Poetry’s popularity boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as is often the case in times of crisis. Even before the pandemic, poetry was becoming increasingly popular, according to a survey by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Not sure where to start? You’re in the right place! By the time you’re finished reading this blog, you will have written not one, but two, poems. You can refer back to this article anytime as a guide for practicing this powerful creative outlet. 

Gather Materials and Set the Mood.

Locate a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, and feel free to play some music that relaxes or inspires you! This YouTube channel has some wonderful instrumental playlists.

Relax and let go of self-judgment.

Poetry doesn’t have to be perfect and it certainly doesn’t have to rhyme. In fact, it has no rules at all. Like all art, poetry is subjective. Poems written honestly and with authenticity are always best.

Write a Haiku.

Let’s start with a Haiku. Haiku is fun and easy to write. At its simplest, a Haiku is a poem containing seventeen syllables ordered in three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second contains seven, and the third contains five. 

This is the structure of a Haiku:

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

Call to mind the question, such as, what makes your home beautiful? Hopefully, you have a few ideas. Now think of a sentence or phrase with five syllables. Think of another with seven syllables, and then another with five syllables. Don’t worry about making it perfect, the best poetry comes from the heart.

You can also look at your surroundings for inspiration, or visit a place you love either in person or in your mind. Here’s an example: 

The creek runs softly

It leaps and tumbles downstream

The ancient trees sigh

Take a second and read back what you’ve written. Then if you want, give it a tweak or two. Feel free to write a second or a third Haiku if you’ve got more to write about. 

Write a simple, four-line poem.

Let’s write another poem. This time, we’ll work on a simple, four-line poem. To begin, think of four emotions that you are feeling right now. Whatever is in your heart is valid, be it positive or negative.

You might feel Anger, Empathy, Patience, Calm, Gratitude, Respectfulness, Dignity, Fear, Creativity, Hope, Happiness, Love, Bravery, or Loss. Let your feelings come naturally.

Each of your four lines will be an acknowledgment of one of your four emotions. This is where the fun starts. Your poem can be long or short. It might use a metaphor. It might not! You don’t need to use rhyme, although you can if you’d like. Don’t overthink it!

Here’s an example using the emotions Calm, Gratitude, Joy and Love.

The swallow CALMly watched the world, from oaken
branches high

She tweeted thanks and GRATITUDE for each cloud
that passed by

A JOYful blaze grew in her heart and bloomed to
quite illume the dark

For all of us can start right now to LOVE and
love again.

Don’t worry if your poem doesn’t meet the standard in your head. In fact, if you feel comfortable, do away with that standard entirely! Most of our inner criticisms were put in us a long time ago by people who were insecure. “Good” is a value judgment, but beauty is a statement of fact. It doesn’t matter what you wrote; it is beautiful, whatever it is, because it is you!

Now that you’ve begun writing you might find it hard to stop. Whenever you feel like it, come back to these exercises and write something new. 

We’re all learning more about ourselves each and every day, and making art by putting our thoughts on paper is a great way to sort through our daily noise and find truth in the world within and around us. 

The post Stimulating Activities for Seniors Series: Writing Poetry appeared first on Other CMS.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, “elder fraud” scams were all too commonplace. Over two million Americans, many of them seniors, were victims of fraud in 2018 according to the FBI. Losses were estimated to exceed more the $700 million. Criminals often target seniors because they tend to be more trusting, polite, and financially secure. Seniors are also less likely to report the fraud to authorities because of shame or embarrassment at being victimized. So, what can you do to protect yourself? Here are some tips to help you identify and avoid fraud, regardless of your stage of life.

The first and most important step you can take to avoid being a victim of fraud is to know is what a common scam looks like. Here are a few examples of scams along with some tips to avoid being duped:

1. Phone Scams: Phone scams can take many forms. Some of the most common are the IRS imposter scam, Medicare phone scam, Robocall scam, and Grandparent Scams. Each of these scams looks to exploit common vulnerabilities. It’s important to remember government services will not contact you over the phone unless they have first sent bills via the postal services. They will also never ask for immediate payment or any kind of banking information. Grandparent scams work by imitating the voices of your grandchildren asking you to wire money often to help them in an emergency. They will usually ask you not to contact their parents. Always check and verify the facts before wiring money. Also, make sure to ask the person on the phone a question that only your grandchild could answer.
2. Charity Scams: In the wake of disasters, it’s common for fraudsters to attempt to solicit donations under the guise of real charities or ones they’ve invented. The best way to protect yourself from these scams is to make sure you are donating through official channels or verify the person collecting the money is indeed registered with the organization they’re soliciting for. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance to make sure you are donating to a real charity.
3. Sweepstakes Scams: These scams begin either with an email, letter, or phone call stating you’ve won a huge cash prize. The catch is you need to pay a small fee or provide your banking information to access your winnings. This is one of the most popular scams around with a common variant being the Jamaican scam reporting that you’ve won the Jamaican lottery and only need to pay a few hundred dollars in taxes and fees to collect your winnings. Always remember you can’t win a contest you didn’t enter. Never give out your banking information in response to a contest promotion.
4. Sweetheart Scams: Every year, many Americans fall victim to romance scams. This usually happens when a con artist establishes a relationship with someone via an online dating website, takes the conversation off the site to avoid privacy protections, and then asks for money either to come to see the person or in response to some emergency. Be wary of those who claim to be in love with you but ask for money to come see you. If the person constantly pleads for cash and says you’re the only one they can turn to, it’s usually a sign their intentions are not pure. Investigate the best you can before sharing any personal information with someone you’ve only met online.

These are just some of the scams to look out for. Fraudsters are constantly evolving so it is important to remember several things:

• Never give out banking information over the phone.
• Don’t send personal information to sources you are not sure you can trust.
• Work to verify all claims and information before responding to a solicitation.

It is important to report any scam you come across or fall victim to the authorities. You can report to the FBI’s IC3, the Federal Trade Commission, or local and state authorities. This will help law enforcement spot trends, warn the public, and develop new strategies to stop fraudsters.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Recognizing and Avoiding Scams at any Age appeared first on Other CMS.

This blog offers five things to consider when downsizing your home.

1. Security

Safety should always be a top priority. Unfortunately, seniors can become the target of break-ins and robberies. Look for a home in a safe location. Gated communities are a deterrent for unwanted visitors. Other ways to make your property more secure include deadbolts, alarms, and keeping the outside of your property well lit.

2. Location

Look for proximity to the things that you enjoy – whether family or recreation – as well as conveniences such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and doctors’ offices. Seniors who no longer drive may wish to look for proximity to a bus stop so that they never have to miss a yoga or tai chi class due to lack of transportation.

3. One-Story Living

As we age, our mobility can sometimes decrease. Even those who can easily tackle a flight or two of stairs in their 60s will likely agree that doing so is less enjoyable with a heavy vacuum in tow. Having a first-floor bedroom is not only easier, it’s safer, particularly if you should need to escape your home quickly in the unlikely event of a fire or break-in.

4. Maintenance Free

Some communities – particularly those designated for seniors – offer lawn upkeep and even indoor maintenance services like changing light bulbs or air filters. Even in private dwellings, you can often find paid help to provide services such as these for a relatively low cost. 

5. Neighbors

While some seniors prefer to be surrounded by people their age, others opt for a diverse group of neighbors, allowing them the joy of watching children play and grow. Many senior communities offer the benefit of planned activities and field trips, but some may find the sound of a child’s laugh more enjoyable and entertaining than any trip to the nearest tourist attraction. When downsizing, consider what matters most to you and look for a community that suits your needs.

Less square footage means less space to clean and maintain, allowing seniors to fill their retirement years with hobbies and all the activities they enjoy. By looking for a residence that meets the above criteria, you can be sure that you are choosing a home that will bring you joy for many years to come.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Five Downsizing Considerations for Seniors appeared first on Other CMS.

1. Get outside.

Being in touch with nature works wonders for your mood! Take walks – being careful to maintain at least 6 feet of separation between you and others – and take in a healthy dose of sunshine and fresh air.

• Start a new hobby.

Gardening lets you get outside and in touch with nature – literally! It may be possible to have the supplies you need delivered right to your home, including soil, plants, and seeds. This article contains some suggestions for starting a garden in a small space.

If digging in the dirt isn’t your thing, try a creative venture such as painting, drawing, coloring, or writing poetry.  Listening to music is another great mood-lifter.

• Connect virtually or the “old-fashioned way.”

Catching up with friends and family over a video chat is the next best thing to in-person interaction, and Facetime and Zoom aren’t the only ways to connect virtually. Netflix parties allow you to watch movies with friends from afar. Apps like Words with Friends and Scrabble let you exercise your mind while engaging in a fun activity with someone outside your home or anywhere in the world.

If you prefer a more traditional way of connecting, perhaps set a goal of calling and/or writing at least one person per day. This is a great time to check in and reconnect with friends you haven’t seen in awhile, some of whom may be feeling lonely too.

• Exercise self-care.

Uncertain times like these may cause stress that is unhealthy for your body and mind. Participating in an online support group, practicing yoga or stretching, and keeping a gratitude journal are a few ways you can combat that stress. Emphasizing self-care increases mindfulness and positivity and stave off loneliness and depression.

• Brighten up your space.

Now can be an ideal time to freshen your home with a new splash of paint, but there are plenty of other ways to brighten your space if you’re unable to take on a paint project yourself. Add mirrors to your walls to make them feel brighter and larger. Remove clutter and donate items you no longer need or want.

You can even “redesign” the living spaces in your home by choosing a focal point in each room. A focal point is the first things your eyes rest on when you enter a room. Arrange furniture around the focal point to give the room natural flow or, again, use mirrors to center on the focal point and add dimension to the space.

Humans are wired for connection so times like these are especially difficult for those who live alone. Coronavirus has forced all of us to do a lot of things differently than we did in the past, and the ways we connect with others is one of those things. Adjusting to a “new normal” requires a different way of thinking, but with patience and the courage to try something new, we’ll come out better and stronger on the other side.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Staying Social While Social Distancing: Tips for Seniors appeared first on Other CMS.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

There is work that you can do in the runup to winter, including to seal air leaks in your home using weather strip and insulate where you can to prevent warm air from leaking out of the house. Replace your screens with storm windows to provide an extra barrier to the cold outside air. Thick window coverings such as curtains can also be very helpful. Use a programmable thermostat that can automatically adjust the temperature of your home when you are asleep or away. To maximize savings, program the thermostat to lower the heat by 8 degrees Fahrenheit or more when away and asleep.

Dirt and neglect are the number one causes of heating system failure, so be sure to schedule a fall checkup of your heating equipment with a licensed contractor to make sure your system is operating at peak performance. Also, check your system’s air filter every month and when it is dirty, change it. At a minimum change it every three months. Also, investing in “Energy Star” products, including major appliances, lighting, and home electronics, can help save you money long-term. The “Energy Star” program is run by the U.S. EPA to, among other things, identify and promote energy-efficient products.

Help with Paying the Bills

If you need help paying your bills, there are lots of options to consider, including the following: 

• For retirees and their caregivers, many states, counties, and cities provide programs that assist seniors with winter heating costs. Your local Area Agency on Aging is a good source of information about available community programs and eligibility requirements. To identify the Area Agency on Aging serving your community, contact the Eldercare Locator at 800.677.1116 or www.eldercare.gov.

• A federally funded program titled “Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program” (LIHEAP) helps eligible households and renters meet home heating needs. The name of this program and eligibility requirements may vary across states. In California, for example, to qualify for the program you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below 60 percent of the State Median Income. And a person who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or certain needs-tested Veterans, benefits may be automatically eligible. Find more information on this program here.

• The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces the heating and cooling costs for low-income families by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy-efficient, and ensuring their health and safety. WAP assistance is free and preference is given to people over age 60 and households with children or people with disabilities. To qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of California who needs financial assistance for home energy costs. You must also have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below 60 percent of the State Median Income. You must apply to determine eligibility, and you can learn more about this program here. 

• California’s Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) offers discount programs to help eligible customers pay their electric bills. These include the California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE, a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity) and the Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA, amonthly discount of 18% on electricity only). Participants qualify through income guidelines or if enrolled in certain public assistance programs; to qualify for FERA, the family must be a household of three or more. To learn more or find out if you’re eligible, click here.

• Be aware that many utility companies provide help to spread out energy costs throughout the year. Special heating assistance funds are offered by some utilities, and many have “no cut off” guidelines to avoid termination of service for older adults, people with disabilities and ill customers who may have difficulty paying their bills. Utility companies can also be a great source of energy conservation information. They might be able to refer you to an expert to inspect your home for ways to make it more energy-efficient or provide a list of contractors to tune up your furnace so that it operates at peak efficiency. 

Have a Back-Up Plan 

You must consider alternative arrangements before you need them; this is especially true for older residents or those with disabilities. Should extreme weather conditions – such as extreme cold or forest fires – require emergency action, you will be prepared with a plan. Try to identify temporary living arrangements in case you are unable to stay in your own home and have a plan for getting there, and plan for your medical needs in case of an evacuation (have extra medications on hand, etc.)

How We Help

At Harmony Communities, we receive questions from residents about a wide variety of issues, including weatherization. Your local manager will have names of contractors who can help with weatherization details, among other things. Get in touch if you need us, we are here for you!

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Staying Warm in Winter While on a Budget appeared first on Other CMS.