Generally speaking, Alzheimer’s disease is a topic that most of us are pretty familiar with. We know that it involves memory loss that continues to accelerate over the years. But beneath this very basic understanding, sits a general lack awareness of important details. As a result, many inaccuracies continue to get passed around.
September is World Alzheimer’s month, and it’s a good time to stop and take a moment to review what the disease is (and isn’t) and dispel any myths that only serve to further complicate an already complex illness.
First, it’s important to update yourself on the facts about Alzheimer’s. Here are five (courtesy of Healthline):
Just as important as understanding the facts is being aware of some common misconceptions surrounding Alzheimer’s. Here are three key Alzheimer’s myths (courtesy of Keck Medicine of USC):
Now that you have some facts under your belt, you should also know that there is an abundance of resources available on Alzheimer’s, both for individuals living with the disease and for families. Here are some from the Alzheimer’s Association that you may find useful:
Our Anthem Memory Care blogs also cover a wide range of informative topics, including answering questions such as Is it Alzheimer’s or just age-related changes?, help with behavioral issues, such as “sundowning”, and ensuring that your loved one with dementia is safe. And there are many more topics you can browse by scrolling down our home page.
As with any disease, the more you know, the better prepared you are. If you are caring for an individual who you suspect may be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, reach out to your health professionals. And don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our Anthem Memory Care communities. We’re here to help answer your questions and provide added resources.
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We often get asked why our memory care communities organize many of our activities to include local school children. It’s an easy question to answer. Intergenerational activities are beneficial for everyone involved. For our residents, it gives them a chance to connect with young people in ways that sharpen their senses and the opportunity to mentor them with advice and guidance. For the young people, it puts them into contact with aging individuals who have a wealth of stories to share, providing a window into an earlier era. For both groups it creates an enriched experience with many unexpected surprises and insights.
In home settings, however, in an effort to be protective, parents may be reluctant to expose a child to a family member with dementia. This is unfortunate in that children are much better able to cope with diverse situations than parents realize. If explained with love, these interactions can broaden their sphere of experience and provide them with an excellent opportunity to gain a better understanding of dementia.
Here are some activities that we’ve found to be especially beneficial in connecting individuals with dementia to young people:
While the pandemic caused us to curtail our usual busy schedule of activities, below are some amazing images of some of the intergenerational activities our residents have enjoyed over the years.
Gardening with Community House campers at Harvester Place.
Grace Point Place held a kite making and flying event!
Chelsea Place residents and children enjoy a game of croquet!
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia and haven’t yet done so, consider adding some visits from younger family members to their activity schedule. A short visit from a child or two can literally transform everyone’s day. Make sure the children have a basic understanding of the limitations of the loved one and that they are old enough to be respectful of their situation.
We all look forward to bringing back our full schedule of intergenerational programs at Anthem Memory Care. Young people never fail to bring joy, hope and lots of smiles to the faces of our residents. And the children always leave eager to come back again soon.
(The top image is of a resident of Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado, during a visit to a local fair.)
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Did you know that up to 40% of individuals with dementia also struggle with depression? That’s certainly not a welcome statistic, especially if you are caring for a loved one diagnosed with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
What can be challenging is being able to recognize depression in a loved one with dementia. The reason for this is that dementia and depression share some common characteristics. The Alzheimer’s Association describes them as follows:
When an individual with dementia experiences depression, however, it may manifest itself differently than in those without dementia. For instance, the symptoms may not seem as severe or last as long. Thoughts of suicide, often common in depression, are often not expressed by individuals with dementia.
What all this means is that if you are caring for a loved one with dementia, you’ll want to keep track of their behavioral patterns. You, after all, will have the best sense of what is within their “normal” limits and what behavior might be a sign of depression.
You’ll want to check in with your loved one’s physician if you suspect the onset of depression. While there is no single, definitive diagnostic test for depression, an experienced professional, often a geriatric psychologist, should be able to make a determination based on a full physical and mental evaluation.
Fortunately, there are treatments that can improve the quality of life and help maintain cognitive health for those with dementia and depression. While some of those treatments involve medications, there are things you can do to help as well. These include:
It also bears mentioning that, just as there are resources to help your loved one with depression, there are resources to help you, as a caregiver, deal more effectively with your own emotional ups and downs. Contact us and we’ll be happy to share some of our resources and answer your questions. Remember, you are not alone!
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At our Anthem Memory Care communities, few things are as exciting as outings, for both our residents and our staff. Yes, they require some planning and organization, but it’s well worth the effort.
For individuals living with dementia, activities that stimulate the five senses do more than simply make for an enjoyable experience. They have tangible physical and emotional benefits. And, more often than not, they jog an old memory or two.
Of course “outings” need to be modified for those with dementia. Not everyone is up for a bus ride to the snow or a long walk to the local park. So It’s important to understand limits as well as personal preferences.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, here are some outdoor activities you might want to consider adding to his or her daily calendar:
Below are some great photos of our residents enjoying the outdoors. Whether it’s a bus ride through one of the many wonderful local reserves and parks or a donut run, we are always seeking opportunities to get our residents and staff out and about:
Residents of Emerald Place in Glenview, Illinois, hit the driving range for some practice!
Residents of Highline Place, in Littleton, Colorado, enjoy a trip to the local ice cream parlor.
Residents of Vineyard Place, in Murietta, California, love taking rides through the hills and valleys of local park lands.
A visit to the local war memorial was especially meaningful to residents of Chelsea Place in Aurora, Colorado.
Remember that an “outing” may, for some, be as simple as finding a comfortable chair and sitting on the porch. Even a few moments of feeling a gentle breeze and watching nature at work can be enough to relieve stress and create a bit of an oasis in an otherwise hectic day.
(The top image is of a resident of Harvester Place in Burr Ridge, Illinois, visiting the local nature center.)
August is National Wellness Month. And while wellness principles should be practiced year-round, this month presents us with a great opportunity to stop and check in with our health. For individuals living with dementia, wellness takes on added significance. We believe it is important for family caregivers to understand that the limitations associated with dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can impact all areas of health.
The Alzheimer’s Association identifies four major areas of wellness and health for those individuals living with dementia: physical, emotional, social and spiritual. Here are a few tips in each category to help you help your loved one lead a more purposeful, healthy life.
Physical health:
Emotional and psychological health:
Social health:
Spiritual health:
Having a loved one diagnosed with dementia does not have to mean shutting down all those wonderful thoughts, abilities and activities that made them who they are. By continuing to touch regularly on each wellness area outlined above you will be helping your loved one to stay connected, in a healthy way, to family, friends and the world around them.
(The top image was taken at Emerald Place Memory Care, in Glenview, Illinois. Residents plant and tend to their own vegetable gardens, enjoying the fresh meals that come from them!)
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Nothing is more satisfying for residents of Harvester Place Memory Care in Burr Ridge, Illinois than finding new ways to “give back” to the community. Recently, a group of local summer school children visited Harvester Place to work with residents to create some very unique dog chew toys, all to be donated to the local animal shelters.
It is a program that has been ongoing, and this was the last of three recent visits. Twelve children from the Community House summer camp program in nearby Hinsdale joined the residents for the project. And, while Harvester Place has had many past visits from the Girl Scouts and other youth groups, this has become one of the most popular.
The event was covered by the Chicago Tribune. Danyanique Hughes, life engagement director for Havester Place, explained that the program was among the first since the pandemic to bring in those from the greater community to visit their residents. And it was especially meaningful in that many residents have owned pets in their younger years. “A lot of our residents have very close relationships with pets,” Danyanique told the Tribune. “One of our residents would raise and show dogs in Georgia.” The staff at Harvester Place arranges regular pet visits, including those sponsored by Therapaws, in conjunction with the Hinsdale Humane Society.
Of course, the project has also created a great opportunity for residents to engage with young people. “Everybody lights up and they start to reminisce and they talk about their family members,” Danyanique said. “One resident used to be a teacher and she was telling the camper what she used to teach and what kind of work she would have given the camper.”
Working together, the summer campers and Harvester Place residents produced 45 chew toys, all made from donated t-shirts.
The residents of Harvester Place have a special place in their hearts for volunteering, and they have done so regularly in the community. The act of “giving back” is, in and of itself, powerful, helping them to feel more connected to the world around them.
For Danyanique Hughes, it is so important that the public understand that people with memory issues can still contribute to their communities. “It doesn’t matter what level you are or what type of impairment, anyone is very capable of doing a lot,” she said.
(The top image of a young camper with a Harvester Place resident, is courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.)
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Local summer camp students paid a visit to residents of Harvester Place Memory Care to help them make dog “chew toys” for local shelters. It was both fun and purposeful for all, doing their part to give back to the greater community. The event was covered in the Chicago Tribune, which you can access here: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/burr-ridge/ct-dbr-burr-ridge-harvester-tl-0722-20210716-a6uyylafgnaj5mecad4ptnlvjq-story.html
Residents were excited to see their handmade kites fill the skies as local fifth-graders ran with them and got them airborne. The event was covered by the local TV station, KDVR. You can watch the full video here: https://kdvr.com/video/memory-care-facility-hosting-their-own-games/6833708/
As we enter the middle of summer, there is much to enjoy. Outdoor activities, a more relaxed atmosphere, lots of open windows and, of course, daylight saving time. And yet the warmer weather we have craved all winter long can reach dangerous levels which can have a serious impact on health, especially for older individuals.
Particularly vulnerable are older adults living alone. And, for those who are cognitively impaired, a decision not to come in out of the heat can result in becoming overheated. Overheating, without taking actions to cool off can lead to the most serious heat-related condition: heat stroke.
Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S. On average, over 700 people die from heat-related conditions. And, in many cases, the individuals weren’t aware they were in danger until it was too late. Some of the most common symptoms of heat stroke are:
If you have an aging loved one and he or she experiences one or more of these symptoms, you need to take quick action to move them to a cool place, out of the sun. You should then elevate their feet and provide them with plenty of fluids. Then, if their symptoms persist, call their doctor and/or get them to an urgent care or emergency room.
Of course, the best way to keep your loved one safe from extreme heat is to do your best to keep them from getting into a situation where heat could become a problem. Here are some things to keep in mind, especially if you are traveling:
And, above all, don’t hesitate to contact your loved one’s physician or take them to an emergency care facility if he or she shows signs of heat stroke.
At our Anthem Memory Care communities, we plan ahead for those hot days to ensure that our residents are comfortable. That means moving our activities indoors or on a cool patio and limiting unnecessary physical exertion. Keeping a supply of fresh fruit and plenty of water on hand helps our residents beat the heat and still enjoy the summer.
Remember, too, that you, yourself, should be following these tips. Caregivers often neglect their own comfort in their selfless efforts to care for their loved ones. Follow these tips and you will find it easier to enjoy the summer, while keeping cool and healthy!
One of our residents’ (and staff’s) favorite activities in our Anthem communities is dancing. Whether it’s fast, slow, a conga line or just swaying back and forth, the experience of moving in time to music has a therapeutic value all its own. That’s why we find every opportunity to get our residents up and involved, not only to have fun and raise spirits but also to stimulate their brains!
Yes, there is science to back this up! Numerous studies support the connection between dancing and brain health. In one study, conducted at Harvard Medical School, PET scans revealed how the act of dancing stimulates “identified regions of the brain that contribute to dance learning and performance.” Another study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that participating in leisure activities, such as dance, was associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Other studies have found that the act of engaging in a dance move challenges memory, coordination, attention and cognition. The processes involved in recalling a familiar dance move further stimulates the brain. As the neuron activity increases it can potentially open new pathways for new thoughts and ideas. This holds true for many individuals with dementia as well. Dancing and dance therapy can improve social interaction as well as mood, while reducing depression and anxiety in individuals with dementia.
What does all this mean? It means that dance, as well as being a lot of fun, brings legitimate health benefits to the body and brain, even for those struggling with dementia. Activities that encourage coordination of muscles along with external stimuli, such as music or drums, provides health benefits to old and young alike.
Below is a great video showing two residents of Harvester Place Memory Care in Burr Ridge, Illinois, having a great time breaking out their dance moves.
For those of you caring for a loved one with dementia, try playing some lively songs they remember from their younger years. Encourage them to get up and move around. Doing so on a regular basis gives them (and you) exercise in a way that is enjoyable and keeps the brain active.
(The cover image was taken at Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado)
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One of the many challenges of the pandemic was that it forced many adult children to be separated from their aging parents for well over a year. For many families, the reunions are just now occurring, having waited to be fully vaccinated and for travel restrictions to lift. For most, it has been a joyous experience. But, in some cases, adult children find themselves facing something they weren’t prepared for after months away from an elderly loved one; the discovery that mom or dad is in the early stages of dementia.
If you are finding yourself in this situation, it’s easy to get lost in all the conflicting thoughts and concerns. You want to believe that it’s just the prolonged isolation that has taken its toll. And yet there may also be a nagging thought that it is, in fact, something more.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you observe your loved one’s behavior:
Any one or two of these things does not necessarily mean that your loved one is in the early stages of dementia. However, the best way to determine that is to take steps to confront your concerns head on. Those steps should include conversations with your loved one as well as other close family members. Finally, it needs to include an assessment by a licensed health professional with expertise in dementia.
It is never easy to discover that an aging loved one is no longer the sharp, active person he or she once was. In many cases, it is just part of growing older. In other cases, it may be mild cognitive loss and, possibly, the onset of dementia. Taking those initial steps, while difficult, can make a big difference downstream. Finding the courage to do so may be the most loving thing you can do for your aging loved one and for your family.
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As we begin to engage in family visits and get-togethers again, it can bring a certain degree of anxiety to many of us, especially our older relatives who may remain skeptical about vaccines, health protocols and just getting back to socializing again. The CDC has issued new guidelines loosening the protocols for those who have been vaccinated. And, yet, so many of us still find ourselves hesitating to go back to a pre-pandemic “normal”.
If you’re one of those people, you’re not alone! An American Psychological Association survey found that 49% of those surveyed reported feeling uncomfortable about the return to in-person interactions. That was also true for 48% of those who received the vaccine! So the struggle is real.
Navigating through a post-pandemic world can be especially challenging for those living with dementia. Their anxiety levels can be raised under normal circumstances. So, the act of getting back to pre-pandemic activities can trigger confusion and raise stress levels. There have even been reported cases of PTSD among otherwise sociable adults for whom the enforced isolation during the pandemic created unanticipated bouts of depression.
If you are a family caregiver for a loved one living with dementia, your journey back to normalcy can feel like a balancing act between meeting your own comfort levels and those of your loved one. Here are some tips to hopefully make it a bit easier on both of you:
Above all, give yourself and your loved one the time and space to transition at a pace that is comfortable and non-threatening. Remember, this pandemic had many of us, especially older adults, shut off from the outside world for well over a year. We can’t expect to bounce back in just a few weeks, or even a few months.
We are all looking forward to a summer filled with family, friends and fun. Be safe, respect others’ feelings, choices and emotions and be patient, with your loved ones and with yourself. Better days are ahead.
(The top image is of residents of Grace Point Place Memory Care in Oak Lawn, Illinois, enjoying some sun and conversation together!)
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Nothing can replace human to human interaction. It’s vital to our emotional and physical health and wellbeing. And yet, researchers and health professionals are finding that robots can play an important role in helping to connect individuals with dementia to information, brain-stimulating entertainment and even to each other.
Denver-based DreamFace Technologies has been working on a fully autonomous robot that can have conversations, remember things and even “empathize” in its own way. Called “Ryan”, the robot was developed in cooperation with the University of Denver Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, under the helm of Dr. Mohammed Mahoor, a university professor. But Dr. Mahoor knew that what works well in a lab may or may not transfer over successfully into real world environments.
Since Ryan was designed to assist individuals with memory loss and cognition challenges, Dr. Mahoor needed to find a local memory care community, preferably with leadership that had the vision and commitment to help “test drive” Ryan. He found the perfect partner in Highline Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado.
The residents were eager to pitch in and help “iron out the kinks” in Ryan. The process of introducing Ryan to interact with residents got the attention of local news channel, KDVR-TV. Below is a video clip:
Jodi Cornman, senior community relations director for Highline Place, was interviewed by KDVR as well as The Patch, Denver’s local newspaper. She was not surprised that the residents were happy to help. “Our residents are very interested in serving others,” she told The Patch. “Working with Ryan in this trial is a way they can help advance innovation in memory care to benefit people now and into the future.”
Will robots have a role in the future of memory care? They do hold promise, although it may take some time to learn to what extent. In the meantime, the residents of Highline Place are happy to be a part of Team Ryan and the development process. As resident, Brian Nelson told the KDVR reporter when asked about the robot, “I liked a lot about it. Nothing against it. It’s interesting.”
That’s a good start.
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By now you may have heard the latest news on the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug, developed by Biogen, called Aducanumab to potentially delay the cognitive decline experienced in Alzheimer’s disease.
This is exciting news because, prior to this, medications have focused only on addressing symptoms without actually attacking the source within the brain cells. Of course, it is important to understand that Aducanumab is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. And yet, according to many scientists and the Alzheimer’s Association it represents a significant advancement in how we approach treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. As of now the drug has shown efficacy in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. It has not yet been tested on individuals in more advanced stages.
Aducanumab breaks new ground as the first drug to actually remove amyloid plaque from the brain.
How does Aducanumab work? Alzheimer’s disease, as you may know, involves the binding together of clumps of amyloid plaques which build up around brain cells and inhibit their function. This ultimately leads to cognitive decline. Simply put, Aducanumab works in much the way that antibodies protect our bodies from harmful toxins and viruses. It is a lab-created antibody that latches on to the built-up amyloid clusters and clears them away from the brain.
There remain questions about the level cognitive improvement attained by taking the drug.
While Aducanumab shows great promise, it is important to note that there is still more to learn about the drug’s efficacy, which has led to some skepticism among scientists. Some of the clinical trials were inconclusive in determining just how much cognitive improvement resulted from clearing away the amyloid cluster plaques. There were also some concerns about potential side effects. However, the Alzheimer’s Association and other health and aging advocacy groups consider this a huge step forward in the race to identify a cure for this deadly disease that on any given day challenges the lives of over six million Americans.
Bringing us another step closer to finding a cure.
Much work remains to determine exactly how Aducanumab (to be sold through Biogen as Aduhelm) is able to clear away amyloid plaque build up and more research is needed to determine if the drug can impact individuals in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. However, every step brings us closer to finding a cure. And that, we believe, is reason for hope!
(photo credit: David A. White - Biogen/Associated Press)
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June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. And it’s never been more important than now, as we begin to come out from the pandemic and researchers double down on their focus to find a cure.
At our Anthem Memory Care communities we never stop our ongoing pursuit of new therapeutics, technologies and the latest methods to optimize the lives our residents and families.
As we work together to put the spotlight on brain health this month, it is important for all of us to understand our own roles in promoting health for ourselves as well as loved ones living with dementia.
How can you optimize brain health? It’s easier than you might think! Following are five key tips we’ve collected from the Alzheimer’s Association as well as from our own resources:
If you haven’t already, now is a great time to get involved! The Alzheimer’s Association has an abundance of resources and information on local events and volunteer activities to help you and other family members of those living with dementia understand the disease and learn how to better support your loved ones. You should also thumb through the pages of this blog for more insights, helpful hints and other information to help you cope more effectively with dementia.
While June may put a special focus on brain health and Alzheimer’s disease, we believe that every day awareness is needed to not only live stronger each day, but to continue research into finding a cure.
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