​Caring for a family member or loved one is a physically and emotionally demanding job. When you’re in the thick of it, the concept of self-care may seem laughable. You’re so busy caring for your loved one – how could you possibly find time to take a bubble bath or meditate?

​At its most basic, self-care means caring for yourself. Because every person’s needs are different, self-care looks different for each person. It doesn’t have to be some expensive spa day, but can be as simple as going for walks in the morning, getting 8 hours of sleep each night, or meeting up with a close friend for coffee. Focus on the things that will make you feel more refreshed, calm and happy – no matter how simple they may seem.

​For caregivers, taking care of yourself and your needs isn’t a luxury, but a basic necessity. If you’re not caring for your physical, mental and emotional health, you will get burnt out and exhausted. This could lead to lasting physical illness, not to mention mental health issues.

​Certainly, time is a huge roadblock for caregivers. Finding even a few hours to prepare a healthy meal, exercise, run errands or visit the doctor can make a huge difference. The Martin Luther Campus adult day programs can provide that much-needed buffer. With flexible scheduling options, including part-time, half-day or drop-in hours, we can work with your schedule and budget to give you valuable time for self-care.

​If caregiving has become more than you can physically or emotionally handle, get in touch. From assisted living to adult day care, Martin Luther Campus has a variety of programs that can take some of the caregiving duties off your plate, while still providing the dedicated care your loved one needs.

Barry ZeVan (“The Weatherman”) talks about isolation in seniors, discussing how to help seniors remain involved and engaged through socialization, support groups and activities, such as our Bloomington adult day programs.

For yours truly, just seeing the word isolation initially conjures thoughts of despair, loneliness and hopelessness. Hopefully, those thoughts are, with further examination and deliberation, extreme and need not exemplify a total picture of isolation, but rather just emotional snapshots.
 
From time immemorial, people have been and still are social creatures. That's why we call the culture in which we live, society. Regardless of the protestations of those who have even chosen to be hermits, living in self-imposed isolation, every human being cannot consistently or comfortably sustain life or healthy thought processes without at least some interaction with another human being. We have an innate need to communicate with one another, regardless of what thoughts or needs are shared. Thus, when the subject of isolation arises, there are multiple visions that also arise, but none, in my opinion, that require the most desperate or debilitating thinking or conclusions.
 
Without presumption here, I assume all human beings, at one time or another, have experienced a form of loneliness that propels minds to think in extreme terms that parallel isolation, leading to almost terrified thinking. The isolation, in most instances, is identified with being alone, feeling there's no one with whom one can express oft-times self-induced desperate thought processes and definitely thinking expressing those feelings will fall on deaf, or even mocking, ears. My comments are based on personal experience, as well as experiences of those I know whom no one would ever think experienced isolation or isolationist thinking.
 
Negative thoughts are almost always self-made, fearing if they're shared with others, no one will really care, understand nor want to offer solace or help. In regard to Ebenezer, caring and help are parts of a permanent mantra dedicated to helping create better lives and more positive thinking for those who feel alone or isolated.
 
Those blessed to have any connection with Ebenezer and/or its multiple services should know the help Ebenezer can provide to alleviate feelings of isolation and helplessness is available 24/7/365. Professional Ebenezer personnel are aware that people of any age experience extreme thoughts of loneliness. Again, thanks to part of Ebenezer's mission to provide the best possible senior housing and social experiences connected thereto, Ebenezer’s trained professionals can speak with any Ebenezer resident, or even potential resident, about why and how socialization is so necessary to enjoy a well-rounded life. That socialization includes interaction with support groups and uplifting activities.
 
Without social interaction, isolation can indeed create much less of a life than we deserve, again of our own making. If you or others you know need to do so, please explore and avail yourself (or selves) of Ebenezer's genuine caring and proven solutions.

Martin Luther Care Center is part of the Ebenezer family of Senior Care Communities. We provide transitional care, long term care, assisted living apartments, and memory care for seniors in Bloomington, Minnesota. We also have adult day programs for seniors living at home. We’re located at 1401 East 100th St., in Bloomington, MN.
 
Are you or a loved one interested in learning more about assisted living care? Call Amy at 952-948-5167 or more information and to schedule a tour today.

​What happens when you’re recovering from an illness or an injury, become well enough to leave the hospital, but still need care as you continue to recover? What if you live alone or don’t have family member capable of managing your care, transporting you to appointments or helping you through your daily routine? This is where transitional care units (TCUs) can step in to help.
 
Often referred to as short term therapy or rehab, TCUs provide the rehabilitative or nursing care necessary to help individuals transition from hospital to home, or from one care center setting to another. Transitional care unit stays are usually short – often just a few weeks. TCU staff provide care during that essential time of transition, when needs are not high enough to require hospitalization, but too much to successfully manage at home.

​Transitional care units are proven to lower hospital readmission rates through medical evaluation and care optimization. With medical professionals on-site, potential issues are identified before they become acute and delay a patient’s recovery. Perhaps most importantly, TCUs bridge the gap between care providers and settings, providing continuity during the crucial days and weeks following a hospitalization.
 
At Martin Luther Campus, our transitional care units provide a customized program to meet each patient’s unique needs. Our interdisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, therapists, dietitians and more work together to develop a plan that can include physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy, as needed. We offer 24-hour admissions, 7 days a week. Our skilled administrative and social work teams process admissions, answer questions, and assist with services needed as patients transition home.

Martin Luther Care Center is part of the Ebenezer family of Senior Care Communities. We provide transitional care, long term care, assisted living apartments, and memory care for seniors in Bloomington Minnesota. We also have adult day programs for seniors living at home. We’re located at 1401 East 100th St., in Bloomington, MN.
 
Are you or a loved one interested in learning more about care options at Martin Luther Care Center? Call Megan at 952-885-8810 or more information and to schedule a tour today