When looking at long-term care for your loved one, you want to know they are being cared for by familiar people who are educated, trained, and who take the time to get to know your loved one — in a...
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Inspired, Enriched.
Otterbein SeniorLife Blog
Featured Post
Marian’s Journey to Otterbein: Post-Acute Care and Rehabilitation
Assisted living resident Marian G. has had quite a journey – from a hospital stay to post-acute care to assisted living. And she’ll be the first to tell you that she wouldn’t be where… Read more »
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Otterbein SeniorLife
5 Fun Activities to Do With Your Loved One in Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing
Visiting a loved one in assisted living or skilled nursing can be a fun, enjoyable experience for both of you. You might be feeling nervous about what you might do or say when you get there. These thoughts are completely...
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New Small House at Otterbein Marblehead Now Open
Otterbein SeniorLife is currently the largest provider of an innovative skilled nursing home model that is changing the way America cares for elders and rehab guests. Our “small houses” are a unique concept designed to de-institutionalize traditional skilled nursing home...
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What are Otterbein Small House Neighborhoods?
Would you rather choose a hospital-like nursing home for long-term care, skilled nursing, or post-acute rehab, or your own home? Most people want to stay home or return home as quickly as possible. But what if there was an alternative?...
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A Look at Otterbein’s Gahanna SeniorLife Neighborhood
With easy access off Hamilton Road, Otterbein's Gahanna SeniorLife Neighborhood is just minutes from historic downtown Gahanna, Ohio. The growing central Ohio location is just one aspect that sets Otterbein Gahanna apart. A Trusted Skilled Nursing Community Our personalized...
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Otterbein SeniorLife Expands Small House Neighborhoods Throughout Ohio
Otterbein SeniorLife, a national leader in the operation of “Small House” skilled nursing neighborhoods, is expanding operations in all nine neighborhood locations throughout the state of Ohio. What is a Small House Skilled Nursing Neighborhood? Otterbein’s skilled nursing neighborhoods provide...
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Otterbein in the News: Spotlight on Small House Neighborhoods
Otterbein SeniorLife is the largest provider of small-house nursing care in the country, following the principles of The Green House Project. Want an inside look at this unique style of skilled nursing? The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) recently visited one...
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Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods: A Collection of Inspiring Elder Stories
Life at Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods is unique, as the real-home environment presents many opportunities for genuine connections between the elders and the staff. As told by our elders, we’d like to share a few heartfelt success stories to give you...
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Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods: What’s Inside a Small House?
Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods offer a unique approach to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory support, and long-term care services. Each small house neighborhood, located in nine residential areas across central and western Ohio, consists of five houses. And every small house, at...
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Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhood Long-Term Care: Is It Affordable?
Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods offer long-term care in small houses with a maximum of 12 elders (residents). The person-centered approach in our small houses shifts the focus from institutional care, which you commonly see in traditional nursing homes, to individual elder...
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How the Green House Project is Transforming Traditional Senior Care
If you’re currently looking for long-term or post-acute care for yourself or a loved one, you may want to consider a less traditional form of nursing home care. Green House homes, built in partnership with The Green House Project®, are...
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“Space to Be My Own”: Otterbein Small House a Sanctuary for Elder Living With Multiple Sclerosis
When an older adult is unable to live alone at home and needs ongoing medical care, skilled nursing is often the best option. Typically, this happens in a later season of life ― mid to late 80s ― but for...
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What Is Included in the Cost of Skilled Nursing Care at Otterbein?
Paying for nursing care for yourself or a loved one can be confusing. In this article, we’ll help you understand what is included in the cost of skilled nursing care at Otterbein, how Medicare and Medicaid come into play, and...
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4 Ways You Can Reduce the Stress of Caregiving
According to the Centers for Disease Control, caregivers often pay a high toll for their labor of love: 35% of caregivers have difficulty finding time for themselves 29% experience emotional and physical stress from their rol 54% said their health...
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How to Talk About Long-Term Care With Your Loved One
We’re breaking down the stages of finding long-term care for your loved one in this four-part series, including noticing the signs that it’s needed, talking about it with your family members, what the costs will be, and how to find...
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Your Guide to Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Community
Get help with finding long-term care - or skilled nursing - for your loved one in this four-part series. Find articles with tips on deciding if it’s needed, talking about it with your family members, what the costs will be,...
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See What Makes a SeniorLife Neighborhood So Special
What do you think of first when you hear “skilled nursing”? If sterile hallways and impersonal care come to mind, you might be surprised to learn that there’s another option. Our Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods combine the comfort and familiarity of...
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How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost?
Get help with finding long-term care for your loved one in this four-part series. Find articles to help you understand if it’s needed, talk about it with your family members, uncover the costs, and find the right option for your loved...
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My Journey to Otterbein: The Metzger Family
When Jed Metzger’s mother, Ruth, needed a higher level of care, they knew Otterbein Cridersville was the right place. Hear Jed and Ruth’s story in the video below, or read the full transcript. What Was it Like Moving Your Mom...
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A Look at Respiratory, Pulmonary, and Alzheimer’s Care at Otterbein
Otterbein SeniorLife uses technology and the latest research to help elders who have respiratory diseases, as well as those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods are small communities that provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation services...
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Resident Recipe Spotlight: Block Party Beans by Thomas L.
From Thanksgiving dinners to birthday cake to an ice-cold glass of lemonade on a summer day, food is woven into the fabric of our memory. At Otterbein's SeniorLife Neighborhoods, we understand that - and it’s why we encourage our elders...
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What is Skilled Nursing? Does My Loved One Need It?
Updated in November 2022 In this blog, the first in a four-part series on skilled nursing care, we’ll look at signs that your loved one might benefit from this kind of care. The remaining three blogs in the series focus...
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Resident Recipes Spotlight: Cube Steak and Apple Pie by Maxine S.
Sometimes, a special dinner calls for something more than take-out. Whether it’s a leisurely family meal on a Sunday or an anniversary treat, a home-cooked meal tells others how much we care about them. Maxine S., an elder at one...
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Embracing Life at Otterbein: Herman and Mary
Like many people who live in an Otterbein SeniorLife community, Herman E. has been wowed by the experience. Herman, 88, and his wife Mary moved into an independent living neighborhood at Otterbein Lebanon SeniorLife in 2006. About three years ago,...
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How to Successfully Transition to Long-Term Care
If your loved one is preparing to transition to long-term care, you might be feeling anxious or lost. Moving to a long-term care community is a significant life event, and it’s normal to experience many different emotions. Fortunately, there are...
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“They’re So Good to Me”: Otterbein Small House Neighborhood Elder Tells Her Story
Have you ever heard a senior in a nursing home describe themself as “spoiled” by their caregivers? How about expressing thankfulness for their lifestyle and surroundings? Sounds out of the ordinary, right? For Geraldine T., an elder living at Otterbein...
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[Video] Staff Partner Shares How Living in Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhood Makes Her Mother Happy
Non-institutional, freedom, privacy, choices ― these are all words that are not typically used to describe a nursing home. But Otterbein SeniorLife Neighborhoods are not nursing homes; they’re known as small house neighborhoods. Watch the video below to hear from...
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Otterbein Middletown’s Close Proximity to Hospital Yields Added Benefits for Elders
If you’re looking for skilled nursing care or post-acute rehabilitation for yourself or a loved one, there are a lot of factors to consider, including the proximity of the skilled nursing center to a hospital or medical center. Our Otterbein...
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[VIDEO] Otterbein St. Marys: Meeting the Needs of Loved Ones
“We were so impressed with Otterbein when I first came here that I had no need to even go any further or look anywhere else.” - Janet, Otterbein St. Marys resident family member Otterbein St. Marys sits on the shores...
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Milestones at Otterbein: A Guided Journey in Memory Support
There are more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, many of whom live in continuing care retirement communities. Otterbein SeniorLife cares deeply about those in our communities affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia; that’s why we established the Milestones...
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3 Questions All Caregivers Should Ask Themselves
Caregiving for a loved one is an emotional journey that can be both challenging and fulfilling. Caregivers often juggle multiple responsibilities in addition to their loved one’s needs - such as working, raising a family, and trying to care for...
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Partner Spotlight: Wound Care Expert at Otterbein Cridersville
When you’re considering a skilled nursing community for your loved one, you want to be sure that they will receive top-notch medical care when they need it. So it helps to know ― What does medical care look like in...
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What is Hospice?
“May you live every day of your life.” —Jonathan Swift Hospice care is often associated with finality: the realization that someone’s battle with illness will soon be lost. Although most people associate hospice with specialized care for those with life-limiting...
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Benefits of Continuing Care at Otterbein: One Couple’s Story
Upon moving to one of the independent living patio homes at Otterbein Cridersville, Dale and Phyllis S. knew that the different levels of care would be helpful with Dale’s diagnosis of dementia. They didn’t realize how quickly they’d benefit from...
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Caring for a Spouse with Dementia: A Couple’s Journey at Otterbein Cridersville
For independent living residents Julie and Paul T., their decision to move to Otterbein Cridersville has resulted in so many positive changes, from big to small. The couple moved to Otterbein from Seattle, Washington, in 2021 to be close to...
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Exploring Skilled Nursing and Memory Care at Otterbein Cridersville
Similar to our SeniorLife Communities, Otterbein Cridersville offers skilled nursing care. Your loved ones will receive compassionate, person-centered care that is customized to meet the personal care needs of each elder. Understanding what is offered in skilled nursing care can...
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For Caregivers: How to Care for Yourself, Too
Caregivers, this one is for you. Here are some helpful tips for avoiding caregiving-related injuries and emotional tolls. Do back strains or muscle pulls from helping someone in and out of a chair, bed, or bathtub sound familiar? How about...
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Skilled Nursing at Otterbein Marblehead: Cornerstone Cottage Opening Summer 2020
A brand-new skilled nursing small house, Cornerstone Cottage, is coming to Otterbein Marblehead SeniorLife in summer 2020. Learn more about Cornerstone Cottage and our small house model here. What is a Small House? Otterbein operates nine small house neighborhood locations...
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