Falls affect us all. The risk of falling increases with age. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. If you slip, trip or fall, it could change your life. You could break a bone, take a trip to the hospital, be injured or develop a disability. Fear of falling may keep you from walking, shopping or taking part in social activities. Overcoming this fear can help you stay active, maintain your physical health and prevent future falls.

The good news is that there are simple ways and free online resources to reduce the risk of falling and help stay falls free. Here are some tips with hyperlinks on how to prevent most falls.

Exercise to Improve Your Balance and Strength

One easy way to prevent a fall is to improve balance and strength. The National Institute on Aging has tips on fitting EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY safely into daily life to help stay healthy as one ages. It also has tips with the right steps to take to PREVENT FALLS AND FRACTURES. Life enrichment and wellness directors offer many programs. Try walking, gardening, tai chi, yoga or whatever you enjoy.

Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Regularly review your medications and their side effects with your doctor or pharmacist. The National Council on Aging has a FALLS FREE CHECKUP that allows you to check your risk for a fall to help stay independent. Tell your doctor if you have fallen, even if not hurt. Get your vision and hearing tested. Ask a physical therapist about acquiring a walking aid if needed. Vitamin D and calcium can help keep your bones strong.

Make Your Home Safer

Make sure there are no cords, pet toys, loose rugs or excess furniture in your path. Clutter on your floors and around your home can make it more difficult to stay on your feet. Use the CDC STEADI initiative checklist to identify and ELIMINATE FALL HAZARDS in the home. Adequate lighting in hallways makes navigation easier. Ask an occupational therapist about a home safety evaluation.

Put in a request to add grab bars for the bathtub, shower and toilet if you think you need them.

Make Smart Choices

Be aware of personal abilities and limitations. Request help from someone for difficult or awkward tasks like retrieving objects on high shelves or carrying large or bulky items. The California Department of Aging’s FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM has fall and injury prevention education and information. Stand up slowly with your feet under you. Wear proper footwear. Don’t drink alcohol to excess.

Educate Yourself Today

Understanding fall risks is the first step to staying safer, reducing the risk of falling and helping stay falls free. Check out the free resources above for practical prevention solutions to do the right exercises, take proper care of yourself, make your home safer and ask for help when you need it.

The post Simple Steps You Can Take to Prevent Falls appeared first on Front Porch.

Senior Director for Resident Experience Rebecca Johnson created the program to support residents’ connection to the community and to one another. “We feel a sense of place but don’t necessarily articulate it,” says Johnson. This program allows residents to gather over time “to capture in your words why you feel as you do.”

Each Front Porch community has its own unique geography, Johnson explains. “When we hear the word geography we think, ‘mountains, landscapes,’ which is certainly part of it,” she says. “But geography is also everything that humans build. When we wrote the program, we were intentional about discussing both the physical and social aspects of geography.”

Sense of Place provides a safe environment for people who may not normally speak up in the community to address concerns. “Sense of Place is outside of the committee or council structure,” says Johnson. “Sometimes residents are looking for a new way to share their voice, a less formal way beyond the surveys and the committees that are already in place.”

“I marvel at people who have the ability to come forward and speak their thoughts,” said one resident participant at Friends House in Santa Rosa. “It doesn’t come as naturally to me, but after listening to others, I feel I can talk like that. I feel comfortable here. I feel I’m in the right place.”

Jeannie Pressey, executive director of Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa says that Sense of Place is “an additional opportunity to gain insight from the residents on what’s working well and what they would like to see improved.”

Unlike a resident survey that provides a quantitative snapshot of the community at a moment in time, Sense of Place collects qualitative information that “puts the how, why, and what together in one place,” explains Mary McMullin, chief advancement officer for Front Porch. “A survey will tell us you think your community is great. Sense of Place allows us to understand why you think it’s great. It helps us identify rather than guess about the true community that’s here.”

Because residents were speaking directly with someone in person or on Zoom “instead of simply filling out the boxes on a survey, I feel that they were more comfortable in sharing their viewpoints,” Pressey notes. “And their views were clearly communicated as opposed to checking a box that says ‘are you satisfied? 1, 2, 3.’ You get some context on what people are trying to say.”

The program was open to any residents who wanted to participate, and a range of residents chose to join. “Having new and long-term residents in the same setting was critical,” Johnson says. She notes that newer residents who may have only experienced their community in the wake of the COVID pandemic with its lockdown protocols have a very different perspective than long-term residents who can recall and explain a community’s traditions. Meeting together gave residents a broader perspective on what community feels like based on their individual experiences.

Johnson compiled insights gathered during each session into reports for each participating community’s executive director, incorporating resident feedback, key questions, and recommendations for follow-up programs. Mark Nitsche, who became the executive director of San Francisco Towers during the Sense of Place pilot program, read the reports as a way to became familiar with the community. They allowed him to “really listen to what people are saying,” he recalls.

“People believe the ED is the last word, but it’s collaborative,” Nitsche says. Sense of Place allowed residents “to be a voice for the community and how you want to see community going forward. The program builds a sense of awareness, a sense of hope, and a sense of belonging.”

After testing the program as a pilot project at three Front Porch communities in 2022, Sense of Place is preparing to launch in more communities this year and may later be developed for use beyond the Front Porch system. Johnson is also gathering a working group to develop a new program called ATLAS, designed specifically for the new resident experience.

“Sense of Place is an influencer in decision making,” Johnson says. “It’s a platform for prioritizing the things that mean the most to residents, and one of those priorities is how residents, especially new residents, develop a sense of belonging and attachment in community. ATLAS is our natural next step.

“I’ve learned so much from the resident participants by leading this program. Each community is unique, with its own sense of place. This program has helped me to understand at a deep level what’s important for residents in their particular community. I can’t wait to discover more as we move forward with Sense of Place.”

The post At Front Porch Communities, Residents Discover their ‘Sense of Place’ appeared first on Front Porch.

Like life plan communities (also known as continuing care retirement communities or CCRCs), active senior living communities typically have age restrictions and provide both interior and exterior home maintenance services. Unlike many life plan communities, there is no “buy-in” fee and residents only pay a monthly rental fee for their home or duplex.

Many active senior living communities offer resident-led programs and connections with local community centers while some communities offer onsite amenities. The opportunity for resident-led programming that residents and the community create together is one aspect that makes active senior living special. Residents live in duplexes or houses, depending on the community, but without the added maintenance worries that living in a home typically entails.

Front Porch has three active senior living communities: Cecil Pines in Jacksonville, Florida; England Oaks in Alexandria, Louisiana; and El Sombroso Oaks in Los Gatos, California.

Cecil Pines

Located on 53 acres that once comprised a military base in Jacksonville, Florida, Cecil Pines boasts miles of walking paths among mature pines and an easy-going lifestyle. With convenient access to a local golf course as well as an aquatics center, fitness center, and equestrian center, this unique community offers numerous ways for residents to stay active.

“Our focus is on how we can support residents so they don’t have to worry about the mundane stuff,” explained General Manager Christina Purdy. “We want them to be able to pursue their passions and all of the activities they’ve wanted to do but haven’t had the time for previously.” Management takes care of home maintenance, garbage pick-up, and yard work.

One of the benefits of life at Cecil Pines is the community. “Everyone knows everyone else’s name and when you drive down the road, everyone waves at you,” noted Christina. “For many residents, they go back to the sense of community that they had when they were growing up.”

Because residents’ passions are a focal point at Cecil Pines, the staff makes an effort to customize programming to suit residents’ interests and to support resident-led activities.

Programs include an exercise group, game nights, a monthly potluck, Koffee Klatch, Wii bowling tournaments, and more, depending on resident interest. Additionally, many residents take advantage of community-supported volunteer opportunities. The monthly “Road Walk” group picks up litter along the road to the local commerce center and “Gifted Hands” meets every Wednesday to create handcrafted clothing, pillows, and blankets to donate to the local hospital. The community also hosts an annual baby shower, where they pack two SUVs full of donations so that new moms at the hospital have something to take home with them.

Christina said that the community “is always giving back.” Every Thanksgiving, residents collect donations for the Salvation Army and once a year host an antique car show fundraiser with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

“We have very active people at our community with residents in their late 50s all the way up to those in their 90s,” Christina said. The community offers plenty of space to walk or bike and numerous ways to stay active. If you are interested in learning more about Cecil Pines, please visit their website or contact (904) 771-8839.

England Oaks

England Oaks, located in Alexandria Louisiana, lives up to its name with plenty of oak (and pecan) trees throughout the community. Like Cecil Pines, England Oaks is located on a closed military base, remodeled into a senior housing and community center, and located near a local golf course.

Located on 63 acres, England Oaks has the leisurely feel of a small town with different streets containing 182 homes. Residents live independently but without the hassles of maintenance, garbage pickup, and pest control.

“It’s really hard going from living at home and being able to take care of everything to waking up one day and realizing that taking care of your home isn’t as fun as it used to be,” said England Oaks Sales Manager Nadja Stokes. “People begin to ask themselves, ‘What do I do from here?'” Active senior living communities like England Oaks provide a great solution. “People who embrace the choice of moving to an active senior living community are happier,” said Nadja. “They are less stressed and they find things to replace the work that are more fun.”

On top of the benefits of low-maintenance living, England Oaks also provides connection. “There is such a community feel,” Nadja said. “Residents at the community want to be part of something and England Oaks provides the opportunity to be social and active.”

Residents have access to an activity center that features a heated indoor pool as well as resident-led programs and groups, including a bridge group, poker group, and coffee chat. Additionally, many residents get together and play cards at home with each other and travel to local festivals together. “In Louisiana, there is a festival every weekend,” noted Nadja. The administrative team works with residents to coordinate buses so that they can attend the festivals together.

Residents also support each other through “Helping Hands” a group which provides transportation when the community’s van is unavailable. Residents drive other residents to medical appointments and to pick up groceries. “It’s also a great way to get to know their neighbors,” said Nadja, “and it helps to build the community feel.”

Nadja likens living at England Oaks to living in the fictional city of Mayfield from Leave It to Beaver. “It’s very quiet, secure, and everyone knows each other.” If you are interested in learning more about England Oaks, please visit their website or contact (318) 445-0520.

El Sombroso Oaks

Located a mile outside of downtown Los Gatos, El Sombroso Oaks (ESO) is a low-maintenance community in Northern California. Surrounded by walking paths that loop through oak trees, residents have easy access to the beauty and charm of Los Gatos.

The community was originally built in the 1970s with the intention of being an independent living residence for Presbyterian ministers. The community joined Covia, a Front Porch partner, in 2016 and the community now welcomes all, regardless of whether or not they have served as part of the Presbyterian clergy. “I have always felt welcome and now it is exciting to have people of a number of faiths and backgrounds as residents,” said resident Jack Longley, who has lived at ESO since 2009.

Jack arranges resident outings for the community, including going out to dinner, visits to the Hakone Gardens, the Apple Park (Apple’s headquarters), and other local attractions. “We always have a wonderful Christmas luncheon and we occasionally celebrate birthdays or anniversaries or get together in small groups for wine and discussion,” Jack said. During the pandemic, Jack started a weekly Zoom call for residents that transitioned to meeting outdoors when weather permits. “I put together some ice-breaker questions and we would take off and have a marvelous time,” he said.

“I love living here,” he noted. “We love to laugh together and we love to party when someone has a birthday.” Alex Gerasimov, property manager for ESO said, “I’m amazed how close knit and friendly everyone is at El Sombroso Oaks. Even though this community is fully independent, the residents regularly get together and go out for various events to stay active and engaged.”

The cottages at ESO have roomy kitchens, detached garages, decks, and plenty of natural light. With home maintenance as well as landscaping taken care of as part of the rental fee, residents can focus on getting out into nature or exploring the town. “El Sombroso Oaks serves as a pathway to Los Gatos,” Alex said. “The neighborhood connects a local elementary school to nearby households so you see a lot of kids, parents, and just friendly faces passing by and saying ‘Howdy!’ to our residents.” If you are interested in learning more about El Sombroso Oaks, please visit their website or contact AGerasimov@FrontPorch.net.  

Active senior living communities are just one of the senior living options available at Front Porch. Check out our website to learn more about all that Front Porch has to offer and which of our options would be the best fit for your lifestyle.

The post Enjoy the Benefits of Active Senior Living appeared first on Front Porch.

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The resident agreement may seem imposing at first, but it also holds the answers to many questions prospective residents may have, such as: What’s included and not included in my services? What happens when I need additional services or support? And perhaps the biggest question: if I move to a community am I giving up independence and personal freedom?

After more than 30 years in the field of aging services, Mary McMullin, chief advancement officer for Front Porch, has seen a lot of resident agreements. “This is a topic near and dear to my heart, and I’m one of the few people who can say I like reading them,” she said. In an hour-long webinar on Demystifying Resident Agreements, Mary walked through the major sections of Front Porch’s resident agreement–including accommodations and services, health care, costs and fees, and resident rights–and the reasons behind them.

Accommodations and Services

Accommodations, as defined in most resident agreements, involve both the residents’ living space, which Mary emphasizes is their personal home, as well as the public spaces in the community. At Front Porch, although each individual home comes unfurnished, there is scope to personalize and make alterations, which vary depending on the community. “The interesting thing about our communities is that each one is different,” said Mary. “What works in a high rise is very different from what works in a stand-alone cottage or patio home.” The agreement also outlines the utilities provided, including broad spectrum Wi-Fi.

Community spaces also vary depending on the community, and, according to Mary, are “probably the most visible benefit” of community living. “Your personal space is there for you to customize and live in privately,” she said. “But it’s the other aspects of community living that add value. If you’re a swimmer, if you want to use the fitness center, if you want to use the art studio, if you’re determined to read every book in the library, having that larger space available to you is very important.”

Services such as housekeeping, dining, and transportation are outlined in the agreement. “It does take a certain amount of burden off of you,” Mary said. “There’s a staff that’s trained and managed to provide these services and you don’t have to track it or find it or manage it yourself.” Front Porch provides at least 30 days’ notice of any changes to the services listed in the resident agreement. Additional services and their related costs are available as an appendix to the agreement, with the fees updated annually, also with 30 days’ notice.

Healthcare

The healthcare section of the resident agreement “is probably the area that’s the most foreign because of prior conceptions of what healthcare is,” Mary said. She breaks down the healthcare section into “Three Ds, Two Ps, and Three Es.”

The three Ds are the Definitions, such as how do we define healthcare? What are memory care, assisted living, and skilled nursing?; the Delivery – can we provide the care in your home? Is the cost covered by the agreement, or is there any additional charge?; and Determination – how to determine what kind of care is needed, and where it will be provided.

“The greatest area of fear that I’ve observed in all my years is that many people  worry that moving to a community means we have control over transferring you to a higher level of care,” said Mary. “We do not. That’s the determination piece, that third D. It’s an active collaboration between you and your healthcare team and the community and our healthcare team, because at that point we are one team. We work with you to determine what the best thing is for you, but it is a collaboration. I can’t stress that enough.”

The two Ps are Physicians and Private Duty Aides. Communities are not primary healthcare providers. Residents are still responsible for managing and maintaining a relationship with a physician and paying for those services. And residents who hire a private duty aide can do so, but need to abide by the organization’s policies.

Finally, the three Es are Emergency Care, Excluded Care, and Enrollment in Insurance, all of which are part of how communities and residents collaborate to support residents’ health and wellbeing. The section on Emergency care explains how the community responds in case you experience a medical emergency and the section on Excluded care explains health-related services that fall outside of the scope of long-term care (such as dental care or durable medical equipment).

The final E, Enrollment in Insurance, is required as part of the agreement. “We do require you to maintain Medicare Parts A, B, as well as a supplemental policy,” Mary explained. “We need to know that you’re able to receive regular routine and regular covered care. We need to know that if you go out to a hospital, the care you receive will be appropriate and that we can manage the care after the hospital, if it’s needed.”

Costs and Fees

The agreement also goes into detail on resident fees. Along with the non-refundable processing fee and optional services spelled out in the appendix, the agreement explains the monthly fee, which changes over time. Monthly fees are subject to a yearly rate increase. At Front Porch, approximately two-thirds of the monthly fees go to labor costs, which naturally increase over time. “Interestingly enough, I think the rate increases are the biggest surprise for people,” Mary shared. “People know about them from an intellectual standpoint, but don’t necessarily emotionalize the fact that fees increase over time. That’s why we put in the historic schedule of average monthly fees.”

Resident Rights

Finally, the agreement also covers your rights as a resident. “Resident rights are very serious,” Mary said. “We are as much in partnership with you as we are with our regulators.” In California, resident rights  are established by the state’s Department of Social Services and include the right to live in an environment that enhances personal dignity, maintains independence, and encourages self-determination, and the right to receive a clear and complete written contract that establishes the mutual rights and obligations of the resident and the community.

In addition to the rights shared in the agreement, the resident handbook, included as an attachment to the agreement, also outlines the rights and responsibilities for community living, while a separate resident community manual goes into the details such as how to request repairs, how to place orders for a take-out meal, and other practical needs that are unique to the community and not part of the statutory requirements.

And more

In addition to the summary provided here, the webinar provided much more in-depth discussions on the resident agreement, including its appendices.

“We really try not to overwhelm you with information, but it’s hard not to because these agreements have a lot of parts and pieces to them,” Mary said. She encourages prospective residents to read through the agreement, and to work with a legal advisor as well, to become comfortable with the contract before signing. “I think that’s how to go into this wonderful way of living: with your eyes wide open, with your questions answered, feeling confident that, as a consumer, you’ve done everything possible to satisfy your questions and to be comfortable living in one of our communities.”

If you are interested in getting a link to the full presentation, please send us your name and email address.

The post Demystifying Resident Contracts appeared first on Front Porch.

The post Demystifying Resident Contracts appeared first on Front Porch.

“I was interested because I remembered the old Cecil Field from my Navy days and from having worked at the base as a federal employee for many years,” recalled Glenn, now a happy resident of Cecil Pines Adult Living Community for almost two decades. “Being so familiar with the place it just felt right to move in.”

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2020, Cecil Pines opened in 2000 as a truly innovative retirement community. From the 1940s through the 1990s, Cecil Field was home to Navy officers and their families. But after the field’s closure in 1999, Front Porch partner California Lutheran Homes and Community Services leased the land from the City of Jacksonville and, with a new vision for the closed military base, began a new era for the more than 100 residents who live at the spacious 53-acre community.  

“Twenty years later we are going strong,” said Cecil Pines General Manager Christina Purdy. “The evolution of Cecil Pines has certainly gone beyond our expectations. Except for the first few years we were open, we have not dipped below 100 percent occupancy. For many of our residents, community culture, the easy-going lifestyle and the nostalgia that comes from living on a former base is the key.”

This year, Cecil Pines signed a new 10-year lease with two five-year options. “Staff were so excited we organized a socially distanced parade for residents,” Christina said. “Not even the pandemic could keep our spirits down. This is a special place.”

These days, the last thing on residents’ minds is the shriek of loud Navy jets launching off Cecil’s runways down the road. Instead, residents have carved out a rustic, quiet niche among the pines, natural surroundings and miles of walking paths that make Cecil Pines a community like no other in the area. The fully remodeled housing and neatly groomed landscape have transformed Cecil Pines into a small town of yesteryear.

“It’s such a quiet lifestyle here at Cecil Pines,” said Navy veteran William Anderson, who has lived at Cecil Pines for five years but was stationed at Cecil Field from 1980 through 1984 with the VA-72 Blue Hawks. “Coming back here to live certainly brought back memories. I immediately connected with other residents who remembered the old base. Of course we swapped stories.”

About 30 miles from the Florida’s east coast, the community is located adjacent to a golf course and residents have access to a nearby fitness center, aquatics center and an equestrian center.

“I always thought Cecil Field was an ideal place to work, now I think Cecil Pines is an ideal place to live,” Glenn said.

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