As we grow older, most of us will eventually need some kind of long-term care to provide us with health and daily-living services. There are many care options available, so it’s important to explore these options and determine which one is right for you or your aging parent. According to experts in the field, most families wait to research and shop for care until they’re presented with an immediate need for it. Rather than waiting until the last minute, it will behefit you to research early on so you can thoroughly understand the different options available, and choose the one the best fits your needs so you aren’t spending unnecessary costs.

We’ve written before about the benefits of socialization as we age. Our own Terri Fishman shared a story of an EPOCH of Melbourne resident and her profound improvement once moving to EPOCH. We also wrote about a study that showed that socially active older adults are proven to remain healthier both physically and mentally than their less social counterparts. It’s been shown through numerous studies that aging individuals who are lonely and lack social interaction are often less healthy, and face a swifter and more profound decline as they age. The well-known New Old Age blog from the New York Times recently reported on another similar study on this topic and found some similar things.

Here’s an excerpt:

Today's blog entry on how assisted living can improve the lives of not just residents, but their family members as well, was written by EPOCH at Brewster Place Sales & Marketing Director Chuck Tuttle.

“Chuck, I just need to tell you how my Mom’s move to Brewster Place has improved our lives.”  I hear this fairly often. It’s always impressive to me how a move to an Assisted Living community improves the lives of folks who don’t actually live here.

Joan Barthe is the director of sales at EPOCH Assisted Living of Norton. She joined the EPOCH team in 2009 with more than 17 years experience in marketing and sales, previously working as the director of community relations for a senior living community in Mansfield. With a long history of working in the senior living environment, Joan has heard the same important questions bubble up in her conversations with families and their aging loved ones. Below Joan answers one of those essential questions.

“I’m not sure my parent is ready for this. What are the signs that my parent/loved one might need to consider assisted living?”

First, we should define assisted living. Assisted living communities provide care to individuals who are having a difficult time living independently, but don’t need the daily nursing services provided by a “nursing home” environment. It’s intended for adults who need some assistance with what are known as “activities of daily living,” like housekeeping, personal care, taking medication, and more. They also offer the security of having help available on a 24-hour basis in a home-like environment.

It can be tough to know if your parent or loved one might be in need of the services an assisted living community can provide. Some of the most telling signs are if they need the help of family, friends or neighbors to function day to day. This might mean they need a neighbor to take care of their meals for them, fill their medication planner, launder their clothing, and more. While these are not necessarily negative things, too much aid means the elderly individual is basically being set up to live a sedentary, solitary lifestyle without any outside interaction. When an older individual is no longer as social or active as they once were, they run the risk of becoming isolated and lonely, which can lead to depression and other issues. One big advantage of an assisted living environment is the regular social interaction and stimulation it provides, in addition to practical things like meals, medication management, and housekeeping.

Whether you’re looking for some Christmas spirit, a musical storytelling about Hanukkah, or a break from the season all together, there’s something happening at EPOCH this week to meet your needs. Keep reading for some of the events we have going on, or click to get even more event listings at an EPOCH community near you.

WCBV reporter Amalia Barreda to present “The News Gathering Revolution” at EPOCH at Boylston Place

CHESTNUT HILL – Amalia Barreda, a long-time WCVB TV Channel 5 reporter, will visit EPOCH Assisted Living at Boylston Place on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. to present “The News Gathering Revolution.” Barreda will discuss her experience as a television reporter as well as the changes she has witnessed in the news industry since beginning her career. Barreda is an accomplished journalist; she has won a Gabriel Award, one of the most prestigious awards in broadcast, and has covered a wide range of stories, including the Angiulo organized crime trial in Boston; the William Kennedy Smith rape trial in Palm Beach, Florida; the OJ Simpson murder trial in Los Angeles; and the Louise Woodward murder trial in Cambridge. A native of Nogales, Mexico, Barreda lives in Quincy, Mass., and Cape Cod. This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP to Julie Bolt at 617-879-2589.

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