November Is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month

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The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch

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Aug 04, 2023

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Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties , Florida - Southwest

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November is a month full of family traditions, kicking off the holiday season with comforting foods and good company. If your table this year is a bit different now that a senior loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you aren’t alone. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that approximately 5 million adults are living with the disease today, meaning chances are high that someone in your neighborhood or circle of friends find themselves in a caregiving role for their senior loved one too.

As we embark on November here at Legend Senior Living, we are planning on observing National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with our colleagues throughout senior care. No matter if you have been caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease for years, if you are just getting acclimated to a new diagnosis, if you are living with it yourself, or if you are just looking for a way to be a better neighbor, here are a few things you can do this month and beyond.

 

Check In On Caregivers

November is also National Family Caregivers Month, which makes it the perfect time to check in on those who are juggling their own personal and professional lives with the tasks that come with coordinating care for their senior loved one. Most family members of seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease take on caregiving tasks ranging from care coordination to meal preparation to safety checks. It’s exhausting, and most family caregivers are at a higher risk of experiencing health complications of their own.

You can check in on caregivers you know by sending them a quick text or leaving them a voicemail. If possible, offer your help to drop off a meal for them to enjoy or to shuttle their kids to their next basketball practice so they can have a break.

If you are the caregiver, use this month as a time to practice asking for help. Call a sibling to see if they can take over meal preparations for a few weeks or investigate respite care services near you so you can finally schedule a weekend out of town.

 

Educate Yourself

If you are coping with a new Alzheimer’s diagnosis in your family or if your loved one has progressed to a new stage of the disease, learning more about dementia is an excellent first step. Even the most experienced professionals who have worked with people living with Alzheimer’s disease for decades can learn something new. In fact, the Memory Care teams at Legend Senior Living’s residences across the country are deeply committed to ongoing education so that we can always be at the forefront of new interventions or approaches.

Start your research by learning the top ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia in seniors. Then, talk to your geriatrician for more specific information about your situation as well as look for educational lectures and caregiver support groups. The teams at Legend Senior Living residences are happy to help as well, putting our decades of dementia care experience to work for you.

 

Find Quality Time

If your senior loved one is living with Alzheimer’s disease, it is easy to immediately switch your relationship to patient and caregiver. However, if you are always in caregiver mode, you miss out on the chance to just be a daughter, son, grandchild, or friend. Carve time out for quality time with your loved one, remembering that it is not about the activity you are doing; it’s about the time you spend and the memories you create for yourself. 

Try taking a drive through your old neighborhood together, listening to music and chatting about anything and everything. Bake a favorite cookie recipe or enjoy a cup of coffee out on the porch. Look through old photo albums or stroll along in a favorite park.

 

Turn to the Experts

Walking through Alzheimer’s disease with your senior loved one is difficult, certainly. You can find yourself being worried and overwhelmed. However, you can also find the moments of joy and peace that can sneak into your day as well. You are more likely to have a better relationship with your loved one, as well as stay healthier yourself, when you turn to the experts at Legend Senior Living. 

Our Memory Care residences are designed to support people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia from the ground up. In our loving residences, you will find trained staff members providing personalized care for each individual resident. It’s not uncommon to smell lavender scents in the evenings so that residents can enjoy the relaxing benefits of aromatherapy. You’ll find residents interacting with one another, with staff members, and with vignettes especially for them. We specialize in providing opportunities for sensory stimulation and reminiscing, each leaving residents feeling empowered, cared for, and happy. 

We would love to hear more about your experiences with Alzheimer’s disease. Share your favorite story or breakthrough moment via video here. We all have so much to learn from one another.

Let’s honor the Alzheimer’s disease journey - and family caregivers everywhere - this month and beyond.

 

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Home Care for Seniors with Dementia

Caring for senior loved ones with dementia can be both rewarding and extremely exhausting. While we strive to do everything we can for them and want to be a part of their care as much as possible, it can start to take a toll on us. That is where home care for people with dementia can help. Having an in-home caregiver can help provide relief for family members and friends while at the same time providing personalized care and support for dementia patients within the comfort of their own homes. Professional home care workers, such as those with Visiting Angels Punta Gorda, can come into the home as much or as little as you like to help your senior loved one. They can supplement the care that family members offer, or family members can supplement the care they give. Home care workers also can help with specific tasks or all of the day-to-day tasks your senior needs.Here are some ways home care can help your senior loved one with dementia and also help family members on this care journey.Everyday NeedsProfessionals with home care agencies can help dementia patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, getting dressed and undressed each morning and night, grooming, using the toilet, eating and more. Often dementia patients resist showers. Home care workers skilled in working with memory loss patients can help them at least clean up each day. By helping with these tasks, they can help ensure their safety, health and hygiene are cared for. Home care workers can help them feel more like themselves throughout the day with brushed hair and teeth, clean clothes and a clean environment.SafetyWhile in-home caregivers are present in the home, they will help ensure your senior loved one suffering from dementia is safe. They can help ensure they dont wander from the home or leave the stove burner on after cooking something. If family members cannot always be there, home care workers can alert them to anything that might be a safety hazard, such as a loose rug, wobbly banister or door that your senior loved one keeps unlocking and trying to leave from. If your senior loved one needs more stability during their bathing, caregivers can let the family know they might need to install grab bars. They also can provide a steady hand for seniors and avoid any dangerous areas, such as cords, that could cause potential tripping hazards. Dementia patients may not remember to let their families know what they need or even be aware that it is a concern, so home care workers can provide an extra level of safety protection for them. CompanionshipHaving a homecare worker present can offer seniors with dementia constant companionship. People suffering from dementia often can become isolated or feel lonely, which can worsen their symptoms. Some symptoms of dementia include aggressiveness and/or crabbiness. Dementia patients have been known to push their family members away or to act hostile. A home care worker can provide companionship and support for senior citizens, especially when family members feel like retreating or that they need a break. They can listen to their stories, ask them questions and engage the patient in meaningful social activities to improve their emotional well-being.Relieving the familyThere is no doubt that caring for a loved one with dementia brings with it a ton of emotions and lots of stress. It also can place family members in situations they are not comfortable with. If children feel uncomfortable doing some of the caregiving for their parents, such as bathing or toileting, a home care worker can do the essentials so family members can simply spend time with them. They also can help with some of the more frustrating tasks so that family members dont lose patience and so that clients do not take out their frustration on their family members. Homecare workers also can provide respite care, which means family members can leave the home or caregiving duties for a short period of time. They can go out to coffee with a friend to refresh, have a nice dinner out without worrying about hurrying back to help their loved one, or they can even just take a peaceful nap at home with the help of respite care. Respite care can also provide short-term relief for a weekend away or an extended vacation.We Can HelpIf you are looking for help caring for your senior this spring and every season of the year, our professionals at Visiting Angels Punta Gorda are here to help. We provide a variety of home care services, including companion care, fall prevention and more. Our expert team of caregivers serves clients in Punta Gorda, North Fort Myers, Boca Grande, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Captiva, Arcadia and surrounding areas. To learn more about our services, call us at 941-347-8288, or contact us online.

Recognizing Alzheimers Disease and the Benefits of Memory Care

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What To Think About When The Unthinkable Happens

I was at a family reunion recently, and I overheard a lady say that one of the challenges of getting old is seeing your parents aging. This lady is probably in her late 50s and she is the caregiver for her mom, who is in her 80s, with very serious health problems. Speaking with the owner of a relatively large business recently, he said that many of his employees are needing to take time off from work. This is because they are caregivers for their parents. This is a sign of the times, and there are an increasing number of people dealing with these issues.This One Is For The CaregiversMost of our presentations and educational content are focused on our clients, whether its retirees in their 60s or seniors in their 70s and 80s. We do estate planning across the generations, but given the increasing number of caregivers taking care of their parents, I wanted to reach out to the caregivers. 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The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch

Assisted Living 8220 Natures Way, Lakewood Ranch, Florida, 34202

The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch is dedicated to serving the individual needs and choices of our residents. We offer services in an individual way that celebrates the independence and individual choices of those we serve. This dedication is reflected in our commitment to offer the highest standards of service and quality living environments. Our business and calling is about you, the customer, and we look forward to having the opportunity to serve you...please go to our website or call for more information!