Dementia and The Holidays: What to Expect with Your Loved One

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s only natural to start thinking about the holidays. While it’s a happy time for most families, it’s important to be mindful that it’s also a very tough time for others who may be coping with serious issues or life transitions. It can be especially hard for those who have a loved one with a dementia diagnosis as the holidays don’t look the same anymore. Century-long traditions like decorating the tree may be forgotten and your loved one with dementia may not even remember Christmas is coming. It’s completely normal to be upset over this, but there are ways to still make the most out of the season and ensure your family can experience some holiday cheer.

Space out holiday visits. Understandably, everyone in your family is going to handle the dementia diagnosis of a loved one differently. It’s important to give each person enough time to sit with the news and digest it before the holidays roll around. After everyone is made aware of the situation and has had ample time to process, next comes the conversation about how the holidays will be different this year. Seniors with dementia can easily become overwhelmed by big crowds, so the traditional Christmas dinner with your children, siblings, nieces and nephews may not be the best bet. Instead, discuss alternate arrangements with your family that will put the needs of your loved one first. Spacing out holiday visits over the course of a few days can be much less overwhelming than one big Christmas celebration. This may seem like a downer, but staggering the holiday celebrations will allow each person in your family the opportunity to have a more meaningful connection with your loved one.

Go with the flow! This can be especially difficult if you’re more of a Type A personality, but it’s essential to adopt the “go with the flow” philosophy when it comes to dementia. Because the forgetfulness comes and goes, it’s much easier for everyone to just roll with what your loved one needs in that moment instead of trying to correct them. Attempting to “correct” their behavior could lead to even more feelings of confusion or agitation. For example, if your loved one says it’s time for dessert after the appetizers, let them eat cake!

Try starting new traditions. Depending on the severity of their diagnosis, your loved one might not be able to take part in the same yearly traditions like going to cut down the Christmas tree or cooking a 12 course holiday dinner from scratch. However, this doesn’t mean the holiday spirit is gone. Try something new with your loved one like wrapping gifts or making ornaments together. Avoid using any decorations that are too flashy with blinking lights or loud noises as they can be especially unsettling for people with dementia. Painting a snowy Christmas scene on a round ornament could be very fun and even therapeutic for your loved one.

Memory support for seniors in Camden County NJ

One of the best ways your loved one can maximize their cognitive abilities and retain their independence is through professional memory support in a community setting. At Collingswood, Tapestries memory care residents have the opportunity to live in a caring, homelike environment where they are safe to enjoy their hobbies and have meaningful experiences this holiday season, as well as every day after.

We also have Life Enrichment Team Specialists on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide specialized support for Tapestries residents, which includes personal care and cognitive exercises to maximize quality of life.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia, please call UMC at Collingswood today to find out how our memory care team can meet the needs of your senior parent. To learn more about Tapestries memory care in Camden County, please visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/collingswood

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/blog/dementia-and-the-holidays-what-to-expect-with-your-loved-one/ 

Understanding and Coping with Different Dementia Behaviors

Oftentimes, seniors with dementia conditions may worry or frustrate those who care for them. Common dementia behaviors that can be difficult to cope with are becoming irrationally agitated, angry to the point of aggression, and confusing common names of objects and places. If you are a caregiver to a loved one with dementia, know that you are not alone and this journey is not an easy one. Fortunately, there are many resources and outlets for dementia caregiver support. If you are having trouble understanding or coping with your loved one’s dementia behaviors, our memory care team in Collingswood NJ have compiled different ways to navigate them.

First, it helps to understand the root causes of certain behaviors – we’ll start with the most common ones: confusion, anger, and agitation. Have you ever heard of sundowning? For many people with dementia, there is a certain time each day when they experience a complete change of character. Feelings of confusion, anger, and agitation are heightened during this brief period. This is helpful for caregivers to know because once you can pinpoint your loved one’s sundowning schedule, you’ll be more prepared to deal with its repercussions. If you’re struggling with your loved one’s sundown syndrome, we’ve provided tips below to manage their confusion, anger, and agitation.

Tips to Manage Loved One’s Confusion

• Label drawers, cabinets, and other storage containers that are most commonly used. This is very useful if not being able to find something that triggers your loved one.
• Use to-do lists and set reminders on electronic devices to keep them on schedule every day.
• Ask yes or no questions and keep the dialogue short when they’re having a difficult time. Sometimes less is more, as more information could overload them and cause more confusion.

Tips to Manage Loved One’s Agitation

Diversion is key to making sure your family member’s agitation doesn’t escalate to anger and aggression. Easy ways to divert include:

• Keeping familiar objects nearby to redirect and comfort them, like a favorite picture of the family.
• Reminisce with a beloved, long-term memory, like when their first grandchild was born.
• Remind them that they are safe and at home, by leading them into a room they spend a lot of time in, like the bedroom or living room.

Tips to Manage Loved One’s Anger

When your loved one is past the point of agitation and their emotions have progressed into anger, it’s important to keep them calm in order to avoid more aggressive outbursts. If the tips above don’t work to manage their anger, there may be an underlying issue that they can’t properly communicate. Common questions to consider:

• Are there issues with their medications? Have they recently changed medications or upped a dose of a certain medication? This could have an adverse effect and increase their aggressive behavior.
• Are all of their personal needs met? Frustration easily builds to anger when a loved one with dementia can’t communicate that they are hungry, thirsty, or need to go to the bathroom. Be mindful of their schedule and meet their needs to avoid aggression.
• Are they in pain? Pay attention to when your loved one becomes aggressive – is it during a certain task like bath time? Maybe they are experiencing pain getting into the tub and respond by lashing out instead of telling you what’s wrong. Is it during a certain time of day, when a medication may have worn off? Perhaps they can take their pill a bit earlier to relieve the discomfort.

Memory care for seniors and support for caregivers in Camden County NJ

Coping with your loved one’s dementia behaviors is a hard task and one that shouldn’t be handled alone. One of the best ways your loved ones can manage their confusion, agitation, and anger while maximizing their cognitive abilities is through professional memory care at a reputable senior community. At UMC at Collingswood, we have memory care specialists on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support for dementia residents. Collingswood’s Tapestries program emphasizes diffusing negative dementia behaviors and engaging residents in exercises to strengthen the cognitive function and enhance the quality of life. Our specialists are also available to answer any questions you or your family may have and to ease any stress about your loved one’s transition into the Tapestries memory care neighborhood.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia, please call 856-369-3092 to find out how we can successfully meet their needs and support your caregiving journey. To learn more about Tapestries memory care in Camden County, please contact United Methodist Communities at Collingswood or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/

Original content is posted on https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/blog/understanding-and-coping-with-different-dementia-behaviors/

Tips on How to Explain Dementia to Grandkids

If you’ve been caring for your senior parent with dementia, you have probably come to realize that your relationship will be different from now on. One of the major, most noticeable changes is how you communicate. Altering and adapting the ways in which you communicate with your loved one is essential to maintaining a strong bond and minimizing stress. Although you may understand this is the reality of the situation now, your children may have a hard time even understanding dementia as a whole and how it affects their grandparents.

If this sounds like your current predicament, our team of memory care specialists in Camden County have compiled different communication tips to help better explain dementia to grandchildren.

Tip #1: Start the conversation with full transparency. Be open and honest by offering an age-appropriate explanation to their grandparent’s diagnosis. Try to explain what dementia is and how it will affect grandma or grandpa. For example, grandma may forget some things that may seem easy for everyone else to remember such as the day of the week or your birthday. Reiterate that she is not doing this on purpose and that she may exhibit more changes as time goes on without going into too much detail. There’s no need to alarm them by stating there’s no cure at this time, especially if their grandparent is in the very early stages of dementia and showing very mild symptoms.

Tip #2: Encourage them to ask questions. As scientists and memory care specialists are still researching and questioning many aspects of dementia, it’s only natural for grandkids to have questions too. Allow and encourage them to work through their feelings and curiosity surrounding this memory condition. We’d also like to point out that it’s OK not to have all the answers yourself. If your child asks a question you’re unsure about, gently remind them that it’s a good question to ask and that you’ll get back to them with an answer as soon as you have it.

Tip #3: Comfort them and let them know it’s not their fault. It’s normal for kids to be upset, confused, or even scared of this type of news. They may be afraid of getting dementia themselves or worry that they are doing something to trigger their grandparent’s memory loss. That’s why it’s important to reassure them that what they’re feeling is completely normal and that you also share those same thoughts. It’s also important to remind them that if grandma or grandpa lashes out towards them, it is absolutely not their fault. They did not “cause” this negative reaction – it’s a part of the disease.

Tip #4: Show by example. Undoubtedly, the best way for your child to learn is to have a good role model to follow. Whenever you have the opportunity, show them how to interact with and understand their grandparent with dementia. More importantly, teach them how to react if grandma or grandpa has a bad day and lashes out.

Memory care for seniors and support for caregivers in Camden County NJ

One of the best ways your loved ones can maximize their cognitive abilities and retain their independence is through accessing professional memory care at a reputable senior community. At UMC at Collingswood, Tapestries memory care residents have the opportunity to live in a caring, home-like environment where they are safe to enjoy their hobbies and have meaningful experiences every day.

We also have Life Enrichment Team Specialists on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide specialized care for memory care residents, which includes exercises to improve and strengthen cognitive function. Our specialists are also available to answer any questions you or your family may have and to ease any stress about your loved one’s transition into our memory care neighborhood.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia, please call 856-369-3092 to find out how we can successfully meet the needs of your senior parent. To learn more about Tapestries memory care in Camden County, please contact United Methodist Communities at Collingswood or visit our website at: https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/

Original content posted on https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/collingswood/tips-on-how-to-explain-dementia-to-grandkids/

What to Do When a Loved One with Dementia Wanders Off

Wandering off is arguably one of the biggest risk factors and fears when it comes to caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one with dementia has wandered off, you need to act immediately. Should your loved one ever go missing, here are some immediate steps to take from our Tapestries Memory Care team in South Jersey.

1. Search the surrounding area. Those who wander are usually found within a half-mile from where they were seen last. Check inconspicuous and familiar places in and near the home like hall closets, the basement, or the garden. If possible, send other family members into the neighborhood to look for your loved one. Enlisting the help of others will help you cover more ground at a quicker pace.
2. Call the police. If you cannot find mom or dad within 15-20 minutes, call 911 and file a missing person’s report. It’s important to mention that your loved one is an older adult who has Alzheimer’s disease and memory issues. Police will wait to begin their search for your loved one until 24 hours have passed unless they are made aware of these details regarding their memory impairments. You should also give police identifying characteristics to look out for like their bright red shirt or large sun hat.
3. Lean on family and friends for support. After your senior parent goes missing, it’s normal to feel distressed, sadness, shock, and guilt, which can cause you to make irrational decisions. With that in mind, contact your closest family and friends to help support you during this time, while following the instructions of the police and other search teams.
4. Stay put. Have family, friends, and others continue searching while you stay put in one place. Even though your gut instinct will be to get involved with the search, sometimes it’s better to remain at the scene in case your loved one returns on their own. It’s also important to keep your phone lines open so that you can be easily reached by everyone else who is out looking for mom or dad.
5. Call dementia hotlines. Consider calling in broader resources to help. You can call local Alzheimer’s hotlines in your area or reach out to national ones like the National Silver Alert Program or Safe Return.

Dementia wandering prevention for seniors in Camden County

One of the best ways your loved one can remain safe and avoid wandering away from home is by moving to a secure, professional memory care setting in a senior community. At Collingswood, our Tapestries® memory care neighborhood has a welcoming, dementia-safe apartments where seniors are safe to enjoy their hobbies and have meaningful experiences every day. Our security personnel, as well as Life Enrichment Team Specialists, are on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure your loved one is well taken care of at all times.

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 apartment is the right option for them, and you. To learn more about Tapestries memory care in Camden County, please contact United Methodist Communities at Collingswood or visit our website at: https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/

Original content posted on https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/collingswood/what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-with-dementia-wanders-off/

5 Ways to Improve Senior Memory

 

Memory loss is a common complaint among seniors. We can all be a little forgetful sometimes, but it’s important that as we age, we continue to strengthen and challenge our minds. Keeping the mind sharp can be key to preventing serious memory disorders down the road. The good news is there are things seniors can do now to improve memory that isn’t expensive, time-consuming, or difficult to incorporate into their current routines. Our team of memory care specialists in Camden County has compiled a list of 5 things your senior loved one can do now to help improve their memory and strengthen overall cognitive function.

1. Keep moving! Seniors who engage in regular physical exercise have higher resting blood flow to the brain. This is important because there is a direct connection between increased blood flow to the areas of the brain linked with improved memory. Physical exercise also improves mood by supplying those “feel-good” endorphins to the brain.
2. Stay away from saturated fats. Eating certain foods that are high in saturated fats, like red meat and fried foods, is directly linked to the high levels of LDL cholesterol that can harm the brain and its memory functions. Incorporating more mono and polyunsaturated fats into the diet by eating foods like fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts, will increase levels of HDL cholesterol that prevent blood vessels from getting clogged, thus reducing the risk of memory loss.
3. Get enough sleep. Did you know that sleep actually prompts changes in the brain that “cement” memories in place? Sleep also strengthens the links between brain cells and helps to transfer short-term memories to long-term memories. Getting 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is enough for most seniors to ensure their new memories stay with them for longer.
4. Socialize more. Time and time again, research has shown how important it is for seniors to maintain their social bonds. Spending time with family and friends and attending social events can not only help improve mental functions but also strengthen and preserve communication skills.
5. Challenge the brain. Speaking of staying social, playing cognitive games with family and friends is a great way to keep the mind sharp. Interactive games like cards, puzzles, or word searches that challenge the brain can keep memory recollection strong and sound. Seniors can also try harnessing a new skill, like learning a new language or practicing a sport that involves hand-eye coordination to help improve muscle memory as well.

Memory support for seniors in Camden County NJ

One of the best ways your loved ones can maximize their cognitive abilities and retain their independence is through accessing professional memory care at a reputable senior community. At Collingswood, Tapestries memory care residents have the opportunity to live in a caring, home-like environment where they are safe to enjoy their hobbies and have meaningful experiences every day. We also have Life Enrichment Team Specialists on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide specialized care for memory care residents, which includes exercises to improve and strengthen cognitive function.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia, please call 856-369-3092 to find out how our memory care team can meet the needs of your senior parent. To learn more about Tapestries memory care in Camden County, please contact United Methodist Communities at Collingswood or visit our website at: https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/

Original blog posted on https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/collingswood/5-ways-to-improve-senior-memory/