Eskaton Blog

Did you know your attitude about age can greatly influence your health and well-being? Levy et. al (2002) found that a positive attitude towards aging can actually increase your lifespan by 7.5 years. In other words, negative thoughts about aging, also known as "ageism",  may have a cumulative harmful impact on our health. 

There are many older adults who never even consider an independent living community as an option because of the perceived cost. They assume that the costs are simply too high. Before you completely write off the possibility of moving into an independent living community take a little time to look at the real numbers. What is it costing you now to stay home? What will it cost in the future? What is included in the price you pay for an independent living community? Answering these questions with real numbers will allow you to accurately compare the costs of staying home versus moving to an independent living community.

Eskaton Village Grass Valley partnered with Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning (SAEL) in Nevada City, CA to create an intergenerational project, called Building Bridges. During a semester long project, high school senior student groups partnered with elders living at the community to document their lives using writing and film.

When you start to look at your options for senior living you will find that there are several different types of communities. Understanding the differences between the community types will help you determine which one is the best fit for you. For older adults who are still active two of the top options are independent living and assisted living. Both of these options have unique features to offer residents. Taking some time to learn about independent living and assisted living will give you the information you need to compare the two and make a choice.

Assisted living is a great option for many older adults. In assisted living you can get help when you need it but still maintain a level of independence. In addition, there are ample opportunities to connect with others and participate in community recreation events. Many communities also offer a long list of amenities for residents to enjoy. Assisted living has a lot to offer to seniors who are looking for an alternative to staying at home. But, how much does all of this cost? In order to get a true understanding of how much you will spend on assisted living you need to look at what is included in the price, what costs are eliminated when you move out of your home, and how the two numbers compare. Once you have looked into these three elements you will have a much clearer picture of how much money assisted living will cost you.

Setbacks are necessary steps toward your ultimate goals! Did you know that accomplishing new things and failing at them can both contribute to your success?

When is it time for assisted living? This can be a difficult question to answer because every person’s situation is unique. But, there are a few factors commonly experienced by aging adults that can indicate that the time has come for assisted living. When you start having trouble caring for your home, experience changes in your physical abilities, or can no longer maintain your preferred lifestyle, it may be time to consider assisted living.

California is aging and the number of Californians 80 and older will grow by 65% in the next ten years. Eskaton Village Carmichael residents Karen Robison and Karl Bucholz sit down with Sacramento Bee reporter Mila Jasper to discuss their perspective of aging in California and their experience moving into Continuing Care Retirement Community.

We’re beginning to recognize both how and why gratitude has such profound effects on our physical and mental wellbeing. Not only does being grateful make sense on a gut level, the practice also makes use of hard-wired connections in our mind and body, activating fundamental neurochemical pathways shown to be connected to improve moods. Read on to discover how you can tap into these pathways using simple and meaningful gratitude exercises.

Finding the right assisted living community for your parents can feel intimidating. After all, both you and your parents want the new community to feel like home. With so much riding on this decision it can be difficult to know where to start. If you and your partner are struggling to determine what elements to focus on in your search, start with these four tips: Look for communities that can support your parents’ uniqueness. Determine which amenities are the most important to your parents. Consider the impact of location. Schedule community tours.