By now you may have read some of the many articles and other news items proclaiming November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. Both deserve recognition, to be sure. However, if you are currently a caregiver for a mom or dad with dementia, all the recognition in the world can’t help you with your day to day issues, challenges and fears. Or can it?
Why not use the focus on Alzheimer’s and caregivers this month to do a little self-assessment? We’ve put together a short list of “check-up” questions to help you make sure that you are doing everything possible to better cope with your role as caregiver.
Be aware, too, that the focus on caregivers this month may encourage others to reach out to help you. Be open to accepting their help. If a relative or friend offers to run a few errands for you or fill in for you when you have a doctor’s appointment, let them!
Here at Anthem Memory Care, we regularly invite the public in to attend our seminars, dementia support groups and other events that the whole family can enjoy. You can take advantage of these free services to get your questions answered and help you navigate through the challenging months ahead.
November’s focus on caregivers and those families struggling with Alzheimer’s disease is an important one. Use that focus to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep yourself moving forward, not only in November, but in the months to come.
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When someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, your world changes very quickly. You want to learn as much as you can about the disease and make sure you are doing everything possible for your loved one to keep their levels of cognition as strong as possible, for as long as possible.
As hard as you are working to gather information together, you may actually be overlooking an important aspect of cognitive health: vision and hearing.
The Journal of American Medical Association “JAMA” recently issued the results of a study which sampled 3,000 older Americans and 30,000 Medicare beneficiaries. They found that poor vision was often associated with poor cognition.
The author of the study, Dr. Suzann Pershing, an ophthalmologist at Stanford University, was quoted in an article in the New York Times, as she helped clarify the results. “While this association doesn’t prove vision loss causes cognitive decline, intuitively it makes sense that the less engaged people are with the world, the less cognitive stimulation they receive, and the more likely their cognitive function will decline.”
Other studies point to the importance of hearing as it relates to cognition. Dr. Frank R. Lin, an otolaryngologist at The Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health found, in a study, that cognitive abilities declined up to 40% faster in those with hearing loss than those with normal hearing.
What do the results of these studies mean to your loved with dementia?
Vision and hearing are our most powerful senses. Making sure that your mom or dad’s vision and hearing are regularly checked is an important part of keeping them as alert to the world around them as possible. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that seniors older than 64 receive an eye exam every year. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association recommends that those over age 50 have their hearing tested every three years.
We agree. At Anthem Memory Care communities, we take a holistic approach to care, recognizing the inter-connectedness of all aspects of heath. Regular check-ups, including sight and hearing, are essential to keeping our residents operating at their best possible cognitive levels.
When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, it is easy to focus on the illness itself and overlook other, key aspects of their health. But it is important to remember that our vision and hearing are the two most important ways we connect with each other and with the world around us.
By making sure your loved one’s hearing and eyesight are as strong as possible, you will be giving them more ammunition in the battle to retain as much of their memory and cognitive abilities as possible!
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Along with being full of lots of memories, houses are also full of lots of “stuff” --- magazines, books, your old childhood school projects, toys, pots and pans that never get used, and a host of other things. If the clutter seems overwhelming to you, you can only imagine what it feels like to your mom or dad. This is their home after all. And it’s easier to bring things in than to take things out!
So when the time comes to consider making a transition for your parent to a smaller house, apartment, or a senior living community, it can be tempting to procrastinate. After all, what will you do with all his or her things? Where do you even begin?
We hear this often from sons and daughters who are reluctant to disrupt their parents’ lives, yet realize that some sifting through and “boxing up” needs to occur before a move can be made. Of course it’s easier if your parent can stay with a relative while you clean. But that’s not always feasible. And, as with so many things, when a parent has dementia, it is even more challenging. It becomes harder to reason with them and they may become more easily agitated. What can help, is to be as organized as possible.
Here are 6 tips we have found to be helpful.
Follow these suggestions and you may be surprised at how much easier things get as you move along. Once you’ve boxed up a few things, the next round will go more smoothly.
Above all, however, remember to slow down the action when your parent expresses anxiety. Individuals with dementia may not remember recent events, but they often will remember old familiar objects. By slowing down and taking things one step at a time, you will find the process to be easier on everyone involved.
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Highline Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado recently had a visit from Pippi the pig, a resident from one of their favorite local organizations, Hog Haven Farm.
First a bit about Hog Haven. It is a non-profit rescue farm for potbelly pigs which has been operating since 2014. So far, they’ve rescued 100 pigs from situations of abandonment, neglect and slaughter. So, kudos to the dedicated team at Hog Haven.
What’s amazing about these visits, according to the staff at Highline Place, is to observe the interest and expressions of joy these potbelly pigs bring to individuals with dementia. Animal Planet recently brought their cameras in to cover the Hog Haven visit to Highline Place. The video of the broadcast shows residents delighting in petting and feeding the pig, who appears more than happy to accept their carrots. When you look closely at the video (which you can watch here), you can see the faces of the residents light up as the pig “makes the rounds”, lapping up all the attention.
Why are these visits so important? Elle Fore, Activities Director for Highline Place, explains that individuals with dementia tend to, as she refers to it “lose time backwards”, meaning that their clearest memories are often their earlier ones. Some of the most vivid early memories often involve time spent playing with favorite pets. Bringing animals to visit, therefore reawakens those memories and brings a sense of joy to the residents as they re-connect to a pleasurable part of their earlier life.
At Anthem Memory Care, we recognize the benefit that animals bring to our residents. That is why, through local partnerships, we regularly bring well-behaved animals into our communities for visits. As most of us know, animals have a unique ability to engage, sooth and calm both the young and the old. And it is always a joy to witness.
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We all know that staying physically active is good for our bodies and our minds. But what about individuals with Alzheimer’s disease? Can physical activity have a positive impact on them as well? The good news is, yes! Several studies have provided strong evidence that physical activity is good for individuals with dementia, including Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association tells us that physical activity is not only a valuable part of any overall body wellness plan, but is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, you might be wondering how to add some physical exercise into their routine. How can you get them up and moving without causing too much disruption? Here are some tips:
Try to keep your exercise sessions as consistent as possible. Make alterations to your routine to keep it interesting and ensure that your loved one is enjoying the activity. And always be on the lookout for signs of fatigue.
At Anthem Memory Care communities, we tailor physical fitness activities to meet each individual’s abilities, endurance levels, and preferences. We recognize that, when it comes to exercise, one size does not fit all. Above all, it is important to make sure the exercise sessions remain enjoyable. That way, instead of a chore, it becomes something that both of you will look forward to.
Recently, Willowbrook Memory Care welcomed a group of local school children to join residents in putting together cards and gift bags for the local police officers as part of “Thank a Police Officer Day”. The children made colorful “thank you” cards and the residents stuffed gift bags with candies and other delights. The officers enjoyed the cards and goodies and the children and residents felt that they had done their part to support them.
To the casual observer, this might appear to be simply a “feel good” event to bring young and old together. But for experts in the field of dementia this kind of activity accomplishes much more. Studies show that having a sense of purpose is therapeutic for those challenged by dementia. In what is now considered a landmark study, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago conducted a long-term study of over 1,400 senior citizens over a 15-year period. Those who rated high on their “purpose of life” scale had a 30% lower rate of cognitive decline over those who rated lower.
How can we use this insight to improve the quality of life for our loved ones with dementia? At our Anthem Memory Care communities, we work closely with our local schools and other agencies to take advantage of opportunities to bring purposeful activities to our residents. These activities often include making care packages for charities, baking with local Girl Scouts and, yes, putting together gift bags to thank our hard-working police officers. Some of our residents, who are able to, even share their talents with others.
While it is understandable, it is unfortunate that many continue to make the assumption that an individual with dementia no longer needs a sense of purpose. We all do! At Anthem Memory Care providing opportunities for our residents to participate in purposeful activities is part of our person-centered care philosophy. It is part of our pledge to treat each person as the unique individuals they are and to always engage with dignity and respect.
When a family struggles to come to grips with a older loved one diagnosed with dementia, the children are often kept in the dark. Why? In most cases it is because parents seek to protect their children, fearing too much information will cause them unnecessary stress.
Efforts to block a child from a loved one’s illness, however, can backfire. Children are left to come to their own conclusions, which are often inaccurate. They can begin losing sleep, acting out, and feeling isolated from family and friends.
Highline Place Memory Care (an Anthem Memory Care community) in Littleton, Colorado, has created a unique program to help children understand and cope with dementia in their families. It’s called KIDZ, which stands for “Kids in the Dementia Zone”. The program consists of a series of sessions that, in a safe and nurturing environment, explain dementia in terms children can understand. It helps arm them with skills for coping with emotions and reactions to the disease. The program also promotes the use of “art journaling” therapy, in which the children use art as well as words to express themselves and how dementia impacts their lives and that of their families.
The KIDZ program was developed to fill an important gap identified by Jodi Cornman, Community Relations Director for Highline Place, after meeting two young children whose father had dementia. While searching for educational resources for the youngsters, Jodi realized that few were available. That experience compelled her to partner with professionals and educators in the area to create KIDZ.
The KIDZ sessions are directed by Lexanne Leonard, a teacher in the Cherry Creek School District; Kathleen Gorman, a spiritual care coordinator, and Jill Rocha, a quality improvement coach for Denver’s Early Childhood Council.
“It’s hard enough for adults to face dementia and deal with it, so imagine how difficult it is for children,” said Jodi. “We designed this education series to help the growing number of families contending with this issue.”
You can find out more about KIDZ by contacting Jodi Cornman at 720-466-9442.
Are you a sports fan? Even if you’re not, you probably know someone who is. And, they have probably made it well known what their favorite teams are. That’s because the process of rooting for the “home team” is deeply ingrained in most of our lives, often having started in early childhood.
But what happens to these memories when a loved one struggles with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease? We know that they can forget something that happened only moments ago. Yet, studies show that some long term memories often remain intact, especially those that stirred emotions in one’s earlier years.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that, for the residents of Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado, nothing, even dementia, gets in the way of cheering on their Broncos football team each week.
The Denver Channel wrote an article about these enthusiastic Broncos fans recently and spoke with some of the residents as well as Jenni Dill, Life Engagement Director for Chelsea Place. “Their long-term memory is intact,” Jenni explained. “They may not remember what they’re eating for dinner right now, but they sure as heck remember that they’re deep down Broncos fans and that never changes.”
As resident, Fred Hall put it, “The football has put me back in the ‘rah rah rah’ stage.”
These amazing moments of recognition are precious for residents as well as family and friends. That is why Anthem Memory Care caregivers take the time to develop a deep understanding of each individual’s life story as well as their memory and cognition levels. They know that, while their capabilities will change over time, there may that one social situation that might spark some of those precious memories.
Photo taken from video courtesy of The Denver Channel.
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Moving your mom or dad to a memory care community involves a series of decisions, some easier than others. First, comes the realization that your parent can no longer live safely at home alone. Next comes the process of identifying, reviewing and making decisions on what the best environment is for them, given their particular challenges. Then you must make sure you have Power of Attorney and that you have all the documents together to support proper care for them. Finally, there is nothing left but the move itself.
Many would say at this point, “Now comes the hard part.” And, it’s true in many ways. Yet, there are things you can do to prepare yourself and your parent for the move. Here are some tips, collected from The Alzheimer’s Association as well as our own team of professionals, here at Anthem Memory Care:
While these tips can help make the move-in process go more smoothly, it is important to make all your decisions within the context with your unique situation. No one knows your mom or dad like you do. Use this as a guide, keeping the personality and emotional needs of your loved and yourself in mind at all times.
Once you’ve made the move, try to stay positive. Keep in mind that your promise to take care of your mom or dad means more than keeping them in an environment that may no longer be optimum for them or for you. Take some time to get back on your feet again. Get together with supportive friends and family members. You have been giving loving care to your parent and now it’s time to care for yourself.
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What is Shadowing? Can You Minimize It?
Do you have a mom or dad with dementia who feels the need to keep you in their line of sight at all times? Do they follow you around the house?
This is a common phenomenon referred to as “shadowing”.
Angela Lunde, a Mayo Clinic expert on Alzheimer’s Disease, describes shadowing as “when the person with dementia attempts to keep his or her caregiver in their sight at all times, following them like a small child would his or her parent. Shadowing can have the Alzheimer’s caregiver feeling smothered and their personal space feeling violated.”
It is the last part of Ms. Lunde’s description that often contributes to caregiver anxiety, depression and burn-out.
How to tackle that anxiety? It helps to gain a better understanding as to why your loved one is shadowing you. The underlying cause of shadowing is fear. Many individuals struggling with dementia live in a constant state of fear --- fear of forgetting, fear of getting lost, fear of strangers and basically fear of anything unfamiliar to them. Imagine this out-of-proportion fear engulfing your mom or dad and you can begin to understand why they cling to you. You are their “safe haven” in a very scary world they feel they have no control over.
What to do? Fortunately, along with our better understanding of dementia, solutions to behavior such as shadowing are emerging. Here are five things you can do to create an environment that minimizes the need for shadowing:
Above all, make sure you repeat your calming mantra before you leave the room. Set your timer and give them an activity to keep them focused while you are gone. If you do this consistently you and your loved one will be rewarded by a calmer, more tranquil environment and an easier, more pleasant co-existence with one another.
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It was not that long ago that, if your loved one was diagnosed with dementia, your only option would be to find an “assisted living” or a “long-term care” community. Assisted living is a term that refers to an environment where elderly residents are given assistance with their daily needs, usually with a nurse on staff to administer medications and respond to any medical emergencies. As the resident’s dementia progresses, however, they will typically need to transition to a long-term care environment.
Fortunately, over the last several years, research focusing on the dementia diseases, such as Lewy Body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, has helped foster a deeper understanding of dementia, and has fueled a new generation of therapies and treatments. Along with this has emerged a new kind of senior living community commonly referred to as “memory care”.
Some assisted living and long-term care providers will carve out a “memory care unit” on a floor or wing of their facilities. However, there are new communities being built from the ground up to focus 100% on memory care. Which is better?
Here are five key advantages of communities devoted to memory care that experts have identified:
In much the same way that doctors use specialists, memory care provides a degree of expertise designed to go far beyond general care. Even those communities which carve out special dementia units must ultimately spread their resources across a broad spectrum of residents.
It is for these reasons that professionals generally concur that memory care communities, built to serve solely the needs of individuals struggling with dementia, are able to provide a level of care and expertise that far exceeds that available with other providers.
Photo is courtesy of Highline Place, an Anthem Memory Care community in Littleton, Colorado.
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Families of individuals with dementia often tell us that one of the greatest sources of anxiety they experience is not having all their parent’s key documents in one place. They often find themselves in a state of flux, saying over and over “Yes, I know I need to find that,” or “I’ll have to go through her drawers again and see if I can find it."
It is hard enough to identify exactly what documents you need to keep on hand for your memory-impaired mom or dad. Then you have to find them! And, chances are, they are not in one place. They may be hidden under piles of papers or in the bottom of drawers.
We’ve put together a list of the key documents you will be needing as you proceed to make decisions about the financial, health and emotional wellbeing of your loved one. A few of them you will need to work through with an elder law attorney.
Health documents:
Financial documents:
Once you get these documents together, it is a good idea to have copies of each of them available so that you can quickly grab them as needed without having to stop and photocopy them. You may find it easier to keep a special file drawer with folders marked for each document. You might also consider purchasing a special storage box with sections and tabs from your local office supply store. The better organized your documents are, the better prepared you will be when you meet with doctors, lawyers and care providers.
Of course, as time goes on, you will want to make sure you also have access to their will (living will, trust), any end of life instructions and life insurance policy. But first things first. Make sure that you have the key documents on hand to assist your loved one in getting the best possible care, along with keeping them functioning physically, mentally and emotionally as long as possible.
At Anthem Memory Care communities, the kitchen is a warm, happy gathering place where staff, residents and families are encouraged to bake together. A great example of this is the weekly Girl Scout visit to Harvester Place Memory Care, an Anthem community in Burr Ridge, Illinois. The girls join the residents every Thursday to bake cookies and enjoy each other’s company. A great example of this is the weekly Girl Scout visits to Harvester Place Memory Care, an Anthem community in Burr Ridge, Illinois. The girls join the residents every Thursday to bake cookies and enjoy each other's company.
During a recent visit the Chicago Tribune was on hand to take photos and interview Executive Director, Jennifer Mallo, and others. The reporter asked Jennifer how she feels the experience benefits the residents. "If you think about dementia, you have to think about the concept of sensory," Jennifer told the reporter. "You think about their smell, their taste, the things that make them happy. It's basically all about what would make them happy and what tastes and smells make them feel good."
In fact, there are numerous studies over the years which have found that the act of cooking and baking can, indeed, have a beneficial effect on individuals challenged by Alzheimer's disease. The familiar process of working with food stimulates old senses and can give them a sense of purpose in addition to soothing anxiety.
For the families, seeing a loved one kneading dough or whisking eggs in a bowl can evoke happy memories of their childhoods. The son of one of the residents noted that he was glad to see his mom baking again. "She used to be a very good baker. She used to make homemade bread that was unbelievable. She should do pineapple upside down cakes, which was every year for my birthdays. she was just an all around good cook." he said.
As Jennifer Mallo noted, "At the end of the day, its' rewarding because we're giving residents a sense of purpose that they otherwise would not have had," she said. "We're just making a life for them that they wouldn't be able to have otherwise."
If you have a loved one challenged by dementia who once enjoyed cooking or baking, consider setting some time aside to work through a simple recipe together. The simple act of working alongside each other and the aromas in the air may help both of you reconnect in ways you never knew were possible.
As technology continues to produce innovative applications to serve the needs of older citizens, families are turning more than ever to computer programs to help loved ones struggling with dementia.
Why is this? Research has shown that well designed computer-based applications are proving to be instrumental in helping individuals with dementia to retain a higher level of cognition and connect more effectively to the world around them. These applications can range from simple communications tools to video games to virtual reality programs. All can have a positive impact when used with professional supervision. Here are four key areas where computer programs are making a positive impact:
To reach optimum levels of effectiveness, however, computer programs should be carefully evaluated in context with the individual’s cognitive level and unique needs. Using technology just “because it’s available” can actually have a negative impact, increasing anxiety and stress levels. Just the opposite of its purpose!
At our Anthem Memory Care communities, we give each piece of technology a thorough vetting before placing anything in front of our residents. Here is what we look for and recommend you do as well:
When properly evaluated and used as part of a comprehensive quality care program, computer programs can have a dramatic impact on quality of life for those with dementia and for their caregivers.
If you have questions about technology and how it might help your loved one, feel free to contact us. Our team is up to date on all the latest computer programs for memory care and we are happy to help.
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The Alzheimer’s Organization, in a recent article, provided a striking example of the power art can have on individuals struggling with dementia. They describe two individuals who had lost their ability to communicate verbally, but who were able to express their lifelong passions through art. In one case, a man painted the birdhouses he had collected in his earlier years and, in another example, an individual who had always had a tropical fish tank painted fish. In both cases, the act of painting connected these people with memories that might have otherwise might have remained buried forever.
There have been numerous studies over recent decades that support the use of art therapy for individuals with dementia. While the connection through art is particularly strong for former artists, therapists and researchers have found that virtually anyone, regardless of skill or talent, can benefit from painting, drawing and other forms of art, such as working with clay or textiles.
Of course, creating art is something that caregivers, along with their loved ones with dementia can enjoy together. Art activities, if kept simple and stress free can be relaxing for everyone. If you have a mom or dad with dementia you may want to consider adding some art projects into your care routine. Before you rush in with paints and paper, however, here are five things to keep in mind to make the experience more enjoyable.
Use your art experience together as a way to live more “in the moment” with your loved one. Be open to communicating both verbally and non-verbally. Be especially alert to body language and facial expressions. They will help signal when to continue and when to conclude your session.
Explore different projects. Take your time to find one that fits. Your loved one may or may not connect to an early memory or unlock a new way of communicating. However, the process of sitting and painting, sketching or shaping a clay bowl will become precious time spent together.
At our Anthem Memory Care communities our residents enjoy a schedule of regular art activities. It is a relaxing and enjoyable time for everyone. We have found artistic expression in all forms to be beneficial in helping connect residents to our caregivers and to their own family members. They can for you as well.