge), and within a few years Blume decided he’d be better off running his own company. 

In 2000, Blume mortgaged his house and every other asset he could, plunking down what he says was “seven figures” to buy out his partners and start anew. That same year, he launched Denali Flavors, a marketing and licensing company that creates new ice cream and dessert concepts for independent regional dairies, allowing them to compete with the big national dairy brands. Looking back, Blume says: “I knew I could run it better than my partners. In my opinion there was just no downside to the risk.” 

Blume makes it sound easy.  He’s now 71 (a decade after he started his business), paid off his loans in 25 months, and sees revenue of about $80 million a year.  His 40 ice cream flavors can be found in 50 states and Canada, and he’s launched two other ventures that have nothing to do with ice cream (saunas and boats). 

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Not so fast. 

It’s important to be smart if you plan to start a business.  Us older types may have more money than our younger counterparts, but that’s not to say we should be dumping our pensions or 401(k)’s into a new venture this late in life.  Realize these things could take years to get off the ground, and even longer to turn a profit.  The more moving parts, the higher the chance of failure. 

But don’t let the risks deter you.  Just be smart about it.  Do the research. 

And those perceptions about seniors being too old to work?  Set out to prove the status quo wrong. 

P.S. Oh, and when you’re starting that business in your 60s, 70s, and even 80s, don’t forget that Home Instead CAREGivers can prepare meals, do light housekeeping and help you run errands.  ’Cause you’ll have enough to do as a business owner.  Check out our website and digital brochure at http://homeinstead.com/richmond-va.

Spring Arbor of Salisbury and Buford Road Pharmacy are sponsoring an informative event for women to learn “The Nuts and Bolts of Maintaining your Car” on Tuesday, March 30th, at Spring Arbor.  The event starts with a cocktail party at 5:00 p.m and the presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. with entertaining guest speaker, Pamela Adams from The Laurels of Willow Creek.

Join Pamela in a fun educational seminar ~ arm yourself with the knowledge every woman should know about her car. 

Learn the top 5 things even your mechanic won’t tell you! Other topics include what to avoid when buying a used car, what kind of questions you need to be asking your mechanic and understanding what your car is really trying to tell you.  And there will be door prizes! (Yes, you’ll be the envy of all). 

The event will be held at Spring Arbor of Salisbury which is conveniently located at 14001 Turnberry Lane, Midlothian, VA.

To RSVP and reserve your seat, please call 804-897-2727 today.  And, yes, the Home Instead CareBug will be there!  Say hello to Christy!

About Spring Arbor of Salisbury

Spring Arbor of Salisbury, Midlothian

Spring Arbor of Salisbury brings a special combination of neighborly warmth and compassionate care to seniors in Midlothian and beyond.  Nestled in the heart of Chesterfield County’s most unique residential area, Spring Arbor of Salisbury is the perfect solution for seniors who want to spend their retirement years close to their lifelong friends, churches, social activities, and shopping.

Spring Arbor of Salisbury also provides peace of mind for our residents coping with dementia as well as their families.  We work closely with family members to ensure the best possible care for our residents. Our Special Care Cottage offers the planned programming to focus on the resident’s abilities and not their losses and provide a “safe, secure family environment.”  For more information, click on Spring Arbor of Salisbury.

About Home Instead Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond provides senior care and companionship services to the active senior community in the Richmond area.  Our goal is to help seniors remain independent for a longer period of time. 

Our CAREGivers provide medication reminders, light housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation and companionship services.  For a no-obligation, senior care assessment, please call our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100 anytime.

Verena at Virginia Center offers 55+ senior lifestyle residences in Glen Allen

Verena at Virginia Center, a new senior lifestyle rental community in Glen Allen, will host “Under the Stars, A Celebration of The Crooners.” 

LTC Al Williamson

The event will be held Friday, April 9th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and will feature live entertainment by Major Al Williamson, Commandant of Fork Union Military Academy.

The event is free and will be held at the Verena at Virginia Center, 10286 Brook Rd, Glen Allen.  Hors d’oeuvres will be served. 

For more information and to register, please call Terri Melson at 804-261-1100 or visit www.verenalifestyle.com. 

About Verena at Virginia Center

Verena at Virginia Center’s active adult apartments are beautifully designed and feature full kitchen with upgraded appliances and granite countertop, full-size washer and dryer, walk-in closet, 9-foot ceiling and architectural detail. We offer a wide variety of one- and two-bedroom floor plans, including some with den, balcony or patio.

Verena’s residents pay just one monthly fee which includes your apartment, most utilities, two-chef prepared meals every day, use of our elegant clubhouse facilities, twice-monthly housekeeping, social activities, special events and private transportation. 

About Home Instead Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond provides senior care and companionship services to the active senior community in the Richmond area.  Our goal is to help seniors remain independent for a longer period of time. 

Our CAREGivers provide medication reminders, light housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation and companionship services.  For a no-obligation, senior care assessment, please call our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100 anytime.

There are advantages and disadvantages for Seniors to age in place in their own homes,

Aging in place enables seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own Richmond or Northern Neck homes or other primary residences, including independent living facilities. 

This is just one of many senior living options that are covered in detail in Lori and Paul Hogan’s new book:  Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions.

Aging in place is an option that utilizes some or all of the following:  special housing design for seniors, the installation of safety and convenience equipment, and in home care service that enables the senior to remain at home while ensuring needs are met. 

The advantages of aging in place are many but we’ll list just a few here: 

• Aging in Place maintains a familiar environment for the senior or elderly person so that they can continue to live in their own surroundings without making a drastic change
• It fosters community continuity, which means the senior can continue to frequent their usual grocery store, drugstore or other places in which they are comfortable shopping and asking for help
• It maintains valuable social networks,  often keeping contact with neighbors and friends that live nearby
• It has a way of strengthening family and family ties
• It promotes physical and mental well-being, just be continuing to keep the senior in a home where they often have raised their family

Aging in place can also mean that a senior or a senior couple can move into an independent living facility or other retirement community, such as retirement villages or even a government-funded NORC (naturally occuring retirement community).  

Some of the disadvantages of having an elderly loved one continue to live at home or an independent living facility are as follows: 

• There would likely be a low to moderate investment in home equipment and home modifications.  Depending on the home and the ability for the senior(s) to easily navigate in the home, the cost of these modifications an be high depending on the extent and nature of the modifications required, particularly if ADA-compliant renovations are required.
• The lead time for renovations may be lengthy (weeks) for determining the need, finding a contractor, and completing these home modifications, especially if the home is outside of a pre-planned senior independent living facility or village environment.
• Without home modifications, structural barriers in the home may present challenges and contribute to falls and injuries.  Even something as simple as having too much furniture and rugs in the home can make it difficult for the senior to manage easily as they get older.
• Seniors may be resistant to home modifications and the installation of helpful technology.  Often a senior who has lived in their home for a long time may not want to see any modifications in their home that would signify that they’re getting older and need additional help.

Aging in place is an option that is best suited for seniors who are functional on all activities of daily living (this is often abbreviated as ADL) which includes eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, maintaining continence, and transferring (getting out of a bed or chair).  So for those who require limited or no assistance in getting around their home, the prospect is good for sustained independent living and home modifications can be a rather easy and often less-expensive solution depending on their needs and whether they’re living alone or as a couple. 

When is it time to move on? 

With a few home modifications, many seniors can live in their existing homes for many years without further help.  But when it is no longer safe for them to move about easily or if they are forgetting to take medicine or go to doctors appointments, then the situation has to be re-evaluated again.  And especially if the need continual nursing or medical help. 

This transition time period is often when Home Instead Senior Care can provide senior home care and companionship services that allow the senior to live in their homes or more independent living facilities longer, before having to consider assisted living.  When a senior simply needs medication reminders, transportation, light housekeeping, checkbook balancing – or just simply needs someone to be there to play a card game or engage in conversation to prevent loneliness — then that’s a perfect situation for our CAREGivers to lend a helping hand.  

Home Instead Senior Care serves seniors across Greater Richmond, including Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Short Pump, Glen Allen, Chester and many other towns.  Our West End offices are conveniently located off Broad Street and you can simply call us at 804.527.1100 for a free, no-obligation home care assessment.  Let’s work together to allow our Richmond seniors to remain safe and live independently in their own homes for as long as they are able.

P.S.  Does your elderly relative live in the Northern Neck?  We have an office in Tappahannock in which we serve the entire Northern Neck area.  That office number is 804.443.4885.

But a convenient location is not the only thing that makes Verena so special. 

Verena’s residences are active adult apartments which are beautifully designed and feature full kitchens with upgraded appliances and granite countertops, full-size washers and dryers, walk-in closets, 9-foot ceilings and architectural detail. They offer a wide variety of one- and two-bedroom floor plans, including some with a den, balcony or patio. 

As if that’s not enough, Verena’s residents pay just one monthly fee which includes your apartment, most utilities, two-chef prepared meals every day, use of elegant clubhouse facilities, twice-monthly housekeeping, most social activities, special events and private transportation. 

Active, independent seniors are considering their lifestyle options more than ever. Today’s seniors want a vibrant place to live where they can explore their interests, participate in social and cultural activities and pursue a higher quality of life without the day-to-day worries of home maintenance.  Verena at Virginia Center definitely fits the bill as it is designed for active adults who want more than an ordinary apartment in a run-of-the-mill building.

For more information about active, independent living at Verena — located in the convenient Glen Allen area of Richmond — simply call Cindy Blevins at 804.261.1100 today.  She can arrange for you to receive more information or to stop by and have lunch in the dining room and to arrange for a no-obligation tour of a the clubhouse, amentities and residences.  Or you can visit their website at http://VerenaLifestyle.com. 

And, remember, even if you are planning on living at an independent living community, you may still require in home non-medical care such as medication reminders, transportation to doctor’s appointments or help getting around after a hospital stay.  Home Instead Senior Care can provide the additional assistance you may need to remain living independently as long as you possibly can.  Just call your Richmond Home Instead Office at 804.527.1100 today.

In the last five years, the number of seniors using the web has increased by 6 million. According to Nielson, as of November 9, there were 17.5 million seniors online! This is exciting news because the Internet has so much to offer seniors. From the comfort of their sofa, they can access email, photos of family and friends, the latest news, entertainment, and more.

One challenge that gets in the way seniors enjoying everything the Internet has to offer is fear — computers can be intimidating when you’re not familiar with how to use them. That’s why Friendship Manor, a senior community in Salt Lake City, invited some communications majors from a nearby college to teach computer and Internet classes on Friday nights. Besides teaching seniors how to navigate the web, the college students made the fonts bigger and put borders around windows to make it easier for the seniors to view the computer screens.

Messiah Village, another senior community in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also offers Facebook classes to its residents. The teacher of the class, Jennifer Ebersole, emphasizes the opportunity to stay in touch with family and friends through Facebook. Many of these seniors might see family members – especially grandchildren – once a year at family holiday events. With Facebook, they are able to see pictures, read updates and exchange email on a daily basis.

Many seniors are taking advantage of Facebook — last year it ranked #45 on the most visited by seniors list — this year it ranks #4, along with YouTube at #3. Google Search and Windows Media Player ranked at #1 and #2, respectively. Seniors are doing what everyone else is doing. They’re looking at the weather, at maps, at their bank accounts, and they’re getting in touch with friends. There is even a large community of senior bloggers.

With all of the doors the Internet can open for seniors, it is a great idea to help them access a computer and learn how to “surf” the web. It can really broaden the horizon for a senior who might not be able to get out and about like he or she once did. Plus, being able to communicate so easily with family and friends is priceless.

If you’d like to read more about this subject, here are four articles to reference:

“Move over Facebook, here comes grandma.”  Deseret News

“Senior Citizen Internet Use Is On The Rise”

“What Do Seniors Do Online? Visit Facebook and YouTube, of Course”

 “Retirees join a new ‘senior’ class on Facebook,” The Mercury

And if you need help caring for or providing companionship to a senior loved one, please know that the CAREgivers at Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond are always available.  Simply call 804.527.1100 today.