What’s New
Simplify Your Life at this Retirement Community in PA
Sometimes life can be more joyful if we prune away the habits and worries that bog us down and are a drag on our energy level. Let’s review some activities of life that may not bring as much enjoyment as in years past.
Based upon our research at Sherwood Oaks, a retirement community in PA, retirees overwhelmingly prefer taking day trips over cleaning their house. Similarly, they prefer Sunday Brunch with children and grandchildren to cooking meals. And, they almost always choose swimming or shooting pool over clearing snow and cutting grass. Imagine that!
March is the time to get your home ready to sell. This active retirement community in PA, offers helpful suggestions and a helping hand to clear out closets, attics and basements. Let us help you sort through the things in your life that no longer bring you happiness or contentment. Once you make room in your life for more joy, you’ll wonder why you took so long.
If you’d like to see how Sherwood Oaks residents are enjoying their simplified retirement in PA, check out Sherwood Voices and the rest of our website, then Contact Sherry Cook at (800) 642-2217 to learn the details about how Sherwood Oaks can help you get organized for a move.
Protecting Your Retirement Assets in this PA Lifecare Community
Many retirees are thinking of how they can protect their nest-eggs from inflation.
If you were to buy Sherwood Oaks’ Lifecare program, you purchase health care for the future using today’s dollars. This retirement community in PA has a Lifecare program that secures for you unlimited days of personal care and skilled nursing services. When the day comes that you need care, much of it is already paid for. And when that days arrives, you will only pay your normal monthly service fee and no costly per diem charges.
Sherwood Oaks is one of an elite number of retirement communities in PA that is fully accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, and has a proven track record of service and financial strength.
So, if you would like to know how to protect your retirement assets, call us at (800) 642-2217 to learn about this and other ways Sherwood Oaks can help you preserve your nest-egg. You can email Sherry Cook at cookca@sherwood-oaks.com.
Immediate Openings in Personal Care
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
You may already know about Sherwood Oaks, a PA Retirement Community. However, I’m writing today to talk about our openings and Personal Care services.
Personal Care provides home-like living for seniors who need more help than what is available in their homes. Sherwood Oaks has a Personal Care center on our Cranberry Township campus, and we have 7 vacant, private studio apartments available for seniors who need help with activities such as bathing, dressing, cooking and healthful eating. Our care-givers are on duty 24 hrs/day, and physicians and nurse practitioners visit for any medical need. A private studio apartment rate begins at $135/day.
The first step in applying for residency at this PA retirement community, is calling Sherry Cook, Client Advisor, at (800) 642-2217. She can schedule a time for you and your family to visit the campus, ask questions and see if Sherwood Oaks is the right retirement community in PA for you. Sherry will answer your questions, guide you through a personal tour and give you the application forms and information.
Read what people are saying about us:
“As we add to our age, we all need sage advice and experience of those around us. Sherwood Oaks provides this in generous quantity and quality demonstrated in their Personal Care accomodations and daily assistance. We are so glad we’re at this PA retirement community!”
Newk and Ginny Newcomer
Personal Care Residents
(Residents of Sherwood Oaks for 13 years)
Would you or someone you know like more information about this retirement community in PA? Come to our Mother/Daughter Brunch on Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m. in the private dining room at Sherwood Oaks. RSVP to reserve your spot – (800) 642-2217.
My Thoughts on Families
by Katherine Vojtko
Sherwood Oaks has been serving retirees for almost 30 years and I’ve been working in this field for 15. Ideally, both the client and the children are supportive of a move to a PA retirement community. But, this is not always the case. It is not unusual to hear from a desperate daughter or son who is alarmed when they see that their parents are not able to do as much as they use to. The children are alarmed and concerned for Mom or Dad’s safety and health – but this alarm and concern is not shared by parents.
What to do? It’s not an easy situation, but we give this advice to children and families:
1.Remind yourself that your parent is an intelligent and successful adult. It is easy for the parent/child role to get reversed. You can guard against this by staying respectful of their accomplishments and role in your life.
2.Help them retain/gain back as much control over their lives as is possible. Ask them for solutions. Look into technology and home-based services that may help them remain independent and have control over their lives.
3.Involve them in problem solving – what are their thoughts on solving the issues that concern you.
4.Do they realize that as they age, they are role models to the grand children and extended family? What kind of legacy do they want to leave of themselves?
5.Talk about what they have achieved and contributed over their lifetimes to the family, to a business, to their social network, or to the neighborhood. How, and in what setting, can they best continue these contributions?
These are a few ways to engage your parent in constructive conversations about the future. These conversations will likely be more effective taken in small doses over time, and not presented in a family “intervention” format. With any luck, Sherwood Oaks may have the good fortune of being a part of your parent’s future.
Consider bringing your mother or daughter (even your father or son!) to our Mother/Daughter Brunch on Saturday, March 10th at 10 a.m. in the Sherwood Oaks Dining Room when we will learn more about how Sherwood Oaks is one of the most comprehensive PA retirement communities. RSVP to (800) 642-2217 to reserve your space.
Katherine Vojtko, M.A, M.P.H
Vice President
Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community
Vojtko@sherwood-oaks.com
Next Year – Resolve to Lower Your Taxes
Next April you can significantly lower the taxes that you owe to the federal government. As a lifecare retirement community in PA, the IRS considers part of the entrance fee and part of the monthly fee to be pre-paid medical expenses. If you are like most residents, these expenses get added to other medical expenses (medicines, co-pays, etc.), and the amount that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income can be deducted. The monthly fee deduction is per resident, so if you are a couple, it’s times two!
Plus, there are no school, local or county taxes to pay. Now, that’s a real bonus!
To have a copy of our Cost Comparison Calculator mailed to your home, call us at (800) 642-2217.
The Importance of Strength Training in Seniors
The latest research shows that older adults aren’t doing enough to keep
their muscles strong. A recent pilot study conducted by the
Journal of the American Medical Association using nursing care
patients as their subjects showed a 200% increase in strength and
a 10% increase in muscle size when participating in eight weeks
of progressive strength training (80% of their 1 repetition
maximum). The subjects had an average age of 90 years old and all
had a history of falls within the past year. At the conclusion of
the study, all participants increased their walking speed,
ability to climb stairs, participation in spontaneous activity,
and experienced a decrease in depressive symptoms. The study
found that they key was higher resistance and lower repetitions.
The problem, an estimated less than 5% of all senior exercisers
currently workout at these recommended intensities. Just a reminder
to check your calendar for Wednesday, February 15 or Thursday,
February 23 at 11 a.m. and come to a Lunch and Learn where you
will hear our Fitness Director talk about the benefits of fitness at retirement communities in PA. and how he designs a personal fitness plan for each resident!
Please RSVP to (800) 642-2217 to reserve your place.
Thriving in Retirement
We all have heard about the benefits of “preventive medicine.”
You eat healthfully, exercise, and visit your doctor when you
should. Do you know that some people view their decision to
move to a PA retirement community as preventive medicine?
They are making hard decisions now that will make their condition easier
and less stressful in the future.
Residents thrive at Sherwood Oaks. The entire lifecare program is
designed to keep residents healthy and independent for as long as possible.
In addition to the health screenings and fitness opportunities, Sherwood Oaks
offers educational classes, day trips and a wealth of convenient services and
amenities on site.
Best of all, Sherwood Oaks is affordable. If you haven’t
already received our Cost Comparison Calculator, call Sherry or
Phyllis today and request a copy. When you add up all the benefits,
you will see for yourself that Sherwood Oaks is a wise investment in
your preventive medicine.
To receive a copy of the Cost Comparison Calculator, or to
schedule a visit to the campus, call Sherry or Phyllis at
(800) 642-2217.
Be sure to check your calendar for Wednesday, February 15
or Thursday February 23 at 11 a.m. and come to a Lunch and Learn
where you will hear our Fitness Director talk about the benefits
of fitness in seniors and how he will design a personal fitness plan
for each resident! Please RSVP to (800) 642-2217 to reserve your
place.
Lifecare as Preventive Medicine
We all have heard about the benefits of “preventive medicine.”
You eat healthfully, exercise, and visit your doctor when you
should. Do you know that some people view their decision to move
to a PA retirement community as a form of preventive medicine?
Residents thrive at Sherwood Oaks. The entire lifecare program is
designed to keep residents healthy and independent for as long as
is possible. In addition to the health screenings and fitness
opportunities, this PA retirement community offers educational classes, day
trips and a wealth of convenient services and amenities on site.
Best of all, Sherwood Oaks is affordable. If you haven’t already
received our Cost Comparison Calculator, call Sherry or Phyllis
today and request a copy. When you add up all the benefits, you
will see for yourself that Sherwood Oaks is one of the nicest retirement communities in PA.
To receive a copy of the Cost Comparison Calculator, or to
schedule a revisit to the campus, call Sherry or Phyllis at (800) 642-2217.
Learn more about our Fitness Program by attending a Lunch and Learn on
Wednesday, February 15th or Thursday, February 23rd at 11 a.m. here at
Sherwood Oaks in the Cranberry Lake Grill.
Please call 800 642-2217 to reserve your spot!
Are Retirement Communities Financially Stable?
It is important for seniors to ask careful questions as they consider which retirement community is best suited to their needs. Some recent newspaper stories have asked if retirement communities in PA are financially stable. Sherwood Oaks willingly answers inquiries about our financial stability as a retirement community-PA facility. We believe that Sherwood Oaks is among the financially strongest retirement communities in the region because:
- The Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community has successfully operated for 28 years. We are proud of the good reputation that we’ve established, especially in the North Hills and Cranberry Township areas.
- The Sherwood Oaks audited 2009 financial statements show positive net assets of $5.5 million. Audited statements for FY 2010 will be released soon, and they are expected to show strong operating income, positive investment returns, and continued investment in capital assets.
- Resident satisfaction at Sherwood Oaks, as measured by an outside consulting firm, shows that residents have rated Sherwood Oaks as exceeding national benchmark scores for many years.
- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center UPMC is our parent company and one of the most financially sound organizations in the region.
- Sherwood Oaks is one of the few retirement communities PA has that is fully accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, www.carf.org. We have achieved this mark of distinction and maintained it since1993.
Experts have commented that retirement communities in PA requiring an entrance fee present a risk, “perhaps a little risk, but still a risk.” Although this is true with any endeavor, we would point out that not living at Sherwood Oaks presents a risk, too. We believe that the enjoyment of the amenities, physical security, and the knowledge that unlimited continuing care is guaranteed at Sherwood Oaks far outweighs the small risk.
Please contact our marketing office at 1-800-642-2217 if you have questions about Sherwood Oaks. We are happy to provide any information you may need about all aspects of our retirement community and the many entrance options available at Sherwood Oaks.
It is important for seniors to ask careful questions as they consider which retirement community is best suited to their needs. Some recent newspaper stories have asked if retirement communities in PA are financially stable. Sherwood Oaks willingly answers inquiries about our financial stability as a retirement community-PA facility. We believe that Sherwood Oaks is among the financially strongest retirement communities in the region because:
Research Shows Reasons Why Retirees Don’t Move to a Retirement Community
Recently we discussed that the #1 reason why retirees move to a retirement community is the guarantee of health care.
But, what about those who choose to stay in their homes? Our research shows that these are the reasons why retirees stay where they are:
1) Cost – You may think that a retirement community PA has is costly, yet you may also be surprised to learn the value of services that are included in the monthly fee. Many costs that you now pay separately are paid for in the monthly fee. For example, utilities, housekeeping, home maintenance, transportation and some meals are included. Residents at Sherwood Oaks no longer pay real estate or school taxes, and receive a tax benefit because they’ve pre-paid much of their future medical expense. Most importantly, retirees have the financial security of not having to set aside money for the high cost of extended health care.
2) “I’m Too Young” – Most residents I’ve spoken with wished they moved sooner, not later. The younger you are when you move, the more you can benefit from the health care plan and enjoy the lifestyle and activities.
3) “I Don’t Know Where to Begin my Move” – That’s where we can help. We’ve assembled a complete package of services to help you move. From realtors to moving companies to estate sales, we work with a solid, professional team who understands what you are going through. We even pay the cost of a professional moving organizer to meet with you in your home and get you started.
If you have a personal circumstance that you’d like to discuss with a member of my staff, contact them at marketing@sherwood-oaks.com. One last thought – putting off a move to next year does not make it any easier.