April 2015 | Wesley Ridge Retirement Community

2225 Taylor Park Dr Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

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Caregiver Guilt

Posted on April 27, 2015December 19, 2019

Accepting that your loved one’s life is limited is something that is very difficult to do. Calling hospice is even harder, but as your loved one begins to lose their quality of life, it becomes necessary to make the call. The feelings of guilt or feelings of being an inadequate caregiver often make the call to Hospice delayed longer than it should.

Caregiving is difficult. It is difficult for family and friends, and even more difficult for the person who is receiving care. Once independent, your loved one is now faced with the humiliating position of having others assist with the most intimate tasks. Along with the humiliation comes anger, and tempers sometimes flare, causing everyone involved to say things they really don’t mean.

Guilt has a purpose in life, but guilt is a complicated emotion. We take on the expectations of others, society, friends and family, and of course, on ourselves. Making the decision to call hospice can cause us to “beat ourselves up” even though we can no longer properly care for a loved one.

Once acceptance is reached and the call is made to hospice, you will find that they are willing to offer you their expertise and compassion at a very difficult time for you and your family. The compassionate staff at Hospice Services at Methodist ElderCare will be available to help you and your family at a difficult time for all involved.

Give one of our hospice professionals a call today to assist with making the proper plans for your loved one as they enter their final days. Call 614-451-6700 or go to www.hospicemec.com for more information.

Preventing Osteoporosis

Posted on April 20, 2015December 19, 2019

More than to 10-million Americans have osteoporosis. Nearly half of all women over the age of 50, as well as about a fourth of men over the age of 50, have osteoporosis. You can still live a very long and satisfying life with osteoporosis, but like other conditions, knowing the risks and knowing the treatments is key.

Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because you can’t feel your bones getting weaker. Breaking a bone is often the first sign that you have osteoporosis, or you may notice that you’re getting shorter or that your upper back is curving forward. Check your diet carefully, and make sure that your living environment is organized so that it prevents falls. Increasing your calcium is also important, so talk to your doctor prior to taking a calcium supplement or Vitamin D.

Here are tips for preventing osteoporosis:

Build your bone bank. After 30 you begin to lose a little bone mass every year. Make a concerted effort to get plenty of calcium to build your lifetime bone bank. Start with a tall glass of milk, and follow that with a couple more.
Feed your bones. Low calcium intake plays a major role in the development of osteoporosis, so feed your bones some calcium every day. Milk is a great choice, but some people are lactose intolerant. Lactaid is an alternative, which is real milk with the lactose removed. Prefer other milk alternatives? Check the label to be sure your preference is fortified with calcium and Vitamin D.
Check your meds. Corticosteroids are known to interfere with bone building. Check with your doctor to make sure that medications you take daily aren’t interfering with your bone health.
Talk to your doctor about exercise. Therapeutic exercise programs can help postmenopausal women maintain and increase their bone density.

Since osteoporosis has very few symptoms, ask your doctor about a bone density test and if you might be a candidate for testing.

Calm Your Mind Through Meditation

Posted on April 17, 2015December 19, 2019

At a recent visit to my endocrinologist, I was asked if I was doing okay. I responded, “I am doing fine, just stressed.” The doctor asked if I meditated. My response was, “I’ve never tried it and I’m not sure how to do it.” She explained that meditation is deceptively simple, and how people approach it is what makes it appear challenging. She stated that learning to meditate properly can be difficult. A few tips will help you avoid pitfalls and save you some time.

As with anything, we want to excel, and it takes dedicated practice to achieve success with the basics. With meditation, the basics can take you far, so spending time mastering these basics can be a great help in achieving the full benefits of meditation. Meditation is said to alleviate stress, helps your breathing and creates balance in your thoughts. It can also help you overcome negativity and gain inner peace. To get started, let’s examine the basics.

This is how to begin:

Find a quiet place to meditate.
Sit in a comfortable position, with a cross-legged posture. Be sure to sit with your back straight. Posture is important for your breathing.
Partially close your eyes and think about your breathing. Breathe through your nostrils naturally, and feel the breath as you breathe in and out. Your distracting thoughts will gradually fade away. This part of meditation takes time.
Take time for yourself every day and spend at least ten to fifteen minutes meditating.

Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area, and is an absolutely wonderful practice. The most important thing to remember about meditation is that it should be done daily, and though you may not experience results right away, it’s important to continue to take time each day to perfect the basics of meditation to help you find your inner peace.

June and Dave Harcum announced as Benefactors of New Wesley Ridge Fitness Center

Posted on April 17, 2015December 19, 2019

Columbus, OH (April 15, 2015) – Methodist ElderCare Services (MES) has announced the launch of an $800,000 capital campaign to raise funds for the new Harcum Fitness and Aquatic Center at Wesley Ridge Retirement Community. Lead donors June and Dave Harcum secured naming rights with their generous gift of $500,000.

Plans are being finalized for the $3.5 million project which will include a fitness center, a community space, a gym, a pool, an exercise studio and a cafe. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for June 2015, with construction to begin late summer 2015.

“Senior living at its best includes all aspects of wellness,” commented Margaret R. Carmany, CEO. “Our ultimate goal for the Harcum Fitness and Aquatic Center is to provide a place for residents, staff and the community to increase their quality of life.”

Methodist ElderCare Services is an affiliate of the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church providing quality housing, health care and services for seniors in the Central Ohio area. Incorporated in 1967, Methodist ElderCare Services is a not-for-profit corporation that knows its business and understands its customers. For additional information call (614) 396-4990 or visit www.methodisteldercare.org.

The Importance of Fitness As We Age

Posted on April 6, 2015December 19, 2019

Physical fitness is a valuable element of life for people of all ages. As we age, it becomes more crucial to include exercise in our daily routine. Conditions that typically develop with aging can be delayed by staying active. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that physical activity can even extend life expectancy. Be sure to consult with primary care physician before beginning any exercise program. Be sure to consult your primary care physician before beginning any exercise program.

As we grow older, our bones can become brittle and muscles shorten, sometimes causing balance and coordination to be a bit off. Stretching exercises help lengthen muscle tissue and help prevent wasting and shortening. Exercise can also help reduce incidents of arthritis and osteoporosis by increasing bone density and joint range of motion. Nothing can be more devastating than a serious injury, such as breaking a hip or arm. Here are 4 different types of exercises that are needed as we age.

Strength training
Endurance exercises
Flexibility exercises
Balance

Whether you are fit and work out regularly, or have never worked out before, be sure to get approval from your doctor to begin or continue any regular work out regimen. Wellness centers have staffers that are willing and able to help you learn and properly use all equipment as well as show you the correct way to do exercises that fit into the perfect work out for you.

The WELLness Center at Wesley Glen Retirement Community offers memberships available to the community. The WELLness Center also offers a 3-day pass and is open 7 days a week. For more information, please contact us at (614) 396-4944