Spring Arbor Living Blog

Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementing disease afflicting the elderly. There are approximately 4 million people suffering from this disease. The millions of people who suffer from this disease must be cared for either at home or in a care facility.

Caring for an Alzheimer's patient at home

About two thirds of those suffering from this disease are cared for at home by family, usually a spouse. As the disease progresses it carries with it a huge burden both physically and psychologically on the care givers. It is vital that the care giver access support systems that can provide reassurance, support groups, literature and strategies for coping with someone who has the disease.
 
Too often the strain becomes too much for a spouse trying to cope all alone with an Alzheimer's sufferer and they themselves have a physical or mental breakdown.

Choosing the right type of care facility

As the burden of care increases many families seek care for their family member outside the home. Finding the right Alzheimer’s care facility can be a difficult process encompassing many concerns.

Understanding the level and type of care facility where your family member is most appropriately cared for is critical. Choosing Assisted Living communities with levels of care is important. Too often families will place an Alzheimer sufferer at the wrong level, either in a facility that offers more assistance than the family member needs or worse making the family member cope with living in a facility that doesn't have the necessary support services required to meet their needs.

Contact Spring Arbor in your area. We understand the needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease we can match their needs with our custom care plans.

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Transitioning from home to a residential care community can be challenging for both caregivers and for Alzheimer’s patients.

Here's how to make the move easier:

Due diligence. Caregivers need to have much comfort in their choice of assisted living communities. Unfortunately, the quality of these settings varies greatly. Your decision should be based on three important factors: Is there a dementia care unit staffed by professionals with specific dementia training? Does the facility have locations close enough to your home and/or work to allow for visitation at a level that is best for your family? Does the facility meet the specific medical, social, therapeutic and emotional needs of your loved one?

Understand the emotions. An individual with dementia may not be able to fully appreciate what is happening or the long-term implications of relocating to a care facility. They may react to your emotional state during the move. Also, the new surroundings can be overwhelming and confusing, but this will subside in a few days or a week. Give them time to acclimate and to get used to the staff.

Provide input. Share your knowledge of the patient with the staff, including the unit nurse, social worker and nutritionist prior to admission. Employees need time to learn about the medical condition, temperament, behavior patterns, likes and dislikes, of your loved one.

Talk about it. The level of disclosure to your loved one about the upcoming move is a decision you need to make based on your knowledge of their ability to understand. Be patient and understanding and allow them a chance to voice their concerns. Offer reassurance of your plans for regular visitation.

Prepare the room. Plan to have the room set up before they move in. Bring familiar objects, but nothing of value that could be misplaced or damaged. Label clothing and personal items.

Be by their side. Accompany your loved one to the Alzheimer's care facility for the actual move, and repeatedly explain that they will be okay and that you are there to help. You may want to stay for the day and have dinner together. When it is time to go, explain that you have to leave for a while, but will return as soon as you can. Assure them that they will be fine.

Check in regularly. Monitor the care of your loved one on a regular basis, and advocate on his behalf with the staff and administration.

Think about yourself. Tap your network of family and friends for emotional comfort. And seek support from others who have been through this situation. Spring Arbor Living hosts many events where you can find support.

Original article – Alzheimer’s Foundation

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Alzhiemer’s caregivers will almost always  be faced with the realization that they can no longer care for their loved one  in their home. The challenge is knowing when and how to make that transition to an assisted living community, and how to prepare for it.

Circumstances change almost daily for the Alzheimer's patient, their families and their caregivers. Planning ahead is very difficult.

There is no way to predict the progression of this disease. Each individual is different, different symptoms, different behaviors, and different time lapses between each.

Not all Alzheimer’s patients become violent, but some do. And taking care of a violent patient is not a matter of endurance and stamina. It’s safety. A loved one needs to be moved to an assisted living facility if they are violent. For the security of all, patient and caregiver alike, an Alzheimer’s patient who becomes violent must be moved to a more secure assisted living community, a setting that is safe and comfortable.

The patient has no idea what they’re doing. They would be devastated if they understood the danger they had become to family and caregivers. An Alzheimer's care facility should be considered under these circumstances.

Later in the stages of Alzheimer’s they may need more medical treatment than the caregiver is able to provide.

Many Alzheimer’s patients need protection. An assisted living community can keep patients safe in a well protected area and beautiful environment that provides activities for Alzheimer's patients that keep them healthy and happy longer.  

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Moving a parent or loved one who has Alzheimer's Disease into an assisted living community is not an easy task.
 
Moving is difficult for anyone. But, for those with Alzheimer's disease, a changed routine and an unfamiliar environment can be extremely stressful. If you're moving someone with Alzheimer's into an assisted living community, make the transition as comfortable as possible.

Plan First

If possible, talk to them about their future living arrangements while they can still make choices. Explore all of the  Alzheimer's patient's housing options together. It may be harder for you to guess later about what your loved one would want.

If your parent will be moving to a care facility, visit frequently before the move. Speak with the staff about your parent’s background and special needs as well as medical and mental health history, including a detailed medication list.
 
Make their Space Familiar

Before the move, make your parent’s new home look and feel as familiar as possible. Decorate the area with a treasured quilt, a shelf with special items, a favorite chair or other meaningful possessions. Familiar belongings can trigger feelings of ownership and boost your loved one's sense of security.

Also stock the space with pictures of family and friends, memory books or photo albums. Reminiscing about the past can help a person who has Alzheimer's bring important memories into the present. Label the pictures to help staff members or others identify the people in your loved one's life and encourage conversations about the past.

However, be careful with heirlooms and priceless or irreplaceable items.
 
Moving day

On moving day, follow your loved one's normal routine as much as possible. If possible, make the move during your loved one's best time of day. whether it's morning or afternoon. While you're moving, do your best to stay positive. Your attitude can help your loved one feel safe and secure in the new environment.

Once your loved one is settled, spend extra time with him or her. Encourage friends and loved ones to visit frequently as well. Extra care and attention can help ease your loved one's transition to the new home or facility.

For questions about Alzheimer’s assisted living communities, and what to look for in a care facility, contact Spring Arbor Living in your area.

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If you have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, visits are hard. You may try to convince yourself that you don’t need to go; they don’t know you are there. But visitors are important to people with Alzheimer's. They may not always remember that you came, or who you are, but the human connection has value. If you or someone you know is planning on visiting someone with the disease in an assisted living community, here are some ideas.

• Visit at the time of day when the person with Alzheimer's is at his or her best.
• Bring along an activity, something familiar to read or photo albums to look at, but be prepared to skip it if necessary.
• Be calm and quiet. Don’t talk loudly or talk to the patient as if they are a child.
• Respect the patient’s space, don’t get too close.
• Try to establish eye contact and call the person by name to get his or her attention.
• Remind the person who you are if he or she doesn’t seem to recognize you.
• Don't argue if the person is confused. Be responsive to their feelings. Distract the patient to a different topic if needed.
• Please don’t take it personally if your loved one doesn’t recognize you, is unkind, or responds angrily. They are reacting out of confusion.

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Gaining weight, especially in the midsection, has been associated with a number of health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. New research suggests that you can add shrinking brain size, an indication of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, to that list.

Using data collected from 733 healthy participants with an average age 60, investigators looked at the associations among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, amount of subcutaneous and visceral abdominal fat and four different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based measurements of brain volume.

Researchers discovered that although all of the assessments of weight were linked with a reduction in brain volume to some degree, the link was strongest between abdominal fat and decreased brain volume. This association was independent of BMI and measurements of insulin resistance.  The study was reported in the Annals of Neurology.

This finding sheds some light on the mechanisms that underlie the association between weight gain and dementia, which is still not well understood. People who are concerned about dementia should take steps to lower their amount of abdominal fat.

Original article - Johns Hopkins

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If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, please see a doctor. Early diagnosis gives you a chance to seek treatment and come up with a plan for the future.

Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

Challenges in solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks such as driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

Confusion with time or place
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.

New problems with words in speaking or writing
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary; have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

Decreased or poor judgment
People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making especially with money.  They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby.

Changes in mood and personality
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

If you or someone you love is suffering from any or all of these signs, contact a doctor and visit an assisted living care community with specific Alzheimer’s care options.

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Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating mental health disease for the patient and the family. There are ways to extend the quality of life for both the care taker and the victim, but that involves commitment and honesty on both sides of the disease.

Caregivers can extend the time that their loved ones are in their own homes by establishing routines and being committed. However, this takes a toll on the caregiver, often resulting in depression and decreased mental and physical health.

At the onset of Alzheimer’s, the most successful patients are those who have a supportive family that is involved in the process, understands the implications of what is happening, and who is cared for properly.

See this video by

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Dear Annie: Our mother has Alzheimer's disease, and we don't think our Dad is giving her the right care. Mom seems undernourished. Dad thinks a slice of toast or a cup of coffee constitutes adequate caloric intake for her. If she says "no" to food, he simply accepts that response without trying to encourage her to eat. Her clothes are now several sizes too big.

Mom has emotional outbursts and periods of uncontrollable crying, and she frequently screams out, thus making a good night's sleep impossible for either of them. It is difficult for her to walk more than 15 feet. Dad doesn't assist her consistently, and she has fallen numerous times.

Personal hygiene seems a thing of the past. Their home is now dirty and disorganized. We have offered to clean and do household chores, but they refuse. We gave Dad the name of a local specialist, but he refuses to call. We contacted their family doctor, who said he was unable to convince Dad that Mom needs to go into an assisted living community.

Dad seems to relish being the martyr and constantly complains about having to do everything. We understand that after 50-plus years of marriage, this must be extremely difficult for him. My siblings, our spouses and the grandchildren do not know what to do next. Sincerely, Caring Kids

Dear Caring: It can be traumatizing for one spouse to place another in an assisted  living community, and a certain paralysis can set in, preventing major decisions and changes. You and your siblings need to step up to the plate right now.

If this is situation sounds familiar please contact us at Spring Arbor Living in North Carolina or Virginia.

Original article stardem

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Lifting weights and other forms of resistance training is great brain exercise for older adults as well as their physical health.

Canadian researchers found that strength and balance training improved cognitive ability among a group of 28 older men and women with a history of falling who took part in a fall prevention program.

After six months, the participants, age 70 and older, showed a 13% improvement in high-level thinking skills. The skills of a control group of 24 people who also had a history of falling but received standard care deteriorated 10%.
According to researcher Teresa Liu-Ambrose of the University of British Columbia, those whose brain function improved received regular visits from a physiotherapist who encouraged them to go through specific strength training exercises and balance exercises for seniors three times weekly and to walk at least twice weekly. Individuals in the control group were expected to initiate the exercise program on their own; none of them did.

The exercise program also helped reduce falls: After one year, 43% of the exercise group had repeat falls, compared with 67% of the standard care group.

Most research to date has focused on the benefits of aerobic exercise on the brain, but mounting evidence shows that resistance training may also help with brain health.

The link between cognitive function and exercise is just beginning to emerge. There are many other positive benefits to resistance training, but we now see that exercise can also help maintain cognitive skills as we age.

Original article AARP

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