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Anthem Memory Care Blog

May 30, 2017

Gaining Power of Attorney from a Parent with Dementia: 4 Tips to Make it Easier

A Power of Attorney, or “POA”, allows an individual to appoint another individual (or organization) to manage their affairs if and when they become unable to do so. There are several different types of POAs to address a variety of situations and levels of control. A Durable Power of Attorney is most often granted by […]

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May 22, 2017

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia: 4 Things You Must Do for Yourself!

When a loved one receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, all thoughts and actions are instantly adjusted to their needs. Your world has been turned upside down. But your own well being is now more important than ever. Because if you are not operating on all cylinders, everyone around you will suffer. […]

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May 13, 2017

9 Tips to Help Your Kids and Teens Cope with Alzheimer’s

When a child or teen has a family member who is diagnosed with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, they will experience many of the same emotions that you, as an adult, feel. Often, however, their needs get overlooked as you, yourself, struggle to absorb the impact of the diagnosis. Then, when your attention returns […]

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May 7, 2017

Parent Driving with Dementia? How to Take Their Keys, Not Their Dignity

Driving with dementia is a dangerous combination. The truth, however, is that many individuals with dementia are still behind the wheel. If your mom or dad is one of them, chances are you’ve tried to initiate conversations about giving up the car keys, only to hear something along the lines of, “I’ve been driving to […]

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April 24, 2017

Alzheimer’s Can’t Silence the Story of a Courageous World War II Street Medic

A cruel consequence of Alzheimer’s disease is that it can rob its victims, not only of their memories, but of their ability to speak. Such is the case for Olga Lorentz, who can no longer personally recount her extraordinary story of survival as a Polish street medic during World War II. Fortunately, Olga’s daughter, Danusia, […]

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April 17, 2017

Long Distance Caregiving: Conquering the Worry and Guilt

Are you caring for a loved one who lives far away from you? Even if it's only an hour's drive away, when there is a problem, every issue becomes magnified. And, when you can’t be there, anxiety and guilt are bound to set in. Long distance caregiving presents special challenges. But there are things you can […]

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April 10, 2017

Alzheimer’s and Memories: A Chelsea Place Resident Remembers Her Tortillas

When a loved one has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, it’s often assumed that he or she has no recollection of any past experiences. That is not always the case, however. Given the right set of circumstances, sometimes the things an individual used to enjoy doing can come bouncing back to the surface; and […]

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April 2, 2017

Handling Caregiver Anger: How You Can Calm the Storm

“Anger is an emotional response to a grievance, real or imaginary, in the past, present or future. The pain of anger is very real. If we don’t know how to relieve it the right way, we will react to it in ways that make things worse instead of better.”  - Mitchell Messer, “Pressure Points — […]

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March 26, 2017

Could the Best Therapy for Dementia be Children?

Every Wednesday, at Highline Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado, a group of school children visit from nearby Saddle Ranch Elementary School. Together with the residents, they work on crafts while they share lots of smiles and laughter. Isn’t it amazing how a child can bring a smile to a senior’s face, often when no […]

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March 21, 2017

Transitioning from Child to Caregiver: How Can You Make it Easier?

For some, the change is gradual. For others, it seems to happen overnight. Yet, either way, you find yourself in unchartered territory. Your mom or dad now turns to you for decisions he or she used to make routinely. They rely upon you to help them walk, bathe, dress and eat. Your roles are reversing. […]

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March 12, 2017

Alzheimer’s and Ballet: 80-Year Old Sandra Diskin Will Meet You at the Barre

Had Chelsea Place not been the kind of memory care community whose staff takes an authentic interest in the life history of each resident, Sandra Diskin's graceful hands and pointed toes might have gone unnoticed, during her physical therapy sessions. But, notice they did. So, instead of hand cycling and leg lifts, Sandra, an 80-year old […]

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March 6, 2017

Alzheimer’s and Finances: How to Gain Control with Love and Respect

It’s hard to talk to parents about their finances. They are, after all, of a generation where any discussion about finances, especially with their children, was pretty much off the table. Having a parent who has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, however, changes everything. You need to gain a quick and accurate understanding […]

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February 27, 2017

Police Officers Experience Alzheimer’s Disease Through Virtual Reality

As sympathetic to others as we all try to be, it's very difficult to imagine the world through the eyes of an individual suffering from dementia. But it’s not “virtually” impossible. Anthem Memory Care’s Morningside Place, in Overland Park, Kansas, uses virtual reality tools that work together to mimic what an individual with dementia deals […]

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February 19, 2017

How to Read the “Non-Verbal” Cues of a Loved One With Alzheimer’s

You know more about non-verbal communication than you think. How often have you gotten a “vibe” from a friend or relative that makes you doubt they really meant what they just said? Maybe it is just a look on someone’s face, or their folded arms or hunched shoulders. They are making an emotional statement that, […]

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February 14, 2017

And They Danced and Danced...Vineyard Place Memory Care Valentine's Dance

For so many women and men of a “certain age”, Valentine’s Day was once a special day to buy flowers or candy for your sweetheart and celebrate with a romantic dinner. And, for those with energy to spare, it may have even included a turn or two on the dance floor. While they may no […]

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