Our top priority, here at Grace Point Place, is the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. We remain committed to Protect, Engage and Love our residents, and it is a responsibility we take very seriously. From the onset of COVID-19 we have been closely monitoring the situation and have implemented strict measures, based on CDC protocol, to protect our community. We will get through this challenging time together. And we’re here to help!
Our top priority, here at Porter Place, is the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. We remain committed to Protect, Engage and Love our residents, and it is a responsibility we take very seriously. From the onset of COVID-19 we have been closely monitoring the situation and have implemented strict measures, based on CDC protocol, to protect our community. We will get through this challenging time together. And we’re here to help!
All of us at Highline Place, consider our highest priority to be the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. We want you to know that our commitment to Protect, Engage and Love our residents is a responsibility we take very seriously. Right from its onset, we have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and have implemented strict measures, based on CDC protocol, to protect our community. We will get through this challenging time together. And we’re here to help!
All of us at Morningside Place, consider our highest priority to be the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. We want you to know that our commitment to Protect, Engage and Love our residents is a responsibility we take very seriously. Right from its onset, we have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and have implemented strict measures, based on CDC protocol, to protect our community. We will get through this challenging time together. And we’re here to help!
As we all grapple with the fears brought on by the spread of the coronavirus, it is only natural to feel anxious for yourself and your loved ones, especially those who are older. And yet, anxiety brings with it a litany of other issues that can impact your health and emotional wellbeing. What to do? How to stem the emotional roller coaster?
First all, it is imperative that you adhere to the health and safety guidelines of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). As you know, it is important to avoid gatherings and crowds, practice 6’ social distancing, wash hands regularly (20 seconds) and avoid touching your face. But equally important is to understand your anxiety and find healthy ways to work through it to restore as much calm and normality to your life as possible.
The Washington Post recently interviewed several mental health experts regarding the high levels of anxiety being experienced by all of us due to the coronavirus. They had some solid advice to share with those who are feeling especially anxious during these trying times. Here are some of their suggestions (as well as ours):
Dr. Morganstein offers a final comforting thought. You are not alone. Everyone is affected. That is why coming together as a community to experience a common purpose is so important, even when we cannot physically do so. He has some words of wisdom for all of us. “Understanding and reminding ourselves that we’re all going through something together, sometimes that can help us feel less alone.”
At Anthem Memory Care communities there is no higher priority than the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. That is why we are closely and continuously monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and have already implemented numerous measures to protect our Anthem communities.
We welcome you to contact any of our communities for more information on how we are safeguarding our buildings and those who live and work within them, adhering to the stringent guidelines of the CDC.
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As we continue to hear about the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, it is only natural to become increasingly concerned about this potentially deadly virus. It is important to make sure you are doing everything possible to keep yourself and your loved ones safe by adhering to common sense guidelines and avoiding unnecessary travel and situations that present a higher risk of contracting the disease.
Older individuals, especially those with dementia and other underlying health conditions, are particularly vulnerable to contracting coronavirus and may suffer severe complications from the disease. Therefore, if you are caring for an elderly loved one with dementia you must make sure you are complying with the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and doing everything possible to keep your loved one, and yourself, safe.
Here are some suggestions:
Anthem Memory Care communities are taking extra precautions to keep residents and staff safe
We want you to know that at Anthem Memory Care communities, there is no higher priority than the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. Our commitment to Protect, Engage and Love our residents is a responsibility we take seriously. That is why we are closely and continuously monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and have already implemented numerous measures to protect our Anthem communities.
We welcome you to contact any of our communities for more information on how we are safeguarding our buildings and those who live and work within them, adhering to the stringent guidelines of the CDC.
It is important for all of us to use an abundance of caution as we go about our daily lives and to follow the recommendations from the CDC and other accredited health agencies. While we may not yet know the future extent of this disease, we can take our own measures to protect ourselves and those around us.
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Here is a number that should be of concern to all of us: 45-85% of seniors in assisted living and skilled nursing have chronic pain (Stein & Ferrell, 2016). And that number represents only those who are able to recognize and report their pain!
For individuals living with dementia, pain is just as real as for the rest of us. The problem is that they may not be able to convey their pain in ways that cognitively aware individuals can. Often that leads to an ongoing cycle of pain, making their lives more uncomfortable than ever. What are the sources of pain in older adults? Here are some common ones:
There is an abundance of research into how cognitively impaired people experience pain and how caregivers can better recognize and administer to their pain. Here are some tips for getting better at recognizing pain experienced by a loved one with a dementia.
Depending on the cause and level of pain your loved one is experiencing, you may want to try one of the following methods to help alleviate their pain. Of course, it is important to check in with your loved one’s physician, as the pain could be emanating from a serious condition that needs treatment. Here are some natural methods of controlling pain that may work for you:
It goes without saying that there will be times when medication is needed. Always check with your physician to make sure you are using a medication that can be tolerated and that you are administering the correct dosage.
Pain gets in the way of all our lives. It makes doing even simple things more difficult. It hinders our concentration and alters our mood. For those with dementia it is even more important to be prudent in assessing pain experienced by your loved one with dementia and treating it properly.
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Soon we will turn the clocks ahead by one hour. That means it will be darker in the morning but lighter in the early evening. Other than a little groaning about losing the hour in the morning, most of us welcome daylight savings, not only for that extra hour of sunlight, but for the anticipation of spring and warmer weather ahead.
However, for an individual challenged by a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, that hour can wreak havoc on their days and evenings.
Why is this? It’s called “Sundown Syndrome” or “Sundowning” and it is a very real symptomatic condition that causes anxiety when the daylight hours shift into evening. The lower lighting, shadows on the walls, the flurry of activity as people come home from work or a care shift changes; all can cause panic for those living with dementia.
Unfortunately, the exact cause of Sundown Syndrome is unknown. But we do know that there are some conditions and situations that can exacerbate its impact. Here are a few, courtesy of Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford with the Mayo Clinic:
What can family caregivers do in advance of daylight savings time to minimize the impact of Sundown Syndrome? Here are some tips from Dr. Graff-Radford:
Sundown Syndrome is a very real behavioral condition. But it can be minimized with some advance planning and awareness. Taking a few steps to counteract the impact of sundowning will help your loved one adapt more readily and help everyone enjoy the benefits of daylight savings time.
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As parents age, the persistent question on the minds of adult children is, “How long can mom/dad live at home?” As we age, familiar places and things grow in importance to us. Therefore, being able to live in the family home for as long as possible becomes a driving desire. In many ways, it’s easier for the adult children as well. Many grew up in these homes. The thought of having to move their moms and dads out is heartbreaking. So, most stay put. But the clock ticks.
When an individual develops dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the question of staying at home takes on added significance. As the disease develops, the reasoning abilities, along with physical issues create a level of impairment that make it difficult to impossible for the individual to function on their own.
When this happens, many adult children will reach out to “home help” agencies and schedule a caregiver to come into the home throughout the day or evening. How long this kind of arrangement can work out depends on the pace at which the disease develops. Family caregivers often ask for our input as to how long they should try to keep their loved ones in their familiar home environment before making the transition to a memory care community.
The most important things to look for are situations that impact the safety of your loved one. Home caregivers can help with many things, but leaving an individual with dementia alone, even for a few minutes, can have serious safety repercussions.
Here are some warning signs that the disease is impacting the safety of your loved one and that he or she needs may be better served in a safe, nurturing environment with caregivers who are trained in memory care:
Of course, we understand that it isn’t easy to be objective when making decisions on behalf of the person who you have looked up to your entire life. This is a challenging time for family caregivers and their loved ones.
Please know that we are here to help. Consider joining one of our dementia support groups. That is a great way to share your thoughts with other family caregivers and chat with a skilled professional who can answer your questions. You can call the Anthem community in your area for more information.
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Movement Underway to Make Tinley Park a Dementia Friendly Community
A movement has begun to turn the Village of Tinley Park into a Dementia Friendly community and the public is encouraged to become involved. The designation will prove Tinley Park is a place where people living with the disease and their caregivers can thrive. The status is awarded by Dementia Friendly America, a national network of localities, organizations and individuals seeking to foster such communities across the country.
The effort began with a recent meeting by representatives of the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees and the Tinley Park Fire, Police and Community Development Departments. Also participating were Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, LeadingAge Illinois and leadership of Porter Place, the memory care community spearheading the initiative.
“One of every nine people age 65 and above has dementia and they need the world to better understand and embrace them,” said Porter Place Community Relations Director Bobbi Kelley. “We are championing this movement so they can engage in life more fully.”
Essential to attaining the Dementia Friendly designation is participation by a cross-section of the community, including business owners, people living with early onset dementia and those providing unpaid care to family or friends with the disease. To become involved or obtain more information, call Bobbi Kelley at 708-781-1050 or email: [email protected].
Individuals shown in photo are (from left to right) Lewis McCoy, Anthem Memory Care; Colleen Kamin, Porter Place; Bobbi Kelley; Porter Place; Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin; and Jason Speaks, LeadingAge Illinois were among those participating in the initial meeting at Porter Place about turning Tinley Park into a Dementia Friendly community.
Most of us, at one point or another in our lives, have contracted a urinary tract infection or “UTI” as they are more commonly called. They are uncomfortable for sure, causing pressure and pain. So, we drink plenty of water or cranberry juice and, if necessary, take medications to wipe out the infection. Then we go on our way.
For elderly adults, however, a UTI can do more than cause pressure and pain. A UTI can bring on behavior changes that leave a family member wondering what happened to bring on such a sudden change in mom’s behavior? Because a UTI, especially in an elderly person, can bring on confusion, delirium, restlessness and overall weakness and fatigue. That’s why those around them sometimes think it’s a sudden onset of dementia, even though dementia typically progresses more slowly in its early stages.
Many families aren’t aware of this phenomenon. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association noted in an article that even professional caregivers in assisted living communities can be thrown off track when an elderly adult suddenly exhibits behavior that is disoriented and confused. Part of the problem is that a UTI may present few, if any, physical symptoms. Therefore, it is often the last thing considered when a behavior swing occurs. In an article on the topic of UTIs, the Alzheimer’s Association noted a post on their message board from a caregiver who wrote, “Our compromised elders, especially females often develop, "silent" urinary tract infections. These UTIs are called "silent" because they usually have no symptoms of pain, no burning, no odor, no frequency, etc. but there will often be profound changes in behaviors.”
When a UTI is contracted by an individual with dementia it can actually increase their dementia symptoms. And UTIs are very common in individuals with dementia as they often lack the body awareness to be diligent with their daily hygiene. So, as the disease progresses, they may not even realize they have a UTI. That’s why awareness is key. It is important for family caregivers to be proactive and take daily actions to reduce the chances of your loved one contracting a UTI. This can be accomplished by encouraging them to drink plenty of water each day and keeping their urinary/genital area clean. Cranberry juice is known to fight e. Coli, the culprit in over 90% of UTIs, but be mindful that it typically includes a high sugar content. Blueberries, oranges and probiotics can also help protect against UTIs.
Above all be cognizant of any dramatic behavioral changes in your loved one with dementia and reach out for help. Whether or not the cause is something as simple as a UTI, your family physician is in the best position to answer your questions and conduct any tests needed to make a proper assessment.
Most of us, at one point or another in our lives, have contracted a urinary tract infection or “UTI” as they are more commonly called. They are uncomfortable for sure, causing pressure and pain. So, we drink plenty of water or cranberry juice and, if necessary, take medications to wipe out the infection. Then we go on our way.
For elderly adults, however, a UTI can do more than cause pressure and pain. A UTI can bring on behavior changes that leave a family member wondering what happened to bring on such a sudden change in mom’s behavior? Because a UTI, especially in an elderly person, can bring on confusion, delirium, restlessness and overall weakness and fatigue. That’s why those around them sometimes think it’s a sudden onset of dementia, even though dementia typically progresses more slowly in its early stages.
Many families aren’t aware of this phenomenon. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association noted in an article that even professional caregivers in assisted living communities can be thrown off track when an elderly adult suddenly exhibits behavior that is disoriented and confused. Part of the problem is that a UTI may present few, if any, physical symptoms. Therefore, it is often the last thing considered when a behavior swing occurs. In an article on the topic of UTIs, the Alzheimer’s Association noted a post on their message board from a caregiver who wrote, “Our compromised elders, especially females often develop, "silent" urinary tract infections. These UTIs are called "silent" because they usually have no symptoms of pain, no burning, no odor, no frequency, etc. but there will often be profound changes in behaviors.”
When a UTI is contracted by an individual with dementia it can actually increase their dementia symptoms. And UTIs are very common in individuals with dementia as they often lack the body awareness to be diligent with their daily hygiene. So, as the disease progresses, they may not even realize they have a UTI. That’s why awareness is key. It is important for family caregivers to be proactive and take daily actions to reduce the chances of your loved one contracting a UTI. This can be accomplished by encouraging them to drink plenty of water each day and keeping their urinary/genital area clean. Cranberry juice is known to fight e. Coli, the culprit in over 90% of UTIs, but be mindful that it typically includes a high sugar content. Blueberries, oranges and probiotics can also help protect against UTIs.
Above all be cognizant of any dramatic behavioral changes in your loved one with dementia and reach out for help. Whether or not the cause is something as simple as a UTI, your family physician is in the best position to answer your questions and conduct any tests needed to make a proper assessment.
Most of us will readily acknowlege the power of music in our lives. While our individual tastes may differ, we have our favorite songs and delight to the memories they bring back to us. For individuals with dementia, music takes on added importance. This is often because music has the power to connect to those with dementia in ways that other sensory experiences may not.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, studies show that music can lessen behavioral issues and even reduce levels of agitation, common among those struggling with dementia. This is true even as the disease enters later stages. While an individual may forget the identity of the person sitting next to them, they may still be able to tap their feet to a song they recall from their youth. Music can continue to communicate to us, even when verbal communication has become difficult.
What does this mean for family caregivers of loved ones with dementia? It means that there may be ways to engage and connect through music when your words can no longer reach them. Here are some tips to harness the power of music and use it in a positive way, giving it every chance of breaking through to your loved one:
The natural connection to music is powerful, even in later stages of dementia. As the Alzheimer’s Organization notes, Ashley Campbell, widow of country music legend, Glen Campbell, was able to stay connected with her husband through his music until the very end of his life. Music was such a major part of their lives and both of them found solace in the familiarity of sharing that music with each other and those around them. You can too!
Porter Place Memory Care is proud to announce that they have been selected as one of 2020 Best of Senior Living Award winners. SeniorAdvisor.com, the largest ratings and reviews site for senior care and services in North America and Canada, provided this same award to Porter Place in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The Best of 2020 Award is based on the online reviews written by seniors and their families. This exclusive designation honors the top two to three percent of senior care providers across the United States and Canada, by tabulating over 240,000 family-created reviews to find the highest quality care providers for this honor and prestigious award.
Enough can’t be said for the positive impact that a sense of purpose makes on individuals challenged with dementia. The same can be said for interactions with animals. So imagine the impact of putting the two together: doing purposeful, community service work for animals.
The residents of Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado were delighted to participate in a project to serve the local dog parks. The project involved building what are referred to as “dog stick libraries” – crates built to hold sticks, tennis balls and other dog toys.
Local students from Regis Jesuit High School got together with Chelsea Place residents to saw, hammer, nail and build the crates. The crates were then sent to local dog parks around the area. This unique program helps young people learn more about dementia and gives them a valuable opportunity to interact in a positive, constructive way with them. And, while a few of the students worked with wood before, many had not. But all enjoyed the process, learning to work together and gaining the benefit of feeling they had accomplished something very special.
The program caught the attention of local news outlets, including the Denver Post who sent out a reporter to interview the students, residents and staff. Jenni Dill, Life Engagement Director for Chelsea Place explained to the reporter how the process helps students learn how to get into a different sort of reality that accompanies dementia. “One of the things the girls learn is wherever someone’s at in their reality, you just join them. So if he thinks he lives on the moon then, hey, we’re getting on the rocket ship. That’s just the way it goes,” she said.
And, as is so often the case when students get together with seniors, the students came away from the experience having learned a few things about word working from some of the residents who had worked with wood before. “If I’m being honest, the first day I had to remember these people have dementia but, now, I can honestly say I forget it half the time,” Juliette Bruner told the Denver Post.
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Students from a local high school joined with Chelsea Place Memory Care residents to build special “dog stick” libraries with wooden crates to distribute to dog parks throughout Aurora, Colorado. Their crate building session was written up in the Denver Post. You can read more on this here