The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition Dec 2018/Jan 2019

Explore our new website! FellowshipSeniorLiving.org Call today to set up your private tour. 908-605-6509 Your Life, Your Plan, Your Life Plan Community Living well is easy at Fellowship Village. Here, you’ll enjoy maintenance-free living, farm-to-table dining, a variety of amenities to encourage a robust social calendar and good friends to share great times with. After all, living well is the best kind of wellness. You’re going to love our approach to “wellness.” 8000 Fellowship Road Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 ways to live well. My mother always told me that “one mother can take care of five children, but five children can’t take care of one mother!” Although I would like to believe that isn’t quite true, the reality is that as our parents age and need more care, we are frequently at a stage when our children and grandchildren may need us, as well as our own lives demand our attention! How do we come to terms with the disappointment of not being able to give adequate attention to the people who gave all of theirs to us? The most important thing I have learned is that there are trained professionals who actually know what our parents need, and it is very smart to learn from them. When I am told by people that those who seek professional involvement must not love their parents, I am very quick to let them know that in actuality, we love our parents enough to want to evaluate and provide what is best for them. Just as we had to learn how to parent our beloved children, we may have to learn to care for our aging parents. In truth, we are the first generation to see our parents commonly liv- ing into their 90s, as well as cele- brating their hundredth birthday. How do we provide the best care? It was always assumed that parents would live with their chil- dren as they aged. But today, we recognize that living with peers, eating in a social situation, dress- ing for meals, viewing old movies, listening to music from their past, a walking club and exercise pro- grams, reviewing current events, yes, even playing Bingo, all help to keep the body and mind active. At CHELSEA at Warren, where our beloved Mom lives, there is so much stimulation for the body and mind, that she is thriving as she would not, living with us. It is common for her to return after an outing of lunch or dinner with us, when she goes right to her card game, joining her new friends and not skipping a beat. Seeing that is as satisfying as when we dropped our children at school and they ran to be with their friends on the playground. People need people, and that social interaction is what is provided by senior living. Of course, not all senior living facilities are the same, so do some investigating. Cleanliness, lack of offensive odor, residents who are engaged, staff who know the names of residents, are all helpful in making your decision. Stop in at different times to check out concerns, and be certain to check out the dining room. Independent living facilities may even have more than one for residents to choose how they wish to dine. Again, social activities frequently revolve around meals. Most importantly of all is to feel good about the decisions you make around the care of your par- ents. Being open to the options is truly your key to opening the right door for this time in their lives. WHY SHOULD MY PARENTS MOVE TO SENIOR LIVING? By: Ellyn Mantell PAGE 87 Spotlight on “SeniorS” www.theconnectionsnj.com