Is it Time for a Memory Care Neighborhood?

Caregiving for a loved one with dementia is not easy – especially as the disease progresses. There are many symptoms and behaviors that pop up as a result of dementia, which are not only hard for your loved one to navigate – but can be difficult for you to witness and cope with. As the disease progresses, your loved one may become frustrated and lash out irrationally or become more upset. While it may have been easy to calm your loved one down in the past, dementia can complicate things and make it harder for them to communicate what is bothering them. Fortunately, there are professionals in this space that can help your loved one and you.

In this article, we will discuss the tell-tale signs that it’s time for your loved one to receive professional support in a memory care neighborhood.

Major Changes in Behavior

As we mentioned briefly above, the biggest signs to look for are major changes to your loved one’s behavior. If they forget to do daily tasks like keeping up with their hygiene or forgetting to turn off the oven, it is a cause for concern. If your loved one can’t maintain their home anymore, it’s a sign that it is time for a lifestyle change. Another concern is that they may become more agitated, anxious, or frightened. This can be difficult for an untrained caregiver to handle. Some seniors with memory disorders can also become antisocial and withdrawn, heightening their emotional responses.

Disorientation or Confusion

If your loved one has started to show signs of disorientation or confusion, they are at a higher risk for accidents and unsafe situations. If they are beginning to wander off alone and are risking their safety, the best place for them is a secure memory care community. A specialized memory care neighborhood is tailored to these residents’ unique needs, focusing on easing their anxiety and maximizing their safety and quality of life. Additionally, a memory care program has professionally trained caregivers to guide them through disorientation, agitation, or any other powerful emotions they may be struggling to express.

The Caregiver is Overwhelmed

Being a caregiver is an around the clock job, and not something one person can manage on their own. Even when you’re able to bring in help, the situation might be too difficult to handle in your loved one’s current environment. If you’re constantly finding yourself overwhelmed in the caregiving process, we suggest making a change. Whether at-home care with UMC HomeWorks or a move to a memory care neighborhood, like UMC at The Shores’ Tapestries program, we can help.

Give Your Loved One The Care They Deserve

If you’re in the thick of it as a caregiver to a loved one with a memory disorder, we understand how difficult this time can be for you. While you might feel guilty for considering outside care for your loved one, it’s time to examine the flip side. Moving your loved one to a memory care community is giving them the best care possible that they deserve. At a memory care community, your loved one is safe and cared for by professionals. A community setting, like UMC at The Shores, also provides socialization, new hobbies, and exercise. In our care, your loved one can follow their own schedule. They can eat and sleep whenever they want, allowing them to live as they please, safely and happily.

For more information about our Memory Care Community in Cape May County, please visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/theshores/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/blog/is-it-time-for-a-memory-care-neighborhood/

How a Memory Care Community Can Help Your Family

 

If you have a loved one who is struggling with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, you may be trying to figure out the best way to help them. Handling all the caregiving responsibilities yourself, or with the help of a home health aide can easily become unmanageable as the disease progresses. You might feel like this responsibility is all yours to take on, but this isn’t something any one person, or even a few can manage alone. Tapestries Memory Care at UMC Bristol Glen is designed to benefit both residents and their families, and provide peace of mind to everyone involved. Our experts have listed three ways that a memory care community can help your family.

1. Access to resources and proper care. As dementia or Alzheimer’s disease progresses your loved one’s health can also start to decline. This can require specialized care and equipment. Trying to care for a loved one without this knowledge and experience can be very difficult.

When your loved one is living at a memory care community they have access to all the latest technology and memory care practices available. Aides are present 24/7 to intervene in emergencies and to socialize. Electronic anti-wander systems are in place to give residents freedom to move about without leaving the premises. Medication management, exercise and socialization are carefully provided on a regular basis, and are proven strategies for slowing the rate of cognitive decline.

For families, know that the caregivers assisting your loved ones are specifically trained to help seniors with memory impairments and actively work to build a relationship with them. At UMC Bristol Glen the care model allows memory care residents to engage in lifestyle habits that feel natural to them, thus “self-directing” their own lives. They do not have to adhere to what others prescribe or set timetables and schedules. This allows your loved one to receive the support they need and to let them remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.

2. Memory Care Communities Ensure Safety. When caring for your loved ones yourself their safety can become a concern. If your loved one has entered the stage of wandering their chances of injury can drastically increase. This can be difficult to manage as it is impossible to have your eye on them 24 hours a day.

A memory care community is specifically designed with 24/7 security and monitoring systems that ensure safety. In UMC at Bristol Glen, technology can assist with loved ones who wander and staff is available to keep residents safe and engaged. They receive nutritionist supervised meals planned and prepared by real chefs and with a full staff working day and night, your loved ones will always have the care they need.

3. Reclaim your work and personal life. Caring for your loved one might be okay at first as it may only take a few hours a day, but this amount of time sneaks up on you quickly until it’s become the majority of your day. While the effort and time you’re putting in is very honorable it isn’t manageable for anyone long term. You may have noticed your work, personal relationships, and your own health starting to decline. If you have reached this point, it is time to look into getting help.

A memory care community can relieve the pressure that comes with being a full time caregiver. The weight you’re carrying will be lifted off your shoulders and you can have peace of mind that your loved one is safe and being cared for by specially trained professionals. In addition to the specialized care your loved one can enjoy socialization opportunities and activities when they wish. UMC at Bristol Glen has specially designed activities to aid and relax residents with declining memory.

UMC at Bristol Glen Memory Care

Understandably there is a lot to consider when selecting a memory care facility. At UMC Bristol Glen we are here to help you through this transition. Bristol Glen is one of the leading senior living communities in Sussex County. We offer a beautiful and welcoming space for seniors who need additional care and assistance to live a full and abundant life.

For more information on Bristol Glen’s memory care program, our services and how we support abundant and independent lifestyles for seniors, please contact us today or visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/bristolglen/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/bristolglen/blog/how-a-memory-care-community-can-help-your-family/

Dementia Communication Tips That Actually Work

Seniors with dementia often struggle with communication, especially in the later stages of the disease. Common communication issues include struggling to find the right word in conversation, finding it difficult to complete a train of thought, and repeating the same sentence or thought multiple times throughout the conversation. These issues can be hard to cope with at first, especially since this is your loved one. However, it’s important to stay positive and learn new strategies to effectively communicate. Here are 5 tips that actually work, provided by our memory caregivers in Gloucester County.

Tip #1: Making an optimal environment for communication. Set the tone for good communication to happen by ensuring that you and your loved one are in a quiet and calm space. Also, turn off any loud or visually distracting devices like TVs, computers, radios or bright overhead lights. Busy, stimulating spaces are harder for people with dementia to navigate, especially if they are trying to focus on a specific train of thought.

Tip #2: Ensure all their needs are met beforehand. Has dad eaten lunch yet? Did mom take her morning pills? It’s important that your loved one’s personal and medical needs are met before attempting to have any constructive conversations. If your loved one is hungry, or worse – in pain, it can be very difficult for them to pay attention to the task at hand.

Tip #3: Clear your schedule so you have enough time. Patience is key when it comes to communicating with your loved one with dementia. If you’re feeling rushed to get to another commitment, it’s easy for your patience to wear thin. With that said, plan your day accordingly – take care of other commitments before sitting down and having quality time and communication with mom or dad.

Tip #4: Prepare conversation topics and put yourself in their shoes. Think about previous conversations that went over well with mom or dad – why did they go so well? Was the conversation about a beloved long-term memory like mom hosting for the holidays? Or was the conversation successful because you really engaged with what dad was saying, even if it wasn’t necessarily true? It helps to prepare conversation topics ahead of time that you know will have a positive impact on your loved one. It also helps to really think about what you would need from a conversation to feel validated, i.e. positive body language like more eye contact or nodding in agreement.

Tip #5: Positive reinforcement. If your loved one is talking up a storm and then stops suddenly, gently encourage them to keep going through verbal and non-verbal cues. As mentioned above, be conscious to make more eye contact or nod here and there. If they seem frustrated, for example, if they can’t find the right word for something, ask them to describe the object instead. Whatever cue you decide to take, keep your cool and try to stay positive. Even if your loved one becomes upset and you’re not sure how to stay positive, just show you’re really listening. After they express their concerns, reiterate you are there for them no matter what – because after all sometimes all we really need is for someone to listen.

Dementia support for seniors in Gloucester County

It’s not easy to care for a loved one with memory loss without any support, especially if your loved one’s condition worsens and is beyond your repertoire of knowledge. It truly takes a village to care for a loved one with dementia, and sometimes the best care can no longer be provided at home.

At Pitman, our Tapestries® memory care neighborhood has welcoming, dementia-safe apartments where seniors are encouraged to enjoy their hobbies, release their tensions, and have meaningful conversations every day. Our security personnel, as well as Life Enrichment Team Specialists, are on site 24/7 to ensure your loved one has the best care at all hours of the day.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia and you are having difficulty caring for them, please call 856-369-3092 to find out whether a move to a dedicated memory care community is the right option. To learn more about advanced memory care in Gloucester County, please contact United Methodist Communities at Pitman or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/pitman/

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/pitman/blog/dementia-communication-tips-that-actually-work/

How to Explain Dementia to Children

When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, the diagnosis affects the entire family. Depending on how severe their dementia is and how quickly it progresses, you may need to start making plans for full-time care for your loved one. 

As a parent, your natural instinct is to protect your child from things that may upset them, including their grandparent’s diagnosis. But we recommend being honest with your child and helping them understand the reality of the situation, because after your loved one receives their diagnosis, they’ll need support from the whole family. Here are some tips to help you explain dementia to your children. 

When is the best time to talk to my child?

As soon as possible after the diagnosis, and involve the whole family if it’s possible. If your parent is able to have the conversation with their grandchild, it may be best to hear it directly from them. Don’t expect your child to understand what dementia is, or to grasp the conversation in full, but don’t put off having the conversation. 

Explain that dementia is not the same thing as an upset tummy

Young children usually have limited experience and understanding of illness, so they may think that dementia is something that’ll go away after a week, much like a runny nose or an upset tummy. Be clear and explain to them that dementia is permanent, and that it will cause their grandparent’s behavior to change over the coming months and years. 

Make it clear that they can ask questions at any time

Watching a grandparent change can be very confusing and even frightening for children. When you sit down to have the conversation, give them several opportunities to ask any questions, and let them know that they can come to you at any time with questions at a later time. 

Explain that their grandparent still loves them

Yes, grandma or grandpa may soon exhibit out-of-character behaviors and may also have difficulty remembering who their family members are, so be sure to explain that this is because of dementia, not because they don’t love their grandchildren anymore. 

Reassure them that it’s okay to feel scared

When a child’s grandparent has sudden and drastic changes in mood, behavior, and memory, feeling scared is a completely normal reaction. Reassure them that feeling frightened is normal, and keep reminding them that their grandparent would never intentionally do anything to scare or harm them. 

The expression “honesty is the best policy” definitely applies to explaining dementia to children. Depending on how old your child is, they may be able to grasp certain concepts about the situation, but for younger children you’ll probably need to continue having conversations about their grandparent as they get older and are able to understand more. 

Your senior loved one will need the support of their whole family, so being open and honest is the best way to be supportive. And while it may seem that younger children don’t fully understand what’s happening, having those difficult conversations earlier will help lay the groundwork for future conversations when they’re ready. 

At UMC, our Tapestries Memory Care Community is tailor-made for people with dementia to ensure they live safe, healthy, happy lives. Our memory care specialists are available to answer any of your questions or provide more information, so please contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/explaining-dementia-to-children/