From hotels and retail stores to workplaces, society is increasingly pet-friendly—and that attitude is spreading into long-term care (LTC) settings. More LTC facilities now allow residents to keep pets or arrange regular visitations, and staff report numerous benefits for residents’ health and well-being. Recent research has shown that seniors who own pets tend to make … Read more

You’ve weighed your options—staying in your current home, downsizing, or moving to a retirement community—and decided a retirement community best fits your needs. The next step is choosing which community aligns with your goals. Cost matters, of course, but what other priorities should guide your decision? To simplify the process, many people use a top-down … Read more

On a jog last week I listened to a Freakonomics podcast hosted by Stephen J. Dubner. The episode, “How to Make a Bad Decision,” featured Yale economist Toby Moskowitz, co-author of a paper titled “Decision-Making Under the Gambler’s Fallacy,” which examines how the order in which decisions or events occur can shape the choices people … Read more

As more Americans reach retirement age, the variety of senior living choices continues to grow. Two of the most common options are independent living communities and active adult communities (also called 55+ communities). At first glance these options can appear similar: both are age-restricted neighborhoods or campuses designed for older adults who want to preserve … Read more

Spring is arriving across much of the country, inviting people outdoors to enjoy warmer temperatures and greener landscapes. For golf enthusiasts, the season brings a welcome opportunity to return to the course as conditions improve. There’s encouraging news for older adults who play golf. Preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association’s 2020 International Stroke … Read more

Retirement opens a new chapter—one with more freedom and fewer obligations—making it an ideal time for many older adults to explore interests like travel. For a growing number of retirees, that exploration takes place from an RV or camper, offering a mobile way to see the country while keeping many home comforts close at hand. … Read more

Caring for an aging family member is a labor of love, but many studies show the emotional, physical, and financial strain that caregivers often face. Support and caregiver assistance are essential both to help caregivers perform their roles effectively and to protect their own health. Research from MetLife found that roughly 10 million adult children … Read more

Pictured: Townhomes at Providence Park on The Manor campus of Willow Valley Communities (photo credit: Willow Valley Communities) The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly dangerous for older adults. In Pennsylvania, for example, more than half of the state’s early COVID-19 deaths occurred among nursing home residents. That stark reality has prompted many senior living communities … Read more

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also known as “life plan communities,” offer older adults the ability to live independently today while having access to a full range of future care options, including assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. This model provides continuity of care and peace of mind, but it also raises important questions: … Read more

For many older adults, home is more than a physical place. It represents familiarity, independence, routine, memories, and identity. When a sudden illness, hospitalization, fall, or cognitive decline forces an unplanned move into assisted living, memory care, or a skilled nursing facility, the emotional impact can be significant. This response, often called “transfer trauma” or … Read more