Category: Memory Care

The holidays are a wonderful time,  but they aren’t always easy when your loved one has dementia. 

Dementia is an incredibly difficult disease, not just for the person who suffers from dementia, but for all of their friends and family as well. The last thing that anyone wants is to celebrate the holidays without their loved one, and luckily, you can read about helpful tips for creating a happy holiday for your loved one with dementia in our latest  blog. Today, our memory care professionals in Durham will be finishing up our list with these last few tips:

#4. Watch what you serve your loved one at mealtimes. 

There are certain things, like sugary foods and drinks, that can exacerbate the negative behaviors associated with dementia, so avoid giving your loved one too much of these foods. It’s also important to avoid giving your loved one too much alcohol, as this could increase their risk for falling. If you plan on giving them alcohol at all, consult their physician before your party.

#5. Involve your loved one in the preparations for your party. 

People of all ages like to feel included and useful, and that fact doesn’t change when someone has dementia. There are lots of little things you can do to get your loved one involved in your party preparations, like decorating cookies, hanging decorations, setting the table, etc.

#6. Create a quiet place for your loved one. 

Even a small get-together can be overwhelming for someone who has dementia, so it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in place. If you notice that your loved one is getting too agitated or stressed, take them to a quiet place where they can relax and calm down.

The holidays can be a difficult time for families with loved ones who have dementia. 

There’s no doubt about it, the holidays are a stressful time, but when your loved one has dementia, it can make the holidays even more stressful. As stressful as the holidays are, they also give provide us with a break from everyday life so that we can enjoy spending time with our family and friends. No one should be left behind during the holidays, and with the following tips from our memory care experts in Chapel Hill, you can help your loved one who has dementia enjoy a happy holiday season:

#1. Prepare all of your guests ahead of time:

Anyone present at your holiday get-together needs to understand that your loved one has dementia. It’s also important to warn guests ahead of time about any behaviors your loved one may be exhibiting recently, like cursing, wandering, aggression, etc.

#2. Be wise about the time you schedule the event. 

Some people who have dementia do better at certain times of the day, like in the morning or the afternoon. Plan your holiday event around your loved one’s best time of the day to avoid preventable issues.

#3. Keep your get-together low-key. 

If there are a lot of loud, startling noises and lots of people around, it could easily frustrate or confuse someone who has dementia. To avoid unnecessary stress and confusion, be sure to keep your holiday get-together quiet and low key.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to create a happy holiday for your loved one with dementia. Please stay tuned for our next blog to learn more.

Concerned about your loved one who has dementia this holiday season?

As the holidays rapidly approach, many of us are starting to plan holiday get-togethers and meals for our family and friends. Unfortunately, dementia makes many things more challenging, including mealtimes. As the disease progresses, it could lead to altered depth perception, difficulty handling utensils, challenges with swallowing and chewing and many more eating difficulties. Luckily, our memory care specialists in Raleigh have come up with this list of a few things you can do to make holiday meals easier for your loved one:

#1. Cook your loved one’s favorite foods.

Sometimes, even getting your loved one interested in eating at all can be a challenge in itself. That’s why it can help to make your loved one’s favorite foods for them and remind them that they like to eat those things. This will help to at least spark their interest in the meal.

#2. Make sure they can clearly see the food and the plate.

Make it a point to use contrasting colors for your tablecloth, napkins, plates, etc. This will help your loved one to be able to clearly see the food that they are served.

#3. Serve one course at a time.

With everything out on the table at once, it can be very overwhelming. Make each course easier for your loved one to focus on by serving them one at a time.

If you need any help planning out a meal for your loved one who has dementia, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our memory care givers are trained and experienced, and we are always happy to help!

Are your loved one’s difficult, dementia-related behaviors making your feel hopeless and lost?

If so, you’ve come to the right place. There are many things about caring for someone with dementia that are challenging, but personality changes and difficult behaviors tend to be the hardest on loved ones and caregivers alike. That’s why, in our previous post, our memory care professionals in Durham went over a few tips to help you deal with your loved one’s difficult behaviors. Keep reading to learn about our last few tips:

#4. Play along with them.

Sometimes, people who have dementia have a difficult time staying in the present moment. However, if you aren’t careful, reorienting them to the present will only increase their agitation and confusion. Rather than reorienting, play along. If they insist on sleeping on the couch because they believe their teen is late coming home, don’t force them to go to bed, instead give them a comfortable pillow and a blanket to make them comfortable on the couch.

#5. Locate the source of the problem.

People with dementia can’t always tell you what they need or when they need it, and they will often use agitation and other difficult behaviors to let you know that they need something. Difficult behaviors could be indicative of many needs, including hunger, thirst, rest, pain relief and so much more.

#6. Get the support you need.

You don’t have to deal with your loved one’s difficult behaviors on your own. Turn to friends and family to get the support that you need, and don’t hesitate to contact us at LiveWell Assisted Living to ask about our memory care programs.

 

Dementia comes with many challenges, but difficult behaviors can be some of the hardest to overcome.

When your once sweet and calm parent starts cussing at you, throwing things or insulting you, it can often leave you feeling lost and hopeless. Behavior and personality changes are a common occurrence in people who suffer from dementia, but luckily, you aren’t powerless and you don’t have to face them alone. Our memory care specialists in Chapel Hill are here to help! The following is our list of tips for managing difficult, dementia-related behaviors:

#1. Talk to the doctor.

A sudden change in behavior could be a sign of a health issue, like a UTI, and it could also be a side effect of a medication your loved one is taking. That’s why it’s important to consult a doctor before you do anything else to address the difficult behavior.

#2. Develop a regular routine.

People are very much creatures of habit, and we like to know what to expect. People who have dementia are the same way, and if they have a familiar routine, it can make them feel much safer and more comfortable.

#3. Encourage your loved one to help.

We all like to feel useful and needed. If your loved one is able to, encourage them to take part in daily activities and chores. Even something as simple as dusting, sweeping, setting the table or folding laundry can give them a purpose and help them to feel like they’ve accomplished something.

We have just a couple more tips for you for managing difficult, dementia-related behaviors. Please stay tuned for our next blog to learn more.

When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, early diagnosis is essential.

Have you had a chance to read our latest blog yet? If you have, then you already know that early treatment gives you the best chance for slowing down and possibly even reversing some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. This is just one of the many reasons why early diagnosis is important for patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. The following is a list from our memory care professionals in Raliegh of the last few reasons why early diagnosis is essential:

#5. You’ll have more opportunities to take advantage of the available resources.

There are many resources available for people living with Alzheimer’s disease, but people in the later stages of the disease aren’t able to take advantage of them as easily. With early diagnosis, you’ll have time to attend support groups where you can learn strategies and tips to help you cope with the disease.

#6. Early diagnosis will help your family in many ways.

Alzheimer’s disease is hard on all parties involved, especially close friends and family members. An early diagnosis will give your family time to learn about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, set realistic expectations and plan for the future.

#7. It’ll give you the opportunity to live life to the fullest!

An early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis gives you permission to reorganize your priorities and start living life to the fullest. Whether you’ve always dreamed of seeing the Great Wall of China or you just want to make sure that you spend as much time with your family as possibly, your early diagnosis will give you time to focus on the things that are most important to you.

 

One study found that less than 35% of people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s actually have a diagnosis.

Unfortunately, without a proper diagnosis of the disease, many people are not getting the treatment that they need. A diagnosis at any stage during the disease can be helpful, but early diagnosis is incredibly important for many reasons. If you haven’t already, check out our latest blog to learn about a couple of reasons why early diagnosis is so important. Keep reading to learn more from our memory care experts in Durham:

#3. You’ll gain a better understanding of the disease.

An early diagnosis gives the patient more time to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, including many of the symptoms that could affect their everyday life. By understanding what the symptoms and side effects can be, it’ll help you to be less afraid and unsure when you start to experience them. When you know that others are experiencing the same symptoms, it can be very comforting.

#4. Early treatment may slow the progress of the disease.

Many of the most troubling symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be slowed or possibly even reversed with early treatment. With professional assistance and medication, the disease as a whole may be able to be slowed as well. The current treatments that we have available today are much more effective during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Also, as research reveals more treatment options, early diagnosis becomes even more critical.

Would you like to learn more about the importance of early diagnosis for Alzheimer’s patients? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.

Currently, Alzheimer’s disease affects 5.3 million Americans.

Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise, and although research has come a long way for treating the disease, it’s important to know that it is still a very real problem. Understanding the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is necessary for early diagnosis. Why is early diagnosis important for Alzheimer’s patients? Our memory care professionals in Chapel Hill  have come up with this list to help you understand why early diagnosis is so important:

#1. You’ll have a much more accurate diagnosis.

According to the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, patients who seek out help in the early stages of the disease get more accurate diagnoses. This is largely due to the fact that these patients are more lucid when describing symptoms and providing the doctor with their family history. The more clearly the patient communicates, the more accurate the diagnosis is likely to be.

#2. It empowers you to make important decisions about your future.

Once diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, there are a large number of decisions that will need to be made about your future. Who will take care of you when you need help? How will you pay for your care? These are just a few of the many decisions you will have to make, and early detection empowers you to make those decisions on your own rather than having someone else make them for you.

Stay tuned for our next blog to learn more about why early detection is so important for Alzheimer’s patients.

Can your diet really help prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

Many scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other forms of dementia, are caused by a combination of lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise, environmental factors and genetics. That’s why our memory care specialists in Durham went over a couple of foods that may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease in our latest blog. Today, we will be finishing up our blog series with the last few foods that could prevent Alzheimer’s disease:

#5. Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower, kale and brussel sprouts are all cruciferous vegetables, and they all contain one very important thing that could prevent Alzheimer’s disease, carotenoids. Studies have shown that carotenoids help to lower homocysteine, which is an amino acid that has been associated with cognitive impairment.

#6. Legumes

Legumes, like beans and lentils, contain a powerful combination of iron, folate, potassium and magnesium that aids in neuron firing, as well as body function in general. Legumes are also a good source for choline, which is a B vitamin that boost the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is essential for brain function.  

#7. Dark Chocolate

Although you probably don’t need another reason to eat dark chocolate, you’ll be glad to know that it contains flavonoids, which not only combat heart disease, but have also been shown to slow down the harmful effects of dementia. A study that was conducted in Italy monitored older adults who had early symptoms of dementia, and it found that those who consumed higher amount of flavonoids performed better on cognitive tests. Aim for dark chocolate that has a cocoa content of 70% or more.

New studies suggest that some foods may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

For many years, people believed that Alzheimer’s disease was caused primarily by genetics, but new studies have shown that some lifestyle choices, including diet, can play a part in developing the disease. That’s why, in our last blog, our memory care specialists in Chapel Hill went over a couple of foods that may help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The following is a list of a few more foods that can protect your brain:

#3. Green, Leafy Vegetables.

Green, leafy vegetables, like kale, spinach and collard greens, are full of folate, vitamin B9, vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. B9 and folate have been shown to reduce depression and improve cognitive function. Vitamin C has also been associated with dementia prevention. These veggies are a must in everyone’s diet, and one study has even shown that women in their 60’s who consumed more leafy vegetables did better on verbal, memory and other cognitive tests.

#4. Turmeric

If you love curry, you’re in luck, because studies have shown that the spice often found in curries can help reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. One study, conducted by researchers from UCLA, found that the spice can help to break down the plaque in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer’s. Other notable spices that may help protect the brain include cumin, sage and cinnamon.

We have just a couple more foods to go over with you, so if you would like to learn more, please stay tuned for our next blog.