Senior Tips

The holiday season is upon us, a time of celebration, joy, and togetherness. But it can also bring about a range of emotions. In this blog post, we’ll explore some practical tips to help you maintain good mental health this time of year, with the support of your friends, neighbors, and if you live at Vicar’s Landing, the staff at our North Florida retirement community. Holiday blues can be triggered by various factors including missing loved ones, loneliness, or stressful family dynamics. It’s crucial to recognize that it’s normal to experience a mix of emotions during this season. But there…

 Many retirees are drawn to the Sunshine State, enticed by the promise of warm weather and tax savings.  Let’s delve into essential factors that out-of-state retirees should consider when pondering a relocation to beautiful Vicar’s Landing or any new destination.   Which States Do Retirees Move to the Most?  Deciding where to spend your golden years is a significant life decision, and many retirees are drawn to states that offer a mix of appealing factors, including climate, affordability, healthcare and lifestyle. While there are several states that retirees consider, a few consistently stand out as the top choices:  Florida; The Sunshine…

What is Life Care? Life Care limits your exposure to the financial risks associated with transitional, health-related support services, and long-term care. While long-term care insurance policies may provide some coverage, many only cover a fraction of the daily costs. Most also have lifetime limits. By choosing a Life Care contract through Vicar’s Landing, you will limit those risks and ensure your assets will not become vulnerable to rising health care costs. How Exactly Does Life Care Work? Based on the apartment and contract type you choose, you will pay an up-front entry fee, then a monthly fee for your…

There are moments in life where time stands still. Moments in the routine when something stops you in your tracks and you face your greatest fears. Suddenly, things that seemed so important recede into the background and you see with a new perspective. I recently had one of those heart-stopping experiences. My daughter is an excellent student, a competitive western equestrian, and a worship leader. On horseback, she has earned a spot in her national championships for the past several years and has placed nationally in her category. She plays guitar and piano in worship bands at church and school…

As I look at the future of senior housing, I see a beautiful rainbow created by strong demographics and longer life expectancies. The workforce needed to provide the needed care and services is in a generation that exceeds the size of the Boomers. However, if we are resigned to how things have always been done, we must be cautious about what is at the end of the rainbow. The Greatest Generation, Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials all bring a different perspective and culture based on their experiences and upbringing. The challenge for any business is that each…

Assisted living vs. skilled nursing? What kind of therapy is right? How do I know if I need more support? I get these questions frequently, so I have provided brief answers here. You can always reach out to us if you need more information on any of these topics or others. What is the difference between assisted living and skilled nursing? Assisted living communities give older adults personalized care in a residential setting. They’re for individuals whose health or well-being requires a higher level of support than living alone. The community determines this need through a health assessment. Assisted living…

Our Members entrust us with their daily safety, security and well-being. This is our number one responsibility and we are mindful of every step toward ensuring a healthy and obstacle-free campus and community. The Plant Operations team is continually focused on building safety and rapidly responding to any concerns. Here’s how you can also lend a helping hand: • Please take care when coming out of stairways, or approaching entrances/exits. We find that being mindful in these particular areas help our Members avoid collisions and falls. • Immediately let Plant Operations know of any needed repairs, whether in the vicinity…

If you are retired or nearing retirement, be careful you don’t become a PIP! I am not referring to Gladys Knight’s Pips on the Midnight Train to Georgia. Rather, PIP is an acronym for Previously Important People. In American culture, we place a great deal of emphasis on our work as our identity. It is understandable considering how much time we spend at work and the connection our work provides with other people. When meeting someone new, we usually ask “What do you do for a living?” What happens when the work is not there? This can create an identity...

“Why does everything have to change?” “Why is change so hard?” “Why can’t things stay the same?” We have all heard these cries before, and we will often think the same thing. If you consider it, though, why do we think change is such a difficult thing? Only thirty years ago or so, I was thrilled to get a pager so that my friends could get in touch with me at any time. Now, I hold a computer in my hand that allows me to video conference in real time with anyone in the world. To get to that point...

All of us at Vicar’s Landing work to be as energy efficient as possible around our community. There are many ways that members can assist and we’ve compiled this list as a resource for you. ● Check your thermostat set-up: Try to keep your thermostat on AUTO. This means the fan will run only when required, resulting in more efficient, less costly cooling and heating and fewer air filter changes. ● Use only LED bulbs: We recommend switching to LED bulbs whenever possible since they use less energy and last longer than standard light bulbs. ● Watch your windows and...