By Rick Banas of assisted living and senior living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
Brian N Minton of BMA and I spoke yesterday on The Wonderful World of Blogs, Videos and E-Newsletters in the Successful Marketing of assisted living and senior living communities at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Life Services Network (LSN).
LSN is the largest eldercare association in Illinois and the Illinois state affiliate of Leading Age and the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).
As part of our presentation, we highlighted Ten Tips for Better Blogging based on our experience and what we have learned from others.
This was a headline for a Blog about an educational program that was conducted at the Bridle Brook of Mahomet assisted living and memory care community in Champaign County. Professional Arthur Kramer from the University of Illinois spoke on his research into the benefits of physical activity for older adults. He noted that if we have a pill that provided all of the benefits that exercise provides in enhancing the health of our brain, we take it in a minute and pay good money for it.
This Blog focused on an emotional presentation by Julie Papievis at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community in Batavia, Illinois. Julie was critically injured in a car accident as she was pulling out of a shopping center parking lot in the western suburbs of Chicago. Doctors pegged her chances of survival at 4%; if she did somehow manage to survive, it would be in a vegetative state. Just six years later, Julie ran a 5K and has since competed in an indoor triathlon.
2) Focus on “What’s In It for the Reader”
The approach to branding in the Social Media is different than branding in print, radio and television.
As Time Sanders, CEO of Net Minds, noted in a Chase Business Insight webinar in January, “you build your brand by providing information and solving problems, not by talking about your brand.”
3) Write from Your Point of View
Writing a Blog is much like writing a column for a newspaper. Write it from your point of few. For instance, in a Blog titled “Calling Assisted Living an “Acute Care Setting” Is Just Plain Wrong” I provided my opinion about a story that was posted in the Washington Times.
4) Use a Conversational Style
For instance, I started a Blog that we posted last week on “Can Assisted Living Prevent Premature Death with “with my years of experience in assisted and senior living, an article recently posted on the Medical News Today website really has me thinking.”
In a Blog on Assisted Living Residents Join the Harlem Shake Craze provides an example of how you can use video. <blog>
7) Post Regularly
We post once a week, occasionally more often if we have the time and a topic of value.
8) Link to Others
If your Blog highlights an educational program conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association, include a link to the Alzheimer’s Association’s website in your Blog.
By Rick Banas of assisted and senior living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
With my years of experience in assisted and senior living, an article recently posted on the Medical News Today website really has me thinking.
The article <link> is about research that ties social isolation to shorter lifespans in older adults.
One of the surprising results, the article notes, is that even people who are happy being alone are more likely to die prematurely if they don’t have enough social interactions with other humans.
One of the biggest benefits of living in an assisted living community is all of the opportunities that are available for residents to socialize with others.
Instead of eating alone in front of a television, older adults in assisted living communities are dining with other residents.
They can gather with other residents in a lounge area to watch a movie, a ball game or their favorite television shows.
They can join others for exercise programs. Our Heritage Woods of DeKalb community, for instance, offers Tai Chi on Thursdays; Heritage Woods of Centralia has Yoga on Wednesdays; John Evans Supportive Living in Pekin hosts a “Move Those Joints” program three times a week. Residents of Bridle Brook in Champaign County can stay active with a Walking Club in the indoor comfort of their assisted living and memory care community.
They can participate with other residents in the activities and special events offered by the community.
Wii Bowling has become a very popular activity, with the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) hosting an annual statewide Wii Bowling Tournament. This year, nearly 80 teams of residents from affordable assisted living communities in Illinois entered the competition, which will culminate with the top teams bowling against each other in a Final Four on May 14 and 15 in Decatur, Illinois.
This year, the AALC also is hosting a statewide Spelling Bee. More than 100 teams of residents entered the competition, with 12 teams qualifying to compete in the Spelling Finals in Decatur on May 14 and 15. The most frequently used words in the Scripps National Spelling Bee will be used.
Other recent and upcoming programs at the communities BMA manages include:
Laughter Yoga
Mother’s Day Celebrations and Memorial Day Tributes
Fashion Shows with residents and staff modeling the clothing
BBQs, Ice Cream Socials and Happy Hours
Senior Proms
Hawaiian Luaus
Musical entertainment and health education programs
Residents can participate no matter what the weather.
With this in mind, isn’t it possible that assisted living can help prevent premature death among seniors?
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of senior living and assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
The residents and staff of Heritage Woods of Sterling, a BMA affordable assisted living community, came together to create their own edition of the YouTube video dance craze that is, the Harlem Shake.
Located in City of Sterling in north central Illinois, Heritage Woods serves adults 65 and older of all incomes, including those on Medicaid, who need some help to maintain their independence.
The community recently was named one of the Top 20 assisted living communities in Illinois by Assisted Living Today.
Nearly 40 residents and staff members joined in making the video; we invite your to enjoy their version of the Harlem Shake:
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
One of the ads that really caught my attention during the Super Bowl on Sunday was the Viva Mas as for Taco Bell.
What caught my attention was that Taco Bell was not targeting teenagers, 20 somethings or Boomers. They were targeting Older Adults… during the Super Bowl.
I admit. I work in Marketing. I have worked in senior living for the past 35 years. I work with the largest provider of assisted living in Illinois. Most anything to do with seniors tends to attract my attention.
What I noticed after the Super Bowl was all the buzz in the Social Media about the ad.
Some people thought the ad depicted ageism, furthered stereotypes about seniors, and “just made fun of old geezers.”
Others commented that the ad was the “one bright spot in my night” and the “commercial does not make me dread assisted living.”
In this Clevver News video, Deidre Behar contends that, “there’s so much to love about this commercial.” It shows aging is just a number and that going out for fun is something everyone can do regardless of their age.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Shortly after the ball dropped in Times Square to mark the start of 2013, the U.S. Senate passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) by an overwhelming 89 to 8 vote. The compromise legislation, which was adopted at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 1, was designed to avert the fiscal cliff.
ATRA is generally classified as tax legislation, but has built into it numerous provisions affecting public benefits, elder care, Elder Law and our seniors and boomers in general.
What does this mean for seniors and boomers? Consider the following:
1. Tax rate changes – The bill permanently extended current tax rates for individuals earning less than $400,000 and couples earning less than $450,000. Wealthy taxpayers (those making more than $400,000) will revert back to a 39.6% (up from 35%) tax rate. Taxpayers in this wealthy category will also see an increase in their capital gains tax rate and dividend tax rate from 15% to 20%. Also, married couples that earn more than $300,000 and individuals that earn more than $250,000 will face a phaseout of the personal tax exemption.
2. Estate Tax Changes – The estate tax is alive and well. The federal estate tax exemption for 2013 will be $5.25 million per person and be indexed for inflation in future years. Effective January 1, 2013, the top federal estate tax rate will increase from 35% to 40%. Portability of the unused exemption will remain in place for spouses. And the gift tax exemption will remain at $5 million. The Illinois estate tax exemption will increase to $4 million per person for 2013.
3. Payroll tax – Since 2011, the payroll tax rate, which funds Social Security, was kept at 4.2%. Starting January 1, 2013, the payroll tax rate will now revert back to 6.2% for those earning wages.
4. Good news for doctors (and all of us) – For another year, doctors will not suffer the previously scheduled 27% reimbursement cuts to Medicare patients’ fees.
5. Older Americans Act funding – There is additional increased funding for important aging programs. For fiscal year 2013, Area Agencies on Aging will receive an additional $7.5 million in additional funds. The Aging and Disability Resource Centers received an additional $5 million. The National Center for Benefits and Outreach Enrollment will also see an increase of $5 million in funding. Also, Medicare State Health Insurance Programs (SHIP) will receive an additional $7.5 million in additional funding for 2013.
6. Sequestration – The scheduled automatic spending cuts are delayed by a few months. Half of the cuts would come from defense spending and the other half would come from non-defense spending.
7. Class Act is repealed – This was to be an attempt at a national long-term care insurance program. It was scrapped in exchange for the establishment of the Commission on Long-Term Care.
8. Commission on Long-Term Care – This commission will develop a plan for the establishment, implementation and financing of a comprehensive system that ensures availability of long-term care services and support. The commission will look into the coordination of Medicare, Medicaid and private long-term care insurance. The commission will have 15 members, including the President. The various members will represent the interests of consumers, older adults, family caregivers, healthcare workers, private long-term care insurance, state insurance departments, and state Medicaid agencies.
Let’s hope they come up with an affordable long-term care model for our boomers and seniors. The (NAELA)Illinois Supportive Living program provides a wonderful example.
Remember, the most painful financial crisis affecting seniors and boomers today is the devastating cost of long-term care ($6,000 to $10,000 per month, per person in the Chicagoland area!).
9. Other items – The bill extended Medicare programs for older Americans including the payment for outpatient therapy services and specialized Medicare advantage plans for special needs individuals. The bill also extended the Qualifying Individual program (QI program).
10. Note – This is complicated stuff. But don’t let it stop you. Keep reading in the months ahead to understand more about the changes and how they might impact you. Also note that this bill still doesn’t solve the problems regarding sequester and the debt limit debate. That heavy lifting is still coming. Things will certainly heat up between now and May in trying to resolve those issues.
Takeaways – Stay tuned in. Start your “senior” estate planning now.
Anthony Ferraro is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA)
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Guest Blog by 
1. Tax rate changes – The bill permanently extended current tax rates for individuals earning less than $400,000 and couples earning less than $450,000. Wealthy taxpayers (those making more than $400,000) will revert back to a 39.6% (up from 35%) tax rate. Taxpayers in this wealthy category will also see an increase in their capital gains tax rate and dividend tax rate from 15% to 20%. Also, married couples that earn more than $300,000 and individuals that earn more than $250,000 will face a phaseout of the personal tax exemption.
