Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
Thinking about a move for you or a loved one to a retirement community? Although approaching this transition can seem overwhelming, our members at The Atrium at The Cedars have told us that it was one of the best decisions they have ever made for themselves. And their reasons are as much practical as they are personal. We find that our new members are either moving from the home that they have lived in for years or from a residence to which they’ve already downsized. Some members have moved from out of state to be near their adult children and others had lived in Maine for much of their lives. In either case, the benefits of living in a retirement community, from our members’ perspectives, are plentiful. Freedom from Managing a Home which means no further worries about maintaining a home, managing the upkeep, or even changing a light bulb. ...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
When starting the search for a senior community for either yourself or your parent or loved one, first impressions are key to finding the best fit. Here are some tips to keep in mind when making your initial visits. 1. Do you like the community’s location and outward appearance? Is the community convenient to restaurants, shops, symphony, theater, physicians, hospitals and pharmacies? Does it connect you to opportunities beyond the campus that allow for enjoyment of a larger community? Are the grounds and building well maintained, with plenty of gardens and walking trails? 2. Are you welcomed with a warm greeting from the staff? And does the staff address residents by their names, interacting with them during the tour? Is it easy to connect with both the residents and the staff? You want to make sure that the staff not only provides excellent services, but also gets involved with the residents and...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
Researchers are gaining a better understanding of the effects of loneliness and isolation on our health, such as the studies outlined in the recent New York Times article. Scientists have found that loneliness can raise our levels of stress hormones and inflammation, which then increase the risk of heart disease, arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and dementia. Interestingly, findings indicate that individuals can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely – if their relationships are not emotionally rewarding. Essentially, isolation does not definitively lead to loneliness. The question arises, how to counter the effects of loneliness, particularly in our older years. At The Cedars, we have various living options for seniors including independent living, assisted living, long-term care and short-stay rehabilitation. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of witnessing the effects of new relationships on our residents’ wellbeing. One resident at The Atrium independent living recently exclaimed, “I...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
As I get to know the many, wonderful members at The Atrium at The Cedars in my role as Marketing Representative, I frequently find myself surprised by what I hear. Members often explain their reasons for choosing our retirement community: proximity to downtown Portland, sense of security from our continuum of care, or relief from the burden of home ownership. Once they arrive, although they may have expected the warm welcome from our community, they are often amazed to find themselves developing new friendships. Real, true friendships with peers who share their stories, provide fellowship and offer support. It seems that this facet of their lives, this idea of relishing the company of friends, was a book already read and returned to the shelf. Once our members at have an opportunity to live without the worries and difficulties that come with aging, the possibilities of living a fuller life...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
The Atrium has increased our commitment to our members at The Atrium to provide more opportunities for health and wellness than ever before. We started by establishing baseline strength, flexibility and balance assessments for our members and then jumped into twelve weeks of customized classes. Sarah Bartell, our Wellness Coordinator, teaches strength training, water aerobics, balance training, and we bring in specialists in Tai Chi, Yoga, and Zumba. The first round of Wellness re-assessments are in, and they are amazing! Our members have worked so hard and it shows. See the results below! Exercise Class Participation: UP 14% Lower Body Strength: UP 50% Upper Body Strength: UP 23% Aerobic Capacity: UP 20% Upper Body Flexibility: UP 25% Lower Body Flexibility: UP 50% Agility: UP 15% Balance: UP 400% For more information on life and wellness at The Atrium, contact us at 207-221-7100. ...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
Chef Bal Arneson, The Spice Goddess, James Beard award finalist, and celebrity chef came to visit The Atrium at The Cedars recently to share her story, health tips and some incredible dishes. Bal was born and raised in a small village in India and came to North America through an arranged marriage. Today, she is living in Canada with her two children and enjoys traveling to promote her cookbooks and television shows on the Cooking Chanel and the Food Network. “I love visiting seniors who are enjoying this wonderful time of their lives, living life to the fullest. I want to live in a lovely community like The Atrium!” And when the members comment that she is too young, she explains that she is not, and as a matter of fact doesn’t really know her age because birthdays aren’t celebrated in India. At The...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
On the first Monday of each month at The Atrium, a select group of members meet. The only requirement for admission? Living on this earth for at least ninety years. What’s so different about being ninety? If you ask nonagenarians, they may explain that life changed for them when they hit this milestone. Many of the responsibilities of estate and life planning are behind them and they can focus on new priorities and interests. Celebrating Nine Decades is an opportunity to process and share their ideas, goals and bucket lists. Members find renewed meaning in their lives and reflect on the significant experiences and individuals influencing them. More people are reaching their ninth decade than ever before. According to the U.S. National Institute on Aging, those living to 90 and beyond are the fastest growing group of seniors in our country. The number of nonagenarians has nearly tripled –...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
Active Aging. Many of us may have heard of this term and may be asking ourselves – what is it, does it refer to me, and how would I get started? A recent article, in clarifying what’s behind Active Aging, challenges us to view aging from this perspective: accept the inevitable, embrace it, and make it work for you. Aging, of course, is a privilege – as one of my favorite octogenarians has said with each passing birthday, “It’s better than the alternative!” With this privilege comes the opportunity of seizing each moment and treating it as a gift – not just letting life happen. How would we go about doing this? Start with the following four concepts, and see how it goes: Use it or lose it: exercise your body, mind or spirit. At communities like The Atrium at The Cedars, residents choose from multiple exercise options, lectures and...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
So, you’re thinking about retiring. You’ve likely considered the financial implications and planned accordingly to allow for a comfortable retirement experience. But have you planned beyond the dollar sign and considered how you’ll actually spend your time in retirement? Research shows that many retirees, and perhaps men more than women, underestimate the complex nature of the retirement transition and face the unpleasant realization that the absence of employment isn’t always the golden age they had anticipated. We often overlook the subtler aspects that our jobs provide: a sense of purpose, daily routine, unique social relationships with co-workers, and time away from our significant others, yet after entering retirement, the absence of these factors can contribute to a negative experience for retirees. By planning ahead for your retirement wellness you can improve your retirement satisfaction. Tips for a positive transition to retirement, from The Cedars: How do you plan to...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
One of the biggest decisions we face as we age is where we are going to live. Whether we remain at home in our familiar surroundings or move to a community among people with similar interests, we want to find joy and thrive at every stage. The fact is that our health and social situations can change as we age and settings that were once comfortable can become challenging and often lonely. Because of this, we need to periodically evaluate how satisfied we are with our living situation and with that, consider whether community living is right for us. The reasons for moving to a retirement community are as countless as the people living in them. Many choose to transition to another state in order to be nearer their families while others move within their own communities to ease the burdens of home ownership. And still others tire of...
Thinking about a move for you or a loved one to a retirement community? Although approaching this transition can seem overwhelming, our members at The Atrium at The Cedars have told us that it was one of the best decisions they have ever made for themselves. And their reasons are as much practical as they are personal. We find that our new members are either moving from the home that they have lived in for years or from a residence to which they’ve already downsized. Some members have moved from out of state to be near their adult children and others had lived in Maine for much of their lives. In either case, the benefits of living in a retirement community, from our members’ perspectives, are plentiful. Freedom from Managing a Home which means no further worries about maintaining a home, managing the upkeep, or even changing a light bulb. ...
When starting the search for a senior community for either yourself or your parent or loved one, first impressions are key to finding the best fit. Here are some tips to keep in mind when making your initial visits. 1. Do you like the community’s location and outward appearance? Is the community convenient to restaurants, shops, symphony, theater, physicians, hospitals and pharmacies? Does it connect you to opportunities beyond the campus that allow for enjoyment of a larger community? Are the grounds and building well maintained, with plenty of gardens and walking trails? 2. Are you welcomed with a warm greeting from the staff? And does the staff address residents by their names, interacting with them during the tour? Is it easy to connect with both the residents and the staff? You want to make sure that the staff not only provides excellent services, but also gets involved with the residents and...
Researchers are gaining a better understanding of the effects of loneliness and isolation on our health, such as the studies outlined in the recent New York Times article. Scientists have found that loneliness can raise our levels of stress hormones and inflammation, which then increase the risk of heart disease, arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and dementia. Interestingly, findings indicate that individuals can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely – if their relationships are not emotionally rewarding. Essentially, isolation does not definitively lead to loneliness. The question arises, how to counter the effects of loneliness, particularly in our older years. At The Cedars, we have various living options for seniors including independent living, assisted living, long-term care and short-stay rehabilitation. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of witnessing the effects of new relationships on our residents’ wellbeing. One resident at The Atrium independent living recently exclaimed, “I...
As I get to know the many, wonderful members at The Atrium at The Cedars in my role as Marketing Representative, I frequently find myself surprised by what I hear. Members often explain their reasons for choosing our retirement community: proximity to downtown Portland, sense of security from our continuum of care, or relief from the burden of home ownership. Once they arrive, although they may have expected the warm welcome from our community, they are often amazed to find themselves developing new friendships. Real, true friendships with peers who share their stories, provide fellowship and offer support. It seems that this facet of their lives, this idea of relishing the company of friends, was a book already read and returned to the shelf. Once our members at have an opportunity to live without the worries and difficulties that come with aging, the possibilities of living a fuller life...
The Atrium has increased our commitment to our members at The Atrium to provide more opportunities for health and wellness than ever before. We started by establishing baseline strength, flexibility and balance assessments for our members and then jumped into twelve weeks of customized classes. Sarah Bartell, our Wellness Coordinator, teaches strength training, water aerobics, balance training, and we bring in specialists in Tai Chi, Yoga, and Zumba. The first round of Wellness re-assessments are in, and they are amazing! Our members have worked so hard and it shows. See the results below! Exercise Class Participation: UP 14% Lower Body Strength: UP 50% Upper Body Strength: UP 23% Aerobic Capacity: UP 20% Upper Body Flexibility: UP 25% Lower Body Flexibility: UP 50% Agility: UP 15% Balance: UP 400% For more information on life and wellness at The Atrium, contact us at 207-221-7100. ...
Chef Bal Arneson, The Spice Goddess, James Beard award finalist, and celebrity chef came to visit The Atrium at The Cedars recently to share her story, health tips and some incredible dishes. Bal was born and raised in a small village in India and came to North America through an arranged marriage. Today, she is living in Canada with her two children and enjoys traveling to promote her cookbooks and television shows on the Cooking Chanel and the Food Network. “I love visiting seniors who are enjoying this wonderful time of their lives, living life to the fullest. I want to live in a lovely community like The Atrium!” And when the members comment that she is too young, she explains that she is not, and as a matter of fact doesn’t really know her age because birthdays aren’t celebrated in India. At The...
On the first Monday of each month at The Atrium, a select group of members meet. The only requirement for admission? Living on this earth for at least ninety years. What’s so different about being ninety? If you ask nonagenarians, they may explain that life changed for them when they hit this milestone. Many of the responsibilities of estate and life planning are behind them and they can focus on new priorities and interests. Celebrating Nine Decades is an opportunity to process and share their ideas, goals and bucket lists. Members find renewed meaning in their lives and reflect on the significant experiences and individuals influencing them. More people are reaching their ninth decade than ever before. According to the U.S. National Institute on Aging, those living to 90 and beyond are the fastest growing group of seniors in our country. The number of nonagenarians has nearly tripled –...
Active Aging. Many of us may have heard of this term and may be asking ourselves – what is it, does it refer to me, and how would I get started? A recent article, in clarifying what’s behind Active Aging, challenges us to view aging from this perspective: accept the inevitable, embrace it, and make it work for you. Aging, of course, is a privilege – as one of my favorite octogenarians has said with each passing birthday, “It’s better than the alternative!” With this privilege comes the opportunity of seizing each moment and treating it as a gift – not just letting life happen. How would we go about doing this? Start with the following four concepts, and see how it goes: Use it or lose it: exercise your body, mind or spirit. At communities like The Atrium at The Cedars, residents choose from multiple exercise options, lectures and...
So, you’re thinking about retiring. You’ve likely considered the financial implications and planned accordingly to allow for a comfortable retirement experience. But have you planned beyond the dollar sign and considered how you’ll actually spend your time in retirement? Research shows that many retirees, and perhaps men more than women, underestimate the complex nature of the retirement transition and face the unpleasant realization that the absence of employment isn’t always the golden age they had anticipated. We often overlook the subtler aspects that our jobs provide: a sense of purpose, daily routine, unique social relationships with co-workers, and time away from our significant others, yet after entering retirement, the absence of these factors can contribute to a negative experience for retirees. By planning ahead for your retirement wellness you can improve your retirement satisfaction. Tips for a positive transition to retirement, from The Cedars: How do you plan to...
One of the biggest decisions we face as we age is where we are going to live. Whether we remain at home in our familiar surroundings or move to a community among people with similar interests, we want to find joy and thrive at every stage. The fact is that our health and social situations can change as we age and settings that were once comfortable can become challenging and often lonely. Because of this, we need to periodically evaluate how satisfied we are with our living situation and with that, consider whether community living is right for us. The reasons for moving to a retirement community are as countless as the people living in them. Many choose to transition to another state in order to be nearer their families while others move within their own communities to ease the burdens of home ownership. And still others tire of...