Retire at the Beach!

 

Okay, so maybe we’re biased – but honestly who wouldn’t want to be living out their best years in a beautiful senior community only a few blocks from the ocean?! There’s something relaxing and calming about the water, and that’s true all year around. Not to mention, the many activities you can take part in by the boardwalk and ocean. If you’re originally from Jersey you know there is always something going on “down the shore.”

With that being said, here’s a bit of info about where UMC at The Shores is located, our beautiful natural surroundings, and just a few of the many beaches, boardwalk, and water-related activities our team at The Shores organizes for our senior living residents.

Seaside location

UMC at The Shores is an assisted living community offering specialized memory care, along with many additional senior care services, in southern New Jersey. We’re fortunate enough to be in a prime location opposite the Ocean City Golf Course, overlooking the residential marinas and out to the ocean towards Shooting Island. Ocean City is well-known as “America’s Greatest Family Resort”, but it has wonderful amenities for all ages!

• Beaches – The star of the show is of course, our 8 miles of pristine beaches. Whether you want to walk along the beach or simply sit and enjoy the sound of the waves, it’s a wonderful privilege to have right on your doorstep.

• Boardwalk – With over 2 miles of well-maintained boardwalk, there’s no excuse not to get your daily exercise! Explore the quaint shops, rest with a morning coffee at one of the many cafes, catch up with the locals, or enjoy a quick meal overlooking the ocean.

• Corson’s Inlet State Park – With a wheelchair-accessible entrance, anyone can enjoy the wild and natural beauty of New Jersey at this well-maintained state park. It makes for a wonderful outing for seniors and families where you can watch migratory birds and wildlife species, sunbathe, enjoy fishing (with a license!), and even go boating if you’re feeling adventurous!

• Shopping – From interesting little shops on the boardwalk and in Downtown Ocean City to Stainton’s mall, you can shop to your heart’s content! Lovely for browsing as well as buying, you’ll find everything you need for your home, gifts, everyday life, and treats within easy distance from our senior living community.

• Museums and galleries – From local art galleries to the Ocean City Arts Centre, there’s plenty of ways to indulge in your creative side. The OCAC also offers community art programs that are open to all ages, as well as hosting regular visual and performing arts events. For the inner historian, learn about the fascinating heritage of the area in the Ocean City Historical Museum, explore the Ripley’s Believe It or Not exhibit on the boardwalk, the Historia Gardner’s Basin, the African American Heritage Museum, or the Edicott Reardon Family Museum.

Ocean City offers so much for all ages to enjoy, making it the perfect retirement location and a stimulating, enjoyable environment for seniors and their families to explore.

Stimulating for body and mind – Memory care in Cape May County

The Shores offers an ideal retirement home and community in South Jersey, and our programs include specialized services for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s conditions. Our memory care team is dedicated to ensuring all residents have access to onsite and offsite activities and events that are safe, appropriate, and fun, including regular outings, social gatherings, and much more. We work to help support seniors with cognitive health issues to stay active and engaged – and our wonderful position near the ocean helps us do just that!

For more information on our memory care services in South Jersey, or to find out more about how our assisted living community works, contact us today or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/theshores/

This blog was originally published https://umcommunities.org/theshores/blog/retire-at-the-beach/

What You Don’t Know About Memory Care

Memory care is more than upgraded assisted living. It’s tailored to the needs of patients with dementia conditions and involves the most innovative training and techniques for cognitive support and stimulation. While dementia is not curable, many researchers feel that the right support and therapies can help slow progress and improve the overall quality of life. If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia and you are looking into professional memory care at a senior living community, here are some facts you should know provided by our Tapestries Memory Care team in South Jersey.

1. It’s a holistic approach. Memory care isn’t just about stimulating the mind and helping to slow dementia conditions; it’s about treating someone’s care needs as a whole. This is especially important because people with dementia often have trouble expressing themselves or managing other health problems. It’s very important for everyone involved in providing care to be observant, understanding, and just be on the same page overall. Seniors with dementia need to have an involved care team that includes medical professionals, therapists, and family members, and advanced memory care provided at a senior community brings all these aspects together.
2. It addresses different abilities. Every senior in memory care is unique in terms of their condition, personality, and their abilities. The service tailors activities and routines around each person rather than treating dementia patients as a one-dimensional group. After all, some people in memory care are in the earliest stages of cognitive decline and are still quite active and independent, while other people may be in the late stages of the disease and juggle other complex health conditions and limited mobility. Matching activities and routines to individuals is part of what makes this such a special service and creates the most abundant atmosphere for all.
3. Minimal medications and positive behavior management. It’s very common that seniors with dementia conditions to experience behavioral challenges. They can become destructive or aggressive, lash out because they are feeling fearful or confused, or resist the care that they require. In many instances, this is treated with medication, but in UMC’s Tapestries memory care neighborhoods, the approach is different. Because there is a team of trained specialists who are highly experienced in dementia conditions, there’s an emphasis on non-pharmaceutical interventions to redirect negative behavior, calm a patient, and distract them towards something more positive. From the warm and welcoming environment to therapies and direct intervention, Tapestries Memory Care professionals are equipped to manage disruptive behaviors without turning to medications unless it is strictly necessary.
4. Freedom and family involvement. While memory care environments are designed with safety, security, and supervision in mind, it’s also a space that creates as much freedom, independence, and normality as possible. At UMC at The Shores, there are natural spaces to explore, cozy rooms to relax in, individual and group activities, caregivers who provide companionship, and events where family and friends are actively involved. From recreational spaces and dining spaces where families can visit and spend time together, we recognize that bonds of love are essential to the well-being of every memory care resident.

Welcoming, enriching memory care in South Jersey

At UMC at The Shores, we offer exceptional memory care in Cape May County. We aim to create a safe, compassionate, and enjoyable space for seniors with dementia conditions, where the quality of life is a priority. Our team is fully trained in techniques for dealing with dementia, for supporting cognitive function, and for helping families and loved ones through this illness.

To find out more about memory care in Cape May County, contact us today or visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/theshores/blog/what-you-dont-know-about-memory-care/

Stimulating Activities for Seniors with Memory Loss

Our brains are a lot like our muscles, in that if we don’t keep using them, they will lose their capacity and abilities. While memory loss can still result from trauma, illnesses like dementia, and advancing age, there’s a lot we can do to help stimulate and exercise the brain to reduce these risks or even slow down memory loss. Here’s some insight into why stimulation works, and some fun activities that give brains a boost to share with seniors in your life.

How do stimulating activities help the brain?

Think of stimulating activities such as learning a new skill, playing strategic games, or learning a new language as a way of exercising your brain. Each time you do something new and challenging, your brain gets stronger because it must work hard, engaging different areas of gray matter.

Learning and practicing something new is both a physical and mental challenge, and that means your body builds new neural networks making the brain stronger and healthier. It actively builds the brain much like we build muscle, so we need to keep doing mentally stimulating activities if we want to keep our brain strong and healthy.

This is the same principle that occupational and physiotherapists use to help people recover their mental abilities and motor skills after an illness, operation, or trauma. By stimulating the brain, people can create new nerve connections that bypass damaged areas of the brain and recover skills that have been lost to them. In the same way, we can help keep cognitive functions like memory strong as we age by keeping our brains actively learning through mentally and physically stimulating activities.

Activities that help combat memory loss

1. Listening to music – Enjoyment of music and musical ability are one of the most persistent cognitive features, and it can also be a great way to stimulate a loved one to talk about days gone by. Make a playlist of their favorite music, get them talking about what they love about it or even singing along. You can even try introducing a musical instrument if they know how to play. Learning a new dance is also a great way to make listening to music a mental and physical activity.
2. Creating a memory bag – Familiar and favorite objects are a source of memory, comfort, and interest, and taking these out of a bag one at a time can create a wonderful experience with your loved one. Add their favorite perfume or scent, different textures, and items from their childhood to trigger memories and share stories together.
3. Creating a family album – A family photo album is another useful source of memories and remembrance that is ideal for seniors with memory loss. Have photos from their past as well as current photos of loved ones, their home, and much more. Write each person’s name next to the photographs and decorate it together as a family craft project.
4. Working on puzzles or coloring in an adult coloring book – Puzzles stimulate the problem-solving areas of the brain, encouraging spatial reasoning skills and logic, but remember to keep these appropriate to your loved one’s level of cognition. Coloring books have a more meditative effect, helping to calm and soothe the mind while promoting focus and creative thinking.
5. Giving support so they can do activities they once loved, like gardening, reading, or knitting – Memory loss impacts short term memory first and leaves older memories intact for much longer, so it’s a good idea to try activities they enjoyed years ago. You’ll probably have to adapt them for their current ability, but there are some great resources available to make this happen. This includes books for people with dementia conditions, and classes at assisted living communities that include many different crafts and hobbies.

Professional, compassionate memory care in Cape May County

In an experienced memory care program like The Shores’ Tapestries neighborhood, we offer special services specifically designed to support cognitive function and health for seniors. As part of United Methodist Communities’ expert team, trained memory care experts use best practice techniques and activities to stimulate brain function and help slow dementia and age-related cognitive loss. While there is no cure for these conditions, we aim to slow their progression down as much as possible. To find out more about our memory care in South Jersey, contact us today or visit our website at: https://theshores.umcommunities.org/

Original blog posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/stimulating-activities-for-seniors-with-memory-loss/

How to Respond When Someone with Dementia Keeps Repeating Themselves

Dementia impacts short-term memory and directly causes repetitive behavior like repeated speech. Because this can be frustrating, it’s important to equip yourself with techniques on how to gracefully handle this situation with your senior loved one. Our Tapestries Memory Care team has put together a list of ways to respond when someone with dementia keeps repeating themselves, as well as tips on how to handle other common dementia behaviors.

Dementia behaviors and how to handle them constructively

• Know they have no control – Although our first instinct is to become annoyed when someone repeats themself, it’s important to remember that seniors with dementia have little or no control over this behavior. This can help ease our frustration and understand the behavior more patiently.

• Find the reason behind the repetition – Repeating a question can occur for several reasons – and it’s not usually because they have forgotten the answer. Usually, this behavior occurs due to stress, anxiety, fear, or discomfort. It may also be an indication of pain or illness. When repetition occurs, it’s a good idea to provide general reassurance and check that their physical needs are being met, and to run through a quick, basic wellness checklist.

• Respond to the emotion, not the words – Your loved one may be constantly asking when their husband will visit, or what happened on a particular day, but it’s better to focus on what emotions are causing their behavior rather than the words themselves. Addressing the emotions they are feeling rather than what they are literally asking about is much more likely to soothe them than an actual answer. Try a reassuring hug or hand squeeze while you respond.

• Be brief – Don’t answer your loved one the way you’d answer anyone without dementia. Instead, be as short and simple as possible, as this saves your energy and helps prevent both of you from getting frustrated. Also, don’t be afraid to lie if it will help resolve their emotional state. This may feel like a betrayal, but a gentle and considerate lie can be much more helpful and caring towards them than the truth, especially if it is a sad or traumatic truth. Nothing good can come from them reliving bad memories.

• Try a distraction – Try to break the pattern by distracting them with something helpful. For example, if they keep asking when they’ll be leaving their assisted living space to go back home, you can say that it’s soon, but it’s a good idea to have a snack and a rest before the journey. This way, they can refocus their mind on a different task and help support their health at the same time. You can also ask them a basic question to help create a distraction, like asking about the weather.

• Give yourself breathing room – It’s only human to get frustrated at your loved one and then get even more frustrated at yourself! As a caregiver, it’s important to give yourself space to step away from the situation. Do a quick calming exercise, take a few deep breaths, walk around the garden, or put on your headphones and listen to your favorite song. This will give you space to cool off and might even inspire you on new ways to assist your loved one.

Part-time and full-time dementia care in South Jersey

At UMC at The Shores, a United Methodist Communities assisted living campus, we offer exceptional memory care in beautiful Ocean City, NJ. We aim to create a safe, compassionate, and enjoyable space for seniors with dementia conditions, where quality of life is a priority. Our team is fully trained in techniques for dealing with dementia, for supporting memory health and wellness, and for helping families and loved ones navigate this illness.

To find out more about memory care in Cape May County, contact us today or visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org

Original blog posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/how-to-respond-when-someone-with-dementia-keeps-repeating-themselves-2/

Why it’s OK to Lie to Someone with Dementia

Growing up, we’re always told to never lie – but honesty is not always the best policy when it comes to a loved one with dementia. This condition negatively affects how their brain understands and processes information, creating a different version of reality. Forcing your loved one with dementia to choose your reality over their own can cause fear, confusion, sadness, and anger. That’s where therapeutic lying comes in. In this article, our memory care experts in Cape May County explain what therapeutic lying is and why it’s OK to lie to someone with dementia. 

What is therapeutic lying?

Essentially, these are white lies that loved ones, therapists and others can use to help support and care for someone with a dementia condition. Instead of lying to hurt or manipulate a person, which is bad, these are fibs used to validate, reassure, and comfort someone with memory loss.

Telling the truth can be unkind

The first thing to realize is that telling someone with dementia the truth can be cruel and unkind, causing distress and pain rather than helping them. It might feel difficult to understand at first. Especially because we’re taught to tell the truth to those we care for and respect the most. However, the truth is not always the answer for those with dementia.

Lying to dementia patients can be the right way to care for them because:

• They don’t remember the truth and repeatedly telling them or insisting on facts will only cause them distress and pain, especially when it comes to something emotional. They will be forced to relive something that hurts them deeply, causing confusion and stress – none of which is good for their mental or physical health.
• They are likely going to forget your version of events all over again. This means that causing this distress and pain has no permanent or helpful outcome, even if what you are telling them is true.

How to use therapeutic lying

Therapeutic lying can be used to help you have more quality time together. For example, imagine that your mother has dementia and while you are sitting with her, she tells you a story about some funny joke that your father told her that morning. However, your father passed away years ago, so the story is untrue and impossible. But telling her that her husband is dead, and she couldn’t have spoken to him that morning can make her experience his death all over again. Thus, making her feel confused and unsure of herself, and may possibly cause an argument between the two of you.

Alternatively, you could tell a white lie or simply omit the truth by laughing along at the story and behaving as if it were true. This way, your mom has a comforting, loving moment with you and feels cared for and supported. That’s what really matters at the end of the day when you have a loved one with dementia.

Therapeutic lying can also be used to help care for your parent. For example, if your dad is agitated because he thinks he’s late for work on his first day at a new job, you can tell him you forgot to set the clock correctly and it’s much earlier than he thinks it is. That will help calm him down and relieve stress. Then you can say that he’ll need a good breakfast to get him through the day, thereby helping motivate him to eat a meal, which can be a challenge for many seniors with dementia.

Compassionate dementia support in Cape May County

At UMC at The Shores, we offer exceptional assisted living and advanced memory care services in South Jersey. We aim to create a safe, compassionate, and enjoyable space for seniors with dementia conditions, where the quality of life is the top priority. 

To find out more about memory care in South Jersey, contact us today or visit our website at: https://theshores.umcommunities.org

Original blog posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/why-its-ok-to-lie-to-someone-with-dementia/

5 Tips for Visiting Someone with Alzheimer’s

Just because your loved one with Alzheimer’s is now in a memory care community doesn’t mean that they can’t have or won’t enjoy visitors. However, it takes patience, skill and a positive mindset for both sides to have a good visit. Did we mention patience… because that is the most important thing! It takes plenty of patience to change how you used to interact, but remember this change is crucial to maintaining a positive and strong bond with your loved one now. With that said, our team of memory care specialists in South Jersey have put together 5 essential tips to follow when visiting someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

1. Be positive and uplifting. It’s important to have the right mindset when visiting a loved one with a dementia condition to avoid upsetting or agitating them. This doesn’t mean that you have to turn your cheerfulness up to 11, but it is a good idea to frame your visit as an opportunity to spend some quality time together. Be calm and mindful of your own feelings and focus on the little things that make your time together worthwhile – not how things may have changed. Find ways that you can make your loved one smile and laugh, relax and breathe deeply, and don’t focus on the negative.
2. Be short and sweet. When talking to your loved one, keep sentences short and sweet. Remember, they’ll have trouble following a longer story, so try to keep your conversation at one idea per sentence, giving your loved one time to digest it. Focus on what’s here and now, or what’s in the past, as this tends to trigger long-term memories and conversation more easily. Talk slowly, softly, and clearly – and be prepared to repeat yourself. You can also use short, simple prompts like “Tell me about your craft project,” or “Are you enjoying your meal?” but be prepared to wait for an answer or not receive the answer you are looking for.
3. Sit in silence. We can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to interact with the loved one we’re visiting, but it’s not necessary to make your visit busy in any way. You can sit in comfortable silence together, take a quiet walk around the garden, look through a photo album, or even watch TV together – your company and being there is what truly matters. Some visitors like to bring their loved one’s favorite music so they can listen together, or they read a book out loud to their loved ones. Sometimes questions, conversation, and activities can be stressful to people with dementia, and sitting quietly together can be very comforting and soothing.
4. Validate their feelings and reality. In some ways, it can feel like a loved one with dementia is in another world. They can be happy about something they never used to like or upset about something they used to enjoy. Whatever their reaction, it’s better to enter their reality rather than trying to make them see yours. Just go with the flow and allow them to express the feelings and thoughts they have regardless of if they make sense or are appropriate. If they say a loved one who has passed on had coffee with them yesterday, ask them how it was and what they chatted about. If an activity upsets them, move on to something else. Let them take the lead and show you, their world.
5. Don’t add frustration or stress. Having a loved one with a dementia condition is very stressful, upsetting, and sad for you, as well as for them. And certain things we say and do can make this worse for all involved. Don’t say “Do you remember?” point out mistakes, or start an argument, as this can cause severe agitation and bad feelings. Not to mention, they may not even understand what the problem is, causing them to feel embarrassed and react harshly out of fear. At the same time, don’t assume that your loved one has no recall whatsoever. On good days, people with dementia can have very clear memory recollection. Assuming the worst, like your loved one is not capable of remembering anything at all, can cause them to feel belittled or talked down to. To help prevent this, follow their lead to see how they are doing on that particular day. Appreciating the good days and having a little extra patience on the bad ones can do wonders for both of you.

Alzheimer’s support at UMC in Cape May County

UMC at The Shores is a part of the United Methodist Communities network, specializing in memory care in South Jersey. We understand that dementia conditions are difficult to deal with, which is why we offer 24/7 comprehensive care for our residents, as well as support for their loved ones.

To find out more about our community and Tapestries memory care in Cape May County, contact us today or visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org/

Original blog posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/5-tips-for-visiting-someone-with-alzheimers/

5 Sleeping Tips for Those with Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s causes changes in the brain that can affect the quality and quantity of sleep for seniors. It’s not uncommon for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia to experience light sleep, troubled sleep, or frequently wake up at night. Because sleep is so important for mental and physical health and helps prevent cognitive decline, falls, and mood swings, our Tapestries Memory Care team has put together 5 tips for seniors with Alzheimer’s to get a better night’s sleep. 

Recognizing the signs of a poor night’s sleep

Unless you are actively monitoring the sleep patterns of your loved ones, it can be difficult to know if they are sleeping well at night. We recommend that you look for the following signs of a poor night’s rest:

• Increased and unexplained levels of aggression
• Irritability,
• Daytime sleeping
• Confusion, trouble with verbal expression.

It might also be a good idea to get a wearable fitness device for your loved one that you can log into to check their night-time activity. By checking the steps taken and GPS data, you can see if your loved one is tossing and turning a lot in their sleep or getting up and walking around often at night.

How to improve sleep quality in seniors with dementia conditions

Now that you have the information you need to diagnose poor sleeping patterns in your loved one, here’s what you can do to help improve their sleep quality and sleep hours.

1. Lighting – Natural lighting aligns with our circadian rhythms, telling our brain and body when it’s time to be awake and when to sleep. Artificial lighting can interfere with this, so it’s a good idea to try to enhance the lighting during the day and dim it at night for your loved one. They can use a light therapy lamp in the daytime (especially in winter or if the room has limited natural lighting), and install thick curtains or blinds that are closed in the evening to block out street lighting and make their room nice and dark. Of course, it’s important to also put a light close to their bed to assist if they need to get up during the night to help prevent falls.
2. Bedtime routine – We all respond well to a bedtime routine, no matter our age, and consistency can be a very effective way of calming the mind and preparing for sleep. Specialists recommend that the bedroom is kept between 60-67 degrees, that screen time is ended at least one hour before bed, and that all grooming and toileting is completed about 30 minutes before bedtime. It’s also a good idea to have a consistent time for going to sleep, to avoid stimulants like coffee and sugar, and to have some indulgent, relaxing routines like using aromatherapy, gentle massage, or soft music.
3. Check medications – Some medications have side effects that can affect sleep, either making your loved one more sleepy or more alert. Those that make them more alert should be taken in the morning or midday (as recommended by their doctor), while those that can cause drowsiness should be taken in the evening. You can also talk to your loved one’s doctor about introducing supplements that may help sleep, such as CBD or melatonin.
4. Physical activities – Being active in the day is one of the best ways to improve sleep, and your loved one should try to aim for 30 minutes a day (even if it is spread out in bursts). Try to find an activity that can easily be made part of your loved one’s daily routine and that they will enjoy.  A walk around the neighborhood, some indoor senior yoga, or indoor water-based exercises are all great options.
5. Mental activities – Cognitive exercises help stimulate the brain, slow decline and improve sleep. Try activities that are suited to your loved one’s interests and abilities without being frustrating, like therapy exercises, online games, drawing or painting, or crafts. Even visits with friends and family can help provide the mental stimulation the brain and body need to experience quality rest.

At The Shores, our full-service assisted living community, we offer exceptional memory care for residents in South Jersey. Our Life Enrichment Team Specialists (LETS) are well versed in the latest therapies and exercises to strengthen cognitive function for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions. At our root, we aim to create a safe, compassionate, and enjoyable space for seniors with dementia, where the quality of life is the top priority.

To find out more about memory care in Cape May County, contact us today or visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org/

Original blog posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/5-sleeping-tips-for-those-with-alzheimers/

How to Respond When Someone with Dementia Keeps Repeating Themselves

Dementia impacts short-term memory, so it can directly cause repetitive behavior like repeated speech. Although our first instinct can be to become annoyed or frustrated when someone repeats themself, it’s important to remember that seniors with dementia have little control over this behavior. It’s also important to equip yourself with techniques on how to gracefully handle this situation with your senior loved one. To help you out, our Tapestries Memory Care team has put together a list of ways to respond when someone with dementia keeps repeating themselves. 

Look for the cause of repetition

While repetition is common amongst seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s, certain things may cause this issue to worsen. This can include:

• Physical discomfort or pain
• Stress or anxiety
• A physical need not being met
• Disruption or becoming unsettled

Knowing what’s at the root of your loved one’s repetition can help you anticipate it, prepare for it, and address it more effectively. Uncovering these contributing factors will help caregivers better understand what their senior parent is actually going through and correct or manage this underlying issue.

Consider emotional state, not the question itself

Start by objectively evaluating their emotional state rather than repeating the same answer over and over again (something that will leave you feeling understandably frustrated!). Often, this kind of behavior can be a result of feeling anxious or unsettled, and your loved one is looking for reassurance more than an answer to whatever it is they are asking. A hug, a hand squeeze, or another soothing action can help calm their anxiety and ease this behavior.

Introduce a distraction

Repeating a question can put your loved one in a loop that they need a little extra help getting out of. The best way to break the loop is to do something fun. An engaging distraction helps break this focus, move the thinking processes forward, and eases any stress. You can use anything your loved one tends to be very responsive to, from a favorite snack or activity to something as simple as drawing their attention to a beautiful flower or bird nearby.

Stimulate their mind with a helpful activity

In the same vein as distracting your loved ones, having them perform an activity they can do well is a great way to calm and ease the mind. It’s not just helpful for managing repetitive behaviors, it’s also fulfilling for seniors because it affirms usefulness and purpose – and it helps caregivers out too! It could be something as simple as folding laundry, baking cookies, helping with meal preparation, or helping a grandchild complete a task. All you need to do is make sure it’s safe and appropriate to their ability and interests.

Keep answers short and sweet

Try not to use long and complex explanations, as these aren’t just frustrating to repeat, they also may add to confusion or anxiety. If you’re taking your loved one to the dentist and they keep asking why they are in the car, for example, just say that you’re off to the dentist. There’s no need to explain why you’re going to the dentist, what they are going to do there, or anything else. It may seem unfair or insufficient at first, but it delivers a key answer that is easy to say and easier for your loved one to grasp. Keep your tone gentle and light-hearted, and you’ll find it easier to soothe your loved one.

Take a break when needed with professional memory care in South Jersey

It’s absolutely normal to feel frustrated, drained, and even angry when a loved one keeps repeating themselves. You’re only human, after all! To avoid snapping, ease your own stress, and manage your response, it’s important to take a break when you can. If you’re having a challenging week, think about calling in a friend or family member to help you out. If you’re a sole caregiver,  it may be a good idea to think about professional respite care near you. These experienced caregivers understand and work extensively with seniors with memory loss, and can provide a fully trained resource for caregivers to rely on.

At The Shores, leading providers of memory care in Cape May County, we provide on-site, full-time memory care for residents through our Tapestries program, as well as on-site respite care. With activities, social events, outings, and more, we’re proud to help families and their loved ones with dementia live full, stimulating, and rewarding lives. Contact us today to find out more about techniques for dealing with dementia or memory care in South Jersey, or visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org/

Original content posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/how-to-respond-when-someone-with-dementia-keeps-repeating-themselves/

 

5 Tech Innovations for Dementia Residents

 

For people who have been diagnosed with dementia, simple every-day tasks can quickly turn into challenges. Some of these tasks are a matter of health and safety, like remembering to turn the oven off, taking medications at the right time each day, and remembering where you live.

Once someone is no longer able to rely on their own memory to keep themselves safe, their loved ones must start thinking about other ways to support them, whether it’s moving them into a dementia care facility, moving in with them, or using technology to ensure their loved one stays safe. We already enjoy the benefits of technology in so many areas of our lives, so let’s take a look at five tech innovations that help dementia patients.

1. In-home cameras. While many people want to be there in person with their loved one who has dementia, it’s unfortunately not an option for everyone due to work commitments, school commitments, physical distance, and childcare obligations. In-home cameras allow caregivers to check in on their loved ones at any time to ensure they’re safe. Some cameras also have a voice feature that allows people to communicate back and forth for things like medication reminders. 
2. GPS tracking devices. These are handy for caregivers who are worried about their loved one getting lost while doing everyday errands, like going to the grocery store. You can see where your loved one is in real time, and you’ll get alerts if there are any irregular movements. 
3. Reminder messages. People can send messages to remind their loved ones to lock their doors, turn off the stove, take their medications, and much more. Every-day tasks we take for granted can sometimes be a struggle for those with dementia.
4. Photo phones. When someone with dementia is in distress, they may not be able to remember 911, or any other emergency numbers. Instead, they can use a phone that displays large photos of their loved ones who they can quickly contact when they need help.
5. Home care robots. It may sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but researchers have created home care robots that can do certain chores around the house, remind people to take their medications, and monitor the home when no one is there. 

Compassionate dementia care in South Jersey 

At United Methodist Community at the Shores, we use technology in Tapestries, our dementia care neighborhood, to improve the lives of our residents and to keep them as safe and engaged as possible. From alerting us to falls and irregular movements, to connection with engagement technology, our associates are able to monitor and connect with our residents.

Technology can make life easier and more comfortable for those in memory care, and for their families as well. Embracing the latest tech innovations can ease the stress that often accompanies the decision to move a loved one into memory care. 

For more information about UMC at the Shores, our senior care community in South Jersey, please contact us today. Discover why so many people in Cape May County trust us with their loved one’s care. 

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/5-tech-innovations-for-dementia-residents/