Mommy Blog

If you’re starting your research on moving yourself or a loved one to an assisted living community, you might see phrases such as “retirement community” and “assisted living community.” Those phrases are sometimes used interchangeably, but their definitions usually vary slightly. Of course, each community you check out could involve different services or amenities, so be sure to ask lots of questions when you’re looking at a retirement or assisted living community.

With that being said, which situation is better for you? And what are the differences between the two of them?

Retirement Communities

A person who moves into a retirement community is generally able to take care of themselves. They don’t need additional help with everyday living, though some communities will provide additional services such as laundry or linen service or light housekeeping.

Activities and socialization opportunities are often offered in these communities, such as day trips, classes, parties, and other events. A resident of a retirement community tends to have their own apartment within the community, and there are common areas throughout the community for gathering with friends and family. Sometimes a retirement community might also be associated with an assisted living community. This is a comfort if need more help in your everyday living as time passes.

Assisted Living Communities

Our brand-new location (conveniently located in Peoria, Arizona, near the intersection of West Olive Avenue and North 107^th Avenue) offers assisted living and memory care services. These are specialized services for older adults who require senior housing and need additional assistance with day-to-day living.

Some examples might be if you require help managing medication or bathing. While some apartments have kitchenettes, meals are also provided in our restaurant-style dining hall. Every day you can expect three nutritious and delicious chef-prepared meals. You can relax in the dining hall with friends or visitors and not have to worry about cooking for yourself or cleaning up afterward. Snacks are also available daily.

At Agua Fria, assisted living means comprehensive and respectful care for each individual. Our mission is to provide the assistance you or your loved one requires while still providing independence to live your best life.

Nursing Home

Another phrase you might hear while doing your research is “nursing home.” A nursing home is more like a medical center than a living situation. People generally require a nursing home if they’re recovering from an injury or procedure and need a nurse or doctor to monitor their progress closely. The goal is to only require a nursing home for a little while so that once you’ve recovered you may go back to your assisted living home or retirement community. At the Mission at Agua Fria, our goal is to give you the care and independence you require so that you don’t need to visit a nursing home.

Moving to an assisted living community has proven to be better for seniors in the long run and can prevent accidents or illnesses with quick responses from your care team. After all, living in your own house may be difficult after some time, especially if you’re living alone. Climbing up on a ladder to perform maintenance or change a lightbulb can be risky if your balance isn’t as good as it once was. If you live in climates with winter storms, shoveling the driveway can be difficult and even hazardous if there’s ice. However, if you live in an assisted living community, we take care of all of that for you.

Assisted Living at the Mission at Agua Fria

When you receive consistent, respectful, and personalized care at the Mission at Agua Fria, our certified staff will be able to catch the beginnings of an illness before it becomes a bigger issue. Your quality of life will be much higher, not least of which because you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from letting someone else handle the details. With our partnerships with healthcare professionals, you’ll feel well taken care of so you may safely age in place.

When you first move to the Mission at Agua Fria, one of our licensed nurses will meet with you to complete an assessment on what your personal needs are. Based on that, they’ll outline a care plan. They’ll be with you every step of the way so that your preferences and interests are integrated into the plan as well.

Assisted living might be a little more involved than in a retirement community, but you can still expect to have your own apartment. We offer a choice of four different floorplans for one-bedroom apartments. No matter which style you choose, each apartment has the same safety features, including spacious bathrooms, walk- or wheel-in showers, grab bars, emergency response pull cords, emergency pendants, and plenty of closet space.

Memory Care

Sometimes memory care falls under the assisted living umbrella. At the Mission at Agua Fria, we offer state-of-the-art memory care for you or your loved one who requires the extra security and care that comes with this diagnosis. You can expect a secure environment; personal care services, including dressing, bathing, mobility, and assistance with meals and other activities; on-site, 24-hour medical care; ongoing evaluations and family support services; and medication management, assistance, and administration.

On top of that, you can expect enrichment programs and specialized activities to keep your brain stimulated. Studies have shown that access to art and other creative pursuits, exercise, movement, and social time all add up to help slow or stop cognitive decline. We want to supply all of that to you as much as you’d like. We won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, though—this will be part of the care program our licensed nurses will work out with you and your care provider.

Whether you’re in need of assisted living or memory care, we’re happy to answer any questions you have about the Mission at Agua Fria. Contact us for more information—we would love to hear from you and to set up an appointment to meet with you in person.

 

Losing baby weight is a big concern for moms, which is understandable. Your body just went through a beautiful transformation, but now, it might look and feel a little different.

Gaining weight during pregnancy is extremely important for pregnancy for many reasons and protects both the mother and the baby. But after giving birth, losing baby weight can be a slow process, and for most moms, it takes a ton of hard work.

If you’re looking to lose the baby weight, probiotic supplements may be able to help you on your journey. Keep reading below to find our four things new moms should know about probiotic supplements.

Probiotic supplements can help balance out your gut biome

The bacteria in your gut biome plays an important role in your ability to lose weight. There are the “good” probiotic bacteria, which helps eliminate waste and break down food, but it can be thrown off balance.

When this happens, it can be beneficial to take probiotic supplements, to reintroduce more of those “good” bacteria back into your gut and help you on your weight loss journey. If your diet changed during or after pregnancy, it’s very possible the bacteria in your gut biome was thrown into disarray.

Also, if you took certain medications, such as antibiotics, your healthy gut bacteria may have been destroyed.

Probiotic supplements can help with many gastrointestinal issues

It’s very common for new mothers to experience gastrointestinal issues. Stress can have a big impact on your digestive system, and gas is very common during pregnancy.

Not only that, but it’s also common for pregnant women and new moms to have issues with “number two.” Certain strains of probiotics, and certain probiotic supplements, can help address these issues. Probiotic supplements are shown to help eliminate gas and ease other digestive issues.

Probiotic supplements contain specific strains of probiotic bacteria

A big perk of choosing probiotic supplements is that you get to choose specific strains. There are certain strains of probiotic bacteria which can help with weight loss, but that’s not all. Some strains help with bloat, bulge, gas, and many other digestive issues.

When you’re looking to use probiotics for weight loss, choosing the right strain will play a big role in your outcome.

Not all probiotic supplements are created equal

When choosing a probiotic supplement, it’s important to choose one that is going to deliver on its promises. Looking at the label can tell you a lot.

For example, you can see how many strains are in the supplement, and what other ingredients are present. If you’re looking to burn off that baby weight, it’s important to pick a probiotic supplement designed for weight loss, like ProbioSlim Weight Loss Essentials from Force factor.

Not only does this supplement from Force Factor contain LactoSpore, but it also contains other compounds which help you burn fat. ProbioSlim Weight Loss Essentials even contains vitamins and electrolytes, to help support your body during the weight loss process.

Spending time together as a family is a great way to build close bonds and create a supportive family unit. Luckily, there is an excellent variety of exciting activities that you can do together as a family. This includes a great selection of affordable activities, such as family walks or other outdoor activities. To give you some ideas, here are a few of the best activities to do as a family.

Camp in a National Park

Camping in a national park is a cheap and fun activity that will bring your family closer. It will also give your family the chance to get outdoors and immerse themselves in nature. Spending time in natural surroundings is a great way to relax and deal with any family stress. Plus, you will have the opportunity to take part in lots of fun outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, sailing, and outdoor adventure sports. According to national parks.org, the US has an impressive 419 national park sites. This means that you have an excellent variety of national parks to choose from. Many of the parks offer campsites with excellent family-friendly facilities such as swimming pools and BBQ areas. Make sure you book early if you are planning on visiting a national park during peak season or school holidays.

Fun activities at home

There are plenty of family activities that you can do together at home if you don’t fancy traveling. For instance, you can watch movies, have a family games tournament, or bake cookies. Doing a craft project is another fun way to spend time together as a family. You can get the supplies for your craft project by visiting a textile shop in London and stocking up on materials such as paint and fabric.

Go bowling

Bowling is another fun activity that family members of all ages will enjoy. If your kids are young, then you can put the lane barriers up to stop them from becoming discouraged from too many gutter balls. You can split your family into teams and have a bowling tournament for a bit of fun family competition. Many bowling alleys offer great family discounts and promotional deals if you visit on certain days of the week. They also tend to have a variety of other fun activities on offer, such as arcades, laser tag, and fast-food restaurants. This means you can easily turn a trip to the bowling alley into a full family day out.

Visit a working farm

Visiting a working farm can be a fun and informative activity for the whole family. Many farms offer interactive tours where children can learn about farm life and interact with farm animals such as donkeys, goats, and sheep. They may also be able to ride on a tractor, harvest fruit, and vegetables, and learn about sustainable living. There may also be an onsite restaurant serving healthy, organic food grown on the farm. You can find farms open for visits by searching online or calling local farms to arrange a visit.

 

 

There are all sorts of different ways that people feel about age. Some people are horrified at the idea of getting older, while others couldn’t care less. One thing’s for sure; however, as you get older, your appearance starts to change whether you like it or not.

Depending on how you treat your body, you may end up looking older or younger than your actual age. If your ultimate goal is looking younger than your age, then there are a few tips that are proven to be quite effective. Take a look at some of the best ways to look your best at any age.

Exercise

One of the biggest indications of your age is your body’s composition. In order to keep your body looking young, you need to take care of it by keeping it strong. Improve your body whenever possible by engaging in a regular exercise program. The great news is that it’s never too late to start.

Try to start incorporating at least 30 minutes of physical exercise every day. Even something as low impact as walking can make a significant difference in how much you age. A fit body won’t just make you look better, but you’ll feel better.

Stress Less Sleep More

Stress is something it can start to show itself on your face over the years. The more that you allow yourself to sweat the small stuff, the more that your face will start to look rigid and old.

Life can be stressful from time to time, however, life’s stresses shouldn’t keep you up every night. Try to take whatever measures possible to reduce the amount of stress in your life.

The less you stress, the more you sleep. The more you sleep, the more that your body can regenerate itself every night.

If you have a problem getting enough sleep, then you should start forcing yourself to go to bed earlier. Experts suggest getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night in order to fully regenerate your system.

Take Care Of That Face

The wrinkles on your face are usually a telltale sign of how old you are. The last thing you want to do is look older than you actually are because you neglected your face. It takes more than just a simple moisturizer to stay looking young. You should also consider anti-aging products like retinol or liquid exfoliants.

Most importantly, you should be applying sunscreen every single day. Don’t make the mistake of believing that sunscreen is only when you’re in a sunny environment. The sun’s harmful rays can also get through even on cloudy days.

So make sure to include sunscreen in your regular face care routine regardless of the weather.

Busy parents often struggle to find time to wash their hair, never mind applying makeup and embarking on an extensive skincare routine.

While you might not have time to pamper yourself from head to toe, there are actions you can take to both look and feel more attractive each day.

If you want to care for yourself while raising your kids, here are six beauty tricks that could make you appear effortlessly beautiful.

1. Highlight Your Lips with a Nude Gloss

Rather than applying a lipstick that can highlight a lack of makeup, use a nude gloss instead. It will accentuate your lips and complexion, which can give you a burst of confidence. If you don’t like neutral, opt for a natural shade, such as a peach or pink tint.

2. Hide Dark Circles with a Brightening Concealer

If you’re raising small children, you may experience many sleepless nights or early mornings. While a cup of coffee might wake you up in the morning, your dark circles might be left behind on your skin. Rather than allowing them to damage your appearance and self-confidence, you could fake a good night’s rest by applying a brightening concealer. It will hide dark, puffy rings around your eyes while brightening your skin. It could help you to look more awake than you are.

3. Add Long-lasting Lash Extensions

Lash extensions have replaced false lashes, as they are long-lasting and can add volume, length, and curl. If you use the right eyelash adhesive for lash extensions, they can typically last between four to five weeks without the need for a retouch. So, you can wake up every day with long, curly eyes that will transform your appearance and boost your self-esteem.

4. Use a Texturizing Hair Product

If you have long locks with limited natural movement, create beachy waves with a texturizing product. Apply it onto damp hair to create relaxed, natural waves that will make you appear effortlessly pretty. It will require minimal effort and could transform your appearance.

5. Appear Polished with the Right Accessories

Accessories can add a touch of luxury and glamor into the dullest of outfits. Don’t allow your busy lifestyle to stand in the way of style by wearing jewelry that will make a statement each day, such as an attractive ring, a pendant, or a pair of classic stud earrings. You’ll appear polished and stylish when wearing jeans and a t-shirt or a summer dress.

6. Wear Confidence-Boosting Clothing

The demands of parent life could lead to you pulling out the comfiest items in your closet, such as sweatpants, a sweater, or an old tee. While they might be cozy, they could be damaging your confidence. Grow your self-esteem by wearing more confidence-boosting clothing that complements your lifestyle.

For example, ditch the sweatpants or leggings for a stylish pair of skinny jeans. If you want to wear a comfortable dress that will look great when shopping, visiting friends, or on a family day out, a wrap dress will never let you down. Find comfortable, stylish items that will boost your confidence and match your hectic lifestyle.