Here at Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond, we are continuing our series of blog posts about senior retirement living options in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas.  Today, we’re featuring Our Lady of Hope Health Center in Richmond.

Our Lady of Hope Health Center offers assisted living, Alzheimer's care plus skilled nursing.

Conveniently located in the West End of Richmond, Our Lady of Hope has been offering seniors quality care for more than 15 years.

The center is a nondenominational, nonprofit facility that is sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and a part of the Coordinated Services Management, Inc. (CSM) family. CSM has been managing communities in the D.C. Metro area, Virginia and the Carolinas for almost 30 years.

Our Lady of Hope’s licensed nursing staff is on hand 24 hours a day, and nursing stations are visible from all studios and suites. Services are available for a range of needs including:

• Assisted Living
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
• Nursing Care
• Skilled Rehabilitation Care

Various floor plans are available dependent upon a resident’s needs. Assisted living residents can choose between a studio and two different suite floor plans. Separate floor plans are available for nursing center residents and residents being treated with Alzheimer’s and dementia to better meet their needs.

Numerous activities are offered every day to keep residents energetic and engaged. Different activities are available to meet a range of needs – from games and movies to trips to local attractions and parties and more.

For more information about Our Lady of Hope, located at 13700 North Gayton Road in Richmond, please call 804-360-1960.

To learn more about how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can help you or a loved one to remain living independently at home, no matter where you call home, call us today at 804.527.1100.

Here at Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond, we are continuing our series of blog posts about retirement living options in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas.  This week, we’re featuring Imperial Plaza Senior Retirement Community in Richmond.

A gorgeous dining room awaits residents at Richmond's Imperial Plaza Retirement Community.

Offering both independent and assisted living options, the Imperial Plaza in Richmond is committed to meeting your senior living needs.

For over 20 years the Imperial Plaza has been offering an exceptional living environment and personalized care. Staff is available 24 hours a day to ensure residents are always being taken care of.

A variety of one- and two-bedroom floor plans are available. Housing includes wall-to-wall carpeting, cable hook-up, fully equipped kitchen, patio, large closets, individually controlled heating and air, smoke detectors, tub/shower assist bars, and wheelchair accessibility. Assisted living units are similar but also include walk-in showers and an emergency response system.

A pleasant courtyard outside of Imperial Plaza Retirement Community in Richmond.

An array of amenities are available for residents including, but not limited to:

• Main dining room
• Recreation room
• Cards and billiards room
• Lounges
• Library
• Courtyard
• Outdoor gardening areas
• Enclosed mall area for your needs
• On-site convenience and grocery stores
• Full-service bank on-site

A variety of services are available such as housecleaning and linen services, restaurant-style dining, exercise programs, and cable television. Additional services are available for those in Assisted Living:

• Diabetic Care  
• Incontinence care
• Three nutritious, freshly prepared meals per day
• Snacks and beverages provided throughout the day 
• Special dietary accommodations

For more information about Imperial Plaza, located at 1717 Bellevue Avenue in Richmond, please call 804.264.1380.  Imperial Plaza is part of Brookdale Senior Living retirement communities.

And, for more information on how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can help you or a loved one to remain living independently at home, no matter where you call home, call us today at 804.527.1100.

Dr. Dale Atkins was featured on the Today Show this morning talking about the idea of “role reversal” when faced with caring for an aging parent, which she says is really not so much about that. “Your parents are always your parents,” she says.

Taking care of yourself as a caregiver is important and getting a team together to help you is beneficial, too.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Atkins adds that having an online support group as well as family members available to help you discuss the critical and emotional issues will help relieve the stress often associated with caring for your elderly Mom or Dad.

Check out the video above and Dr. Atkins’ book entitled “I’m OK, You’re My Parents: How to Overcome Guilt, Let Go of Anger, and Create a Relationship That Works.”

Home Instead Senior Care provides many resources to family members facing caring for an aging parent, including a website with educational videos at CaregiverStress.com. If you or your elderly loved ones are in the local Richmond or Northern Neck areas, we can help you with your unique and individual situation by simply calling our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100. Our office line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you with your senior care needs.

And if you need assistance outside of the Central Virginia area, simply visit http://homeinstead.com for additional locations.

Richmond's Morningside offers assisted living and memory care.

We continue our series of blog posts about senior living communities in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas of Virginia.  Today, we are highlighting Morningside in the West End. 

For over 10 years, Morningside in the West End of Richmond has been offering Five Star living for seniors. With six levels of care, they have the level of care that you or your elderly loved ones needs. 

Morningside is an assisted living and memory care retirement community that also offers short-term stays and rehabilitation services. And they are particularly known for their revolutionary Alzheimer’s and Memory Care program, “Bridge to Rediscovery,” that adapts the Montessori style of education to help engage their residents.  

Their services include:   

• Regular individualized needs assessment
• Health promotion education
• Social, recreational, educational and spiritual activities
• Complete dining program with snacks
• Weekly housekeeping
• Personal laundry and linen services
• Assistance with activities of daily life
• Emergency response system
• Assistance with administration of medicine
• Maintenance of buildings and grounds

Morningside is one of the very few assisted living communities which has nurses in their building 24 hours a day as the charge nurse. And they also have plenty of fun events and a full schedule of activities for their residents. 

Five Star Senior Living, a healthcare and senior living services provider found throughout 30 states, owns and operates Morningside in the West End. Daily activities ensure residents have the opportunity to remain engaged and active.

For more information about Morningside, please contact (804) 270-3990. The retirement community is conveniently located in Richmond’s West End at 3000 Skipwith Road.

And, for more information on how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can help you or a loved one to remain living independently at home, no matter where you call home, call us today at 804.527.1100

Eons is one of many online communities for seniors.

We all know that “growing old is not for sissies.” The aches and pains, the medical issues, failing eyesight and hearing, fading memory – all these symptoms can make the aging process unpleasant.

When we think of the hurdles facing the daily lives of senior citizens, one that is often overlooked is that of loneliness. Currently, about one-third of people ages 75 and older live alone.

“One of the greatest challenges or losses that we face as older adults, frankly, is not about our health, but it’s actually about our social network deteriorating on us, because our friends get sick, our spouse passes away, friends pass away, or we move,” Joseph F. Coughlin, director of the AgeLab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

One way many seniors are overcoming the isolation brought on by aging is by turning to online social networks like Facebook for support and companionship. The social networking site Eons.com, an online community for aging baby boomers, can provide a place for seniors to contact, interact with, and provide some of the benefits of a group of friends, while being much easier to assemble and maintain.

Of course, there’s nothing quite like old-fashioned human contact, and a Home Instead CAREGiver can provide the social and intellectual contact missing from the lives of many seniors, and with a more personal touch.

For more information on how a Home Instead CAREGiver can provide companionship, help around the house and on outings, and non-medical care to help keep you or a loved one living independently at home, call our Richmond home care office today at 804.527.1100. You can also visit our website, view our digital brochure, and connect with us via social networking sites Facebook and Twitter ( @homeinsteadRVA and @TeresaSteinfatt ).

Each week, Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond profiles one or two retirement communities in the Greater Richmond and Tappahannock areas.

This week, we’re featuring The Crossings at Ironbridge.

Located in Chesterfield County – right in Chester conveniently off Ironbridge Road, The Crossings at Ironbridge is an assisted living facility with “spacious floor plans and exceptional outdoor spaces.”

Unlike some communities, The Crossings at Ironbridge does not charge a high up-front entrance fee.

An activity room, several parlors, private dining rooms, and a health/wellness program are among the attractions offered there.

Scenic Outdoor Spaces Include:

• Interior Courtyard Garden
• Community Vegetable Garden
• All Season Garden with Easy to Access Paths and Gazebo
• Terrace with Patio Tables

At the Crossings at Ironbridge, “you’ll find a wealth of living options that include spacious suites, large one-bedroom apartments, and companion suites.” Their monthly Premium Service Package includes:

• Private Studio Suites and One Bedroom Apartments
• Superb Staff-to-Resident Ratio
• Great Food in a Luxurious Dining Room
• Transportation Available
• Planned Activities and Outings
• On-Site Rehabilitation Services
• New State-of-the-Art Emergency Call System
• Specialized Alzheimer’s and Memory Care Pavilion
• Weekly Visits by Medical Director and Attending Physician
• No Large Up-front Entrance Fee

For more information on the Crossings at Ironbridge, contact them at 804.748.7000.

And, for more information on how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can help you or a loved one to remain living independently at home, no matter where you call home, call us today at 804.527.1100.

Here at Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond, we are always on the lookout for events in the Richmond community that relate to senior health and wellness. Here is a great event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association:

On Tuesday, July 20th, there will be a free special screening of the HBO documentary “The Alzheimer’s Project” at the historic Byrd Theater. This documentary provides a personal look at the country’s second most feared disease through the voices of Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers, family members, and the scientists who are working every day to look for a cure.

At this special screening, you will also get the chance to hear from Mary Ann Johnson — program director for the Alzheimer’s Association, and author/ former caregiver Robert B. Schaefer.  Caregivers, friends and family of Alzheimer’s patients, and supporters of Alzheimer’s disease research are encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public and free, so bring your friends, questions, and personal experiences.

Where:  The Byrd Theatre, 2908 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221

When: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 5:30-7:30 PM

REMEMBER! Wear something purple to the event to show your support, and be entered to win a door prize!

Also, here are some links for more information on:

• “The Alzheimer’s Project” – an interactive site where you can watch the films, learn about the disease, and get help from organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Institutes of Health.
• The Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Richmond Chapter
• The Byrd Theatre

And as always, for more information on how our Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can provide Alzheimer’s care and companionship to help you or a loved one remain living independently, call us in our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100 today.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association posted this video to their YouTube channel yestersday.  It is a PSA that Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell recorded to promote the Alzheimer’s Association and the need to support family caregivers in particular.

Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond is very involved in promoting the activities that raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, including this year’s Memory Walk.  If you’d like to participate, please call our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100.

Today, we are profiling Mayfair House as part of a series of posts on senior living in the Richmond and Tappahannock areas:

Owned and operated by Commonwealth Assisted Living, which is based in Charlottesville, VA, Mayfair House in Kilmarnock offers the following services:

• Private and Semi-private Rooms w/their Own Bathrooms
• Home-Cooked Meals
• Individualized Care Plans
• 24-Hour Staffing
• Weekly Housekeeping/Linens
• Medication Management
• No Entrance Fees

Mayfair House Kilmarnock “offers care and support with all the comforts of home, along with the services you’ve come to expect from an assisted living facility.”

Their “specialized and newly remodeled MEMORY CARE UNIT serves as a safe, secure, and dignified residential setting for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”

For more information about Commonwealth Assisted Living’s Mayfair House, call 435-9896 or visit them online.

And for more information about how Home Instead Senior Care can help your senior remain living independently no matter where he or she calls home, call our Tappahannock home care office at 804.443.4885 anytime.

You’re invited to join us and over 25 local and regional wellness organizations for the Mind, Body, and Spirit Wellness Fair at Covenant Woods Retirement Community in Mechanicsville this Friday, July 9, 2010, at 1:00 pm.

Not only can you learn about ways to keep your body healthy, but the wide array of organizations there can provide ways to boost your mind and spirit as well.  Many organizations will be  conducting health screenings such as Blood Pressure Checks, Glucose Screenings, and Strength and Grip Tests.   Vendors include the Alzheimer’s Association, Hearing Clinics of Virginia, Mary Kay, PhotoLively, and the Virginia Blood Mobile… not to mention Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond.

Covenant Woods Independent Living Cottages

In addition, guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Covenant Woods, a non-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community situated on over 70 acres in beautiful Hanover, Virginia, just outside of Richmond.

Covenant Woods has a rich history within the Richmond community, dating back to its beginnings as the “Richmond Home for Ladies” in 1883. Covenant Woods now serves both men and women, on a 70-acre campus instead of a city block. With the same mission – caring for people as long as they live – it is now called a Continuing Care Retirement Community.

Today, there is fine dining, 24-hour security, a fitness center, physical therapy facilities, a sports pool, bocce ball courts, gardening areas, a wood-working shop, art studio, nature trails surrounding a stocked pond, a barber and beauty shop, lounge areas, and meeting rooms.

They offer independent living in apartments and cottages, and your changing needs can be served all in one place there with three levels of health care services in the adjacent Health and Wellness Center – nursing, assisted living, and memory support.

Guests at the event will have a chance to win several door prizes, provided by the host and vendors. Rumor has it that Home Instead Senior Care will be donating a door prize, but you have to come to the event to find out what it is and have a chance to win!

Event Details:

Location: Multi-purpose Room, Covenant Woods. Click here for map, directions, and contact information.

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Friday, July 9th

We hope to see you at the event, where you can talk one-on-one with our Home Instead community service staff and learn how we can help you or your senior loved one how to remain living independently, wherever home may be. And if you would like more information but you can’t make it on Friday, call Home Instead at our Richmond in-home care office at 804.527.1100.  Or visit our digital brochure at http://hisc189.digbro.com.