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At Broadmoor Court assisted living community in Colorado Springs, CO, the comfort of our residents is one of our main priorities. We provide multiple levels of care, including assisted living that lets you enjoy an independent and vibrant lifestyle. Numerous amenities, including spacious floor plans, flexible dining times, and housekeeping and laundry services, are just some of the ways we create comfort.
But we love to encourage our residents to take steps to create their own comfort. The things you keep in your assisted living apartment can help you lead a more enjoyable life. Here are a number of popular items that you might want to consider keeping stocked up on as you live active days within the community.
Changes in circulation, chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, and the normal aging process can all make seniors more sensitive to cold. That sensitivity often congregates in the hands or feet. A comfy pair of socks or slippers can keep your feet warm and help the rest of your body regulate temperature more efficiently. Look for options that have gripping soles to help reduce the risk of slips and falls.
As you age, you may lose some of the oil glands that help keep your skin moisturized and soft. And even if you don't experience issues with dry skin normally, the cold Colorado winters can do a number on epidermal layers of any age. A favorite hand lotion can make a huge difference during these times by helping you keep skin moisturized and free of itchy, painful cracks. Consider choosing unscented options to wear throughout the community to respect respiratory and allergy needs of others.
Headphones can make it easier to hear music, audio books and television programming within your assisted living apartment. It also lets you bring uplifting music or podcasts with you as you walk or enjoy the community without interrupting others with your audio options.
Choose from physical or digital albums so you can keep favorite memories and people with you in your assisted living apartment. Looking through pictures of events from years past can help spark memory activity in your brain, which can be good for supporting cognitive function. And having pictures of the grandkids on hand to share with others is just enjoyable.
Settling into your favorite chair with a cozy blanket might be one of the best ways to pass a cold Colorado evening. Keeping a small throw in the living space of your assisted living apartment lets you stay warm as you read a book, watch a movie or chat with a friend on the phone. Lapghans and other small throws are also easy to manage when you want to fold and store them.
If you're not a blanket person or would prefer not to clutter your living space with extra fabric, consider warm personal wear. Robes make a great substitute for blankets, especially since you can wear them as you walk around your apartment. Make sure to pick a robe that fits well and doesn't fall down past your ankles to reduce tripping risks.
Pajamas are another option for staying cozy in your assisted living apartment. Consider choosing comfortable sleepwear that looks decent enough that you won't mind a neighbor seeing you in it if you have to step into the hall for a moment.
Music can be an ideal companion for any age in life. For older adults, music can promote relaxation to reduce stress and even help with memory and cognitive function. Listening to favorite songs from your past can evoke memories, which can be fun and enjoyable on its own. But when your mind engages with those memories, it can help strengthen certain cognitive functions.
You can buy inexpensive CD players with built-in AM/FM radio tuners to enjoy a variety of music. You can also download music players on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Services such as Spotify and Pandora offer free options for streaming a wide variety of music.
Coloring isn't just for kids, as the growing adult coloring book market can attest. For seniors, coloring can bring a number of benefits, including relaxation, reduced anxiety, increased concentration and enhanced motor skills. You don't need fancy art supplies to engage in this activity, though art hobbyists may find that the task is more enjoyable when they invest in a decent set of colored pencils or favorite markers.
But all you really need to get started is a coloring book (or printed coloring sheet from the internet) and something to decorate it with. Crayons, colored pencils, markers and gel pens are all popular options. Consider trying out different supplies to see which ones give you the most joy.
A deck of high-quality playing cards can bring groups of friends in an assisted living community hours upon hours of social enjoyment. Consider splurging for a large-print deck if you're having trouble seeing regular cards. You can also buy cards in abnormal sizes, such as those that are slightly larger than normal, to make them easier to hold.
Night-lights can be an important safety item in any home, and that includes your senior living apartment. If you don't like to sleep with a lot of ambient light, consider motion-activated lights that turn on when you get out of bed or enter the bathroom. Being able to see when you move about at night reduces the chances of slips and falls.
