Trail Ridge Newsletter Summer 2018

Life AT TRAIL RIDGE

South Dakota Tops In The Rankings How Trail Ridge Is Watching the Sugar

The New Tax Law Explained

SUMMER 2018

Sorry Vermont and Hawaii: South Dakota Ranks No. 1 in U.S. Well-Being Did you hear that South Dakota is the happiest, healthiest state in America? We all know it (that’s why we live here!), but it’s nice to be nationally recognized. We were recognized through the annual GallupSharecare State of American WellBeing rankings. (South Dakota has ranked among the highest six states every year since 2013.) The rankings are based on a report measuring how people feel about the following five well-being elements: • Purpose: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals.

• Social: Having supportive relationships and love in your life.

• Financial: Managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security.

• Community: Liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.

• Physical: Having good health and enough energy to get things done daily.

South Dakota scored 64.1 out of 100 points, barely edging out Vermont. The Mount Rushmore State was helped by its top rank in purpose well-being, and was also in the top five for financial and community well-being.

SUMMER :: 2018

Top 10 Happiest States:

1. South Dakota!

2. Vermont 3. Hawaii 4. Minnesota 5. North Dakota 6. Colorado 7. New Hampshire 8. Idaho 9. Utah 10. Montana In the past few years, Sioux Falls also ranked as one of the top places to retire. We can credit the redevelopment of Trail Ridge for the increase in senior living options. Since our construction wrapped up, a new competitor came into the market and several other communities underwent campus redevelopments and additions.

Just because Trail Ridge has settled into its new “digs” doesn’t mean that we stopped adding to or making updates to our beautiful campus.

In the past year, we enhanced our campus and programs through landscaping projects, apartment remodels, activity room updates, security improvements, and a salon remodel is in the works.

We believe in the well-being of our residents. This is evident as we enter into a partnership with Eversound Hearing Technologies. Eversound’s products offer residents a level of

605-339-4847

hearing they may not have experienced in years, and as a result residents become more engaged in social activity. And for those in Memory Care, we are developing an aromatherapy program.

This year is off to a great start! We hope to keep the current pace going so that we can continue to be one of the best options for senior living, not just in South Dakota, but all of the Midwest.

As always, feel free to comment or contact any one of us to let us know how we are doing or how we can keep enriching the lives of those we serve.

Proud to be from Sioux Falls, South Dakota…and, especially Trail Ridge

~Dawn Patten, Trail Ridge Administrator

– Trail Ridge Employee Spotlight –

Admissions Coordinator Vicki Nagel

It doesn’t matter if you’re 9 or 90, it can be tough to leave a familiar home in a familiar neighborhood.

At Trail Ridge, we understand the challenges of moving better than most: we’ve worked with hundreds of people who made a transition from their homes to our community.

Because we’re so familiar with the moving process, we decided to create a new position at Trail Ridge to help people settle in: Admissions Coordinator.

In 2016, we hired Vicki Nagel to fulfill that role.

Vicki was born to help others. She is empathetic, patient, organized, and perceptive. Once you select an apartment at Trail Ridge, Vicki will serve as your go-to person. She can help with apartment updates and remodeling packages that include

new granite countertops, cabinets, appliances, tiled bathrooms, carpet and laminate flooring, and lighting.

She will send you the Trail Ridge Handbook so you can familiarize yourself with the community in advance of moving day. Vicki can help you complete any necessary applications, show you the parking and storage spaces, and put you in touch with our moving coordinator, who will come to your house and help you pack and downsize, if needed, for your move to Trail Ridge. After you choose an apartment and put down a deposit, Vicki is here to answer your questions. This is just a small sample of all the ways she helps, the complete list is much, much longer.

We are so thankful to have Vicki as part of our Trail Ridge family. With her friendly personality and atten-

tion to detail, new re s i d e n t s stay informed on a timely basis. Thanks to Vicki’s ability to foster positive relationships, the lines of communication stay open throughout the moving process.

When Vicki isn’t working, she and her husband Reed enjoy spending time with their kids, attending their many games and activities. The couple also regularly take on home improvement projects and try to squeeze in the occasional camping trip whenever possible.

Experience the Trail Ridge Lifestyle… support and complement your lifestyle, providing you the freedom and security you deserve.

Forget the hassles of shoveling snow, raking leaves, and home maintenance! Our residents enjoy the comforts of their spacious homes with views of sunrises, sunsets, and city lights. And when you need a little extra help, assistance is available 24 hours a day.

For more than 22 years, the Trail Ridge lifestyle has been the epitome of “warm” and “homey,” with stylish interiors, beautiful views, and wideopen spaces.

Now you can enjoy the Trail Ridge lifestyle in a completely customized apartment. You can select paint colors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, easy-toclean hardwood floors, new carpet, and stone tile for the bathrooms. We are the only independent living option in Sioux Falls that encourages remodeling your apartment with selections that best fit your personality and your lifestyle.

At Trail Ridge, programs and services are designed to

605-339-4847

For more information about the Trail Ridge difference, call Jason at 605-339-4847.

TrailRidge.net

Studies Show Too Can Negatively Imp

H

Cutting down on processed sugar can hav

igh-fructose corn syrup is everywhere—in soda, candy, yogurt, bread, cereal, canned fruit, condiments, sauce, dressing, jelly, snack foods, frozen dinners, even baby food. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes more than 40 pounds of this sweetener per year.

ple chalk up this cognitive slide as a normal part of aging, but research shows there’s a direct link between forgetfulness and elevated blood sugar levels in the brain.

You know those irritating memory lapses when we forget where we put our keys or go into a room and forget why we’re there in the first place? Some peo-

The “perfect diet,” says Carmelia Wilson, Wellness Director at ABHM

Scientists found that the part of the brain responsible for short-term memory can actually shrink from too much sugar consumption. According to Scientific American, scientists believe these mental hicPrior to the 1970s, people sweetened their food cups “stem from disruptions in the with sucrose (table sugar). When it became more hippocampus—an area that, among other roles, acts expensive, industrial users looked for a cheaper reas the brain’s “save” butplacement and found that soluton, allowing us to retain tion in high-fructose corn syrup.

Scientists found that the part new information.”

As more and more companies of the brain responsible for A body of research is indiadded sugar to their foods, it short-term memory can cating a link between didn’t take long for researchers actually shrink from too much Alzheimer’s disease and into find a direct link between sulin resistance. A study diets high in added sugars and sugar consumption. published in the journal Diweight gain and metabolic disabetologia followed 5,189 people for more than 10 turbances. years and discovered a faster rate of cognitive New studies are now suggesting that too much frucdecline for those with high blood sugar— tose can also do a number on our brains. According a concerning finding when you conto Julia Lundstrom, an educator in the field of neusider that approximately 86 roscience and brain health, “As more fructose is million Americans have blood consumed, the body produces more insulin to regsugar considered higher than ulate that sugar. As you over-indulge on fructose normal. and grains, your brain becomes overwhelmed by the high levels of insulin. Eventually insulin and lepThe good news? It’s never tin levels profoundly disrupt your brain signaling, too late to start living a leading to troubles in your thinking and memory.” healthy lifestyle.

o Much pact Your Memory

e dramatic effects on our memory—at ALL ages.

High-fructose Corn Syrup community Tudor Oaks, includes drinking a lot of water, consuming less sodium, and eating less processed sugar. Instead, buy real whole foods, she says. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store for fruits, veggies, lean meats/poultry, fish, and dairy, including free-range or omega-3 enriched eggs. Start paying attention to labels. “If the ingredients include more than five items, that food is now a product,” she says. From childhood to our golden years, our caloric intake might change, but the principles of a well-balanced diet remain the same.

“Go back to the basics, plain and simple,” says Anne Harguth, Clinical Dietitian for ABHM community Thorne Crest.

But what about when you’re craving something sweet? As we age, we ac-

tually lose taste buds. When we’re younger, we have 10-15,000 taste buds; when we’re over 70, this drops to between 3-5,000. What’s more, hundreds of medications can affect the senses of taste and smell. According to Harguth, “The last taste buds to remain with us as we age are the sweet buds.” If you crave something sweet, eat fruit. Add a banana to your breakfast oatmeal, she suggests, or buy unsweetened yogurt and add berries. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans limit added sugars to no more than 10 percent of daily calorie needs. “Gain control over sugar intake,” she says.

There is good news, though. Researchers also found a link between regular exercise and an increased ability to break down sugar metabolism in the brain.

“It’s been proven that by exercising for 30 minutes three times a week, you can reduce your risk of dementia by 50 percent,” Carmelia Wilson comments.

Case in point: A group at the University of Edinburgh followed more than 600 people, starting at age 70, who kept detailed notes about their physical activity, mental health, and social habits. Three years later, images of their brains were studied for brain shrinkage. The seniors who engaged in the most physical exercise—both aerobic and resistance training—showed the least amount of brain shrinkage.

The foods you eat can change the chemistry of your body and your brain, affecting how you think. When you eat high-quality foods, you not only physically feel better, it’s better for your mental wellbeing.

Now that’s news worth remembering!

What do the tax cuts in the Tax

T

he GOP’s massive tax overhaul plan, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—signed into law on December 22, 2017–doesn’t affect all seniors the same way. Some will receive a substantial tax break, some will see no difference, and others will fare a little worse than before. At ABHM, it’s our goal to keep residents and their families connected to helpful resources. Because we know this can be a complex issue, we broke down common questions in the following guide:

One item on the chopping block was the medical expense deduction. What is that? Why does it matter?

The medical tax deduction allows people to deduct qualifying medical and dental expenses that exceed 10 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI). Because seniors tend to have fixed incomes, the elimination of this deduction would have had a dramatic effect on skilled nursing residents and other older adults. In addition to individuals deducting their own medical expenses, this also provides a $500 credit for each non-child dependent, helping families caring for aging parents.

Was this preserved in the final language of the legislation? YES This was a critical “win” for patients who pay for long-term care out of pocket, as well as those with chronic medical conditions.

Cuts

Are Medicare Part B premiums slightly higher now? YES Medicare Part B is insurance covering doctors’ services, outpatient care in hospitals, and equipment such as wheelchairs and oxygen machines went up by $25/month, basically offsetting any cost-of-living adjustments by Social Security.

Is there less of a financial tax incentive now for people to make charitable gifts to their favorite nonprofits (many of which help seniors)? YES According to Forbes, “The TCJA makes four big changes that are likely to discourage charitable giving. It lowers individual income tax rates, thus reducing the value of all tax deductions; and it caps the state and local tax deduction at $10,000 and increases the standard deduction to $12,000 for singles and $24,000 for couples—two steps that will significantly reduce the number of itemizers.” According to the Tax Policy Center, “the most common itemized deductions are state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, medical and dental expenses, and casualty and theft losses.” High-income taxpayers are the most likely to itemize deductions.

With the new law, though, those who donated to

& Jobs Act mean for older adults? charities as a way to get a tax deduction will no longer have the same incentive, since itemizing deductions won’t reduce their taxable income. Charities are bracing for a big drop in donations as more taxpayers take the standard deduction.

One of the provisions proposed was eliminating the use of “private activity bonds,” or PABs. What are PABs? Why are they important to senior communities?

Tax-exempt private activity bonds (PABs) are a source of funding for continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), providing tax-exempt financing for nonprofits. While PABs are criticized for diverting public funds toward private projects, they do have a clear benefit: encouraging the construction of not-for profit senior living communities and CCRCs, including affordable senior housing.

Did this go through? NO The tax-exempt PABs will be retained—borrowers can still issue debt at a significantly lower interest rate than interest rates on taxable bonds. According to Senior Housing News, without PABs, overall CCRC development would’ve come to a stand-still.

Who benefits from the tax cuts?

Across the board, tax rates are lowered for everyone, but they are lowered the most for the highestincome taxpayers. Seniors in high-income households, with the majority of their income from investments, will benefit from cuts in corporate taxes. Another exemption—the estate tax exemption— allows seniors to avoid federal estate tax on the first $22 million of their bequests. Those making $430,000 or more would get an average tax cut of $26,000 in 2019. The estate tax exemption would jump from $11.2 million for singles and

$22.4 million for couples, helping the top 1 percent of the population. The top 4,918 tax returns contribute $17 billion in taxes.

Those making less than $33,000/year will see no difference (because their income is primarily from Social Security, and they pay very little in federal income tax), and those making from $33-56,000 would get an average tax cut of 9 percent.

The additional standard deduction, for filers 65 and over or blind, allows filers to claim an additional $1,300 when they file their 2018 taxes. Single filers who are blind or over 65 are eligible for a standard deduction of an additional $1,600, in addition to the $12,000 they’ll get from the new tax law.

Owned and operated by AMERICAN BAPTIST HOMES OF THE MIDWEST, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.

14850 SCENIC HEIGHTS RD, STE 125, EDEN PRAIRIE MN 55344

3408 W. Ralph Rogers Road, Suite 100 Sioux Falls, SD 57108 www.TrailRidge.net

AT TRAIL RIDGE

SUMMER 2018

Trail Ridge is a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living community. Our mission is to create healthy Christian communities that empower older adults. We provide choices for housing, services, and technology that enrich body, mind and spirit.

There’s still time to support the Trail Ridge and ABHM Annual Heritage Appeal. Ask for details at the front desk or visit www.TrailRidge.net

Take a fly-thru VIDEO TOUR of the community at TrailRidge.net!