Earlier this month, twenty young students got together with memory care residents to have some Halloween fun making decorations and “super senior” costumes. The festivities were held at Grace Point Place Memory Care, an Anthem Memory Care community located in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
The young people are students from local Southwest Chicago Christian School in Oak Lawn. As is usually the case when we bring young people and residents together, both groups got much more out of the visit than they anticipated. As you may know, the benefits of inter-generational interactions are well documented. For older individuals, the youthful exuberance brings a breath of fresh air and energy. For the young people, interacting with someone much older can be enriching and inspiring. This can be especially true for individuals challenged with dementia. Young people, often without even realizing it, are able to reach people who otherwise appear to be walled off from conversations. That’s why at Anthem Memory Care communities we regularly embrace opportunities to open our doors to local school children so that they spend some time visiting with our residents. Good things always happen!
The recent Halloween decorating party at Grace Point Place was no exception. “This is a great opportunity for the young people and our residents to pool their creativity and get to know each other,” said Cortney Malinowski, executive director of Grace Point Place. “Along with wonderful costumes, we anticipate new friendships will result from it.”
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A quick note about holiday decorations and festivities. At Anthem Memory Care communities we are ever aware of the impact that holiday excitement can have on individuals with dementia. Halloween is a holiday that can carry unexpected sources of anxiety for older individuals who are no longer able to make the distinction between what is real and what is make believe. Therefore, those funny ghost masks and oversized artificial spiders can be perceived as a real threat to an individual in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease. That is why we take extra precautions with our holiday celebrations to ensure that all of our residents always feel comfortable and safe. We urge you to do the same. If you have a loved one with dementia, pay close attention to his or her reactions and overall demeanor and make sure they remain calm and anxiety free as they enjoy the holiday décor and other seasonal touches.
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As we head into November, along with the holidays comes the onslaught of flu season.
We all know that flu presents special challenges for older individuals. Much of it involves strength and the ability to keep air passages clear. When younger, stronger adults contract the flu, they will cough, clear their throats and blow their noses regularly. For older, weaker adults, that takes much more effort to do. And, for those with Alzheimer’s disease, especially during the later stages, the awareness that they need to keep air passages clear may no longer be present. This can dramatically reduce the ability to keep passages open and clear out viruses and bacteria. That can lead to the worsening of flu and, for many, pneumonia.
While flu is the number one health issue on everyone’s minds during fall and winter months, it’s important to know that there are other potentially life-threatening health related issues to watch out for this fall and winter:
Remember that your loved one with Alzheimer’s may be losing his or her ability to self-monitor and make healthy decisions. They may not have the awareness to make sure they wash their hands frequently. Lack of good hygiene can make them more susceptible to germs brought in by caregivers and others.
For all these reasons and more, it is important to remove as many health obstacles for your loved one as possible. Make sure your mom or dad has a licensed caregiver present at all times to ensure they are eating properly, staying hydrated and using proper hygiene. Make sure they get a flu shot and, if applicable, a pneumonia shot. Ultimately, of course, you will want to find a memory care community staffed with professionals who can provide long-term, loving care for your loved one in a comfortable, safe environment.
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Have you ever seen a child bring a smile to the face of an elderly loved one when no one else could seem to do it? It happens all the time. A young person’s enthusiasm and energy can often break through hard-to-penetrate personal boundaries that others cannot. This is also true for those with dementia.
According to an article in VeryWellHealth, (citing multiple sources, including NIH, American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease), the following benefits have been observed from inter-generational interactions between young people and individuals with cognitive impairment:
While studies are ongoing to further evaluate the effects of inter-generational interaction, the overall impact of bringing individuals with dementia together with young people has been overwhelmingly positive.
A recent Harris Poll, conducted on behalf of Generations United, found that 86% of Americans queried would prefer a care setting with opportunities for inter-generational contact rather than one with only a single age group.
That is why at Anthem Memory Care communities we provide ample opportunities to bring local school children and high school students together with our residents. Here are just a few examples of what we’re doing that you may enjoy reading:
A Valentine’s Dance; Memory Care Residents with Local High School Students
Crafts, Smiles and Laughter; Memory Care Residents with Local Elementary School Children
Baking Girl Scout Cookies; Girl Scouts and Memory Care Residents
Christmas Stockings for Charity; Local Children and Memory Care Residents Work Together
Drumming Circles, Painting and Fun; Memory Care Residents and Local College Students
If you have a parent or other aging loved one who lives at home, it is important to find as many opportunities as possible to enable them to engage with young people.
If you are currently looking into memory care communities for a loved one, be sure to ask them about their inter-generational programs. They should be able to provide information on what activities they provide, how often they have them and be prepared to share stories and photos of these events.
Children and young adults are truly a blessing to those challenged by dementia, whose worlds have become more confusing and anxiety filled. Experiencing an interaction with a young person, even briefly, can do both of them a world of good.
Photograph is of a cookie baking session at Anthem’s Harvester Place Memory Care in Burr Ridge, Illinois
For most of us, the days and weeks leading up to Halloween are filled with carved pumpkins, cardboard cut-outs of witches and skeletons and sometimes even cupcakes with frosting spiders. It’s all in good fun and we laugh, take our grandkids out for Trick or Treat and steal a Snickers bar or two.
For someone with dementia, however, scary and fun do not necessarily go hand in hand. Masks of Trick-or-Treaters, fake cobwebs and wall decorations of ghosts and goblins can be seriously frightening. So, what starts off as a fun project to “decorate grandma’s house” can become a living nightmare as she struggles to make sense of frightening images and icons. And, yes, it’s hard to believe that they once drew little more than a chuckle.
Visitors to the door, yelling “Trick or treat!” can also be disorienting to someone challenged by dementia. The once systematic neural processing of people and images is no longer so, causing anxiety and fear. This can be exacerbated if the individual is also experiencing “sundown syndrome”, an anxiety provoked by the transition from daylight to darkness.
The Alzheimer’s Association identifies several key sources of anxiety for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Here are three that are of particular concern around Halloween:
You can imagine how Halloween can trigger these fears and create an emotional reaction that can result in heightened anxiety and fearfulness.
Does that mean you shouldn’t decorate mom’s house or acknowledge the holiday? If Halloween has always been an enjoyable time for your family, here are a few ideas to help keep the spirit of the season, while keeping mom or dad feeling safe and secure:
By adjusting your festivities as suggested above, you can still include mom or dad on the celebration of fall and Halloween. By taking the time to minimize disruption and modify your holiday decorating, you will go a long way towards ensuring that your loved one with dementia continues to feel safe and secure. You and your family will be rewarded with a calmer, happier environment that is more relaxing and enjoyable for all.
Highline Place Memory Care (an Anthem Memory Care community) in Littleton, Colorado, has a trailblazer living inside its lively, vibrant community. Emily Howell Warner, a 78-year old resident, has an exciting history, recently celebrated at Denver’s Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
Ms. Warner has the distinction of being America’s first female commercial flight captain, having earned her stripes back in 1976. She once described her experience as being “under an awful lot of pressure when I started. Everyone was watching me, waiting for me to make a mistake.”
The first few days were challenging. Finally, she was considered part of the team.
When Jodi Cornman, Highline Place’s Community Relations Director, learned of Ms. Warner’s amazing accomplishments, she approached Ms. Warner and her family about sharing her experiences with local middle and high school students. They emphatically agreed.
A special Q&A event, covered by the local Columbine Courier, was held in the Wings Aerospace Academy, which is on the campus of the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver. The students who attended the event are enrolled in the Academy’s program for aspiring flyers.
Ms. Warner, when interviewed by a Courier reporter, admitted that the early days on the job were, indeed, challenging. They were just as challenging for her male co-pilot who proceeded to sit her next to him, take the controls and tell her “not to touch” anything. Ultimately, however, the male pilots grew to respect her skills and tenacity and eventually embraced her as part of the team. “I was pretty accepted after a while,” Ms. Warner told the Courier.
Every resident has a unique history which deserves to be recognized and respected.
Of course the rest, as they say, is history. Between those turbulent early days and retirement, Ms. Warner logged over 21,000 air hours, flying for Continental Airlines, UPS and, finally working as an FAA examiner.
Our hats are off to Emily Howell Warner and we are honored to count her among our greater family of residents and caregivers at Highline Place and all of our communities. We continue to celebrate the lives and memories of all Anthem Memory Care community residents. We understand that very resident has a unique history which deserves to be recognized and respected. And we appreciate the opportunities, when possible, to share their stories.
Photo shows Emily Howell Warner standing with a life size cutout of her in earlier days as a captain. She is surrounded by a group of fellow industry colleagues.
If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, how well are you looking out for your own health? Or are you, like so many others, so selfless in your desire to do the right thing for mom or dad that you ignore your own health?
If that sounds like you, consider the fact that losing track of your own health, in addition to exposing yourself to serious illness, will diminish your effectiveness as a caregiver. Think about it. If you were a machine calibrated to conduct a series of processes, you would want to keep your machine in optimum working condition. Because you know that, if any part of a machine isn’t up to par, the performance will drop off and may even stop working altogether.
Of course, you are not a “machine”. You are a living, breathing caring person who, like all of us, needs to be reminded of your own limits from time to time. But the fact is, caring for yourself is really the cornerstone to being able to properly care for and make decisions for mom or dad.
With that in mind, here are five things you need to be doing for yourself to be a better caregiver for your loved one:
Throughout your journey as a caregiver, it is also important to stay on top of the latest in research and technologies in the fight to cure Alzheimer’s disease. Consider joining your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Get involved in their activities. You’ll find by reaching out to others in similar situations you will gain much in return.
Anthem Memory Care communities are here to help. We hold regular dementia support groups, led by licensed professionals. We also provide short-term respite care, which gives you and your loved one a unique opportunity to experience an Anthem community and witness yourself the loving and compassionate care we provide.
We are here to be a resource for you. We welcome your call or visit any time to any of our care communities.
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Most of us have come to rely more and more upon technology to assist us in our homes, especially as we grown older. We also turn to technology to help keep our aging parents as independent as long as possible. That’s true even if that parent has dementia. The question is always how long he or she can remain at home before it makes more sense to transition to memory care.
It is true that, in many cases, if a parent has been diagnosed with dementia in its earlier stages, he or she may be able to remain at home for some period of time. And, yes, technology can help keep mom or dad safe and comfortable. With that goal in mind, here is some of the technology that has gained in popularity in recent years and can provide added support for your loved one and for you.
We can expect this list to grow as creative new solutions are developed to serve our ever-aging population. One thing, however, should always be uppermost in your mind: What is best for your parent with dementia? Because no device, no matter how “smart”, will ever be able to replace the presence of a loving, caring human being. And there are other needs your loved will have as the disease progresses. The need for increased safety and for socialization will become more urgent, as will the need to surround your parent with individuals who are experienced in all facets of dementia.
At Anthem Memory Care communities, we deploy leading edge technologies and innovations to ensure that our residents are always safe and comfortable, while respecting their need for independence and to have a sense of purpose. We understand the important role technology plays and its ever-expanding role in supporting all of us as we age. But the human touch will always carry the greatest value. That’s something our caregivers and staff remind us of everyday as they pursue their passion to provide our residents with quality care, respect and love.
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September is World Alzheimer’s Month. That means that organizations all over the world are holding events to bring greater awareness to this deadly disease.
Here at Anthem Memory Care, we believe it is of utmost importance to keep abreast of the latest research, treatments and legislation impacting the lives of the residents we serve in our communities. That means keeping up to date, not just in September, but throughout the entire year.
In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Month, however, we would like to share some of the latest information, courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association, as to research and treatments on the horizon for tackling Alzheimer’s disease. We hope that you will find this helpful in your own efforts to keep track of progress being made to control the disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association currently identifies five known contributors to Alzheimer’s Disease. Research is being conducted to inhibit and/or block these contributors. Below is a list of the contributors and the current drugs being tested to combat the roles they play in Alzheimer’s disease:
There is much more information on the above, available from The Alzheimer’s Association. To learn more about these Alzheimer’s disease contributors and the drugs being evaluated to combat them, we recommend that you read the entire article here.
There are approximately 44 million people, worldwide, who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia (Alzheimer’s News Today, 2018). While there are few journeys more challenging than that associated with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, it should continue to give all of us great hope that medical research efforts are continuing to seek new ways of slowing and ultimately stopping this devastating disease in its tracks.
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We often have family members ask us about personality changes when mom or dad is diagnosed with dementia. They will say, “I expected the memory loss, but now mom is acting strange in other ways.” With the heavy focus on memory and dementia, other behavioral aspects of dementia are often pushed aside. Yet they are important to understand as you strive to gain a better understanding of each behavioral change and what lies beneath it.
First of all you should know that you are not alone in your confusion and anxiety over unexpected changes in mom’s or dad’s personality. You should also know that an important part of dealing with these changes is to understand why they occur.
According to the Weill Institute for Neurosciences’ Memory and Aging Center, as an individual loses neuron cells, behavioral changes will occur. What the behavior is will depend on which part of the brain experiencing cell loss. As an example, the frontal lobes of our brains control impulses. When a person begins to lose frontal lobe neural cells, he or she may begin to act rudely, displaying a lack of sensitivity.
Other things can also impact behavior for someone with dementia. We all know the feeling of losing our keys or forgetting where we put our wallets. We temporarily become angry with our own forgetfulness. When a person with Alzheimer’s forgets things, however, that anger is intensified out of proportion. This is often due to the confusion and anxiety associated with feeling disconnected to conversations and the world around them.
Medical issues can also impact behavior for someone challenged by dementia. Because they may not be able to properly describe the pain, frustration sets in causing them to act out in an angry manner they wouldn’t normally exhibit.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, these behavioral changes can seem overwhelming as you struggle to find ways of interpreting the behavior and ways to cope effectively with it. Here are a few tips from the Memory and Aging Center to help:
Mood swings, anger, seemingly outlandish behavior changes; all are part of this devastating illness. Armed with information, resources and support, however, you can find new ways of coping that enable you to continue to effectively engage with your loved one.
It isn’t unusual to encounter memory care residents who can’t remember what they had for breakfast, yet will quickly recall older memories. Sports is one thing that tends to pull forth deeper memories for those challenged by dementia. And, for residents of Chelsea Place Memory Care, that’s especially true if it’s Denver Broncos football!
Every year, Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado, gets out the Broncos banners, caps and t-shirts and engages their residents in Broncos Game Day activities. This year, the fans at Chelsea Memory Care decided to throw a pre-season Broncos celebration to get ready for the season opener in September. The event attracted local media, including The Denver Channel which dispatched a reporter to cover it.
Jenni Dill, Life Engagement Counselor for Chelsea Place, explained in an interview with The Denver Channel why these events are so popular. “We put on our orange and blue and we do our touchdown signs and our false starts,” she said. “It gets them excited and connected to what’s going on and it’s movement and exercise with purpose,” she added.
These Bronco events give the residents something special to look forward to. This is so important for individuals with dementia in that it provides them with a sense of purpose, something they know will be both fun and familiar. It also makes families feel more connected to their loved ones and gives them peace of mind knowing they are engaging in activities that help tap into old memories.
As to what you’ll hear when you walk through the doors of Chelsea Place Memory Care on a Bronco Day? “It’s game night!” “Whoo hoo!” “Go Broncos!” Take your pick. It’s all good!
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No matter how long you may have suspected that a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, nothing can prepare you for the actual diagnosis of the disease. It is overwhelming. So it is important to know that you have resources available to help guide you as you take this journey with your loved one.
You can begin by arming yourself with accurate information to help you understand how the disease progresses and the challenges associated with each step of the progression. Because, even though your loved one may have only recently been diagnosed with the disease, the reality is that he or she has been in the “pre-clinical” phase of Alzheimer’s for some period of time, possibly even for years.
Following this pre-clinical phase, your loved one will enter the first of three stages of Alzheimer’s disease; early, middle and late. Below are descriptions of each, courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Early Stage
At this stage your loved one is probably still functioning independently and may still be partaking in social activities. He or she may be noticing more memory lapses, however, such as forgetting familiar words or where everyday items are kept. Here are some signs of early stage Alzheimer’s disease:
Middle Stage
This is typically the longest stage of the disease, often lasting for many years. It is at this stage that your loved one will begin to need a greater level of care. Here are some signs of middle stage Alzheimer’s disease:
Late Stage
The final stage of the disease involves the loss of the ability to respond to one’s environment. Your loved one will longer be able to carry on a conversation. Even movement will become difficult. Here are signs of late stage Alzheimer’s disease:
Of course, you should consider these stages and symptoms as a guide. No two individuals are the same, nor will they exhibit the exact same patterns of behavior.
As the disease progresses, it is important to take steps to develop a strong support network around you and your family. You will also want to reach out to professional memory care providers for guidance and insight into how to manage the increasing challenges of caring for your loved one. Our Anthem Memory Care communities have professionals who are ready to answer your questions and provide you with the resources you need. We understand and we’re here to help.
Recently three Anthem Memory Care communities in the Denver, Colorado area got together for a unique and fun event: a dog show! The idea was initially proposed by Ms. Helen Lee James, a resident of Highline Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado. Ms. James had a special reason for her suggestion. She had, in her earlier years, been a judge for the American Kennel Club.
In addition to residents, staff and family members, also participating in the event were preschoolers from local Primrose School of Bear Creek. The local publication, Columbine Courier, was also alerted and dispatched a reporter and photographer to cover the event.
Ms. James was the second woman judge ever selected for the American Kennel Club.
Residents of Highline Place, Willowbrook Place and Chelsea Place lined up their chairs under a festive balloon archway to watch thirteen beautiful dogs enter the show ring. Ms. James, totally in command, asked the handlers to put the dogs through their paces. Finally, she examined each dog, with the precision that could only come from a former AKC judge. At 87 years old, while challenged with dementia, Ms. James demonstrated that she still had what it took to work with the dogs and use her keen eye to pick a winner (and two runners up). Ms. James, it was revealed, was only the second woman ever to be named as a judge for the prestigious American Kennel Club. She had certainly earned respect over the years and her experience was on display at this very special show.
The organizer of the event, Michael Porterfield, Activities Director for Willowbrook Place, commented to the Columbine Courier how happy it made him to observe the reactions of the residents and families taking part in the event. He said, “The benefit I get out of it is seeing everybody happy. If I can see them happy, it makes my day.”
Events, such as this dog show, work so well on so many levels to improve the quality of life for memory care residents. The gathering together of multi-generations to share an experience is invigorating. The contact with animals brings a sense of wellbeing, as many residents had pets in their younger years and enjoy petting and caring for the animals. Finally, giving residents greater purpose and meaning is critical to helping them retain a sense of normalcy in their lives and to keep them better connected to those around them.
As for the dogs themselves, as in any dog show there must be a winner. This one was no exception. A beautiful black toy poodle named Special Agent Ziva D (as in the NCIS character) took home first prize. It may not be a coincidence that Ms. James once bred and raised her own poodles!
For more information about Anthem Memory Care communities, and to learn more about their local events, you can visit our communities web page here.
Photo taken by Sara Hertwig for Columbine Courier.
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Next time you’re with relatives, take along an old photograph to share. Watch the reactions of your various family members. Chances are you’ll see some animated facial expressions along with laughter or maybe a few sarcastic comments. That’s because photos have an amazing power to connect us to memories and to each other. This is also true for those who struggle with dementia. While the connection may not be as swift or as strong, research has shown that photographs can trigger deep memories that verbal forms of communication are unable to tap.
If you have a parent or other loved one with dementia, there are ways you can share photographs with them to enhance the possibility of sparking a memory or two. Even if you don’t, sharing precious old photos can provide moments of joy and reflection.
Here are some photo sharing tips recommended by The Alzheimer’s Association:
As always when spending time with someone who has dementia, try to eliminate exterior distractions and noise. Speak slowly and calmly as you share each photograph. This will help make the process more enjoyable for both of you.
Sharing photographs is something most of us have been doing since we were children. Even if your loved one with dementia does not recall the photos, the act of sharing your own memories can help you connect with them in a positive way and keep your own treasured memories alive.
Want to bring a smile to the faces of old and young alike? Bring everyone together, get some flour, pumpkin and peanut butter together and start baking cookies. Not for human consumption, but for your favorite canine companions! While baking dog treats may sound silly to some, there is nothing silly about the benefits of bringing in local school children to visit memory care residents and working together on engaging projects, such as baking treats for their favorite pets.
The dog treat baking event is part of the Adopt-A-Grandparent program sponsored by Primrose Schools. And the staff and residents at Willowbrook Place Memory Care, in Littleton Colorado, were happy to be a part of it all.
The event, covered by local CBS Channel 4 in Denver, brought laughter and smiles all around as children and residents made dough and cut it into bone shaped “cookies” and popped them into the oven. What a treat for some lucky dogs to sample.
One resident exclaimed to the CBS reporter, “They’re young and their eyes get big and bright, and they have nice smiles! They’re learning!”
Programs that bring younger generations together with memory care residents are an important part of life for residents at Anthem Memory Care communities, such as Willowbrook Place. These inter-generational programs give our residents a sense of purpose as well as an opportunity to engage with children, whose energy and optimism never fail to lift spirits. This is especially important for individuals challenged by dementia, as it helps foster an improved connection to their environment and people around them. Doing so promotes emotional and physical health and wellbeing.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what will become of all those tempting dog treats, you need wonder no more. Coming soon to Willowbrook Place? A dog show!
Here’s the recipe if you’d like to host your own dog treat party:
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When a parent is diagnosed with dementia, it puts an immense burden on both of your shoulders as you try to comprehend what’s happening and grapple with the limitations facing both of you.
This is a challenging time and will become more so over time. However, there are things you can do to keep the connection with your loved one as strong as possible for as long as possible. At the heart of this is finding ways to keep your interactions moving in positive directions that are respectful and caring. Here are some tips to make conversing with mom or dad more positive and productive.
Remember, too, that you need to adjust your expectations. Those days of fast back and forth banter that used to come so easily between you will now require more focus and concentration. There will be periods of time when your parent seems much more forgetful and more confused. However, by changing the way you approach each interaction, you will find it easier to push beyond the difficult moments and make the most of the good ones.
Above all, don’t attempt to take this journey alone. Consider joining a dementia support group where you can share your worries and concerns with others who understand, first hand, your challenges.
This is a new chapter in your life. With a little understanding and finding new, positive ways to communicate, you can take steps towards creating a new relationship that still has value for both of you.