Crafting is something that many of us enjoy, regardless of age. Old and young alike, there is something wonderfully calming and nostalgic about sitting down with needles and yarn, paint and a brush, a little bit of clay, or even just some fabric remnants and letting your creative side take over. As we age, our mobility can become limited, so crafting also becomes one of the few activities in which seniors can actively participate as fully as younger folks, and it comes with a variety of health benefits that make it a meaningful way to spend an afternoon.
As Valentine's Day approaches, our minds turn to love and all that surrounds that mysterious word. Be it a decades-long marriage or a life-long friendship, love is something we all want to experience and carry with us throughout our lives. According to the Pew Research Center, finding someone to grow old with is a priority for 81% of Americans; we all want to love and be loved.
A quick visit to the Alzheimer’s Association page reveals a startling fact: 1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer's or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. It is no doubt one of the most devastating diseases we face today. This statistic doesn’t even account for the other types of dementia such as Lewy body, vascular, and frontotemporal. We desperately need to make some progress in our ongoing research for a cure.
Therefore, when a $1.4 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill that was passed and signed December 27th, 2020, it was cause for celebration. A portion of this bill endows a stunning $3.1 Billion to Alzheimer’s and dementia research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) just for the year 2021 alone. Not only does this represent an extra $300 Million when compared to the previous year, it also stands for a great leap forward in memory-loss research in how the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement are going to use these additional funds.
Regarding the additional omnibus funds, The Alzheimer’s Association said, “We are grateful to the bill’s cosponsors and congressional leaders for prioritizing provider education which will lead to better health outcomes for people living with dementia and their caregivers…We are grateful to our longtime congressional champions for their steadfast commitment on behalf of the millions of Americans living with this devastating and fatal disease.” This speaks volumes about the kind of impact that this increased funding will have and what kind of progress this kind of NIH money can represent when being put to such a good use.
As perhaps the most well-known Alzheimer’s and dementia organization, The Alzheimer’s Association funds a wide variety of research into Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, including research projects aimed to identify the disease's origins, preventative measures, and with ongoing perseverance, someday a cure. In aggressive pursuit of their vision of a world without Alzheimer’s, the Association made its largest-ever research investment in 2019 with more than 162 unique scientific investigations being funded by them. They also continue to hold their Walk to End Alzheimer’s events year after year, and have raised millions alone through this annual offering that draws so many loved ones to come out in support of this cause.
At Pacifica Senior Living, we, like you, look forward to a world without Alzheimer’s and dementia, a world where our award-winning LegaciesTM Memory Care program can be a thing of the past. We look forward to opportunities to share good news with you on this research front whenever it becomes available. However, as long as memory-loss conditions are a reality that we must continue to grapple with, we will continue to provide the high-quality care that your loved ones need in an environment that promotes wellness and engagement.
We invite you to call or send us an email today for more information about our LegaciesTM Memory Care or other care programs at Pacifica Senior Living communities across the country.
We’d love to welcome you to our family.
After months of diligent efforts to protect our family of residents and essential workers, we are thrilled to announce that our vaccination effort in communities across the country has both started well and continues to go well as we work toward 100% vaccination for our residents and staff at Pacifica Senior Living.
Since December, when we were one of the first senior living companies to procure the vaccine under the Phase I vaccination process, we have been able to provide the vaccines to the majority of our residents and team members, and are quickly approaching every community.Pacifica Senior Living is excited that all of our senior living communities have COVID-19 vaccination dates in place. Our vaccination clinics for both residents and staff are well underway with 99% of all communities already receiving their first dose, and several communities have already had their second vaccine dose administered. Not only does the vaccine protect each person that receives it, but it protects the community as well. As we look forward to the end of this long and difficult time, we are thankful to so many who have demonstrated both determination and perseverance in ensuring all our residents and employees have the opportunity to receive the vaccine.
While we continue to see our residents and staff receive the vaccine, we remain ever-mindful of our goal to continue to promote the well-being of our communities by up-to-date health and safety protocols. Our mission is to provide compassionate, personalized care services with dignity and respect, and it is our chief focus while participating in these clinics over the next weeks and months. We look forward to sharing more updates with you as we walk through this new and exciting time!
If you’d like to know more about Pacifica Senior Living, we invite you to visit any of our communities across the nation, and we look forward to an opportunity to welcome you to the Pacifica Family.
Most people love animals. Cats, dogs, birds, fish, guinea pigs, even a lizard or two—we all love to have our friends from the animal kingdom involved in our lives. And as much as we love to have pets around us in all other stages of life, it’s just as important that we are able to maintain our status as pet owners even as we enter those retirement years and select a senior community.
America is getting older every day. While that may sound a bit obvious, it’s true in a way you probably don’t expect. As the Baby Boomer generation—one of the largest in American history—enters their golden years, they represent the largest segment of population boom in the country between now and 2030 (and possibly beyond). One of the unfortunate challenges that often arises as this segment of the population gets older is ageism.
Pacifica Senior Living works tirelessly to ensure that every resident in our communities country-wide receives not only the professional, compassionate, and person-centered care that they deserve, but that we also help enable them to live a life that is engaging and purposeful well into their retirement years. At the heart of all of our programs, from Independent Living to LegaciesTM Memory Care, this central mission of providing high-quality senior living that not only meets expectations, but exceeds them.
Pacifica Senior Living works tirelessly to ensure that every resident in our communities country-wide receives not only the professional, compassionate, and person-centered care that they deserve, but that we also help enable them to live a life that is engaging and purposeful well into their retirement years. At the heart of all of our programs, from Independent Living to Memory Care, this central mission of providing high-quality senior living that not only meets expectations, but exceeds them.
As with many adult children, it’s always tough to watch your parents age. It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that those people who have long been your rock and your support may need some additional reinforcements in key areas of daily life. Perhaps you’ve started noticing they are a little more frail, less active, and in some cases, facing some real obstacles in continuing to live independently. Despite the fact that they tell you everything is fine and ask you not to worry, in the back of your mind, you are worried and uncertain. After all, these are the people you have loved your entire life, the people that took care of you. But now it’s your turn to take care of them.
Where do you begin?
As we age, our dietary needs inevitably change. Most adults can attest to a significant change in metabolism from those teenage years when you could eat whatever you wanted and never suffer any undue consequences. But this is especially true as years continue to pass and we move from middle age to senior years. In order to maintain a vibrant and healthy lifestyle, it’s necessary to take some vital steps in ensuring healthy aging.