Eric Mutema

About Eric Mutema

Posts by Eric Mutema:

Sustainable Living in Retirement Communities

Sustainable living has become a cornerstone in many retirement communities worldwide, reflecting a growing commitment to environmental responsibility alongside resident well-being. Retirement communities like Hoosier Village are integrating energy-efficient technologies such as advanced HVAC systems and LED lighting to minimize environmental impact and reduce utility costs. By investing in these advancements, Hoosier Village not only lowers their carbon footprints but also creates long-term financial savings for residents. Additionally, initiatives like water conservation efforts and sustainable landscaping practices further contribute to these communities’ environmental stewardship goals. 

Beyond physical upgrades, sustainable living in retirement communities encompasses fostering a culture of eco-consciousness among residents. Community-wide programs such as recycling initiatives and composting projects encourage sustainable habits and reduce waste. Moreover, educational workshops on topics like sustainable gardening and energy conservation empower residents with knowledge and practical skills to make environmentally friendly choices in their daily lives. These initiatives not only promote a healthier planet but also cultivate a sense of community and shared responsibility among retirees. 

In essence, sustainable living in retirement communities is more than just a trend; it’s a vital component of creating thriving and resilient communities for older adults. By embracing sustainability, Hoosier Village enhances both environmental sustainability and resident satisfaction, offering a fulfilling retirement experience centered around responsible living and community engagement.

Call 317-873-3349 to schedule a tour today! 

Exploring Senior-Friendly Travel Tips: Navigating the World

Traveling as a senior can be a rewarding experience filled with new adventures and cherished memories. Whether you’re embarking on a solo journey or planning a trip with loved ones, it’s essential to make the most of your travels while considering your specific needs and comfort. Here are some invaluable tips from Hoosier Village to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience, using “Campus” as our guide for Senior-Friendly Travel: 

C – Careful Planning and Preparation  

Before setting off on your journey, take the time to plan meticulously. Research your destination thoroughly, considering factors such as accessibility, climate, and local healthcare services. It’s wise to consult with your doctor to ensure you have any necessary medications and health precautions in place. Booking accommodations that cater to seniors, such as hotels with accessible rooms or vacation rentals with ground-floor options, can greatly enhance your comfort during your stay. 

A – Adjusting Your Pace 

One of the joys of travel is immersing yourself in new cultures and landscapes. However, it’s essential to pace yourself and allow for plenty of rest breaks. Plan activities with flexibility in mind, leaving room for spontaneous discoveries and relaxation. Consider opting for guided tours or excursions that offer comfortable transportation and informative guides who can cater to your pace and interests. 

M – Mobility and Accessibility  

Mobility can be a concern for seniors, but with careful planning, it doesn’t have to be a barrier to exploration. Choose destinations and activities that accommodate your mobility needs, whether it’s selecting attractions with accessible paths or renting mobility aids like wheelchairs or scooters if necessary. Many cities and tourist sites now offer senior discounts and accessibility options, so don’t hesitate to inquire about these services when planning arrangements.  

P – Packing Essentials 

Packing smartly can make a significant difference in your travel experience. We recommend packing light while ensuring you have essentials such as comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, any necessary medications, and copies of important documents (like passports and travel insurance). Consider bringing along a small first aid kit and snacks for energy boosts throughout the day. 

U – Understanding Local Customs and Safety 

Every destination has its unique customs and safety considerations. Take the time to familiarize yourself with local customs, etiquette, and potential safety hazards before you arrive. Hoosier Village advises seniors to stay informed about current travel advisories and to register with their embassy or consulate when traveling abroad for added peace of mind. 

S – Sharing Moments and Memories  

Lastly, traveling as a senior is an opportunity to create lasting memories with loved ones or new friends you meet along the way. Embrace the chance to share stories, experiences, and laughter with fellow travelers and locals. Capture these moments with photos or journal entries to treasure the journey long after you’ve returned home. 

By following these travel tips, seniors can embark on memorable journeys filled with discovery, relaxation, and enrichment. Remember, travel is not just about the destination—it’s about the experiences and connections you make along the way. Happy travels! 

Call 317-873-3349 to schedule a tour today! 

Embracing Pet-Friendly Retirement Living: Where Every Tail Wags with Joy

Retirement should be a time of joy and relaxation, where we can surround ourselves with the things we love the most. For many seniors, that means sharing days with their beloved pets. Pet-friendly retirement communities like Hoosier Village understand this bond deeply, creating spaces where both retirees and their furry friends can thrive together. Hoosier Village offers extensive walking trails and a spacious leash-free dog park where residents can enjoy outdoor activities with their pets. Whether it’s a cozy apartment complex with nearby dog parks or a full-service retirement village with on-site grooming and veterinary care, Hoosier Village ensures that pets aren’t just tolerated—they’re embraced as essential family members.

Living in a pet-friendly community like Hoosier Village isn’t just about convenience; it’s about community and connection. Pets naturally bring people together, sparking conversations and forming friendships among neighbors who share a passion for animals. From group walks to pet-themed social events, there are countless opportunities for both pets and owners to socialize and enjoy each other’s company.  

Beyond the companionship, there are tangible health benefits to living in a pet-friendly environment. Studies have shown that interacting with animals can lower stress levels, reduce blood pressure, and even boost overall mood. At Hoosier Village we welcome pets, residents often report feeling happier and more fulfilled in their daily lives. It’s more than just having a pet; it’s about creating a nurturing environment where both human and animal can flourish together, enjoying every moment of our golden years in the company of those we love most. 

Call 317-873-3349 to schedule a tour today! 

Pain-Free Living in Winter for Seniors: Tips to Stay Active and Comfortable

Winter can be especially challenging for older adults. As we age, our joints and muscles lose flexibility, making it harder to tolerate the cold. Arthritis symptoms often worsen, and shorter days may lead to reduced physical activity. While it might feel tempting to rest more, inactivity can make joint stiffness and discomfort worse. Staying active is essential to maintaining mobility and reducing pain during the colder months.

Tips for Staying Active & Pain-Free in Winter

  1. Stay Active Indoors: Engage in gentle exercises like stretching, yoga, or chair workouts to keep your muscles strong and your joints flexible, even when outdoor activities aren’t an option.
  2. Dress in Layers: Cold temperatures can make joints stiff. Layer up with warm clothing and consider using heating pads or taking warm baths to soothe discomfort.
  3. Take Short Walks: Even brief walks around your home can boost circulation, enhance energy, and maintain mobility.
  4. Wear Proper Footwear: Invest in supportive shoes with non-slip soles to reduce the risk of slips and falls, especially on icy surfaces.

How Therapy Can Help

If chronic pain is affecting your quality of life, consult your doctor about physical and occupational therapy. Therapists can design a personalized plan to relieve pain, enhance movement, and simplify daily tasks, helping you stay active and make the most of the winter months.

Financial Planning for Senior Living: Understanding Costs and Care Options

Moving into a senior living community is a major life decision that requires careful consideration, especially when it comes to financial planning. Understanding the types of senior living communities, assessing the costs, and budgeting for the future are all essential to making an informed decision.

Senior living communities come with a range of services, amenities and costs. Identifying the type of community that best suits your needs is the first step in planning your finances for senior living.

Independent or Active Adult Communities: 

These communities provide a residential environment with many amenities and activities but tend to offer minimal medical care. Their costs are generally lower than other communities since they do not include healthcare services.

Assisted Living:

Assisted living facilities offer more extensive health care services, including assistance with daily activities, bathing or dressing. The cost may be higher than other communities due to the level of care provided. If residents require more care than the assisted living community can offer, they may need to hire additional assistance or relocate to a skilled nursing facility, which can further increase expenses.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): 

CCRCs provide a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care, all within the same community. These communities may be more expensive than others, but offer considerably more health care services, amenities and life enrichment opportunities.

Many seniors are surprised to find that when they add up all of their current expenses, they are already spending as much, if not more, than what the monthly fee at a senior living community would be. Credit: Courtesy of Hoosier Village

Assess the costs

If you added up the cost of all your monthly expenses, what would the total be?

Many seniors are surprised to find that when they add up all of their current expenses, they are already spending as much, if not more, than what the monthly fee at a senior living community would be. Living at home requires you to pay separate bills for most expenses, such as your mortgage, utilities, home maintenance and other services. You also have to budget for groceries, health care, entertainment and travel expenses.

Imagine how much easier managing your finances would be if your expenses were bundled into a single monthly payment. That is exactly the kind of structure senior living communities can provide.

At communities like Hoosier Village, your monthly fee covers all essentials, including rent, utilities, maintenance, housekeeping and more. But the value goes beyond just the basics—this fee also includes a wide range of life-enriching activities, from educational workshops and happy hours to musical performances and excursions. Plus, residents enjoy access to many on-site amenities like the fitness center, swimming pool, golf, walking trail, and more. With a variety of apartments and villas available, there’s a home to suit every preference. 

Prior to becoming a resident of Hoosier Village, you will have the opportunity to select a residency agreement with the financial plan that best suits your situation and preferences. 

Choosing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) can be an excellent option for those looking to budget and plan for the future. Credit: Courtesy of Hoosier Village

Budget for the future

Planning a budget for the future is essential when considering senior living, as it provides financial stability and peace of mind throughout your retirement years.

Start by evaluating your current income sources, including Social Security, pensions, investments and savings. Compare this income list to the costs associated with senior living while also factoring in potential future expenses. As you age, your health care needs and the level of assistance required may increase, making it essential to plan for these possibilities.

Choosing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) can be an excellent option for those looking to budget and plan for the future. With all levels of care available on a single campus, you can have peace of mind knowing your needs will be met, no matter how they evolve over time. CCRCs typically have a one-time entrance fee accompanied and a monthly fee to ensure all of your needs are met. As a non-profit CCRC, Hoosier Village is able to provide an added layer of assurance to residents with the Future Care Plan. This benevolent care program provides financial support to residents should their monetary resources become depleted due to no fault of their own, ensuring all of their needs continue to be met.

A well-developed financial plan allows seniors to enjoy retirement without the constant worry of financial uncertainty. This includes having the resources to pursue hobbies, travel and other activities that enhance your quality of life. Working with a financial planner can help you create a realistic budget that accounts for both your current situation and future needs.

For more information on financial planning resources or to learn more about Hoosier Village’s independent and assisted living apartments, please contact us at 317-899-9508.

The Most Common Mistakes in Estate Planning and How to Fix

Guest post by Bill Sherman of Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker of RKPT

While creating your Estate Plan is important, creating one that avoids common pitfalls and mistakes is essential! You don’t want to go through all the time it takes to create a plan to protect your loved ones, just to have it riddled with errors that end up causing them stress and headaches in the end. Whether you’re creating your first plan ever, or you’re updating an existing one, get familiar with what can trip you up, so you can have a plan that accomplishes exactly what you envision while you safeguard your legacy. Below are the most common estate planning mistakes along with solutions on how to avoid the mistakes.

1. Failing to Plan

The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to your Estate Plan is simply not making the time to do it. Failing to prioritize your Estate Plan, or not ensuring it’s complete, means you’re risking the financial future of your estate, your legacy, and most importantly, your loved ones. If you haven’t yet started your Estate Plan (or if it’s been more than five years since you’ve updated it), take the time to sit down and either get started or review your plan.

2. Not Discussing with Family and Friends

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but if possible, it’s usually a good idea to have a brief conversation with your friends and family. Setting expectations now, where there is an opportunity for discussion if needed, could lessen the likelihood that there is any contention or disagreement after your passing. Set aside time in advance to discuss your Estate Plan with your spouse or anyone you’ve named Executor or Trustee and think about notifying specific people you name in your Will or Trust.

3. Naming Just One Beneficiary

You should always have more than one beneficiary designated for any of your assets. If a beneficiary passes way before you do, you’ll want to have what’s known as a contingent beneficiary. This is who would be next in line to your estate or any given asset. So, for each asset, account, or policy, be sure to list a primary and one or more contingent beneficiaries.

4. Forgetting about Power of Attorney or Healthcare Representatives

Naming a Power of Attorney (either medical or financial) and/or a Healthcare Proxy is important, as these are the people who would step in to make decisions should you become incapacitated. Make sure you have standalone documents that appoint a trusted person or people to make important financial and medical decisions for you.

5. Forgetting about Charities that are Important to You

Particularly if you have a large estate, but even if you don’t have incredible wealth, you can still allocate some of your assets to benefit a charity that’s important to you. Including the gift you want to bestow in your Estate Plan is one way to make sure your wishes are honored, or you can name a charity as a beneficiary of an asset like the proceeds from an investment or life insurance policy.

6. Getting Too Specific

We normally advise you to be specific when writing your Estate Plan. However, there is one caveat to that. You may own assets at one point in life that you might not necessarily have in the future. Are you putting stocks in your plan? Real estate? Season tickets to your favorite sports team? Review (and update if needed) your Estate Plan every three to five years, or anytime you have a major life event. If you sell a house that was in an original Estate Plan document, be sure to revise it as soon as possible.

7. Forgetting about Taxes

Estate tax liability can put a huge dent in what you plan on leaving your beneficiaries. In addition to your estate owing taxes before beneficiaries are paid out, you also want to think about how your gifts will impact individual heirs, too. Most often, estate tax liability isn’t going to be a huge problem. Unless you have a very large estate (roughly $13.6m per person or $26.2m per couple), your estate will not be taxed at the federal level. Keep in mind though, in not too many years, unless an extension is put into place, the law will revert back to half of the current exemption amount.

Unfortunately, Estate Planning is not a set-it-and-forget-it deal. You need to keep it current and ensure it reflects all of your life changes as they come. In addition to updating your Estate Plans after any major life event, it’s worth mentioning again how important it is to do a general review every three to five years (even if no major life events have occurred).

RKPT has been committed to providing excellent legal representation to individual and business clients for over half a century. Learn more by visiting them online at www.rkpt.com.

Move It or Lose It: The Importance of Staying Active as You Age

As we get older, it’s easy to fall into the habit of slowing down and taking it easy. However, staying active is one of the most important things you can do to support your health and longevity. Regular physical activity is linked to numerous benefits, from improving mobility and balance to enhancing overall quality of life. In fact, staying active can help you feel better, maintain your independence, and enjoy your golden years to the fullest.

To help you stay in tip-top shape, our team at BHI Senior Living reached out to our trusted therapy partners, HTS, for expert tips on best practices for staying active. Here are some easy ways to incorporate more movement into your daily routine:

Simple Ways to Stay Active at Home

  1. Take Standing Breaks:

Sitting for long periods can take a toll on your body. Set a reminder to move every 30 minutes. Use this time to walk around, do light stretches, or march in place. Just standing up and moving helps improve circulation and reduces stiffness.

  1. Chair Exercises:

If you’re spending time watching TV or reading, why not multitask with some gentle chair exercises? Try leg lifts, seated marches, or arm circles. These movements help maintain strength and flexibility without leaving your seat.

  1. Dance Around the House:

Dancing is a fun and easy way to boost your heart rate. Put on your favorite music and dance while doing daily tasks like folding laundry or tidying up. It’s a great way to stay active without even realizing you’re exercising!

  1. Walk While on the Phone:

Next time you’re catching up with friends or family on the phone, stand up and walk around. It’s a simple way to add more steps to your day and keep your body moving without much effort.

  1. Sit Less, Move More:

It’s easy to sit for long periods, but try to incorporate more movement into your routine. Stand up while sorting mail, folding laundry, or doing other small tasks. Limiting prolonged sitting can improve your posture and reduce aches and pains.

How Therapy Can Help You Stay Active

Sometimes, getting started with a new activity or routine can feel challenging, especially if you’ve been sitting too much or dealing with physical discomfort. That’s where physical and occupational therapy can help. Our partners at HTS recommend therapy to ease pain, improve mobility, and address postural issues caused by a sedentary lifestyle. A therapist can create personalized strategies to help you move more, sit less, and build strength safely.

Staying active as you age is crucial for your overall health and well-being. Whether through simple exercises at home or professional therapy support, the goal is to keep moving to maintain independence, strength, and a higher quality of life. After all, the saying is true: Move it or lose it!

We hope these tips from HTS inspire you to stay active and enjoy a healthier, more vibrant life. If you have any questions about therapy services or need more personalized guidance, reach out to our team for support!