What, Exactly, Is Long-Term Care?
Long-term care is the common phrase used to describe on-going assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, or walking. The need for long-term care can be indefinite, often lasting years.
Long-term care may include skilled nursing care, which is typically provided in a nursing facility and involves 24-hour healthcare provided, or supervised, by a registered nurse. Those requiring skilled nursing care almost always also require assistance with activities of daily living. However, skilled nursing care, by itself, is often short-term in nature, typically following a serious medical occurrence, such as a stroke, fall, or surgery. The goal of skilled nursing care is to help restore one’s health to the point where they are again able to live independently or with assisted living only.
The vast majority of long-term care is provided in one’s home by an unpaid family caregiver. Alternatively, some families choose to arrange for paid caregiver services. An assisted living facility is the typical alternative for those who require a higher level of assisted living than that which can adequately or safely be provided in a home setting.
Those who like to plan ahead and are not as comfortable with the uncertainties of managing in-home care may choose to move to a setting such as a life plan community. Life plan communities, such as Beatitudes Campus, cater to those who live independently today, but they are equipped to provide the appropriate levels of assisted living or skilled nursing care that may be needed in the future.
As a life plan community, Beatitudes Campus encompasses a wide range of health services. These include assisted living, in-home care services, memory support, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and long-term care. It can be overwhelming to see all of these options at first glance, but our goal is to ultimately bring a sense of comfort knowing that if a health issue is to arise, no matter how big or small, there is care available on campus.
For more information about the options at Beatitudes, check out our health services page or give us a call at (602) 833-1358.
The above article was written by Brad Breeding of myLifeSite and is legally licensed for use.
Cultivating Community Through Diversity
At a time when diversity feels under attack, Beatitudes Campus is a heartwarming, welcoming place open to everyone. Since our founding in 1965, we’ve nurtured an inclusive community that welcomes all people. Our friends and neighbors hail from around the globe, representing all walks of life’s journey.
We value every person regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation. This philosophy is so important to us that we’ve put it into words. You’ll find it on our website, posted around campus, and printed in our brochures and other materials.
See why it matters
Embracing diversity and inclusion ensures each individual in our community feels valued. A strong sense of connection and belonging encourages people to help each other, learn more, stay active, and feel more secure–all of which leads to higher satisfaction with life, healthier minds, and bodies. The latter link includes a wonderful infographic on the benefits of feeling connected by Dr. Emma Seppala at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.
Follow your own path
Whether you look to the stars for heavenly inspiration or to marvel at the beauty of science, Beatitudes Campus offers a variety of programs that foster spiritual fellowship and lifelong learning.
You can choose from several types of worship services, religious classes, faith-based volunteer opportunities, pastoral care and counseling, and more. Broadly organized like a college curriculum, our Lifelong Learners program features nearly two-dozen non-credit courses each semester exploring art, history, science, foreign languages, and skill-building topics.
Express yourself
At Beatitudes Campus, we know that diversity isn’t limited to gender or race or sexual orientation. It’s about learning from each other’s perspective.
Here, you’ll find an array of ways to express yourself. Every week, we host what we call a Hootenanny. It’s an open mic night where everyone is welcome to come together to sing and play instruments in an all-out jam session. Residents also perform poetry, philosophize, and inspire the audience to think about the world around us.
If you like to advance new ideas, you’ll love the Design Studio Residents’ Think Tank. The Design Studio works with management and the Board of Directors to foster and create innovative resident-driven programs.
The management and staff at Beatitudes Campus firmly believe in ongoing communication, which is why you’ll find us in the community talking with residents virtually every day. From one-on-one conversations and resident council meetings to Newcomers Coffee events, we’re out and about more than we’re behind our desks. When you get a chance, tell us what you think. We want to hear it.
Share our vision
If you want to live in a community with heart, that’s open and welcoming, and that values you for who you are, we invite you to come for a visit. To schedule lunch and a personal tour, give us a call at (602) 833-1358.
What Is Skilled Nursing Care?
Designed for individuals with serious health challenges, skilled nursing care provides higher-level medical services and ongoing supervision by a registered nurse, LPN, and other health professionals. This can include monitoring vital signs, wound care, IV therapy, injections, and physical, occupational and speech therapies.
Nursing care also encompasses assistance with everyday activities, from medication management and meals to personal care and hygiene. Nurses, certified nursing assistants, and support staff are on call 24/7. There are two types of skilled nursing care–short-term and long-term. Below is a summary of each type:
Short-term skilled nursing care: Time to heal
Short-term care is provided to those who need time to recover from an illness, injury or surgery. This can range from a few days or weeks to a few months.
For example, a loved one who leaves the hospital after a stroke or joint replacement surgery may not be capable of returning home immediately. He or she may need additional time to heal or to go through a concentrated rehabilitative process with a mix of physical, occupational and speech therapies.
Nursing care helps bridge the gap. The goal is to regain capabilities, health, and strength in order to return home safely, or to another living situation such as with a family member or an assisted living apartment.
Long-term skilled nursing care: Ongoing care and support
Long-term care provides hands-on, around-the-clock support and monitoring for those who have a chronic condition or complex health issues. There is skilled care, which requires higher-level medical services, and custodial care, which includes occasional medical care but primarily focuses on help with everyday tasks. Most of the time, long-term nursing care involves the latter.
Long-term nursing care centers can be a residential option for those who cannot live on their own and require a high degree of continual assistance and monitoring. For example, someone in the late stage of a progressive condition such as congestive heart failure or Parkinson’s disease. If a loved one is very frail, has serious health issues, falls often, lives alone and is unable to care for their own well-being, they may benefit from the stability and supervision of nursing care.
Not all nursing care centers are alike. Many, such as Beatitudes Campus, offer a stimulating atmosphere with enjoyable programs and amenities as well as friendly volunteers who help keep residents as active and engaged as possible. If your loved one needs the support of nursing care, take some time to tour the various centers to find one that fits their needs and preferences best.
Nursing care at Beatitudes Campus
The Health Care Center at Beatitudes Campus offers both short-term skilled care and long-term nursing care. We offer shared suites along with delicious, restaurant-style dining and special activities and programs.
The Health Care Center at Beatitudes Campus is Medicare and ALTCS Medicaid-approved and fully licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. We are continually recognized in Arizona state inspections for outstanding care.
To learn more about nursing care at Beatitudes Campus and whether it’s right for you or a loved one, visit the Health Services page on our website or call us at (602) 833-1358.
The life plan community concept began about a century ago when faith-based and other charitable organizations sought to provide lifetime shelter and care for the aging. In exchange for this promise, residents being cared for were usually required to assign most or all of their assets to the organization. Although well-intentioned, this model was less than scientific, and when residents lived longer than expected, there often wasn’t enough money on hand to fulfill the organization’s commitment.
In response to the short-coming of this model, the idea of entrance fees evolved. Rather than collecting the assets of a resident, organizations began establishing minimum entrance fees (combined with monthly fees) that were determined to be adequate to cover commitments.
After proving to be more effective, the entrance fee model eventually expanded to also offer refundable entrance fees. Many prospective residents responded more favorably to this approach because they knew that either they or their heirs would receive back some portion of the entrance fee if they ever left the community, or at death.
Today there are more than 2,000 life plan communities located throughout the United States offering non-refundable, partially refundable, and fully refundable entrance fees. Many providers offer multiple options from which to choose.
So, what is the purpose of an entrance fee? Primarily, the entrance fee helps secure a resident’s contractual access to a continuum of care. This is why life plan communities are the only type of retirement scenarios providing such a promise to its residents. In recent years, more rental-only life plan communities have evolved. However, under a rental contract, there is either no contractual promise to provide a continuum of care, or the monthly fee will be higher than a comparable entrance fee.
The money received from entrance fees is also used to help pay down, or limit, the amount of debt required for development, expansion, or occasional capital projects, which keep the community attractive and competitive in the marketplace.
Finally, many life plan communities- particularly non-profit providers- offer a financial assistance or endowment fund to help ensure that if a resident runs out of money due to a longer than average stay in the healthcare center, or some other unforeseen circumstance, they will not be forced to leave the community. Of course, this would not apply to any situation where a resident mismanaged or intentionally transferred personal assets in order to receive such support.
At Beatitudes Campus, the entrance fee for our Central Park Apartments and Patio Homes include 90 days of skilled nursing, memory care, or assisted living for each resident at no additional cost. The monthly service fee and the one-time entrance fee is up to 90% refundable, and you can enjoy the convenience of maintenance-free living with the security of a future healthcare benefit.
The above article was written by Brad Breeding of myLifeSite and is legally licensed for use.
When you’re considering a move to a new place, it can be helpful to know what the people who live there think and feel about their home and community, the neighbors and staff, as well as the atmosphere and amenities. We asked four residents to tell us about what Beatitudes Campus means to them. We were delighted to hear their answers.
Marc Adelman
When Marc Adelman lived across the street from Beatitudes Campus years ago, he didn’t know the community specialized in senior living. Today, he not only lives on campus, he’s involved with dozens of programs, committees, and activities.
Marc spearheaded a program to install a special audio system in the campus’ Everett Luther Life Center to help people hear the presentations and music better. As an ad hoc technology expert, he helps residents with their TVs, phones, and other devices.
“I moved here in 2015, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Marc, who also teaches mahjong and serves as a community ambassador. “I was very active before moving here. Beatitudes gives me the opportunity to stay active and involved.”
In June, Beatitudes Campus debuts its new Gaming Connection, a special calendar that tracks all of the game and puzzle meetups happening across campus–bridge, poker, dominoes, mahjong, board games, and more. It makes it easy for everyone to find a game and join in whenever they want. It’s a great way to meet new friends. Marc helped create the computerized tracking system for this new calendar.
“To me, Beatitudes Campus means safety, friendliness and connection with people,” he said. “Most of us wear name tags. On it, we get to add a word that best describes ourselves. I chose the word ‘involved.’”
Bill Chase
As an electrical design consultant, Bill Chase stays busy, dividing his time between his clients and life at Beatitudes Campus. Bill and his late wife lived just four miles from the community before moving to the community in 2016. Beatitudes provided the stability, ease, and optional in-home caregiving the couple needed.
“When we visited Beatitudes, the community was so lively and engaged. People had places to go, things to do. We liked that,” said Bill. “Plus, people here seemed more friendly.”
Today, Bill spends his free time participating in social groups and playing guitar on-campus several days a week. “There are a lot of choices. You can pick and choose what you want to do,” said Bill. “It’s like being back in college.”
In addition to an active social life, Bill has found friendship and support at Beatitudes Campus.
“It feels like a small town. People look out for each other,” said Bill. “Living at Beatitudes Campus makes me want to be a better person, just like my wife did.”
Carol and Wally Flinn
Married for 64 years, Carol and Wally Flinn moved to Beatitudes Campus in 2016, after deciding that keeping up a four-bedroom house was just too much work.
“We started educating ourselves on what was available. We looked at three other communities over two years,” said Carol. “We chose Beatitudes because we like the staff, the people, and the food. We feel safe here, especially at night.”
The Flinns enjoy a variety of activities on campus. Wally, who’s outgoing and gregarious, likes the fitness center, walking on campus, and playing darts and bocce ball. Carol is loyal to spending time with friends, playing bridge, using the campus library, and being a part of the Welcome Committee.
“For us, Beatitudes Campus means being more involved, more active, taking lifelong learning classes, belonging to groups, and meeting new people,” said Carol.
MaryLou Renfrow
When MaryLou Renfrow began needing help at home after a fall, she and her family didn’t choose a senior living community lightly. Before MaryLou moved to Beatitudes Campus, her son-in-law thoroughly vetted the community before giving his blessing.
“He checked out everything to make sure it was a good place,” said MaryLou, who lives in a ground floor apartment with a beautiful patio decorated just the way she likes it. “I just love it here. Everyone smiles, waves, and says hello. We’re like a big family.”
MaryLou takes advantage of Beatitudes Campus “Be at Home” services program to make everyday living a little easier. The program provides in-home care and personal support, such as help getting ready in the morning, transportation to the doctor, grocery shopping, medication reminders, and more.
“They even take great care of my cat, LouLou,” she said. “For me, Beatitudes Campus means feeling content and relaxed. It feels like my home. There are a lot of wonderful things that come with it.”
Are you or a loved one considering the transition to a retirement community? Schedule a tour of Beatitudes Campus by calling us at (602) 536-4732 or submitting a contact form!
By Rodney D. Bailey, MSW, PhD, Senior Vice President
March is National Nutrition Month and it reminds us that eating nutritious foods offers big benefits. Research shows eating well can boost your energy, improve your mood, keep your bones strong, enhance your sleep, and extend your life. Healthier eating can even reduce your risk for dementia, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes.
Considering all of the physical and mental benefits of eating nutritiously, why not give it a try? Mayo Clinic offers these simple tips for eating better.
- Choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats, nuts and seeds, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit the number of calories you get from added sugars and saturated fats, while also cutting back on sodium.
Eating healthy isn’t complicated. There’s no magic diet plan. By applying those simple guidelines at every meal, over time, you’ll significantly increase the nutrients you’re intaking, while dramatically decreasing the amount of sugar, salt, calories, and saturated fat. Smart choices like these will allow for a healthier, stronger mind and body–one day at a time.
So many smart, delicious choices on campus
At Beatitudes Campus, we make it easy to eat for your well-being. We offer heart-healthy, vegetarian, and allergen friendly options at all of our restaurants. We regionally source ingredients whenever possible for the freshest flavors. Most importantly, our chefs tailor your order to your liking.
Tailored menu
- Fit menu filled with healthy choices
- Diabetic friendly selections
- Vegetarian dishes
- Gluten-free alternatives
- Allergen friendly options (milk, peanuts, wheat, and other allergens)
- Dietary preferences (salt, spices, garlic, shellfish, and others)
- Sugar-free desserts
Healthier choices
- Made-from-scratch soups
- Sustainably sourced seafood per Monterey Bay Aquarium standards
- Gluten-free bread, pasta, mayonnaise, dressings, and more
- No growth hormones in milk and meats
- Pasteurized in-the-shell eggs
- Cooked with zero trans fat
- No salt added
Whether you’re grabbing a quick breakfast, lunch, or sitting down to dinner with friends, you’ll find something delicious and nutritious.
At Town Plaza Bistro, we offer fresh, made-to-order meals, including grilled chicken, fish, fresh fruits, salads, vegetables, and more. On the menu, it’s easy to see which items are vegetarian, gluten-free, and have low sodium and no sugar.
Elaine’s, our fine dining restaurant, offers sophisticated cuisine in an upscale atmosphere. You can choose from a variety of healthy options such as seared scallops and halibut, shrimp, rack of lamb, and zucchini noodles.
Even at Buckwald’s Arizona Grille, our steakhouse-inspired restaurant, you can choose fresh seafood, grilled lean meats, and vegetable-forward dishes. You can also build-your-own salad and top it with one of our house-made dressings.
“We have really talented chefs here at Beatitudes Campus. If you need a dish specially prepared, just let them know. We want to make it easy for you to enjoy great meals that are also healthy for you,” said Joe Kane, Director of Dining Services.
The facts about nutrition and older adults
Whether you’re dining at one of Beatitudes Campus’ restaurants or in your own kitchen, consider choosing your meals and snacks for their nutritional value–at least a majority of them. Poor nutrition particularly affects older adults. As we age, we need adequate amounts of protein to maintain our muscles, calcium to keep our bones strong, and vitamins and minerals to keep our mind and body working properly. The real magic is that you have control over what you eat.
With National Nutrition Month, now is a great time to add nutrient-dense foods into your everyday eating. When possible, make every bite count. It’s quick, easy, and hugely beneficial. If you enjoy statistics, here’s more about the latest research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.