Memory loss is in the news again lately, with the announcement by Hollywood actor Chris Hemingsworth, otherwise known as “Thor” in the Marvel Universe, that he will take a break from acting to spend more time with his family. The announcement comes after Chris received results of genetic testing that revealed he has a particular hereditary gene combination that makes him 8 to 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Chris wasn’t entirely surprised as his father already suffers from the disease. Despite the news, Chris is determined to stay in shape and avail himself of all the knowledge medical science has to offer, with regard to preventing or postponing the disease. It’s a stark reminder that many things contribute to cognitive impairment and that aging is not always the cause of an impaired memory. It may be time to gain a better understanding of memory loss disorders, especially, if you have a senior loved one who is contemplating the move into a professional memory care facility. Our advanced memory care team in Morris County has put together some important things to understand about the causes, signs and ways to avoid memory loss. Memory disorder causes A general decline in cognitive and neural function as we get older is normal. This is because as the brain ages, it produces fewer neurotransmitters. Also, the hippocampus which aids in the memory process, also begins to deteriorate over time. These changes in the aging brain are very gradual, so we may not notice we’re having problems with memory or our ability to think until much later in life. However, aging is not always the cause of impaired memory. Memory disorders and memory loss can also be triggered by high blood pressure, sleep deprivation, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems, substance abuse, medication, head injury, stroke, depression and stress. The good news is that a memory disorder caused by these factors can be remediated and the symptoms managed until memory function is almost fully restored. Signs of Memory Loss It’s important to be aware of the most common signs of memory loss in your loved one, especially as they often cause complications to their daily routines. If your loved one is frequently experiencing a number of the signs listed below, please don’t hesitate to have them professionally evaluated and diagnosed.
Avoiding memory disorders Being mindful of these particular triggers can help you avoid or restore memory loss that stems from these factors. For example:
Professional Memory Care in Morris County At Lester Senior Living, we put safety and individualized care at the forefront of everything we do. Our dedicated memory caregivers understand that memory disorders—like the seniors who suffer from them—are all unique. This is why our Memory Care Suite provides an individualized approach to each residents’ memory care, based on the Comfort Matters® philosophy of holistic dementia care. Our memory care providers focus on each resident’s particular needs at all times, to help them foster more meaningful connections with family and friends. With this care method in place, along with dementia-safe living spaces, each memory care resident can experience a better quality of life here at Lester Senior Living. To learn more about our professional memory care in Morris County, please visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org The original blog is posted on- https://jchcorp.org/understanding-causes-signs-and-ways-to-avoid-memory-loss/
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Alzheimer’s disease is a diagnosis that not only your loved one, but the whole family as well. Life is going to change, and mom or dad will require more help and supervision on a day to day basis. The degree of this help will vary depending on what stage your loved one is at in the disease. In most cases, Alzheimer’s symptoms manifest slowly through three stages: mild, moderate, and severe. However, everyone who has this memory disorder experiences symptoms differently. If you are a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s, our professional memory care team at Lester Senior Living has compiled different ways to navigate each stage of this disease, so you can better help your loved one.
Caring for a loved one with mild Alzheimer’s disease People with mild Alzheimer’s often live independent lives, caring for themselves, driving, paying bills and meeting up with friends. However, they may experience memory lapses, lose things, forget what they just heard, or be unable to recall the right word for a common object. They may have trouble performing tasks or find it increasingly difficult to plan or organize. You may begin to notice these changes as well. A person diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s is often likely to understand what that means and may react with fear, denial, anxiety, depression, and anger. The people close to them often experience these emotions too. While your loved one is in this early stage, it’s a good time to discuss future options for legal, financial, and long-term care arrangements. It’s also smart for you both to take advantage of the many support services and resources that are available to you. Learn as much as you can about Alzheimer’s together. One of the best resources out there for seniors and their caregivers is the official Alzheimer’s Association website. Aside from familiarizing yourselves more with Alzheimer’s and discussing legal matters, here are some other ways you can help care for them:
In middle-stage Alzheimer’s, there will be good days and bad days, but caregiver responsibilities will increase. The individual may find it more and more difficult to perform routine tasks like dressing, expressing themselves verbally, or following a conversation. Routines become more important at this stage and will have to be adapted according to how dementia advances. People with moderate Alzheimer’s may exhibit changes in behavior or personality. Angry outbursts, confusion, irritability, sleep disturbance, or wandering are all distressing signs of moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The person may not always recognize you, and you too may wonder who this stranger is. Remember that the disease, not the individual, is causing these changes. Caring for your loved one is going to be much more involved by this point and will include your help with the following:
Caring for a loved one with severe Alzheimer’s disease Seniors with severe Alzheimer’s need round-the-clock personal care. They usually have trouble eating and eventually become bedridden or chair-bound. They may experience incontinence and be prone to infection. Your focus is now on preserving their dignity and quality of life. You may also have to make difficult personal and medical decisions on their behalf. Never be afraid to tap into your network for emotional and professional support. Even if your loved one can’t communicate, you can still let them know you care. Here are different ways to connect with your loved one in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease:
Be mindful of your own stress level throughout the journey of caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s. It’s important to keep yourself healthy and don’t be afraid to ask for help if it becomes too overwhelming to handle by yourself. When memory loss starts affecting everyone’s daily life, it may be time to consider the holistic approach to memory care at the specialized Memory Care Suite in Lester Senior Living. Our memory care residents receive intensive and individualized support from our specially trained caregivers who are onsite at all times. Our program also ensures your loved one’s quality of life is enhanced through cognitive activities, socialization with other residents and meaningful connections with each of our caregivers. For more information about professional and compassionate memory care in New Jersey, please give us a call today or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org The original blog is posted on: https://jchcorp.org/how-to-navigate-the-stages-of-alzheimers-disease/ Let us paint a familiar picture for you. You’re watching your favorite show on Netflix when suddenly you remember that you left your drink in the kitchen. Naturally, you pause the show and make your way there. However, once you get to the kitchen – you completely forget why you decided to go there in the first place. This has happened to everyone at least once and is usually not a cause of grave concern. Everyone experiences a “senior moment” once in a while. It’s normal to forget why you came into a room, where you left your keys, or someone’s name here and there. Especially if you’re having a bad week.
However, if you are noticing more serious memory loss or perhaps the early signs of dementia in your loved one, it can be concerning for everyone involved. If you are starting to wonder whether your mom or dad are in need of memory care, our experts at JCHC put together a list of tell-tale signs to look for. Major changes in daily behavior. Like we mentioned above, this is more than the occasional brain freeze. The changes in your loved one’s behavior should be very dramatic and indicative that they are not themselves. For example, your mom starts declining invitations to go out and becomes very withdrawn, when she is usually a social butterfly. Other common behavioral changes that are linked to memory disorders are feeling very anxious and becoming easily irritated. Unhealthy living conditions. Upkeep is a normal part of life, and a part that requires a sound memory. If you start to notice your loved one is letting trash pile up, forgetting to pay the bills, not remembering to shower or brush their teeth – these are signs that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Forgetting regular hygiene and home maintenance is unhealthy and is indicative that your loved one needs assistance on a daily basis. Unsafe home environment. A tell-tale sign of dementia that you’ve probably heard of is wandering. This can become especially dangerous if your loved one lives home alone. If your loved one has wandered away from their home and has gotten lost, this is a sign that they are no longer safe living alone. Incontinence. This can become a very unsanitary problem for your loved one, even if they have a sole caregiver. Incontinence is a huge task to take on alone. If your loved one is at the point where they are not remembering to go to the bathroom, they require the help of trained staff in a memory care unit. The main caregiver is overwhelmed. As mentioned above, there are behavioral and other health changes that develop when a loved one is battling a memory disorder. Often, these issues can become too overwhelming for one caregiver to take on. Especially if the caregiver has a family and career of their own to worry about. If your senior parent’s needs are becoming too much to handle, it’s time to consider the professional support of a memory care facility. Advanced Memory Care in Morris County, NJ At Lester Senior Living, seniors in the memory care unit keep both their minds and bodies active with our specialized care. They listen to music, do arts and crafts, and engage in cognitive exercises with other memory care residents, like Scrabble and Bridge. Our caregivers understand the challenges that come with memory disorders and treat each resident in a comforting environment where their care needs are addressed at all times. For more information about professional memory care in Morris County, New Jersey, contact us today for visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org/ The original blog is posted on: https://jchcorp.org/5-signs-your-senior-parent-needs-memory-care/ Lets face it, almost everyone wants a little more time to snooze. Getting a good night’s sleep and waking up rested are important in maintaining concentration, memory and focus, especially as we age. There’s no doubt that getting a solid seven to nine hours of sleep every night is essential, but the way you feel upon waking—and feeling well rested throughout the day—are good indicators of whether or not you’re getting the sleep you need for optimal quality of life. With that said, our caregivers at JCHC broke down sleep patterns in seniors and even put a list of tips together to help seniors get better sleep.
Sleep patterns in seniors Before diving into better sleeping tips, it’s important to understand the ins and out of senior sleep patterns. Due to hormonal changes, older adults may notice changes in their sleep patterns such as waking up earlier in the morning or getting sleepy earlier in the evening. Other seniors may find themselves becoming “light sleepers.” While these changes are normal with aging and are relatively easy to adapt to, insomnia, disturbed sleep or waking up tired all the time, are not normal and can negatively affect your health. Insufficient sleep can lead to irritability, memory disorder and attention issues, and may also increase the risk of certain health problems and depression. Sleep disruptions are not a normal part of aging, so it’s important for seniors to identify the underlying causes. These may be:
Prioritizing better sleep habits at Lester Assisted Living Lester is an assisted living community dedicated to helping older adults live full, happy and healthy lives. With an active community spirit, spacious apartments, great exercise programs and support services designed to maximize independence, we’re a welcoming space for seniors to really feel at home. Our staff is also available on-site 24/7 to assist with any personal issues, such as having trouble sleeping by incorporating one of the methods above into the resident’s daily routine. For more information about our assisted living services in Whippany, NJ, please contact us today to schedule a tour or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org The original blog is available on - https://jchcorp.org/tips-to-improve-sleep-for-seniors/ If this is Mom’s first mother’s day in memory care you both might still be adjusting to the new normal. Our experts at JCHC are here to assure you that although this is not what you are used to, you are still able to make memories together and enjoy the day with mom. We first urge you to understand that mom might not remember it’s mother’s day, if that is the case, as hard as it is just let it be. The focus isn’t on the day itself as it is just spending time together.
Focusing on mom’s favorite activities before her memory started to change is still a great way to make the day about her. If mom loved to bake or cook but can’t do so anymore, make her favorite treat the night before and bring it over to her. The sense of smell is incredibly strong and might bring back fond memories once she smells her favorite foods or even flowers, especially if those smells and sights are associated with mothers days in the past. Mother’s Day with Dementia Afflicted Seniors If Mom’s favorite activities can still be done or modified so she can still enjoy them, make the effort to do some with her. If she loves to garden you can bring her some new houseplants and transfer them into decorative planters with her. Gardening has many health benefits such as decreasing stress and anxiety, and can be a good exercise. Having houseplants in the home is also known to brighten moods as well as give responsibility and it helps create a routine. Everyone enjoys some pampering from time to time, and what a perfect time to pamper mom on mother’s day. She might enjoy you doing her hair for her, or having you paint her nails a nice color for spring. If hair and nails aren’t in your skillset, you can always try a hand and foot massage. It’s guaranteed to feel good and doesn’t require any special skills, just moms preferred lotion. Getting crafty with activities like scrapbooking is a way to spend your time together and mom gets to keep it when you’re finished. If you’re scrapbooking it might be fun to go through old photos, bringing up forgotten memories. When adding them to the scrapbook, label the photos with the names of the people, activities, and anything else that mom might want to remember about that day. Remember if there is anything mom doesn’t remember avoid trying to remind her of it and don’t argue about it, just move on to another photo. Remember What They Did For Us on Mothers Day While your parents may be slowly forgetting things, it is more important than ever that you remember how they have always cared for you, loved you, and supported you. If you’re looking for a memory care provider for mom to make her journey as comfortable as possible for everyone, our experts at JCHC have a dedicated memory care section, with specific safety features for memory care residents and trained professionals. If you have any questions, please reach out to us, we would love to hear from you. https://jchcorp.org/ The original blog is available on: https://jchcorp.org/mothers-day-activities-for-mom-in-memory-care/ While memory care services are often associated with assisted living and may overlap, the two are not the same. Assisted living primarily focuses on providing essential support for day-to-day living like bathing, dressing, meal preparation and medication, while memory support specifically assists residents with dementia conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. If you’re still looking for some insight into how memory care differs, our memory care providers in New Jersey have expanded on what it really means to receive dementia support at a senior community like Lester Senior Living.
Comfortable residential settings for dementia residents Lester offers residents with memory conditions a comfortable, homey residential setting specifically designed to foster the best quality of life. Our staff and memory care specialists are fully trained to care for residents with varying conditions while providing compassionate companionship. Our programs are based on each person’s individual needs and preferences, as well as their cognitive strengths. We incorporate everyday routines into a neighborhood lifestyle, including tasks like setting the table, playing word games, gardening and group discussions. In addition to this, we offer fun, extracurricular programs that promote community engagement and participation including fitness classes, hands-on creative art, music classes and other forms of sensory stimulation and entertainment. By offering comfortable, dementia-friendly apartments, a range of communal activity areas and secure wander management, we strive to balance our memory care services with each resident’s dignity. Customized Memory Care and Support Services in New Jersey At Lester Senior Living, we aim to serve our memory care residents as well as their loved ones with compassion, respect and expert support. Our approach to memory care changes with each resident. We take the time to really get to know your loved one, evaluate their needs, and then determine the level of care needed. By providing meaningful experiences everyday that promote their independence, your loved one can restore and maintain what matters most — their dignity and independence. For more information about our customized memory care services for Alzheimer’s and dementia, please contact us today to arrange for a personal visit or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original content posted on https://jchcorp.org/what-does-it-mean-to-receive-memory-support/ Memories play an important role in forming who we are but, as we age, certain dementia conditions can start to erode these vital building blocks of our relationships, knowledge and personality. Conditions like Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia currently have no cure, but there are ways to fight against memory loss, help exercise the brain and keep neurological pathways firing and responding properly. Our memory care advisors at Lester Senior Living in New Jersey have put together a list of some favorite memory games to play with residents below.
Lester Senior Living is no stranger to the care and treatment of adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses. Our specialized facility is designed for the unique concerns and caregiving of those with all stages of dementia. It offers dementia-friendly apartments with 24-hour supervision in a beautiful, suburban setting. To find out more about our memory care in Morris County, please visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org The original blog is posted on https://jchcorp.org/memory-games-for-healthy-brains/. |
AuthorWe offer seniors a range of options in terms of housing, services, amenities, location and cost, all within the Jewish tradition: independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite, affordable housing, enriching programs, and on-site services for our residents, many of whom have special needs. Archives
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