At Grand Oaks, we’re constantly looking for new and exciting ways to bring education and development to our residents. Our goal is for residents to enjoy life while receiving physical, mental, and spiritual enrichment.

Recently, we’ve added some new activities to our Senior Living (SL) and Oasis programs. These activities provide opportunities for residents to socialize, stay current and connected to family and friends, and engage with others who share similar interests, all while remaining independent, engaged, and comfortable in their own homes. Here’s a taste of what’s new at Grand Oaks:

Armchair Travel (Oasis & SL)

Armchair travel ignites the adventurous side of all residents. From virtual museum tours to live-streamed wildlife encounters and so much more, residents can travel the world without leaving their homes.

Tech Classes (SL)

We live in a digital world, so it’s important for seniors to have a basic understanding of modern technology. We offer education about social media, email, printers, computers, tablets, smartphones, and apps.

Social Event Meetups (SL)

Socialization has countless benefits for seniors’ mental health. In fact, according to the American Public Health Association, socialization improves mood, cognition, memory recall, and more. Here are a few examples of social events residents will see on their activity calendars:

• Foodie Club: Residents join fellow foodies for luncheons of pizza, sushi, and more.
• Trivia and Jeopardy Mania: Residents exercise their brains by answering fun educational questions on teams. 
• Book Clubs: Residents read the chosen book of the month and then get together to discuss prompts.
• Discussion Groups: Residents gather to discuss important topics related to health, society, and more.

Therapeutic Cooking (Oasis)

For seniors with dementia, cooking is a great activity that stimulates the senses and can trigger fond memories of traditions, family time, and more. In this activity, Oasis residents enjoy ‘tabletop cooking’ by measuring and mixing ingredients, preparing dishes like fruit salad, and baking cookies, bread, or cake in the toaster oven or microwave.

Guided Imagery (Oasis & SL)

In this activity, visualization and calming music help create a soothing environment that engages the senses in creative ways by encouraging residents to use their imaginations.

Monthly Lunch Outings (Oasis & SL)

Residents get to explore the city and the amazing food scene in the heart of D.C. A small group of residents enjoy the company of others and a delicious meal at a popular local restaurant.

Monthly lunch outings will resume in late spring or early fall.

Giving Back (Oasis & SL)

Residents get to support the community through acts of kindness like making hats for newborns in the hospital and delivering homemade baked goods to first responders.

Weekly Spiritual Practices (Oasis & SL)

Residents gather to explore and celebrate their faiths. Worship sessions are led by local spiritual leaders in-house or via live stream.

Music & Memory Program (Oasis)

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues common in the disease’s middle stages. Even in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, a person may be able to tap a beat or sing lyrics to a song from childhood. This program creates personalized playlists for Oasis residents and reconnects them with the music they love most.

Mental Aerobics (Oasis & SL)

These brain games help keep our residents sharp while having fun! Verbal equations, fill-in-the-blank phrases, and quizzes are designed to be solved in a group setting to encourage socialization, teamwork, and improved cognition.

Outdoor Celebrations (Oasis & SL) 

We invite families to join residents for some fresh air and fun quality time on Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4th, etc., and occasional family barbeques.

Outdoor celebrations resume in late spring and continue through summer.

Heart health is important during every stage of life. But after retirement, it’s vital. The risk of cardiovascular diseases increases as you age. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, over 70% of men and women aged 60-79 have cardiovascular disease. After 80 years old, that number jumps to 83% of men and 87% of women. While these numbers are concerning, you can reduce your risk of heart disease with healthy lifestyle choices, exercise, and a few simple diet changes.

Control Your Portions

Pay attention to not only what you’re eating but how much. Having a small dessert or a snack like potato chips is okay in moderation, but don’t overdo it. Being mindful of portion size helps you maintain a healthy weight, reducing your risk for heart disease. Note: prepackaged foods often contain more than one portion serving, so be mindful of nutritional labels!

Choose Lean Proteins

Did you know that eating a diet high in red or processed meats (bacon, lunch meat, etc.) is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease? Instead, opt for healthier proteins like eggs, beans, seafood, skinless chicken, and turkey. Fish like salmon, herring, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health.

Avoid Processed Foods

The fresher, the better. Processed foods are often high in calories, trans fats, sugars, and sodium and low in nutrients. Eating too many processed foods can lead to weight gain, and, in turn, increase blood pressure, cholesterol, and your risk for heart disease.

Go Easy on the Salt

As you age, your taste buds start to diminish. Because of this, you may not find foods as flavorful as they used to be. So, many seniors add extra salt to their foods. But high-sodium foods can actually cause heart palpitations and raise your blood pressure.

The Food and Nutrition Board recommends that those over 70 consume no more than 1,200 milligrams of sodium per day.

Choose Healthy Fats

Believe it or not, fats are an important part of a healthy diet. The types of fats you consume, however, are what you need to be careful of. Choose foods with unsaturated fats, limit foods with saturated fat, and avoid foods with trans fat.

Choose: Olive oil, canola oil, vegetable and nut oils, trans-fat-free margarine, nuts, seeds, and avocado.

Limit/avoid: Butter, lard, bacon fat, cream, hydrogenated margarine and shortening, and coconut and palm oils.

Fill Up on Heart-Healthy Foods

Whole foods are high in vital vitamins and nutrients seniors need, including fiber, which studies show lowers heart disease risk. Add more of these whole foods, proteins, vegetables, fruits, and legumes to your diet:

• Kidney and black beans
• Berries, pears, peaches, apples, and oranges
• Broccoli, carrots, brussels sprouts, spinach, and red bell peppers
• Oats and brown rice
• Almond milk
• Walnuts, cashews, and almonds

Always consult your doctor before implementing a new diet.

Having a well-rounded and nutritious diet is one of the key parts of aging well. But grocery shopping or dining out alone becomes harder as you age, as 1 in 5 Americans older than 65 do not drive. If you live in a suburban or rural area, public transportation may be hard to come by.

Fortunately, many resources that make it easier to get food delivered to your door have burst on the scene in recent years, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. When you’re not eating freshly prepared restaurant-style meals from our executive chef, try out some of these food delivery services for seniors.

Grocery Delivery

Grocery delivery is an easy way to get your favorite familiar foods with ease. Most grocery stores offer online ordering, so you can shop from the comfort of your home. For those with limited mobility, this service can be extremely helpful. Some popular grocery delivery services are:

• Walmart+ InHome: There are more than 3,000 Walmart stores that participate in the InHome grocery delivery service. You can get unlimited same-day deliveries for $19.95/month with no additional delivery fees or tips required. Get your groceries placed at your door, put in your garage, and even put away in your kitchen.
• Instacart: Instacart works with over 40,000 stores, from small grocers to large chains. Their order minimum is only $10, so you don’t have to buy a month’s worth of groceries at a time to justify the cost. The delivery fee starts at $4/order for non-members, but they also offer a membership for $10/month which gives you free delivery on all orders over $35.
• Shipt: This grocery delivery service is available in more than 5,000 cities and lets you shop at hundreds of stores, with delivery to your door in as little as one hour. There’s no order minimum required, and Shipt members pay $4/month for their first year with unlimited delivery on orders over $35. A zero-commitment, one-time delivery will cost you $10.
• Amazon Fresh: If you’re an Amazon Prime member, Amazon Fresh is a great service to take advantage of. You get access to tons of fresh foods, produce, and more. The delivery fee is $10 for orders under $35 and free for orders over $35. An Amazon Prime membership is $14.99/month.

Meal Delivery

Many seniors find it difficult to prepare healthy, nutrient-dense meals themselves. Some may choose unhealthy frozen or microwavable meals for the sake of convenience. But too many processed foods can cause weight gain, high cholesterol, and other health issues for seniors. Instead, try some of these meal delivery services:

• Magic Kitchen: Magic Kitchen offers a wide variety of meals that cater to seniors, including diabetes-friendly, low-sodium, gluten-free, and dialysis-friendly options. You can mix and match mains, sides, soups, and desserts, or choose a complete meal, which are all ready to eat once heated. You can choose as many or as few meals as you want—meals start at $10/serving.
• RealEats: Get farm-fresh, delicious, chef-crafted meals that are always ready in six minutes or less with RealEats. You can choose anywhere from four to 12 meals per week, with the option to skip, pause, or cancel at any time. Categories like calorie-smart, high-protein, soy-free, and dairy-free are available. Plus, meals are customizable, allowing you to swap proteins and sides. Meals start at around $13/serving.
• Mom’s Meals: These meals are designed to meet special nutritional requirements and are prepared by dietitians using high-quality ingredients. Senior-friendly options include heart-healthy, low-sodium, diabetes-friendly, cancer support, renal-friendly, gluten-free, and pureed meals. You can choose 10, 14, or 21 meals per week, with meals starting at $7.99/serving.

As always, consult your doctor before starting a new diet.

The team at Grand Oaks dedicates their time daily to improving seniors’ lives and meeting their evolving needs. Jessie Charles, RN, BSN, the newest addition to our team, shares this commitment.

Jessie recently joined the Grand Oaks team as our Director of Nursing. Early in her career, Jessie worked as an Emergency Room Nurse for many years before becoming a Nurse Manager in the long-term care/skilled rehabilitation setting. Jessie also has expertise in marketing as a Clinical Nurse Liaison for a skilled rehab center.

Over the past five years, Jessie developed her leadership skills as a Delegating Nurse and Director of Nursing for another assisted living community. At Grand Oaks, she strives to continue her work to be a loyal, dedicated senior advocate and promote the well-being of the senior community.

Learn more about Jessie and her role at Grand Oaks in our Q&A below.

Grand Oaks: Why did you choose to become a nurse?

Jessie Charles: I became a nurse because I wanted to help people. I was deciding between pursuing a career as a teacher or a nurse, but I come from a long line of nurses. My mother, sister, and two aunts are all nurses. It’s in my blood.

Grand Oaks: How would you describe your role and the care you provide residents? 

Jessie Charles: I am a resident advocate, I provide care and follow up with residents regarding their day-to-day activities, daily living, and well-being.

Grand Oaks: You recently began working at Grand Oaks. How was your experience joining the Grand Oaks community?

Jessie Charles: I have enjoyed my experience working with Grand Oaks and am looking forward to learning a lot more about my residents, the staff, and the processes related to my job. 

Grand Oaks: How long have you worked in senior care?

Jessie Charles: I have worked in senior care for about 11 years of my nursing career. 

Grand Oaks: Why do you enjoy working at Grand Oaks? What made you choose Grand Oaks? 

Jessie Charles: I enjoy working at Grand Oaks because I can learn more about each resident daily. The management team, staff nurses, and supervisors are very welcoming. I chose Grand Oaks because assisted living is different from acute care and the rehab setting; you can get to know your residents and staff more easily.       

Grand Oaks: In your opinion, what differentiates Grand Oaks from other senior living facilities?

Jessie Charles: Grand Oaks is a larger facility, and the care the team provides is specialized for each resident.

Grand Oaks: What is your advice for families considering senior living for their loved ones? 

Jessie Charles: I recommend it because a senior living setting takes the responsibility away from the family to assist the resident in every aspect of their daily living, appointments, follow-ups, new medications, and other things residents need as they age in place in comfort.

Grand Oaks: Share a favorite moment or memory at Grand Oaks. 

Jessie Charles: I am fairly new to Grand Oaks. But I enjoyed the Town Hall meeting and the holiday party, where my colleague Jermaine wore an inflatable Santa suit. It made the residents very happy, and I was glad to be a part of that.