Is Better than Later

Senior Living: Why Sooner Is Better than Later

By Emily Havens, Executive Community Relations Director, Ovation Sienna Hills

About the Author Emily Havens is the Executive Community Relations Director for Ovation Sienna Hills. Prior to developing her marketing career, Emily spent three years at The Spectrum and Daily News as a local journalist. Emily has garnered several awards from the Associated Press, Utah Press Association, and Nevada Press Association. In addition to her contributions to journalism and the digital marketing world, Emily is also a local nonprofit chapter president.

It’s the age-old question: When should I start looking for a senior living community? Many older adults start considering a move to a community when they realize their current living situation no longer aligns with the lifestyle they desire or need. Sometimes, it’s simply time for a new adventure, a new change in scenery and people. And, unfortunately, at times it is due to a painful physical or emotional change in circumstance. In many cases, folks start investigating senior living communities after experiencing difficulties—physically and mentally—while living in their home. Folks who begin finding it extra burdensome to keep up with the responsibilities of maintaining their home, for example, often ponder the hassle-free lifestyle senior living affords. In other cases, feelings of isolation may have crept in after seeing friends or family move away. Perhaps your neighborhood no longer feels safe and secure.

While there is no hard-and-fast rule for knowing when to look for a community that’s right for you, knowing the risks and rewards of doing so sooner can position anyone to make a better decision overall. In general, the happiest seniors we see are those who openly embrace a vibrant senior living lifestyle by making the move before circumstances dictate they must.

Statistics show seniors move into these communities when they reach seventy-five to eightfive years of age. However, senior living has changed for the better. With added amenities, robust staffing ratios, and an overall rejuvenation of the senior living model, the industry has seen an influx of younger move-ins due to the lifestyle newer communities have to offer.

Quiz: Should I move into a senior living community?

• Do I want to meet new people and effortlessly build an enriching social circle? • Do I find it more and more difficult to maintain and care for my home? • Does my current lifestyle reflect my true desires and passions? • Am I struggling physically in my current living situation? • Do I want peace of mind knowing I made a decision before my children or family members had to do so on my behalf?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, it’s likely a strong indicator that senior living can offer you a more relaxed and rewarding life.

At Ovation, we meet folks from all walks of life and in all types of situations. But there are far too many who come to us in a time of crisis. Their spouse just died and they are making this move all on their own. A recent stay in a rehab center jolted them to the realization that their physical care needs are increasing. They have found themselves in a depressive state after realizing their social “cup” has been empty for far too long.

There are many reasons why moving into a senior living community can be a positive experience. Ensuring that it is requires taking an honest look at what you imagine your ideal retirement would look like. Your ideal retirement should include invigorating social experiences. It should include having control over your finances. You deserve to feel safe, secure, and physically and intellectually stimulated.

Work smarter, not harder, by making the move to a senior living community sooner rather than later. Ovation’s team members are experts in ensuring you have the tools to make a decision that’s the right fit for you—at the right time.

If you would like to talk with a representative from Ovation Sienna Hills about enhancing your life, please call (435) 429-0000, go to their website at www.ovationsiennahills.com, or visit their community on the corner of Washington Parkway and Telegraph Street at 1525 East Ovation Place in Washington, Utah, 84780.

Riding from a By Jay Bartlett Hub

When taking a cycling getaway, it’s best to be able to make the most of the time you’ve allotted, especially if you’re just doing a weekend getaway for a needed decompress from the day-today mess that life can be. You want to be able to access trails without a lot of drive time eating into your bike time. Staying at a “hub” allows you to take to the trails quickly and easily.

For example, there is a condo I like to rent in Park City that has a paved city path right outside the door, making “commuting” to a trail easy without even loading up the car. In Moab, I like staying in the downtown area, which makes accessing trails easy no matter what direction you go. And on Gooseberry Mesa, my friends and I have a camping spot we’ve actually named The Hub because of its proximity to a major trail intersection.

I was recently invited to ride some new trails near the Three Peaks

Recreation Area in Cedar City, Utah, being built on private land at the Iron Springs Resort, which turns out to be a great hub. The best part is that the resort’s land butts right up against the Bureau of

Land Management (BLM) land that is the multi-use and mountain bike playland: Three Peaks. You want to hit some trails? Step out the door. Mount your bike. Start pedaling. Simple. The trailhead is just across the parking lot, and the Iron Springs trail connects you to the Petrified Whales section (aptly named for its rock formations) of Three Peaks, which then opens up many loop options from there.

Along the way up the Iron Springs trail, the M & M trail intersects in for a fun, five-ish mile loop. It’s nice to have an easier option in case you have other plans for your day or if you have burned too many matches from your energy match book in the rides preceding.

A very cool fact about the M & M trail: trail builder Earl Grimshaw named the trail after Mike and Morgan Harris. These two locals are well known as the builders of the Gooseberry Mesa trail system as well as other trails in our area, and the trail’s name is a nice tribute to early influencers of mountain biking in our area. Earl and I both have stories of being introduced to now-famous trails for the first time by these two.

Once you’ve arrived in the Petrified Whales area, there are two purpose-built downhill runs back down to Iron Springs Resort (Sidewinder and Yes, Please) that were designed for the Youth Enduro series. (Enduro racing consists of non-timed climbs up to timed downhills; the lowest time wins.) So there are options for those who like to hammer it on the descents!

Also, being built as of this writing is Mother Load, a loop that cuts off from the south end of Three Peaks Loop. Thanks to the two abutted trail systems, it won’t be long before there will be even more options for longer loops!

As with any good hub, getting to other trail systems on longer vacations is key, and Iron Springs Resort is just a short drive from the Iron Hills trails on the south end of Cedar City—one of the best trail networks in southern Utah.

Having to drive a little way to a gem of a trail certainly isn’t a bad thing. After all, it’s a good trail! But if you want to make the best out of your precious vacation time, choose a rental that is also a hub. You’ll find it much easier to get out and ride!

About the Author Mountain bike veteran, amateur filmmaker, and lover of long rides, Jay Bartlett has been riding trails in Southern Utah for over thirty years. Jay has over a decade of experience as a bike mechanic at St. George’s oldest bike shop, Bicycles Unlimited.

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CYCLING! WE COMMUTE, CYCLOCROSS, TOUR, RACE, MOUNTAIN, ROAD & TANDEM RIDE Sales • Service • Rentals • Clothing • Accessories

Let’s Ride!

90 South 100 East St. George UT 84770 435-673-4492 BicyclesUnlimited.com

Death with Dignity: Understanding the Value of Hospice Care

By Logan Winterton, RN, BSN

The number of seconds between John’s* breaths was growing longer and longer; I knew from experience his time was near and beckoned his family closer. We held our collective breath as John took his last, and I stepped back to give his family space to grieve. As a nurse, I have been present during hundreds of passings, but this death was different: it was my first as a hospice nurse, and it fundamentally changed how I perceive the dying process. Hospice is a Medicare-elected benefit provided to those diagnosed with a life-limiting disease. Many people are familiar with the time frame of “six months or less,” but this is a common misconception because many more people can qualify for hospice. Hospice is often underutilized until the final weeks of a person’s About the Author Logan Winterton received life, robbing that person and their family of support and improved quality of life. Additional qualifying criteria include frequent hospitalizations in the past six months, recurrent infections, weight loss, or a her Bachelor of Science in significant change in cognitive or functional abilities. If you have questions regarding eligibility, talk with Nursing from Southern Utah your primary care physician. University and has worked in a variety of settings, primarily Hospice care is a collaborative effort and delivered by a core team that includes the hospice nurse, aide, social intensive care. Three years worker, chaplain, and volunteers. A hospice medical director is available and directs how pain and uncomfortable ago, she made the shift to symptoms are managed. In my experience, earlier involvement with hospice care leads to better outcomes. It home health and hospice and allows the patient and family to build a rapport with the team so that when the hard times do come, they feel assisted in starting Dixie Palliative Care. She finds deep satisfaction in making comfortable leaning on the hospice team for support and trusting their medical advice. It also allows more time to establish goals of care and provide education to families on how to care for their loved one. a personal connection with those she cares for and hopes to empower her clients through No one can prevent the inevitable, but the skilled, compassionate care provided by a hospice team makes all the difference in the final days. After many years working in the Intensive Care Unit, I was able to say education to make positive with confidence that I helped someone achieve a “good death.” To the credit of those who work in hospitals, changes in their lives. staff members try to make it a more comfortable setting. But there is truth in the saying “There’s no place like home.” Instead of the beeping of monitors and lying surrounded by wires and tubes, John spent his final moments hearing his granddaughter play piano while his wife and adult children reminisced by his bedside. Everyone involved knew what to expect, and knowledge removes so much fear from an already difficult situation. I won’t romanticize death, but having experienced both ends of the spectrum, I know what I would choose for myself and family.

Dixie Hospice consistently goes above and beyond in all aspects of patient care. Their team is dedicated and ready to serve each patient and family. Dixie Hospice is happy to answer any questions you have regarding hospice care at (435) 627-2724. Omnia Care is their new expansion into Mesquite, Nevada, which was recently established to better serve the local community. Contact Omnia Care at (702) 849-0585. Trust Dixie Hospice with your and your loved one’s care today! *Name changed for patient privacy.