HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS
Employee Spotlight: Adam Crabtree
Job Title: Construction Project Manager
Community: Homestead Senior Living - Construction
How long have you been with Homestead? 8 months
What were you doing before Homestead? Construction of Multifamily Projects
Where are you originally from? Columbus OH
What are your hobbies? Snowboarding, golf and boating
What would you most likely tell your 13 year old self? Start saving money now because kids are expensive.
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be? Einstein, Babe Ruth and Abe Lincoln.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Tommy Lasorda
What's your dream vacation? Castle Cruise on the Rhine
What is one THING you can't live without? Water
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? Topping out my first construction project of 110 thousand square feet, HSL East Broad St.
February is American Heart Month: 10 Tips for a Healthy Heart
Many view February as the month of love, but it is also American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans, taking the lives of 2,200 people each day. In addition, 103 million adults have high blood pressure and 6.5 million are living with heart failure. While genetic factors do play a part in cardiovascular disease, the good news is 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be preventable with education and action. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big impact when it comes to heart health. Show your heart some love with these 10 tips.
1. Stop smoking
Quitting smoking is the best thing that can be done for the heart and for overall health. Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States, and smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis, or the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries. When combined with other heart disease risk factors, smoking increases the risks associated with those factors. Quitting is never easy, but there are lots of helpful resources for those looking to start.
2. Know your numbers
Maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure and total cholesterol play a significant role in maintaining a healthy heart. While there are standard guidelines for blood pressure and cholesterol, ideal weight goals are individual to each person. A physician can help determine an appropriate goal weight based on additional factors such as age and height.
3. Screen for diabetes
Untreated diabetes can lead to heart disease, among many other complications. Diabetes can be easily detected through a simple blood test and managed a variety of ways under the care of a physician.
4. Get active
Heart pumping physical activity not only helps to prevent cardiovascular disease but can also improve overall mental and physical health. The American Heart Association recommends five 30 minute moderate exercise sessions each week. While this may seem daunting, it is important to note that these sessions can be broken up into two or three 10 or 15-minute segments throughout the day. Walking, jogging, biking and swimming are all great forms of exercise. It is important to remember that something is always better than nothing. Opting to take the stairs and parking farther back in the parking lot are great ways to squeeze in activity when the time is short.
5. Build some muscle
Strength training compliments cardiovascular exercise by toning muscles and burning fat. In addition, proper strength training can improve daily functional movements, decreasing the chance of injury. The American Heart Association recommends getting in two days of moderate to high-intensity strength training each week.
6. Eat smart
A healthy diet full of heart-smart foods is essential to a healthy heart and lifestyle. Salmon, nuts, berries, and oats are just a few of the heart “superfoods” that may help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Dark chocolate is also on the list and is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth (in moderation).
7. Limit junk
To reap the full benefits of a heart-healthy diet, it’s important to limit intake of nutrient-poor junk foods. Added sugars, saturated fat and excessive sodium can all negatively impact heart health, as well as overall physical health. These foods, when eaten in excess, can cause weight gain, raise blood pressure and clog arteries, which are all risk factors for heart disease.
8. Stress less
Stress increases cortisol, which leads to weight gain, a key risk factor for heart disease. In addition, stress can lead to other unhealthy habits, making it harder to stick to a heart-healthy program. Stress can also decrease overall happiness and increase the risk for anxiety and depression. Many of the items on this list can also help with reducing stress, in addition to practicing positive self-talk and incorporating mindfulness meditation breaks throughout the day.
9. Sleep more
Sleeping restores the body, helps decrease stress and increases overall happiness. To reap the full benefits, clocking seven hours each night is key. A calming bedtime routine and going to bed and waking at the same time each day are all great ways to establish healthy sleep patterns. Getting ample sunshine and physical activity throughout the day also aid in improving sleep quality.
10. Smile
A happy heart is a healthy heart. Making time for enjoyable activities and hobbies helps relieve stress and improves the overall mood, providing a great foundation for a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Maycee Wilson, Parkway, 3 Years
Christina Johnson, River Park, 4 Years
Greg Burchwell, Hoover – HSL, 14 Years
Cathy Compton, Beavercreek – HSL, 1 Year
Jason Cox, Miamisburg – HSL, 1 Year
Dan Kovalan, River Gate, 1 Year
Dana Culbert, The View, 9 Years
Felipe Juarez, College Station, 1 Year
2023: A Year of Growth
2021 is behind us, and we are optimistic for what the future holds not just as a company, but as people. Homestead Companies plans to dedicate more time and resources to community involvement and designing with a purpose. Expanding in development and construction has given Homestead Companies more opportunities to grow in the real estate space.
With fast growth comes challenges. That is why you need your teams and people to be stronger than ever. You are the difference-maker.
We are excited to continue this journey with you and the dozens of potential opportunities to grow in your role.
Harlow: Top 5 in Columbus Apartment Communities
Columbus Underground readers voted Harlow into the Top 5 Apartments in Downtown, Columbus! Thank you to our team and everyone involved for making Harlow one of the premier places to live. Here are the rankings that round out the Top 10. Click on the link below to read more!
The Top 10 Apartment Communities in Columbus, Ohio:
The Economic Impact of Affordable Independent Living Speaks for Itself
Seniors housing is seldom part of the broader economic development conversation. And when it is, affordable independent living communities are seldom recognized for their value to a city or town. Sometimes, they’re even resisted.
This is a mistake that hurts older Americans and the communities in which they live.
By 2030, our industry expects 10 million baby boomers — second only to seniors staying in their own homes — to be housed in independent living arrangements. While the majority of Americans 55 and older will remain in their homes as long as possible, a sizable number no longer can afford or keep up with the rigors of homeownership. They may be able to live anywhere on their own but are looking for a simpler life, greater amenities and new friends and relationships that can come with community-focused living.
These are Americans who will continue to contribute to their communities in ways large and small. Some will continue to work; some will retire. But regardless, keeping them in our communities is what they want and is a positive for local economies. While most want to stay within eight miles of their current home, 40 percent of seniors can’t envision this scenario working out, according to an AARP commissioned study.
The issue is cost.
Consider that baby boomers, as a cohort, are the second-largest age demographic, with more than 73 million of them approaching, or already in, retirement. Yet, many in this generation are entering their golden years highly reliant on Social Security as their only retirement vehicle, and this makes the availability of affordable independent living communities vital.
Independent living communities are not new, but all too many sit within the luxury category, and just 12 percent of seniors can afford senior living at luxury prices. There remains a sizeable gap in the affordable band that must be addressed in order to meet the needs of this population.
But the advantages of making independent senior living attainable go well beyond the value to the individual. For example, in a tight housing market, providing seniors with good alternatives to staying in a home that no longer suits their needs also can benefit the real estate industry. It frees up those homes for resale to younger generations such as millennials — who before you know it will take the place of baby boomers as the aging cohort looking forward to their later years.
What also isn’t widely understood is the economic impact the senior housing industry has on local communities. The industry today provides a total economic impact of $4.8 billion in Ohio alone. This comes in the form of construction jobs, permanent jobs and taxes.
Additionally, seniors exhibit a willingness to give back to their own communities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says about half of able American seniors volunteer in schools, their faith communities and elsewhere, contributing to more than $8 billion annual volunteer hours.
Simply put, providing a multitude of options to incorporate seniors into one’s community brings a vital economic benefit. At the same time, the risks of not having viable affordable senior living communities can have equally negative repercussions.
While the need for skilled nursing, memory care and assisted living developments are widely accepted, there is often resistance to multifamily independent living facilities. Factors such as local zoning codes and building design are important to ensuring any new independent living communities fit into the neighborhoods where they are built. But regulations that overlook the efficiencies and lower costs of denser multifamily developments can stop affordable independent senior facilities in their tracks.
Employee Spotlight: Victoria Hicks
Job Title: Community Manager
Community: The Cottages of College Station
How long have you been with Homestead? 4 years!
What were you doing before Homestead? Worked in Accounting for student housing properties
Where are you originally from? Texas
What are your hobbies? I love to read, be a yorkie mom and i found a love for freeze drying foods!
What would you most likely tell your 13 year old self? You are stronger than you think! Everything will work out how it is supposed to; put yourself on a path and keep following it no matter how hard it gets!
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be?JK Rowling, My Mammaw and Papa
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Kyle Park- Texas Country Singer
What's your dream vacation? The Bahamas! I have been obsessed since I saw it in a movie as a kid
What is one THING you can't live without? My iPad--it has all of my books!
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? I have had SO many proud moments daily, but i cannot commit to one being my proudest. All of my proudest moments concern my team and property and how far we have come as a whole. I will say surpassing our YOY prelease consistently feels pretty darn good though!
Champ Chain Winner: Sam Casarez
Please join us in congratulating our December Champ, Sam Casarez, our Maintenance Supervisor in College Station, Texas!
December nominations were those who demonstrated our core value of "Grow It," and Sam is such a shining example of someone who leads with this mentality every day. He is a problem-solver, a hard worker, and always willing to help wherever is needed while embracing growth and change. Here's what his team had to say about Sam...
"Sam demonstrates "Grow It" daily. He takes on any task with pride and efficiency, with both Homestead and residents in mind. Sam is dedicating his time to further grow our portfolio's success by leading the teams and initiatives at 2818, Parkway, and Field House, all while keeping The Cottages the best in CSTAT. Sam also takes any opportunity to grow others around him and help in any way he can. Sam is a rockstar; there hasn't been a problem he hasn't solved the entire time we have worked together. I am honored to work with Sam, he has taught me and the team so much!" - Victoria Hicks, Community Manager
Health Tip – Stress Relief
When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in uncomfortable positions.)