by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Jul 18, 2017 | Alzheimer's and Dementia
The early stages of Alzheimer’s disease are known to cause memory problems. However, as the disease progresses, more symptoms develop. Your senior loved one may experience difficulty with routine daily tasks, communication skills, and appropriate social behavior.
A memory care community with specialized caregivers and a supportive environment may be a solution.
Coping with day-to-day living can be frustrating for someone in the intermediary and later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Living in a nurturing, specialized environment created for people with dementia may help manage your senior loved one’s symptoms.
A safe, controlled environment may also help them to live a more independent lifestyle.
Finding the right memory care program can feel overwhelming. There are many factors to consider, including types of treatment, staff, and the campus itself.
To evaluate memory care, you’ll need a guide. Here are the important criteria to consider when you’re touring the various communities near you.
Memory Care Basics
- First, you’ll want to see the community’s inspection reports. These are based on surveys completed by the state the community is located in. Reviewing it can help alert you to any issues the state regulators found concerning. Or it can put your mind at ease that the community is well run.
- Next, ask about the philosophy of care. Does the community promote independence among people with memory loss? That’s important to ask because some researchers say maintaining a sense of independence for as long as is safely possible may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
- What specialty programs are offered? Is there a separate life enrichment calendar with activities designed for people with memory loss? What about a supportive dining program?
- Plan to visit a variety of communities at different times of the day. Try to be there for a meal, too. Talk to staff and residents and even families if they are available.
Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Memory Care Program
People who have dementia require specialized care which often incorporates special programs and techniques based on their needs. Making each day purposeful is a common goal, so ask to see a copy of the activity calendar for the month.
Your senior loved one’s unique needs should be addressed in a comprehensive care plan that includes various activities and therapies. For example, some memory care programs have adopted a person-centered approach to care. This approach focuses on the individual and not just their disease.
Caregiving Staff
You’ll want to follow a full checklist of staff qualifications when it comes time to evaluate memory care programs. The Alzheimer’s Association maintains a very useful checklist on their website. It includes staff to resident ratio, training, and caring philosophy of the community staff.
The Community
When you visit, a community should leave you with the sense that staff and residents feel a mutual respect. Personal care should be carried out so that residents maintain their dignity. Residents should appear relaxed, well-kempt, and engaged.
Practical Matters
Finally, meals should be held at regular times and offer appetizing food in a pleasant environment. Nutrition is very often an issue for people who have dementia so ask how that is monitored.
Staff should be encouraging during meals. In later stages of the disease, caregivers likely need to provide hands-on assistance with eating.
Help is Available
This is by no means an exhaustive list for evaluating memory care programs. Finding the right community takes time and lots of research. But with patience, you will be able to find a caring environment for your senior loved one.
Heritage Senior Communities can help you with the decision-making process involving your senior loved one. Our communities throughout Michigan and Indiana have memory care programs we call “The Terrace”.
Staff members who work in The Terrace programs are dedicated to serving the special needs of the residents through a philosophy of ‘person-centered care’. Our aim is to provide a safe environment where your senior loved one can thrive and experience increased quality of life.
Call us at your convenience to find out about our Specialized Dementia Care or to schedule a tour of one of our communities near you.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Jul 12, 2017 | Caregiving
If there’s one thing in life that never seems to change, it’s the prevalence of scammers out to trick us out of money. While it’s true that anyone can become the victim of fraud, summer scam season is often aimed directly at seniors.
For caregivers, a little knowledge can go a long way toward protecting senior loved ones from criminals.
Now is a good time to brief yourself on scams that heat up with the weather. And then share what you find with your loved one.
Summer Scam Season Revolves around Senior Homeowners
Scammers seem to come out of the woodwork when the weather gets warmer. One reason is because that’s when homeowners typically need services. Whether it’s fixing a leak in the attic, trimming trees and shrubs, or mowing the lawn, seniors often need help around the yard and house in the summer and early fall.
Although many seniors continue maintaining their yards well into their 70s and 80s, there does come a time when certain tasks are too much for them. There may even be safety risks at home.
The Unnecessary Repairs
Scammers prey on the idea that some seniors no longer feel comfortable climbing a ladder. The scam here is that a roofer or ‘fixit’ guy will show up and offer services. He’ll go up on the roof and declare a disaster site that needs to be repaired immediately. That may not be true.
There’s the first level of fraud, but the ‘scam’ doesn’t stop there.
The Magically Increasing Price Quote
Next, he may agree upon a repair price with the senior homeowner. When the job is complete, somehow that price has inflated to much more than the original agreement. Then, he uses intimidation to coerce the senior homeowner into paying the inflated price.
The Retainer Service that Melts Away
Another direction the roofing (or other contractor) scam can take is the retainer fraud. The contractor will show up, offering all kinds of home repair and maintenance services for a very reasonable retainer fee.
The catch is that the retainer fee must be paid up front for the entire length of the contract.
Your senior loved one pays six months’ worth of retainer fees up front and then guess what happens?
They never see the guy again.
The Vacation Rental Deposit Scam
Another favorite technique of scammers is the deposit scam. This type of fraud is aimed at vacation rental property owners of any age, but seniors who rent out properties are often more vulnerable. This is often because they are more likely to be trusting of people in general.
Here’s how it works: someone answers your senior loved one’s ad for a vacation rental. The scammer mails a check for the deposit and it’s cashed. The catch here is that the deposit is $1000 too much (or more).
‘No problem’, says the renter. ‘You can just return the difference to me’.
If your senior loved one complies, he’s just mailed a $1000 check to a complete stranger. The original deposit check, of course, turns out to be a bad check.
Every year, between 18 and 19 million dollars are lost to fake deposit check rental scams.
Always Be On the Lookout for Scams, no Matter What the Season
It’s certainly important to be aware of the tricks used during summer scam season. However, seniors and caregivers should stay on alert for scams and fraud all year long.
At Heritage Senior Living, we’re constantly on the lookout for ways to keep seniors aware and safe. It’s part of our commitment to providing excellent care and services. If you’d like to learn more about a Heritage community near you, call us! We’ll be happy to show you around.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | May 26, 2017 | Alzheimer's and Dementia
Michigan caregivers might find themselves struggling to come up with meaningful activities for an older adult who has dementia or Alzheimer’s. While some families take advantage of adult day programs to help their loved one stay active, many seniors don’t attend every day. That means families have a few days a week when they need to come up with engaging activities.
Summers can be an especially great time for all the generations of a family to enjoy spending time together.
The dementia care team from Heritage Senior Communities put together a list of life enrichment activities to help Alzheimer’s caregivers create meaningful days.
Meaningful Summer Activities for Adults with Dementia
- Exercise: The health benefits of regular exercise are especially important for people with Alzheimer’s. It can help soothe agitation, while also acting as a stress buster for both the family caregiver and the person with the disease. Commit to enjoying a daily a stroll together this summer. Maybe take your camera along to snap nature photos as you go. If a walk isn’t possible, invest in a few senior-friendly exercise DVDs. Chair Yoga and gentle stretching can help improve strength, flexibility and balance.
- Music Therapy: The healing harmonies of music have well documented benefits for seniors with Alzheimer’s. In addition to boosting mood and lifting the spirits, it can even help people with memory loss access memories. It can be as simple as creating a playlist of your senior loved one’s favorite “oldies” and enjoying them together.
- Back to Nature: Gardening is another form of life enrichment that has many benefits for those with Alzheimer’s disease. Container gardens and raised beds can make gardening easier and safer. Because people with Alzheimer’s often put things in their mouth, remember to use only plants that aren’t toxic if ingested. Check this list of toxic plants to review which ones you should avoid. Having a garden to plant and maintain will provide productive and meaningful activity almost every day.
- Bird Watching: If your loved one is able, consider taking up bird watching as a hobby your family can enjoy together. Take pictures of birds you see around you and look them up online to learn more. You might even consider starting your own bird book with photos and information you learn about each one.
- Creative Projects: Arts and crafts projects give everyone in the family a chance to participate. You can tailor projects to the age and ability level of family members. It might be a creating a simple watercolor painting or assembling a photo album or scrapbooks. Most craft stores also have kits you can purchase with everything you need for a project included.
Whatever activity you choose, keep in mind that familiar, simple ones that don’t require abstract though are usually best for adults with Alzheimer’s. They are easier for your loved one to complete and require less planning and work on your end.
Dementia Care at Heritage Senior Communities in Michigan
The Terrace at Heritage Senior Communities provides specialized care for people with Alzheimer’s. From a thoughtfully designed environment to dedicated life enrichment activities, we invite you to stop by for a tour to learn how we create successful days for people with dementia!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | May 18, 2017 | Caregiving
It used to be great. They listened when something was wrong, and respected the opinions your senior loved one shared with them. They used to take time to talk about your concerns, and sometimes even share a laugh. But something’s changed. Lately, they seem hurried, no longer interested in the details. Or worse, they just aren’t available when your loved one needs them.
You know the signs. You’ve seen them before in other failing relationships, and now you’re noticing it all over again. But this time it’s in the life of a senior loved one, and in the place where you least expected it to happen – the doctor’s office.
Not Every Physician Relationship was Made to Last a Lifetime
What has always been a great doctor-patient relationship can change for the worse over time. Interactions might become rushed, perfunctory and impersonal. You are starting to wonder if it may be time to move on.
Talk to any relationship therapist and they’ll tell you there are classic signs to watch for. Signs that it’s time to call it quits. A relationship with a doctor is no different, though the red flags aren’t exactly the same.
So what signs might indicate it’s time for a new physician?
- Long wait times
- Bad communication
- Poor listening skills
- Disregard for the patient’s concerns or opinions
- Limited or delayed access to care
Ending Certain Physician Relationships May be Lifesaving
People often fall into the trap of thinking that because they need their doctor, they aren’t free to leave. This simply isn’t true.
A doctor-patient relationship is a two way street. There needs to be mutual respect and a willingness to listen. When these needs aren’t met, it’s okay to end the relationship.
In an article written by Eugene Spiritus for Forbes.com, Spiritus explains that there’s no such thing as the “best doctor.” But there is such a thing as the wrong doctor for you. Spiritus, a pulmonary critical care specialist, says that while competence is important, it’s even more important that a doctor be a good listener.
It sounds a bit melodramatic, we know, but it’s true. In the same way that a relationship with an abusive partner can have tragic results, so can a bad relationship with your doctor. According to AARP, multiple sclerosis, lupus and Lyme disease are only a few of the medical conditions that are regularly misdiagnosed by doctors.
Clearly, a doctor who listens to their patient’s concerns can make all the difference. So if a senior loved one in your life is feeling ignored or dismissed by their doctor, it might be time to discuss moving on.
Here are a few factors to consider.
Mutual respect and collaboration are key.
A paper published by the American Journal of Managed Care shows that communication and decision-making are what secure the relationship between a doctor and their patient. In other words, how included a patient feels in decisions about their health, and how the doctor communicates with them are foundational to their relationship.
Making the right choice for your loved ones.
Helping an aging loved one to make the critical decision to part ways with their doctor and move on can be hard. Ending any lasting relationship is difficult. But when you think about what’s best for their overall health and wellbeing, a disinterested and unavailable doctor shouldn’t be anywhere in that picture.
An Environment to Support Older Adults
The support of an interested physician is one important aspect of thriving in retirement years. Another one is where a senior lives. And where you live matters greatly as you grow older.
From independent living to assisted living and memory care, Heritage Senior Communities, we have a housing solution for seniors across the state of Michigan. Call the community nearest you to schedule a private tour today!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | May 10, 2017 | Healthy Aging
Keep your face to the sun, and you will never see the shadows!” This widely known Helen Keller quote perfectly sums up the conscious choice to stay focused on the positive things in your life. But is there more to having a sunny disposition than just “being a happy person?”
Absolutely!
Maintaining a positive attitude affects every area of your life, from your health to your relationships. But surprisingly, it also has a huge impact on how well you age.
A positive attitude can mean a longer, happier life.
According to the Mayo Clinic, your attitude has a direct effect on your health. One of the primary areas affected is your stress level. Optimistic people manage their stress more effectively. This means that all of the negative effects of stress – like increased blood pressure – are greatly reduced in positive people.
So what does this mean for seniors?
Believe it or not, your outlook on life may have a direct effect on a number of health factors. Happier people tend to have:
- lower levels of inflammation
- lower cholesterol levels
- reduced chance of developing cardiovascular disease
These benefits alone should make a positive disposition more appealing for everyone, regardless of their age. But for seniors, there is one side effect of being a positive person that can make all the difference – improved mental health.
TIME magazine shared research from the Yale School of Public Health. Scientists at Yale have discovered a direct link between how one feels about aging, and how well our brains ward off Alzheimer’s disease. The study, which took 25 years to complete, showed that people with a negative perspective of aging tended to have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s. People who viewed aging as a normal and natural part of life seemed to have much lower occurrences of the disease.
Choose joy. Because yes, it is a choice!
So what does a positive attitude look like? Well, contrary to what some people believe, it’s not about ignoring problems or refusing to deal with life’s troubles. People with a positive outlook still face struggles and challenges. The difference lies in how they choose to think about those issues.
People with a positive attitude:
- Practice gratitude: They’re grateful for what they have, and don’t spend time lamenting what they don’t have.
- Positive self-talk: They don’t call themselves names when they make mistakes, or label themselves with negative titles like “idiot” or “moron.”
- Spend time with other happy people: They spend time with others who feed their positivity, and avoid those who try to bring them down.
- Forgive: Whether it’s forgiving themselves, or forgiving others, letting go of grudges and resentments makes a big difference to how happy one can be.
- Focus on the positive: They make a conscious choice to look for the best in a situation, or expect the best possible outcome. They also focus on the good in people instead of focusing on their shortcomings.
Aging with a Happy Heart
Psychology Today published an article written by Christopher Bergland, the world-class endurance athlete and coach, who claims that a positive attitude about aging can reduce frailty in seniors. Frailty, he says, has been directly linked to lower cognitive abilities, and can often lead to dementia.
What can you or your senior loved one do to improve the odds of aging well?
Beyond maintaining a positive outlook, older adults can stay active and engaged in a lifestyle that promotes joyful living. A senior living community helps make it easier to live and thrive during retirement years. Great community events, wellness programs, opportunities for lasting friendships, and a focus on life enrichment activities are a part of everyday life.
Do You Have Questions about Assisted Living?
We understand the decision to move to a senior living community is a big step. If you have questions about independent living, assisted living, or memory care services, we can help. Call the Heritage Senior Community nearest you for answers or support today!
