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June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness month, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association to educate and heighten awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. It is also an opportunity to encourage individuals who suspect they, or a loved one, might be in the early phases of Alzheimer’s disease not to wait to take action. Alzheimer’s disease is a difficult topic for most of us to discuss, especially if we have any suspicions that a family member may have the disease. According to a new survey released by the Alzheimer’s Association, 3 out of 4 Americans said that broaching the subject of memory loss with a family member would be difficult.

That’s why the Alzheimer’s Association has made it their mission to educate and develop tools to help family members take initial steps to learn more about the disease and seek help earlier, rather than later.

As Michael Carson, Chief Marketing Officer for the Alzheimer’s Association says, “Initiating conversations sooner can enable early diagnosis, which offers many important benefits, including allowing more time for critical care planning, better disease management and providing diagnosed individuals a voice in their future care.”

So what can individuals do to help bring Alzheimer’s disease out from the shadows and into the conversation? Here are some ideas:

Finally keep up to date with the latest research and studies in your area. Organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association are dedicated to finding a cure for this devastating disease. Subscribe to newsletters and websites to stay informed.

Together we can continue the march towards finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. We applaud organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association for their tireless, ongoing efforts to shed light on the disease and support individuals struggling with Alzheimer’s as well as those caring for them.

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As the weather begins to warm up, most of us find ourselves longing to get out of the house. If you live in a colder climate, you may have been cooped up over the long winter and wet spring and look forward to shopping, visits to the park, cook-outs and warm evenings, sitting outside with a cool drink watching the sunset.

For individuals with dementia, however, leaving the house can cause a great deal of anxiety. So it seems easier to stay put and cling to the familiar haven of the home.

Getting up and out of the house, however, can be beneficial for individuals struggling with dementia because the change in scenery stimulates the brain and senses in ways that familiar environments cannot. While you don’t want to force your loved one into uncomfortable settings that are noisy and confusing, there are short outings you can take together that break up your day and give you both a refreshing change of pace.

Here are some things to consider when planning a brief outing with your loved one:

Outings with a mom or dad who has dementia don’t have to be full of anxiety and stress. With a little planning and input from them, you can arrange short, relaxing day trips that will leave you and your loved one refreshed and eager to go out again.

There’s nothing like a friendly game of croquet to get people talking and enjoying one another’s company. And, when it involves a mix of elementary school students and older adults, it is even more special. Recently, Chelsea Place Memory Care (an Anthem Memory Care community) located in Aurora, Colorado, partnered with students from Sagebrush Elementary and Jiminy Wicket to engage them all in a lively game of croquet. Jiminy Wicket is an intergenerational croquet experience that brings elementary school students together with memory care residents.

The event was, as expected, a great success and full of what they referred to as “magic moments”. When you watch the video you can see immediately how special this experience was, not only to the residents but to the students and staff as well.

Chelsea Place has participated in about ten Jiminy Wicket events over the course of the school year. It’s a successful program because they keep the agenda simple and fun. Each student is encouraged to “team up” with a resident for a game of croquet, which is set up for them in the school gym by the Jiminy Wicket organizer (often the founder himself, James Creasey). Chelsea Place’s Life Engagement Assistant, Henry Johnson Jr., filmed the most recent event, which you can watch here.

When an individual is challenged with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, interacting with young people, especially children, will often spark a level of interaction others find difficult to achieve. At Anthem Memory Care communities, we take every opportunity to bring school children together with our residents. Witnessing the laughter and smiles these occasions bring is an experience that never gets old for our staff, our residents and families.

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, encourage younger family members and friends to come and visit often. If possible, try to keep the visits to one or two children and keep them short. That way they will be more enjoyable and less tiring for your loved one.

Finding opportunities to bring children and older adults together brings smiles and laughter as well as breathes some fresh air into the lives of all who participate. It’s truly a “win-win” experience!

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Liz Thomas had a great idea for an event at Amber Grove Memory Care in Chico, California. Why not gather together all the vintage wedding gowns of residents and staff and share them in a special wedding dress show? Liz, a friend of the mother of Brenda Reitz (Life Engagement Director at Amber Grove), is well into her 80’s. So, she had her own vintage wedding gown to share, as well as a pair of hand-made leather shoes and gloves. The idea was enthusiastically received by all.

Between residents and staff about a dozen dresses were collected. Liz and some of the staff members strolled around the room sharing each dress with residents who were able to reach out and feel the soft texture of vintage lace and beading. Liz also shared some beautiful photographs of wedding gowns from the 20’s and 30’s, an era many of the residents lived through and had fond memories of. One of the staff members even modeled a dress, twirling around to show it off, to the delight of the residents. And they all shared a laugh as a visiting Chico State nursing student struggled to fit into a vintage tuxedo. They even included an array of wedding photos of residents and played a “guess the resident” game.

There are some amazing stories behind the dresses, one dating back to the 1890's! And one of the most poignant moments came when they presented a dress that had survived last year’s devastating fire in Paradise, a town located near Chico. The dress had been stored away in a fabric-covered box. Amazingly it remained untouched, while other belongings stored in plastic melted!

The best part of events like these are the memories that are rekindled when we share mementos of the past with loved ones who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. An event a simple as a vintage fashion show can turn into something quite remarkable for residents and their families as they come together and enjoy each other’s company while they chat about memories which are often fleeting, but still alive within the residents.

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, put some time aside to pull out some old family mementos and photographs. In addition to it being a soothing pastime for both of you, it very well may rekindle a memory or two!

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We often hear from family caregivers how difficult it is to get a mom or dad with dementia to eat. Why is this? There are several reasons. The neurological changes associated with dementia can result in a failure to properly stimulate areas of the brain that recognize hunger and, accordingly, to take actions to satisfy that hunger. In some cases, sensory deficits will reduce an individual’s sense of smell and taste, making the act of eating far less enjoyable. An impaired memory can also cause someone to think they’ve already eaten when, in fact, they have not. Medications can also impair appetite as well. As you can see, the list goes on.

As a caregiver, however, there are things you can do to make your loved one’s dining experience more pleasurable and conducive to eating. Here are a few tips to jump start your efforts:

  1. Appearance matters. Try using a bright solid colored plate for your loved one’s food. Why? A study, conducted by Boston University, found that individuals eating from red plates ate 25% more than those eating from white plates. According to their feedback, individuals could see their food more easily on a red plate than on a white plate. By noticing the food, they were more likely to eat it. You might also try dishing out smaller portions and add some more colorful vegetables on the plate to liven it up. Dress the food up with a touch of parsley, much as you might find on an entrée at a café. This will make the dish more appealing and may encourage mom or dad to take a few extra bites.
  2. Prepare easy to eat food. As we age, our ability to use utensils can become impaired. This is especially true for those with dementia. Try creating tasty and nutritious finger sandwiches that are easy to pick up. Include other finger foods, such as cut of fruit and vegetables. Consider serving a chicken drumstick rather than bulky chicken breasts. Mexican foods such as taquitos can be delicious and easy to handle.
  3. Create an atmosphere conducive to eating. Make it a point to sit down and eat along with mom or dad. Make eye contact as much as possible. Keep conversation light and to a minimum. This will help them focus on the food rather than become distracted by conversation. Avoid lecturing about the importance of eating and nutrition. This can have the reverse effect on your parent, who may sense your frustration and worry. That will increase their own anxiety and, hence, their reluctance to eat.

Finally, try to set a schedule for meals. Experiment with sizes of meals and time of day. Does you mom or dad have issues with “sundowning” and become anxious as the sun sets? It may be wise to schedule a meal well before or after the transition to evening.

At Anthem Memory Care communities, our chefs and culinary staff stay on the cutting edge of creating a pleasing, relaxing and nutritious dining experience for our residents and their families. We would be happy to share more dining tips with you. Better yet, drop in and visit an Anthem Memory Care community near you. You are always welcome!

Much has been written about the physical and emotional benefits associated with walking. For individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, research indicates that a regimen of taking short walks may help slow memory loss, as well as improve physical endurance.

A 2017 study, conducted by University of Kansas, found that aerobic exercise, achieved through a walking program, was associated with gains in cardiorespiratory fitness and improved memory performance. This is potentially good news for family members of those impaired by Alzheimer’s disease, who are seeking to maintain their loved ones’ physical and mental health for as long as possible.

Other studies have also detected a relationship between regular exercise and memory function. And, those who are more physically active have been found to have greater volume in the hippocampus region of the brain. The hippocampus is linked to memory function.

There are lots of reasons to add a short walk into the daily regimen for you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Here are a few of them:

Another great benefit of taking a short walk together is that it gives you time to enjoy each other’s company without making a concerted effort to come up with something to say. Taking an easy stride, with an occasional comment on the scenery can have a calming effect on both of you. It gives you time away from the house to enjoy the breezes and sun on your shoulders; a simple pleasure with many benefits.

Alzheimer’s disease impacts over 5 million people in the United States alone. And it’s a number that is expected to almost double over the next 20 years. If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, you need every tool available to you to help maintain their physical and emotional health for as long as possible. Walking, for those who are able, is one of the best methods of increasing blood flow to the brain, as well as keeping joints and muscles in working order.

Have a look outside. What’s the weather like? Is it warming up? Late spring is a great time to get out and take a walk with your loved one. But be sure to start off slowly. Don’t rush. And, as the saying goes, take time to stop and smell the roses!

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, chances are you find yourself struggling each day just to grab an hour or so for yourself when you can. It isn’t easy finding the time to attend to your personal needs. Whether it’s a doctor appointment or a long overdue visit to the dentist, time is not on your side.

Taking time to recharge and tend to your own health and social needs is not only important, it is a necessary part of caregiving. Serious issues, such as caregiver burnout, can sneak up on you and take a toll on your physical and emotional health, forcing an unplanned disruption of your caregiving duties. When that happens, everyone suffers.

That’s why it is important to schedule your own caregiver’s respite this summer. While that may seem like an impossible feat, you should know that there are resources to help. It is not only possible to take needed time off, it is necessary to do so for your health and wellbeing.

One way to carve out time for yourself is to schedule a couple weeks’ respite stay for your loved one at a local memory care community.

You may have heard of respite care, but there are benefits you may not be aware of:

  1. It also gives your loved one a break. You are not the only one who will benefit from a well needed rest. You should know that your loved one with dementia can benefit greatly from a change in scenery and opportunity to socialize with new people. The Alzheimer’s Association urges caregivers to provide as many opportunities for socialization and variety as possible. A respite stay at a memory care community can provide a safe and caring environment for those with dementia to interact and engage with others.
  2. It is a great opportunity to see what living in a memory care community is like. In some memory care communities, such as Anthem Memory Care, your loved one will be able to enjoy full dining privileges as well as partake in all activities. It will also expose you to the many benefits associated with professional memory care.
  3. It costs about the same as the nightly cost of a hotel room. Many people think that respite care is expensive. It needn’t be. Most are reasonable and affordable. And the cost includes all meals and activities, as well as around the clock professional care.

After your respite comes to an end, you will be surprised at the increase in your energy levels as well as having a more positive, healthy attitude towards your loved one and yourself.

All of our Anthem Memory Care communities provide respite care. Now is the time to plan ahead for the summer. You and your loved one will benefit greatly from it.

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Looking through your closet, picking out what you’re going to wear, getting dressed, and walking out the door. All are things you’ve done a thousand times, right? You don’t even have to think about it. For someone with Alzheimer’s disease, however, especially as the disease progresses, these simple activities can become overwhelming, causing anxiety and frustration.

If you are caring for a mom or dad with dementia, dressing and grooming are activities that your loved one will need an increasing amount of help to tackle. And, if you reach out to help in a loving, respectful way, you can make this transition much easier, for both of you. Here are some tips from the Alzheimer’s Association as well as our own team on how to approach helping your loved one dress and groom each day.

Taking the time to help with dressing and grooming in a patient and caring manner will help your loved one continue to keep good hygiene and keep a sense of normality to their lives. Good grooming will also improve their sense of dignity and help them lead a more purposeful, connected life.

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, you may have noticed a difference in his or her behavior as we’ve gotten get deeper into spring. If so, it may be that they are experiencing something called SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. A recent study of 3,353 older adults in the United States, Canada, and France found that older adults exhibited better thinking and concentration skills in the late summer and early fall months than in the winter and spring. In fact, there was a 31% increase of cognitive impairment diagnoses made during the spring and winter months.

SAD is a very real syndrome. As the seasons change, aging individuals can become more prone to depression. It can be especially pronounced for those with dementia, as they are more likely to experience a dip in cognitive skills during winter and spring, which tends to improve during summer and fall, according to research.

Here are some of the symptoms of SAD to look for in your loved one with dementia:

It is important to watch for the above signs and note if they coincide with a change of season.  There are some actions you can take to help mitigate the severity of the impact. Here are a few:

Above all, be sure to share your loved one’s behavioral changes with his or her physician. Identifying SAD sooner, rather than later, will lead you can taking steps to lessen the negative impact of seasonal changes before they get out of control.

As a caregiver, you need to also make sure you are caring for yourself as well as your loved one. And monitor your own health as the seasons change and keep your own doctor visits up to date. The season changes can be a beautiful time of the year to enjoy with family and friends. By being aware of the impact of seasonal change and diligent about addressing them, your loved one with dementia can celebrate spring and the promise of warmer weather.

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If you find the term “dementia” a bit confusing and wish you understood more, you’re not alone. Often relatives and friends of individuals with dementia struggle to pinpoint exactly what type of dementia a family member has been diagnosed with. There is, therefore, a tendency to lump all dementias into a single category without really understanding the unique features of each type.

Here is a brief breakdown of the most common types of dementia, taken from a comprehensive list created by the Alzheimer’s Association. (The list includes descriptions of several additional forms of dementia, including “mixed” dementia, which can involve two or three types of dementia.)

It is important, regardless of the type of dementia a loved one may have, to learn about other forms as well. First, a broader understanding will give you added insight into the care of your loved one. Secondly, it will help you to be more supportive of those who may have a loved one with a different form of dementia.

Ultimately, of course, knowledge is power. Learning about all forms of dementia leads to better understanding and appreciation for the complex nature of the disease. Make it a point to share what you learn with family and friends. The more educated we all are, the more aware we will be of opportunities to work together to help conquer this devastating disease.

Do you suffer from allergies? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans, especially during spring, experience the watery eyes and runny noses that come with seasonal allergies. And, like many health conditions, allergic reactions can become even more debilitating as we age. Compound that with an individual struggling with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and you can imagine the discomfort and anxiety it adds to an already challenging life. Even more so if they can’t articulate their discomfort to those who can help.

As we move into spring and allergy season comes into full bloom, it’s important for those of you caring for parents with dementia to be armed with information to keep your loved one as comfortable as possible. Here are some tips to help:

At Anthem Memory Care communities, our medical team and caregivers keep on top of all conditions that can impair the health and wellbeing of our residents. Therefore, we are well aware of the impact allergies can have on physical and emotional health. That’s why we urge caregivers of loved ones with dementia to be diligent. Don’t assume that the allergy will “take care of itself”. The symptoms of allergies can exacerbate existing health issues for older adults, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Thankfully, for most allergies there are treatments that can help minimize the discomfort and improve the day to day quality of life for your loved one.

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Bringing together our memory care residents with young people creates a wonderful experience for all who participate. Each person has something to share and something to learn from one another.

To celebrate the festivities of Mardi Gras, Grace Point Place Memory Care in Oak Lawn, Illinois invited teens from the A.E.R.O Special Education Cooperative to join residents in making king cakes. So, you may be wondering, what is a king cake? A king cake is a special New Orleans Mardi Gras cake, baked with a tiny plastic baby doll hidden inside the pastry. The person who is served the slice with the baby doll is chosen to host the next party. It’s a fun tradition and, at Grace Point Place, everyone had the fun of discovering a tiny baby doll in their slice of king cake. The festivities were covered by local ABC Eye Witness News station, WLS-TV. 

Meredith Morris, Community Relations Director told the ABC news reporter how important these events are in their community. It is a great way for their residents to remain engaged in an activity instead of just sitting and watching. And bringing in the youthful energy is nice too!

Paige Cihocki, a teen from A.E.R.O agreed, mentioning to the ABC reporter that she liked the fact that she “got to talk with someone who I can relate to a little bit.”

Inter-generational activities, such as these, are important in that they provide a sense of purpose and higher quality of life for Anthem Memory Care residents. That is why we encourage those who are caring for loved ones with dementia to find opportunities for young family members and friends to visit their loved one often. There is so much joy to be found for all involved!

(Image taken from ABC Eyewitness News video)

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As we head into March, most of us begin longing for the first signs of spring. With spring comes warmer weather and more opportunities to venture outdoors. We all look forward to being able to open a window occasionally and not worry about a blast of cold air hitting us in the face.

For individuals with dementia, the winter months can really take their toll. Sunlight is rare, clouds are abundant, the days are shorter and there are fewer opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

That doesn’t mean your parent or other loved one with dementia has to spend all his or her time sitting in front of a TV set, however. There are plenty of indoor activities that, if planned properly can help boost your loved one’s mood and keep everyone engaged and entertained. Here are a few ideas to consider:

At Anthem Memory Care communities, we make sure that our residents have plenty of activities to keep them engaged and connected to themselves and those around them.

Consider bringing your loved one to your local Anthem Memory Care community for a short stay with us. Your mom or dad can enjoy our many activities and get a taste of what it would be like to live in our community. It will also give you time to keep those appointments you may have been neglecting and have some time to yourself.

Above all, look at the bright side. Spring will be here soon!  

As you may know, the 1950's and 1960's were the heyday of the department store. Many women back in the day would put on their hats and gloves and go “downtown” to shop, have lunch and occasionally enjoy a local fashion show, hosted by a local department store. In more recent years the fashion show has taken a more hip and glamorous turn with TV runway fashion shows. If you have a mom over the age of 70, however, chances are she at some point enjoyed an old fashioned outing to the local department store fashion show.

Chelsea Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado partnered recently with students from nearby Regis Jesuit High School to give their residents an opportunity to stage and participate in their own fashion show, complete with a walk down their own red carpet.

Students and staff were happy to take on the make-up artist and fashion designer roles, transforming residents into fashion mavens for a day. The fun activities also gave the residents a glimpse back at memories of the past, days when many of them remember dressing up with gloves and hats to go downtown and enjoy a fashion show.

Engaging individuals with dementia in activities that they once enjoyed in earlier times can have a powerful impact. Not only can it spark a memory or two, but it also can foster a more natural connection between them and those around them.

At Anthem Memory Care communities, when young people participate in our events, they are not only helping to provide a nice social experience for residents, they also gain a greater understanding of those who are challenged with dementia. That is why we have multiple programs geared towards bringing students from local schools through our doors. We also believe that it’s important to the families of our residents to know that their loved ones are involved in a variety of social activities and that they are receiving the therapeutic benefits of inter-generational experiences.

(The image shown with this blog was taken by Aaron Ontiveroz, photographer with the Denver Post, who covered the event. The image shows Chelsea Place Life Engagement Director, Jenni Dill, applying makeup to resident, Susie Thome.)

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Valentine’s Day is, for many, a joyous day to celebrate with the person you love. Flowers, chocolates, cards and kisses are exchanged. For those who have either lost a loved one or are struggling to find a relationship it’s a day to “just get through”. But for those with a loved one who struggles with dementia, days like Valentine’s Day brings special challenges. Your loved one is still physically there with you but may no longer be able to relate to you as he or she did in the past. They are therefore disconnected from the symbolism of Valentine’s Day, a day you may have once enjoyed together.

There are ways you can still celebrate the love you have shared for years without forcing feelings or setting yourself up for a disappointment.

Here are some tips to mark the day in a positive way:

  1. Purchase flowers. Set a fresh bouquet of flowers on a table near your loved one. The scent can be enjoyed by both of you.
  2. Enjoy some Valentines cupcakes or cookies together. Even a small box of chocolates can be enjoyed, health permitting.
  3. Write a Valentine’s card and read it out loud to your loved one. While he or she may not be able to grasp the full meaning, the act of writing it and communicating your love can do wonders to lift your own spirits.
  4. Share some old photographs with your loved one. Talk about the people in each photo. Again, the act of sharing memories will raise your spirits and give you a sense of having marked the day.
  5. Just talk. Share your feelings and memories. Talk about the time you first met, how you became engaged, and other fond memories.

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. Caring for a loved one with dementia is the ultimate expression of selfless, everlasting love. Approaching Valentine’s Day in a new way will help you make an important transition in your relationship with your loved one. More importantly, it will turn Valentine’s Day from a day to avoid into a special day to share.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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