Communities These Days?

Is it time to consider a move? As the experts say, even if you are healthy and active and don’t foresee a move anytime soon, planning ahead will maximize your options.

What’s Life Like in Retirement Communities These Days?

Senior Living News covers trends and changes within retirement and senior living communities across the country. Recent articles describe how the pandemic has affected the senior housing industry— basically, upending it as it has with everything and everyone else. However, reports also show some very positive findings.

Even as the pandemic continues to impact our country, those living in retirement communities are returning to a sense of normalcy. Early on, retirement communities became leaders in enforcing strict safety protocols to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 within their buildings. Add to that, with more than 90% of Americans over age 65 fully or partially vaccinated, seniors at retirement communities are seeing a safe return to prepandemic lifestyles. Residents are once again looking forward to events, social gatherings and outings. “If you focus on fun, the people with come,” says one industry leader. Some seniors are ready for a move into senior housing but have been delaying their decision because of the pandemic. But now may be a great time to take advantage of the renewed sense of community and a full calendar of social activities and events.

With this in mind, on page 12 you can read about what life is like at some of our local retirement communities.

continued on page 12

5 Financial Planning Tips for Moving into a Senior Living Community

...by Lynn Creasy

We are always aging and let’s take a moment to celebrate that our lives often get better with that aging process!

As you get ready to enter the third act of your life, it is always a good plan to gather the necessary tools and take it step by step. If you are contemplating a move to a senior living community or adult family home, the process often brings up a lot of questions.

Financial concerns often are at the top of the list. And because senior housing options differ – beyond price, services and amenities – it can further add to the confusion.

Take a look at these five tips that can help you navigate the terrain. 1. Elder Care Planning: A first step in planning before searching for a place is hiring

continued on page 17

COMING TO BELLEVUE

Luxury Urban Senior Living Offering Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care

COMMUNITY AMENITIES INCLUDE:

• Elegantly Designed Common Areas

• Chef Prepared Meals

Served in our Full-

Service Dining Room

• Full-Service Bistro/Bar

• Senior-Inspired Fitness

Center with Yoga

Studio

• Convenient Hair & Nail Salon

• Private Dining Room for Family Occasions • Spacious Apartments

• 24-Hour Care Staff

Services

• Full Social Activities

Calendar

• Concierge Services

• Transportation Options

• Direct Access to

Shopping, Dining and

Neighborhood Parks

OPENING FALL 2021

Reserve your new home today!

Call 425.223.3587 or visit our Welcome Center to learn more about virtual tours now available.

HOLDEN OF BELLEVUE Welcome Center: 11211 Main Street Bellevue, WA 98004

What’s Life Like in Retirement Communities These Days?

...continued from page 11

Residents at Boulevard Park Place (BPP) are having fun and staying fit. The independent living community in Burien has returned to pre-pandemic favorites like bean bag baseball and the ever-popular Thursday afternoon bingo. Even during the height of the pandemic, BPP safely offered fitness classes six days a week because staying fit is so important to wellness. One solution was to add more classes in larger rooms – the same with water fitness classes in the pool: more classes = fewer people per class. Residents regularly socialize in lobbies and multipurpose rooms to play games or meet for coffee & cookie gab fests. Please see ad on page 15.

Rich programming, activities and chef-made cuisine are part of the pleasure at Cogir Senior Living! Singers may come to serenade the residents, or a local dance troupe may put on a performance. Special outings include art museums, parks, plays and shopping. New residents are partnered with a resident ambassador to sit with at meals, introduce them around, and help get them involved with activities they enjoy. Birthdays and milestones are celebrated with a party and scratch-made cakes. And residents socialize regularly at twice-a-week happy hours with live entertainment. Cogir Senior Living has Seattle area communities in Mill Creek Queen Anne, Northgate, Edmonds and Bothell. Please see ad on page 5.

Emerald City Senior Living residents enjoy being out and about again, and have ventured to museums, taken casino trips and Sunday Brunch outings. Activities within the community include

Unsure if it’s time for a move to a new senior lifestyle?

bingo (of course!), movie-time, puzzles, crafting, Happy Hours and trivia get-togethers. Fitness classes are offered every day, and Emerald City also provides onsite physical therapy for residents. We are a community focused on helping maintain a vibrant, purposeful life. We encourage residents to try something new every day, explore and experience the unique! --Angela Jacobs, Divisional Sales Specialist, Emerald City Senior Living. Please see ad on page 9.

Five-Star Fun is back at Fairwinds–Brighton Court! Our amazing, cheerful residents participate in Wii Bowling, giant Jenga, beanbag baseball and social crosswords. This year sees some new additions to our award-winning activity program. Group PrimeFit exercise, socializing in the Bistro, dining in the restaurant, along with musical performances on the front lawn. The positive attitude and determination of residents and staff alike make all the difference. New technologies have been embraced, new safety and sanitizing protocols put in place, but the return to a sense of normalcy is refreshing and reassuring. We are offering tours so come by to see all the fun we are having. --Jackie Requa-Hall, General Manager. Please see ad on page 17.

At Harbor Place at Cottesmore, our residents are enjoying a wide variety of activities! Exercise classes include strength and balance, chair yoga, cardio drumming, swimming, walking club and more! We enjoy many games from scattegories, dice games and bingo. Book club, documentary group and crafters have been busy too. Music is always welcome from piano and singing by residents, staff and guests – plus we’ve enjoyed concerts. Community events this summer have included two outdoor concerts and a car show that we’ve enjoyed with friends and family. –Sue Wilhelm, Campus Sales & Marketing Director, Harbor Place at Cottesmore located in Gig Harbor. Please see ad on page 14.

Holden of Bellevue

opens Fall 2021. Beyond exceptional dining, the community will offer state-of-the-art wellness complete with a yoga studio, public bistro and public hair salon, activity areas, family gathering spaces and more. “Holden of Bellevue has been very fortunate after COVID. The pandemic has allowed us to rethink and put in place protocols and protection for our new building and future residents in the event our industry is affected by this again. Our company will be utilizing antimicrobial upholsteries, UV-light robots for infection control and other technologies,” says Michelle Strazis, Executive Director at Holden of Bellevue. Please see ad on page 11

Here at Quail Park Residences of West Seattle, we are more focused than ever on engaging and enriching the lives of our residents. We offer a variety of in-house activities including our version of beach volleyball, trivia night with prizes and “Taste of the World” – weekly virtual reality visits to places around the world supported by a menu and drinks that match! We also have sidewalk and patio performances and a garden club. The pandemic was a clear reminder of just how important connections and social interactions are to our seniors. It is always a (safe) party at Quail Park! -- Ed Taylor, Community Relations Director. Please see ad on page 13.

Some Medications Suppress the Immune System

...continued from page 9

Several other micronutrients are important including vitamin D, vitamin C and probiotics. Malnutrition, medications and/or a diet consisting of nutritionally naked foods (think highly processes foods, for example) will lead to deficiencies in all of these.

Medications which impact levels of the nutrients are vast, too many to list here. Here are the most important and surprising categories of medications that reduce micronutrients. I’ve also included a few lifestyle factors that you can control.

Medications and lifestyle factors that suppress:

• Zinc - Acid blockers, antihypertensives, corticosteroids, excessive calcium, coffee and smoking. • Vitamin D - Antacids, cholesterol binders, anticonvulsants, kidney damage and lack of sunlight. • Vitamin C - Anti-hypertensives, aspirin, corticosteroids, hormones and SERMs. • Probiotics - Antibiotics, estrogen containing drugs, acid blockers and NSAIDs

For a comprehensive list of each nutrient and all the “drug muggers,” please refer to my book by the same name. It is sold nationwide at bookstores and at Amazon. If you’d like to read the longer version of this article, I’m happy to email it to you, just sign up for my free newsletter at suzycohen.com. ❖

We can help set your mind at ease.

No matter where you’re at in life, Powell Senior Communities has housing for all stages. In fact, the Powell family has been building our community for 112 years. The tremendous natural beauty, active lifestyle and caring staff are just a few of the reasons so many people call a Powell Community home. Choose from optimal senior living choices. Independent living • Assisted living • Cottage Homes • Parkview 62+ apartments We’re family owned and operated, and provide compassionate care in a safe environment. You will also enjoy peace of mind knowing if the need should ever arise, award-winning Assisted Living care is available right on campus.

Northaven Senior Living

our mission , guided our caring sta ff Northaven Independent and Northaven Assisted and shaped our friend ly community Living is a vibrant, non-profit, affordable housing for over 40 years. community located in the heart of Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood. Come live with us. Dignity, respect, compassion, generosity ... values that have inspired our mission, guided our caring staff and shaped our friendly community for over 40 years.

Dignity, respect, compassion, generosity...values that have Dignity, respect, compassion, generosity...values that have inspired our mission, guided our caring sta and shaped inspired our mission, guided our caring sta and shaped our friendly community for 40 years.our friendly community for 40 years. Come live with us.Come live with us.

Come live with us.