Spring Arbor Living Blog

An older person who cares for a spouse with dementia is also at an increased risk of developing problems with attention and memory, according to a new review of studies.

This is because the spousal caregiver likely shared lifestyle risk factors with the person with dementia, and undergoes ongoing stress from caring for the person.

Researchers from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine reviewed more than 100 studies that examined the cognitive health of older adults who cared for a family member with dementia, with the majority of the subjects being spouses. They found that these caregivers have more trouble with attention and memory, also known as cognition, than people who don't have to care for a family member with dementia.

The review of the studies showed that those caregivers had a higher risk of cognitive decline or dementia than people who do not have to care for someone with dementia. This could be due to a number of factors, including depression, loneliness, sleep problems, social isolation, exercise, diet and even obesity.

People who are caring for a spouse with dementia may themselves be at risk for cognitive problems which, in turn, will not only negatively influence their quality of life, but may reduce their ability to provide the necessary care for their spouse.

Most care-recipients prefer to be cared for in their homes, and, by remaining in their homes, health care costs are reduced greatly, therefore, often spouses of end up providing care.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

People with dementia are not the only ones who have health problems – a spouse who cares for them are also at risk for attention and memory problems.

Original article on MSN.com

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Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Unfortunately, it is presently incurable. With every stage issues crop up, and it is very challenging to care for someone with this disease as their condition deteriorates. However, there are some activities to keep Alzheimer patients engaged and to assist them in coping with this disorder. Those who suffer from Alzheimer’s need care, motivation, support, encouragement and patience. The following activities will help.

• Puzzles and crosswords that are simple and easy will stimulate their brains and help slow down degeneration. These cognitive activities will help in reducing memory loss.
• Crafts and activities with little complication like maintaining a photo album, sorting photographs, making collages, or writing small notes to relatives can be engaging for these patients. It is important that the task is well described, sequenced and easy to handle.
• Reading a story aloud to them that has pictures will enable them to comprehend and answer relevant questions. This will also strengthen the bond between the caregiver and the patient. Alzheimer’s patients have a better chance of remembering information about the caregiver through activities they did together.
• Household work should be encouraged. Alzheimer's sufferers should perform their daily chores. This will create lesser dependency and will assist them in remembering things better.
• Gardening and keeping busy weeding, planting, and watering will enable them have a better approach to cope.

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In the field of elder care, music has been explored as a way to encourage social interaction, encourage self-expression, and enhance the overall well-being of assisted living residents who fight illnesses such as Alzheimer's, dementia, memory loss, and other cognitive impairments. So through music, Spring Arbor has found that residents with these health conditions are able to live more fully. They are not defined by their conditions or their need for medicines and skilled medical care. They become engaged members of a supportive community that encourages emotional growth, sharing, and self-worth. This can be vitally important to seniors who experience a number of difficult life events such as retirement, the death of a loved one or spouse, and the need for help with common tasks.

So far, experts know of no other single activity that stimulates the entire brain. In addition to this, music increases dopamine levels, and dopamine can cause a corresponding positive sense of well-being. So what does it mean to say that music promotes well-being? Well-being is characterized by a sense of affiliation. Seniors feel connected and have an increased sense of belonging. Music also brings about a feeling of self-competence and independence in seniors. They enjoy life day-to-day and gain a greater sense of fulfillment.

Many research studies indicate that musical activities have several positive benefits. Patients are reported to have better moods, be more sociable, eat better, and react more calmly to stress. Experts say it’s the “cognitive workout” for the brain that brings on these positive traits. Feel free to contact us to learn more about assisted living and how life at Spring Arbor can be relaxing fulfillment.

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When is it time to admit the need for assisted living services? There are a couple of questions and signs that you can tell if mom or dad is needing more help. Dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia is a serious task and takes a lot of time for just one person. Which is why Spring Arbor is here to help out these individuals and be there for these people. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself and some signs to tell whether or not it's time for a caregiver's help.

• Frequent calls during the day to the same person can indicate a sense of memory loss. Does Mom or Dad discuss a hesitation to get out of bed? Are there mobility issues that impede maintaining an active lifestyle?
• Frequent falls. Has Mom or Dad expresses their fear of leaving the house often due to a fear of falling?
• Indication of depression. Is your parent or loved one lying about eating? Or are they unwilling to seek medical help or assistance? Remembering to take medication as prescribed by a doctor are always a help, if they forget or refuse then there might be an issue.

There are many questions that can be asked and it’s definitely hard to determine the right time. But it is always better to know that Mom and Dad are safe and sound when you are not around. Spring Arbor can assist you in these matters and we can be there for the elderly when they need the help they deserve. Just by simply taking a little time to talk to them about assisted living homes or elderly care can make all the difference. Be sure to check out our locations for a home near you and contact us today should you have any questions regarding senior care.

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Being in an assisted living facility can have many benfits. We cater to all of our residents needs and special needs requested by their families. In addition to being there and helping out as much as we can, we also offer fun activities and amenities that our residents can enjoy.

Some of the activities that you can expect from spring arbor would surprise you. Our staff is dedicated to enabling a high quality of life for residents at Spring Arbor and The Oaks, including a range of activities to exercise both the mind and the body. From cooking lessons with the house Chef to gardening classes to discussions of current events, residents are encouraged to rekindle old interests or develop new ones.

Maintaining contact with the community is an important component of life at Spring Arbor and The Oaks. To that end, we arrange outings to churches, synagogues, parks, theaters, shopping trips, local restaurants, and numerous other social venues. We understand that our residents have diverse backgrounds, different hobbies and varying levels of physical ability and fitness. The professionals here have incorporated a broad range of activities into the social calendar, striving to include residents in our vibrant social calendar.

Typical activities in a day might start with morning exercises and then some card playing. Other days they might go out to the local stores to get a shake or go out to a movie with a small group. Usually once a week there is transportation provided to go shopping to WalMart or Target (depending on residents’ choice). In the afternoon there is typically entertainment from someone playing the piano, singing, or playing some other instrument. Cooking demonstrations get out a very good portion of the residents where they can try great recipes and mingle with their friends of the community. Please don't hesitate to contact us as we would be happy to answer any questions and help you in any way possible.

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Some people are a bit reluctant to move their family into an assisted living facility, or even move themselves. What they don’t realize is that these facilities are very helpful and provide a lot of care and assistance to elderly individuals. We have come across a couple of frequently asked questions about assisted living and decided to answer them here. Feel free to contact us should you have any further questions or if these questions are not helpful to you.

Are background checks done on all employees?
It is important to ask if all employees are required to complete a background check. Some states mandate that all employees have a background screening completed.

Can I be in control of my own medications or any other over-the- counter medications while staying at an assisted living facility?
If your doctor states you are capable of monitoring your medication independently and the facility staff is aware of this request, this should not be a problem.

Should I consider getting rental insurance to cover my possessions while living at an assisted living facility?
It may be wise to consider rental insurance to cover possessions at an Assisted Living Facility as the facility’s insurance will not cover your personal possessions if a natural disaster occurs or if theft is involved.

How is personal mail delivered in an assisted living facility?
Mail service varies depending upon the facility.

Why do I need to give copies of legal documents to the assisted living facility I am considering?
If legal documents are misplaced in case of a decline of health or emergency, these important documents need to be readily available. Also by disclosing to the staff of a facility or community the name of a health care surrogate, this individual will be the only individual beside the resident as to which confidential information will be discussed.

We hope that these frequently asked questions were helpful to you in some way, and as we stated above is you feel as though your question wasn’t answered contact us today and we will be happy to help.

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Every so often we happen upon something that really touches us. We recently came across a great read that we thought all of our readers should check out. We know that Alzheimer’s is a dreadful disease – stripping a person down to almost nothing but an empty shell. It is a hardship on not only the person but the family as well. However, although we might think there is nothing left, and that the well of emotion and connectedness is dry – there can be a moment shared that has deep meaning between the victim and a loved one.

Still Giving Kisses is a book that we found earlier this week, written by Barbara Smith, who is an occupational therapist. The book talks about the author’s mother and one of the few remaining motor acts that she was able to perform, giving kisses, reflecting the title of the book. We took some time to read a couple chapters and it is very inspirational. We had a post about another book a couple of months ago that we really enjoyed, and if you folks got to check out the previous book, then we highly recommend this one as well.

The book goes on about how caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can drown a caregiver with legal demands, bureaucratic issues, and personal exhaustion. However, if the caregiver can try to always be on the lookout for “kisses” in whatever manifestation, the human side of the Alzheimer’s gauntlet might not be forgotten. We just thought we'd end the week with a good book, and hopefully you all can get into the book as well.

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We want to share with you a quick summary of a book that dementia caregivers might find insightful.  The book, "Forget Memory" is focused on “Creating Better Lives for People with Dementia.” This is in fact the book's subbitle and central focus.  

Basting opines that while scientists try to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, caregivers should maintain faith in the scientific community but focus energy on the issues of today. She discusses the importance of living "in the moment".  In cases of extreme dementia,  memories are essentially not accessible and therefore it is the quality of the moment that defines quality of life.   Basting relates stories about caregiver fear of being a burdened, fear of the unknown, fear of being out of control, a fear of a loved one being violated or robbed, and a fear of a meaningless existence. Dementia sufferers at all levels can sense emotion.  Quality of life would have them stare into the face of confident caregivers, not fearful ones. The fear that one's loved one is indeed "senseless" contributes to a common (and quite natural defense) to dismiss the patient's behavioral ownership in lieu of blame on the disease itself. This is when caregiver fear becomes dangerous.  

There is a good excerpt from the beginning of the book: “That’s not him, it’s the disease”.  When we conclude that a man with dementia shouts out in anger solely because of his disease, it eliminates the caregiver from the burden of addressing the tougher issue of misbehavior.  It offers an excuse to give up and forgo the labor of an honestly assessment.  The danger of course is when the patient has very real issues (injury or need) and the caregiver simply dismisses the notion as non-existent, or even if it is deemed to be legitimate, the condition will not be remembered.   Dismissive behavior within caregivers affects dementia patients more than we realize.

Basting makes a great case that caregivers should "forget memory" as an excuse to dismiss the issues of the demented moment.  The issue of the moment may be all that they have, and the only thing that is truly real. Those moments define their cognizant existence and demand very real and non-dismissive attention.

 It is impossible to capture the genuine depth of Basting's reasoning. We believe that by reading her book, you will certainly achieve new enlightenment about the dreaded disease of dementia and empower you to be a more loving and understanding caregiver.  

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National Volunteer Week Extended to “Spring Arbor Volunteer Month”

Although last Saturday marked the end of “National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 18-24), we’re holding on for another week. Sure, the formal appreciation events are now behind us, however, we can’t thank enough the hundreds of volunteers that continue to serve each and every individual Spring Arbor Living and The Oaks communities.  From our volunteer Bible study leaders, bingo hosts, musicians, arts and craft coordinators….and oh so many more, your selfless gifts of time, treasure, and talent brighten not only the spirits of our residents, but their families, our staff, and the communities in which we live.  

For the remainder of “Volunteer Appreciation Month”, we encourage all residents, staff, and family to continue to continue to thank and praise our dedicated family of volunteers. We warmly invite any and all of you to consider volunteering your time and talent at any of our locations.  It is said that nothing is more genuine than the smile or the elderly.  And it is simply impossible to describe the reward in delivering a smile to the treasure that is our senior citizens.  One thing is certain, you’ll wish you had started earlier. 

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Assisted Living For the Caregiver

With forty-plus years of assisted living experience, we know and understand that the moment a loved one has Alzheimer's or related dementia, their care and support requirements continually increase. It is simply a matter of time before the care provider's challenges become overwhelming and they themselves must turn to external support.  We have experienced too many countless tales of families reaching the "breaking point" … the point where physical and psychological burden is simply too great to bear.  

Whether or not you've reached the "Breaking Point", we want you to know that you can "lean on us". Consider our guiding creed and principal, "Compassionate Care Delivered By Passionate Professionals".  Unlike the vast majority of Assisted Living communities owned and operated by impersonal larger conglomerates, Spring Arbor is a privately held operation that is able to deliver an unequalled level of care and compassion.

Spring Arbor Living is ready to discuss your situation, your loved one's needs, and assist you in helping to determine your family's best course of action.

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