Villa Bonita Vlog 8 - Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! This is often a time when we see family members we don't see that often, please be aware of your loved ones and notice any changes you may see. Are they stumbling easily? Do they seem a little depressed? Does it look like it might be some time for some assistance? Remember that Villa Bonita is always here for you. Happy Thanksgiving!



3434 Bonita Rd.

Chula Vista, CA 91910

(619) 476-9444

www.villabonitaseniorliving.com

www.facebook.com/Seniors123

Take Stock of Aging Parents During Holiday Visits

3 Tips to Prepare for the Future

Chula Vista, Calif., Nov. 20, 2014 -- Integral Senior Living (ISL), a senior residence management company, encourages families, during holiday visits with aging loved ones, to check on their health, discuss their senior care and review their important documents. Reuniting at the holidays is a natural time for adult children to observe their elderly parents and help them organize for long-term care.

“Many people go home ready to celebrate the family being together,” Collette Valentine, CEO/COO of ISL, said. “Then they notice their parents have changing needs. Holidays are a good time to pause and check in on how your aging parents are really doing.”

ISL suggests three ways to use family time to get organized for the future care of an aging loved one:

1.   Take Stock of Health and Wellness

Evaluate your loved one’s living situation including eating habits and look for weight loss or gain. Ask about their medical visits and call their doctor for another perspective. Take a photo of their prescriptions for your records. Inquire about their social life and listen for mental health concerns. Look for red flags that identify potential safety, mobility and health issues.

2.   Discuss Senior Living Choices

Families reuniting for the holidays enjoy reminiscing about past get-togethers. Turn on the video camera on and "interview" your parents on a variety of topics, such as growing up, their young adult years, favorite holiday traditions or whatever is of most interest to your family. This can ease you into the “tough conversation” on aging and different senior living options.

3.   Review Important Financial and Legal Documents

Families can find themselves in a crisis needing to make quick decisions about care for an elderly parent or relative. Set aside time to collect important documents to prepare for a parent’s elder care and health care. Knowing where to find insurance cards, birth certificates, wills and financial records can help families be prepared for hospital visits and making decisions about senior care for their loved ones.

“Using your holiday visit for evaluating your aging parents is more effective than a phone call or short-term visit,” Valentine said. “Being proactive and engaging your parents about their future may seem awkward, but knowing how they feel and understanding their legal and financial realities, helps your family make better choices.”

    

About Villa Bonita Senior Living

Villa Bonita Senior Living is conveniently located off the 805 freeway on the border of Chula Vista and Bonita; CA. Located only 7 minutes from Downtown San Diego, Villa Bonita is a lovely community with great residents, staff, activities, food and much more. Villa Bonita offers independent and assisted living as well as a dedicated memory care community for our residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. At Villa Bonita Senior Living, life happens according to plan – a comfortable, dynamic, detail-oriented plan. Daily activity is the result of proven practices, systems, standards and an organization that has been refined by experience. Come visit and find out why we were voted “Top 5 Assisted Living Community” in the Union Tribune!

For more information about Villa Bonita Senior Living, visit www.villabonitaseniorliving.com or call (619) 476-9444.

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Media Contact

Jennifer Wallis, Marketing Director

Villa Bonita Senior Living

619-476-9444

villabonitaMKG2@islllc.com

http://www.villabonitaseniorliving.com

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/Seniors123

YouTube:        https://www.youtube.com/vbseniorliving

Pinterest:        https://www.pinterest.com/vbseniorliving

Blogger:          gplus.to/villabonita

Gold Key Club Party

Thank you to all of our Gold Key Club members for making it to this quarter's party!

We wouldn't be where we are without you.

To become a member,

all you have to do is refer a new resident to us

and you, too, will be invited to these exclusive events!

Marion Turns 103 Today!

Happy Spring Everyone: Stay on Top of your Health!

Each March, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) focuses attention on returning to the basics of healthy eating. This year's National Nutrition Month theme encourages everyone including seniors to include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on their plates everyday. While this may sound easy, for many seniors taking the time to prepare fresh healthy foods instead of popping something in the microwave, often just for themselves, is not always part of the menu. Getting back to the basics and adding color back on the plate is a good start.

"By adding colorful food options into every meal you are not only injecting good nutrition into diets but you are making the meals overall more pleasing to the eye and palate. Our main goal is to serve low fat and low sodium entrees that are delicious. This is achieved with healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables. In addition we try and service items that don't contain MSG, and have reduced amounts of saturated fats, sodium, sugar and caffeine," said Jenny Wallis, marketing director for Villa Bonita.

To help seniors eat healthy and "colorful" this March, Villa Bonita offers these quick, easy tips and facts.

• Take a tip from Japanese food culture and try to include five colors on your plate. Fruits and veggies rich in color correspond to rich nutrients (think: blackberries, melons, yams, spinach, tomato, zucchini).
• Start your day with a strawberry, banana, yogurt smoothie, or by adding dried cranberries, walnuts, apples, raisins and cinnamon to oatmeal.
• Create an array of color in salads by adding carrots, orange sections, tomatoes, beets and purple cabbage.
• Add vegetables to casseroles, stews and soups.
• Think fruit for dessert, sliced nicely and accompanied with cheese.
• Bake with raisin, date or prune puree to reduce fat and increase fiber.
• Add lettuce, onions, peppers and/or tomatoes to sandwiches.
• Add vegetables to pasta and pizza
• Pack fresh or dried fruits and nuts for quick snacks.

Just how much "color" does a senior need each day?

• Fruit - Focus on whole fruits rather than juices for more fiber and vitamins and aim for around one to two servings each day.
• Veggies -Choose anti-oxidant rich dark leafy greens, like broccoli, spinach, as well as oranges and yellows, such as carrots, squash, and yams.

¥ Calcium - Aging bone health depends on adequate calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures. Seniors need 1,200 mg of calcium a day through servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese. Non-dairy sources include tofu, broccoli, almonds, and kale.


If you have questions about senior care or helping an elderly loved one, contact Jennifer Wallis, Community Marketing Director at Villa Bonita Senior Living at (619)739-4400 or by e-mail at villabonitamkg2@islllc.com. Villa Bonita Senior Living is an Assisted Living Community licensed by the California Department of Social Services, located at 3434 Bonita Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910. You can also visit Villa Bonita online at www.villabonitaseniorliving.com.

Caring Stars 2014 Award

Congratulations to Villa Bonita!


"Based on praise received from families, senior residents, and eldercare experts"

Happy Valentine's Day from our Residents!

Villa Bonita Listed in America's Best Assisted Living Communities This Year!

To see the list of all communities who made it on the list this year, click the link below:

Best Senior Living: Caring Stars 2014

Why Does Memory Care Often Offer Shared Rooms?

Dear Jenny,
   My mom needs to live in a community for memory care, but they all seem to offer shared apartments. I can't imagine mom living in a semi-private setting with a roommate at her age. Why is this so common? Is it just because it's less expensive?

   Most assisted living communities providing memory care services offer both private and semi-private accommodations. This is common, not for the reason of cost as you may suspect, but because roommate pairing can be a very positive aspect of socialization for individuals with dementia. It is very easy to project our own desires and comfort levels when trying to select a senior care community for a loved one, especially for dementia needs, because often those individuals are not able to contribute to making the decision.

   It's important to recognize that a person's attitudes, behaviors, and even preferences change as a result of dementia. Consequently, they may be far more receptive to a roommate now than they may have been in their younger adult years. As much as it may seem unlikely that someone would "want" a roommate at an older age, more frequently than not, persons suffering from dementia tend to show much stronger socialization signs when they have shared living space.

   Appropriate roommate pairing provides a multitude of psycho-social benefits, ranging from coping with change and life's challenges to a greater sense of community. This also helps mitigate a potential sense of isolation and provides a familiar and consistent face during what could otherwise be a somewhat lonely and sometimes frightening experience initially because of so many changes.
   The benefits of someone with dementia having a roommate have been well documented. Studies published in The Brown University Gero-Psych Report and the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias both outline an extensive array of social benefits of someone with dementia living in a shared apartment. The studies identified fewer instances of depression and a significant difference in health, spirit and energy of those living in a semi-private setting with a roommate.
   
   And lastly, of course there is the added benefit of the cost savings. Providing quality care in a nice setting for people with dementia is an expensive undertaking. Not everyone has the financial resources to meet the strain dementia care places on the family budget. Semi-private apartments do offer some degree of cost savings, but that's simply a bonus to all the real underlying advantages of appropriate roommate pairing.


If you have questions about senior care or helping an elderly loved one, contact Jennifer Wallis, Community Marketing Director at Villa Bonita Senior Living at (619)739-4400 or by e-mail at villabonitamkg2@islllc.com. Villa Bonita Senior Living is an Assisted Living Community licensed by the California Department of Social Services, located at 3434 Bonita Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910. You can also visit Villa Bonita online at www.villabonitaseniorliving.com.

Why You Should Join the Exclusive Gold Key Club!

Villa Bonita Birthdays!

Happy birthday to our resident, Cora, whose birthday was last Wednesday, January 29th.

And a happy birthday to our resident, Barbara, whose birthday is today, February 3rd!

 

Happy Hour at Villa Bonita!

Watch Villa Bonita in a Commercial!!!

Villa Bonita New Year's Celebration with the Charger Band

The Best Gifts are Simple

       The holidays can be a wonderful time of year, when families and friends gather to share the old times and the new.

     Yet for seniors, the joy of the gatherings and the season in general can be a mixed blessing as eager anticipation can give way to additional stress. The staff at Villa Bonita offer helpful holiday tips to make the season a joyous one for everyone.

     “Seniors recognize that the best gift of all is spending time with family and friends. Unhurried, uncomplicated time together means the most and creates memories for everyone involved. Give the best gift of all—your time,” said Jenny Wallis from Villa Bonita.

      

Ten tips to help seniors and you make the most of the holiday season

1. Quiet is good. Many seniors live in environments that are relatively quiet, with a limited amount of activity in a day. Think about how much stimulation may be in your environment and limit the number of activities or the amount of time seniors are involved in them. Loud family gatherings can be a bit much after a while, so a quiet place to sit down may be a good refuge.
2. Be the senior for a moment. Before an event begins, put yourself in your senior’s shoes. Do you have difficulty walking? Do you have trouble remembering names? Plan ahead to make adjustments that can help make the situation more amenable. It can be as simple as moving furniture and making nametags.
3. Share a holiday tradition. Invite a senior to share a favorite holiday memory or tradition. Maybe it’s a favorite cookie, decorations, arranging a centerpiece or a favorite movie or song that you can share with them.
4. Appreciate limitations. Encourage older family members to take it easy and let you pamper them for a change. Let them help with smaller, less complicated tasks if they wish to participate.
5. Encourage these great storytellers. Many older relatives live in their memories. Encourage them to talk about holidays gone by. If they keep albums, ask to see the pictures. They may have some wonderful traditions from their childhood that you can incorporate into your own family’s plans.
6. Share a favorite meal together. Prepare a dish the senior loved as a child or once prepared as a holiday tradition. Try involving seniors in the process, instead of making the dish for them, allowing them to feel helpful and needed.
7. Give a hand with holiday décor. Decorations add so much to the holiday season. Help loved ones feel at home during the holidays by setting up their Christmas tree or Menorah with them. Again, having them help you put ornaments on the tree or plugging in the lights can make seniors feel helpful and involved.
8. Drive around town. Many seniors don’t drive as much as they used to, but they’d still love to see the holiday decorations put up by retail stores and overzealous neighbors.
9. Stay in touch. For seniors it’s so important to know you are thinking of them during the holidays, especially those who are alone. Seniors today are of the generation that loves the simple things: a note in the mail, or a phone call. Invite them for a cup of coffee. It doesn’t have to be much; it’s the thought that counts.
10. Help with mobility. If a senior is coming for a visit, remove slippery throw rugs and items that could present barriers to a senior who has difficulty walking or balance problems. 

 
Villa Bonita provides the finest in assisted living and memory care options for residents. Located in Chula Vista, California, the expertly trained staff provides residents with the highest standards of senior care services. It is operated by Integral Senior Living, which manages independent living, assisted living, and memory care properties. ISL is founded on a care philosophy that fosters dignity and respect for residents and promotes their independence and individuality. For more information on Villa Bonita call 619-476-9444 or visit www.villabonitaseniorlivng.com.

Welcome Villa Bonita to the CVCF!

We are now a member of the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone! Come in today and see our decorations. :)

When is it Time for Assisted Living?

Dear Jenny,
How can you tell if and when it is the right time to move your parent into assisted living?

     It can be not only tough on you, but it can be difficult for the whole family when it comes to making the decision of having to move a parent into an assisted living community. The thought of leaving a beloved home that holds many years of memories can bring sadness and grief to anyone. It is a common feeling and completely understandable. But when it comes to not being able to take care of the upkeep of the home or, more importantly, the upkeep of yourself, then it might be time to entertain the idea of moving to assisted living.
     The words assisted living are not bad words, they are just used to describe a person who is able to still live by themselves but may need a bit more assistance in the tasks involved in average daily living (ADL).
Maybe a person can do everything they used to do, but they no longer want to cook, clean, drive or do their laundry. That’s where assisted living comes in; they will take care of all of that for you.
     Or perhaps, your home is just too large, you don’t entertain anymore and you are ready to downsize; that’s where assisted living comes in. You still have your own apartment and your own privacy, you are just not responsible for cleaning up such a large area.
      If you take medications during the day and sometimes you forget if you took them, that’s where assisted living comes in. The medical technicians will store your medications and administer them when needed. If you are uneasy in the shower, maybe you need a bar to hold onto or a person to stand by and make sure you don’t fall, that’s where assisted living comes in.
     The services that assisted living communities offer are simply assistance with average daily living tasks. Life is all about living and we might need assistance with it, but we still need to thrive in it. So many families think that making the decision to offer assisted living to their parents is an insult, and so many parents think that living in an assisted living community is an admission of defeat. But that is not true at all. More often than not, as soon as a person has lived in assisted living for at least two weeks, they state they wished they had made the move sooner!
      So never be afraid to check out what is out there and never be afraid to speak to your parents about assisted living.
      It’s great to have all your ducks in a row before the actual time comes when fixing three meals a day becomes so difficult that
not cooking, and therefore not eating, is much easier!



If you have questions about senior care or helping an elderly loved one, contact Jenny Wallis, Community Marketing Director at Villa Bonita Senior Living at (619) 739-4400 or by e-mail at villabonitamkg2@islllc.com.  Villa Bonita Senior Living is a licensed assisted living community located at 3434 Bonita Road, Chula Vista.  You can also visit Villa Bonita online at www.villabonitaseniorliving.com.

Waiting Until after the Holidays to Move Mom or Dad in?

Watch this vlog to see the ideas presented in the previous blog, "It's Best to Move a Loved One Now Rather than After the Holidays," expanded by Community Marketing Director, Jennifer.

Happy Autumn!!!