This is the season for gift giving. For many, questions like “Mom, what would you like for Christmas?” are greeted by either a short list or, more likely, “Oh don’t worry about me, dear. I don’t need anything.” But if you have a loved one struggling with Alzheimer’s, your holiday wish list is more challenging. The […]
The holidays are a time for family and friends to get together. And, it can get a little crazy with parties, impromptu get-togethers and out of town relatives to attend to. If you are a caregiver you know, first hand, the stress this can cause. Not only do you have a loved one to care […]
As we get deeper into the holiday season we can’t help but notice how music fills the air more than any other time of the year. We hear holiday music in our shopping malls, restaurants and, for many of us, in our homes. Few would argue the influence that music has on our emotions and the […]
It probably won’t come as a surprise to you that the American Psychological Association identifies the holidays as the time of year causing the highest amount of stress, particularly for women and especially for those providing ongoing care to older parents. It isn’t any wonder why. Having to wedge in shopping and holiday planning between […]
As families and friends gather together this Thanksgiving, it’s easy to lose oneself in all the festivities, the great food and the fun of celebration. But beneath all the fun is, as we know, a time honored tradition of giving thanks. Some of us may say a prayer before the meal, others may go around […]
One evening, back in the early 1990’s, teen-aged Isaac Scott sat in front of the TV as Tom Brokaw launched into a news segment on the topic of something called “Alzheimer’s disease”. Almost instantly, Isaac’s mom turned to him and said, “That’s what we think your grandmother has.” Research into Alzheimer’s disease was still in […]
Veteran’s Day is a day of reflection, when we honor those who have fought for our freedom throughout the years. While younger vets have protected us in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, we still have living vets who fought in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Chelsea Place, an Anthem Memory Care community, […]
“Oh no. My dad would never want to share his suite with a roommate!” Concerns like this are often voiced during tours of memory care communities. The family members are often reluctant to consider roommates in memory care communities for their loved ones. And it’s understandable, given that most individuals, prior to moving into a […]
We are proud to announce that our Anthem Memory Care community, Chelsea Place, in Aurora, Colorado has been selected as a "Caring Star of 2017” for service excellence in memory care for two years in a row! Here’s what this means to those seeking exemplary care for a loved one: “With the number of Coloradans […]
Recently Bill Hohs, co-founder of CareSpireVets, joined a focus group conducted at Willowbrook Place, an Anthem Memory Care community located in Littleton, Colorado. CareSpireVets is an organization run by Bill and his wife, Pam Peterson-Hohs, which provides Aid and Attendance pensions for wartime vets. They’ve been doing this for 12 years, now, yet Bill considers […]
It doesn’t really matter whether it’s a goofy photo of Bob Hope or a glam photo of Rita Hayworth. What matters is how sharing these photographs helps stimulate memories for those challenged by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. And no one understands this better than the team at our Chelsea Place memory care community […]
If you are a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, your main goal is probably to keep him or her at home for as long as possible. Why? Because you made a promise that you wouldn’t send them to “one of those homes”. And who can blame you? It […]
With the death of Robin Williams, millions of people were introduced to the term “Lewy Body Dementia”. Few understood what it was; only that it was a disease with a funny-sounding name. And one which contributed to the overwhelming depression and ultimate suicide of a very funny guy. Well there is nothing funny about Lewy […]
Last month our blog covered six reasons why changes in dementia care are needed, as taken from a recent newsletter article entitled “Dementia Care Isn’t What it Used to Be…And That’s a Good Thing Part I” written by Anne Ellett, M.S.N., N.P. Anne is a respected dementia care expert and the founder of MemoryCareSupport.com, a […]
Do you find yourself holding your breath as your dad or mom shuffles across the floor, daring to exhale only after he or she is finally settled into a chair? That shuffling gait, so common in older adults, can be caused by many things, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. What happens, due to a combination […]