Thanksgiving Activities for Seniors in Assisted Living Facility

As seniors are gearing up for Thanksgiving, preparing for this day is important so as to ensure that seniors enjoy their stay in an assisted living facility with their loved ones.

It’s time to be thankful for the people in our lives and the opportunities that we have. Below are a few activity suggestions that can get the residents excited about Thanksgiving and encourage them to participate in the festivities:

Crafts
Making holiday crafts that depict the holiday spirits always reminds us of the happiness of being alive. Thanksgiving also gives a perfect setting to bring out the creative side of the older generation. Get the seniors to indulge in some crafting and allow them to create centerpieces for the tables and decorations for the dining room. Also, adding a few Thanksgiving touches to the social areas can set the mood for the holidays.

Grandparent and Grandchild Activities
For most grandparents, the biggest joy is to have their grandchildren spend quality time with them during the holiday season. Plan a Thanksgiving-themed craft day for grandparents. This can be an entertaining and fun-filled activity for everyone involved.

Thankful Board
Bulletin boards remind us of the things we should do priority wise. You can use the bulletin boards to remind people of the things they are grateful for.

Cook Family Recipes Together
Gather as a family in the kitchen and make your traditional Thanksgiving dishes together. Food is such an integral part of most families and making recipes that have been passed down through your family is a great way to celebrate with family members. While you all cook together, listen to your senior loved ones as they share their holiday memories.

Make Turkey Name Cards
If you like to make turkey name cards, these can be made ahead of time. Make cute cards that look like turkeys for everyone who will be attending the Thanksgiving party. Use one of the various kits that are available like: the kit from Kiwi Crate or the one from Paper Source or you can come up with your own template and utilize crafting supplies to make innovative turkeys for everyone.

Tips for Making Friends in A Senior Living Community

For many older Americans moving into a senior living community is a big transition. The new living spaces, unfamiliar faces and different routines can at times cause seniors to self- isolate, become lonely or lose touch with the things that bring them joy.

Eventually some seniors won’t be able to keep up the social interactions that keep them mentally, emotionally and physically healthy. Here are some important tips for developing friendships while living in an assisted living center:

Look For Common Ground

The finest place to make some new friends in any events where people with common interests attend. You can go out together for a movie or watch a television show instead of staying alone in a private living setting. Going with a group to a grocery store, religious organization or community event may give a lot of opportunities for conversations and offer possibilities of new friendships.

Attend Welcoming Events

Various assisted living facilities are aware of the fact that making friends in a new place can be a challenge. Owing to this, they create events for new residents that allow for connections to blossom and grow. They are excellent ways to strike up conversations and find out what activities they can participate in.

Talk About Struggles

If residents are struggling to make friends they will subsequently confide in caregivers and make a plan with them on how to take actions. These may be caregivers, however they may also be doctors or therapists, family members, loved ones or someone whom the senior trusts.

Be Patient

Give yourself some time to adjust because great friendships don’t form overnight. It’s normal for you to take some time to truly feel at home in your new living community. Just be patient and give yourself an evening off if spending some quiet time in your apartment sounds better.

If you actively taking steps to make friends, it can stave off anxiety and depression. Life in an assisted livingcommunity can be wonderful. Stay positive, healthy and happy while you stay in an assisted living community.

How Music & Art Therapy Help Seniors With Dementia?

Music

We all know how the power of arts touches people’s lives for the better. All of us can remember a time when a song came on the radio which evoked a particular emotion or saw a painting that made us smile or cry.

Because of the powerful abilities to connect with people, music and art have been effectively used to reach out to those suffering from dementia and help them become engaged. Music can lift spirits and improve mood, stimulate positive interactions, reduce agitation and enhance cognitive function. For those with Alzheimer’s disease, music provides a great way to connect to someone. Below mentioned are the benefits that dementia patients experience from music and art therapy:

Communication: People who face difficulty in expressing themselves verbally many times can communicate effectively through visual means. So, for those living with dementia can communicate through visual art and assist with communication barriers.

Self-Expression: Expression in art provide brilliant access to memories and a helpful starting point for reminiscence. Indeed, the act of creating enables us to share our lives and get validation for who we are.

Socialization: Going for movies or visiting a museum allows people to have enjoyable and shared experiences which further promote sharing of feelings and emotions with others.

Intellectual Stimulation: The act of brainstorming is a magnificent way to exercise your brain. Deciding what media to draw, where to put the first line, what to draw or paint all give mental exercise. Also, an art project can represent a stimulating challenge which increases orientation and awareness as well.

Getting started with music and art therapy won’t take much time. Kick start research for the therapy centers and get set to experience the interesting, exciting and fresh beginning of your life.

How To Care For Loved One With Dementia?

Dementia Care

If you are not personally affected by dementia disease, at some point in time you will likely know someone who has it. So, let’s get into the depth of this disease so we can help those affected by it.

Over a period of time, all types of dementia will lead to loss of reasoning and judgment, loss of memory, behavioral changes, physical decline and even death. This disease is influenced by several factors consisting of age and other conditions an individual may have. Below are some ways we have found to make this difficult journey a little easier for dementia patient and their caregiver:

Do Your Research: Every individual with dementia is different since the disease follows certain patterns. For example: people with dementia and Alzheimer’s can get angry without annoyance. Thus, it is likely your loved one would lash out at you occasionally. Plus, a sun downing symptom can give rise to confusion at night. Knowing these trademarks of dementia disease help you to not take them personally.

Accept You Are Not In Control: There are various ways to help your loved one coping with dementia, like finding them the finest care and interacting with them as much as possible. These things would help your loved one with time.

Try To Interact Only When You Are High On Energy: If you call your loved one at the end of an exhausting day this won’t be a good idea. It would be recommended to skip a day than to have a conversation neither of you would enjoy. It would make sense if you get a caregiver so you can recharge.

Laugh When You Can: Caring for someone with dementia can be tough, but sharing laughs, joking and enjoying comedy can be a great way in lightening the load and help you and this person feel positive.

Protect Your Own Brain Health: When you are around someone with dementia, it can make you wonder what they think so you need to maintain your mental balance in a good way. Some of the factors which may prevent brain deterioration consist of regular exercise, maintaining good cardiovascular health, eating healthfully and brain exercise.

Ask for Help: Caring for dementia patient requires much effort like visiting regularly, following up with nurses, taking them to doctor appointments etc. So, this could have a huge toll on a caregiver who doesn’t have any help. If this is your scenario, get in touch with your local Alzheimer’s association and find out what kind of community support is available.

Now, if you are a caregiver cut yourself some slack because there will be times when you lose patience. Always remember that caring for dementia patient is noble work instead of beating yourself up. Keep doing the good work and spread smiles as much as you can because that’s the way life should be lived.

5 Brain-Building Activities for Elders Suffering From Memory Loss

None of you would like seeing your beloved ones lose their memory, right? It can be quite challenging to look after elderly who have started forgetting things. So, if someone in your family is suffering from dementia or memory loss, consider learning some measures to help them manage it.

Are you dealing with an elderly in the family who is suffering from memory loss?

As you enter the later stages of their life, it becomes more and more important to take care of your health. When it comes to health, a good diet and physical exercise is needed. But what's often overlooked is the health of your mind. You need to keep your mind active and engaged as you age.

The best way to help someone with memory problems is to make them practice some brain training exercises. While these will help sharpen their minds, it will keep them busy and active. Here are a few suggestions for bringing fun activities into your life that will help motivate them and keep them going.

1. Plan Some Exercising: Working out is a nice way to keep your beloved’s body healthy. According to studies, it has been shown that people who work out on daily basis are more fit, consume a healthy balanced diet, and maintain their physical and mental health for well into their elder years.
2. Enjoy Music: Music is a treat for many. Studies have shown that musicians and people fond of music have a reduced risk of developing dementia than others. A person who has an interest in music develop much better long-term and short term memory connections than an average man. Let them indulge in their favorite music.
3. Meditation: Meditation has always proved to be beneficial for a number of physical disorders. It will help them decrease stress, lower blood pressure, all kinds of pains and most importantly, an increase will power and concentration. And with the help of strong will power, anything can be achieved.
4. Do Puzzles: Puzzles act upon various sections of the brain. One has to discover many things and in the case of larger puzzles, it may take many days to complete. Thus, it increases memory capacity. These challenges also promote one’s reasoning and problem-solving abilities which can be damaged in case of dementia. Activating these areas of the brain will result in healthy nerves.
5. Reading Books: Reading through a book is one of the easiest ways to remain bright and sharp. It has been proven through research that rarely half of the population will prefer reading a book after graduating or being done with studies. You should recommend they read a book rather than watch TV.

In fact, medical researches show that the brain structure of the one who meditates is quite different than the one who does not. Meditation leads to healing and calms down our mind and thoughts.

Whether they are suffering from dementia, show signs of dementia, have memory problems or just want to stay well in their elder years, these exercises are very important for mental health.

Gadgets That Help Seniors Recovering From Memory Loss

When you are struggling to remember important things, it might be a time to start looking into all the high-tech gadgets that could make your life easier.

5 million U.S. residents are living with memory loss problems; however, by 2050 some estimates show it rising to 14 million. The vast majority of seniors prefer to live at home as long as their families and financial abilities allow, and there are many gadgets available that make this a safe option.

We have listed some clever gadgets for seniors with memory impairment:

• Big Format Phone with Speed-Dial Presets: 

Trying to find where your contact book or phone book is can be a big challenge for many seniors. Even if you have your contacts saved in your phone, sometimes it's hard to see what you’re looking at on small screens. An easy solution for these problems is to setup speed-dial presets for your loved ones. This will make it easy for them to contact who they need to without having to ask for help.

• Large Display Digital Alarm Clock: 

An early sign of memory loss is losing track of time.There are many digital clocks on the market that are specifically designed for people with memory loss. They help seniors keep track of dates, time and seasons. This can help to ease confusion with the suffer and help caregivers by reinforcing the date and time.

• Digital Photo Frames:

Digital photo frames are a great way to rotate through plenty of pictures to help remind loved ones of memories. They can let seniors surf the latest pictures of people they love and see older pictures from their past.

• Cook-Stove Temperature Control:

This is the most terrific safety tool for seniors since nearly half of structure fires in the US are caused by cooking equipment. This indigenous stove-top device has electronic plates which sit over the burners and automatically shut the burner off when the temperature gets too hot.

• A GPS Tracking Bracelet:

If you are worried about your parent’s Alzheimer’s disease or about them wandering off, then this GPS tracking bracelet is an outstanding option. A transponder on the GPS bracelet offers a service where you can track your parents remotely and notify you or police. In order to use the GPS tracking bracelets, a monthly service fee is required.

• Talking Medication Alarm Clock:

This resourceful tiny gadget enables you to set the clock up to 4 times a day with friendly voice reminders. For your senior loved one, talking medication reminders act as a great way to stay on track with diabetes, blood pressure, and other critical medications.

• Baby Monitors:

Without being in the senior’s room, you can monitor them wherever you are through baby monitors. This is a great way to keep an eye on them when you are not at home.

• Calendars and Diaries:

Keep track of senior’s important events and appointments with the help of diary or calendar app. With these apps, you are able to set reminders and make sure that your loved one isn't missing any important appointments or events.

These are just a few of the high-tech gadgets that are available to help fight memory loss with seniors. These devices will allow your senior loved ones to live more independently and safely. 

Reasons to Pick the Right Senior Living Facility for Seniors

Seniors Enjoying Chess At Senior Living Facility

Many seniors embrace the idea of aging at home but there are so many assisted living communities that give much needed care to your loved ones. Living in a senior living facility would help senior’s lives to be more peaceful and healthy.

We have listed some reasons why assisted living might be the perfect choice for you.

Socialization:

Seniors Socializing

Senior living communities often give chances to build new relationships with volunteers, fellow residents and staff too. Group activities like: book clubs, outings, cooking courses give a great chance for seniors to engage their mind, body and spirit and to stay active. Coffee chats and card games are other ways your loved one can connect with others. The events, activities and conversations available at assisted living facilities are an ideal avenue for connecting with others.

Transportation:

Senior living communities provide impressive transportation services that are designed to assist your loved one from shopping centers to community centers with quick door to door service. Transportation service can also be arranged for regular medical appointments. If your loved one is worried about mobility, then the availability of on-site transportation may help in making the move more alluring.

Safety:

Seniors who live alone in their homes can be more vulnerable to a various number of threats and hazards from medication mishaps to burglaries. This is where assisted living communities come to rescue to give comfortable and secure environment for seniors. Direct care staff is available 24 hours a day to give assistance to your loved one as and when an emergency arises.

Dining With Others:

Seniors Dining

Mealtimes are the perfect environment to socialize with others and provide balanced nutrition and nourishment. Invite residents to dine with family members, neighbors and friends. If your loved one enjoys cooking then you may look for communities that have a spacious family-style kitchen which gives a great opportunity to seniors to cook what they wish to eat anytime.

Peace of Mind:

Home ownership is not just expensive but comes with a lot of responsibilities and headache. Regular home maintenance comes with time-consuming responsibilities. On the other hand, at assisted living facilities the staff takes care of everything. From preparing meals to maintenance requests, assisted living is completely maintenance free for the residents. So many seniors resist the idea of moving to a senior living community but once they do, they end up admitting that they wish they had done it sooner.

We hope the benefits we listed above help you in deciding if assisted living is right for you. Schedule a tour today for a facility near you. 

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Memory Care Assisted Living

Assisted Living Facility

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 67 seconds someone in the US is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and there are around 5 million Americans living with this harmful disease.

When you have a loved one diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer it becomes stressful for you too. It can be really hard to deal with it alone. Sometimes it’s necessary to look for an assisted living community that can help you as you care for your loved one. Below are few questions to ask that can help when selecting a memory care assisted living facility:

·         What Kind Of Services Do You Provide?

Generally, memory care communities offer access to medical care, nutritious meals, 24 hour staffing, security features, laundry and housekeeping, fun activities, social opportunities and transportation. Few of the services might be included in the standard monthly rate while other services may be extra.

• Do You Provide Personalized Care And Programming?

Giving Care To An Old Woman

A great memory care community would provide services customized to the particular requirements and capabilities of the residents. In order to ascertain the level of care required by your loved one, the representatives would want to know about their degree of mobility, medical conditions or any type of help required in daily activities. Make sure to also ask what the community’s memory care philosophy is and how that philosophy informs activities and programming.

·         What Approach Is Followed In Clinical Care And Staff Training?

It is important to understand the memory care community’s model and how well the staff professionals are trained. What kind of training is provided? Does the community adhere to a wider scope of training or is there any additional training required on a regular basis? Is there a nurse present in the community 24 hours a day?

·         How Would You Keep Us Updated?

On the well being of your loved one, it's important to ask the community how often they send out updates on the residents. Find out about the mode of communication, for instance will it be via phone call or text message. Ask them beforehand if visitors need to be registered with the community. Make sure you understand the company’s policies to insure your loved one gets the best treatment possible.

Personal preferences and individual choice are the most important factors. Find the right memory care community that offers personalized programs while giving the safety and stability required for residents to have as much independence as they can.

How To Choose an Assisting Living Facility?

Do you know what makes assisted living facility so special? They offer some magnificent services that usually include help with day to day activities, such as dressing, bathing, grooming and the like.

Assisted living can provide a wonderful living environment for the aging population. Meals are often served  in a cafeteria style atmosphere. Also, they offer essential health care and general help such as reminders to take medication. Whereas seniors in nursing homes are being given assistance in daily chores and are also monitored by round the clock nursing staff.

If your loved one is strong-minded to preserve their independence and they have only minor issues with aging then assisted living facility might be a great option. But, if your elderly loved one has crucial medical problems which need regular monitoring or if the elderly has emotional as well as mental issues that require stable attention, a reputed nursing facility could be a great fit.

If you have made up your mind in going with an assisted living facility, here are important things to consider:

Start Slow:

Start with hiring help for critical chores, such as running errands or mowing the lawn. With time, as the need arises, you can pursue an assisted living facility.

Start a Conversation:

Do interact with your loved one concerning what the future might hold in coming days. Making the right decision may not occur overnight, so be patient with them as they sort out their emotions. Discuss in detail their medical issues and what are the kind of options they have for long-term care.

Offer Choices:

When staying at home does not sound sensible for you; sit down to talk concerning nursing homes and assisted living centers. Enable them to make many of the decisions on their own. Also, make an effort to bring their doctor into the conversation and ask for their opinions too.

Show Them You Care:

When your senior loved one has made a decision to live in an assisted living center, consider talking to them each day and monitoring their day-to-day lifestyle. Please pay attention to their care, become a supporter for them and follow up on any complaints that may arise in future. Most importantly, remind them how much you care about them and show them that their comfort and health is your primary concern.

Make Legal Preparations:

Long term care choices must be made long before the move takes place, considering the legal roadblocks that might delay the elder care choices. Talk to your loved one about power of attorney, finances and other legal factors.

Choosing between a skilled nursing facility and an assisted living center can be very daunting; but with open lines of communication that stony road can be made much smoother. Hence, it’s time to make a good healthy choice that secures your future for a longer period of time. Indulge in an exciting range of activities and wellness programs and pave way for a more refreshing and peaceful life. If it sounds superb for you then go ahead and take assistive care.

6 Valentine’s Day Party Games for Senior Residents

Instead of taking our elders for granted, it'd be great if we can do something special for them on the Valentine’s Day. When our seniors were young, they also had some love stories so we can make an effort to reminisce those wonderful times.

Romance and being in love is meant for people of all ages. We see couples hand in hand in restaurants, theatres and walking the streets but sometimes behave oddly when an old couple shows PDA (Public Display Affection). This shows we need to adopt a more liberal view when it comes to showing affection and love. Love is meant for anyone and that’s all matters. Rather than trying to avoid it, join senior couples this Valentine's Day and try playing one of these party games with them:

Newlywed Game: 

In order to play this game, you may consider recruiting married couples. Further, you may ask questions each of the spouses separately such as: ‘what was the menu of the first meal your wife cooked especially for you’ or ‘when did you last gave your wife flowers’. These are just a few ideas, many more you can Google.

Valentine Pictionary: 

Encourage all the participants to draw phrases related to Valentine’s Day for the team members to make a guess like: love letter, love birds, candlelight dinner and many more phrases you can make.

Name that LOVE Song: 

Play some music from trending love songs for senior residents to guess the song titles. Also, you can give prizes to the ones who guess the songs right. This will create competitive spirit among all the participants so that everybody stays in jubilant mood.

Word Games: 

Make a Web search for printable word games like: Valentine’s Mad libs or crossword puzzles. This is a really great way to get all the participants involved.

Candy Bingo: 

Using candy like sweethearts as the bingo markers or Hershey’s Kisses, you can play a fun round of Valentine Bingo. Plus, you may even give out Valentine's candies for prizes. Isn’t it a great idea?

Valentine Charades: 

Playing a Valentine Charades makes an assisted living center environment even livelier. You may invite participants to act out romantic song titles such as: Wind Beneath My Wings, The Way You Look Tonight and many more, ‘especially those which are in trend’.

On Valentine's Day. pay due respect to the old couples and engage them in fun love-centric activities through these above mentioned games. Brainstorm the ideas with the owner of an assisted living center to make their V-Day memorable. You will be happy to see the smiles and laughter on your elderly loved ones.