Texas - Greater Dallas

Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers frequently report experiencing high levels of stress. It can be overwhelming to take care of a loved one with Alzheimer's or other dementia, but too much stress can be harmful. Join the Alzheimer's Association and local community partners, as we discuss self-care tips, responding to dementia-related behaviors, resiliency for caregivers, and local resources that can assist caregivers when experiencing burnout.RESOURCES:Please CLICK HERE for a folder with resources         Addressing Caregiver Burnout Seminar

Dementia and OCD Lead to Compulsive ShoppingTavis SchrieferCEO @ teleCalm, Phone service for Alzheimers & dementia, both at home and in senior livingMarch 1, 2024Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects about 1.2% of U.S. adults. People with OCD experience unwanted and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause them anxiety or distress. They also perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to try to reduce or neutralize their anxiety. For example, someone with OCD may have a fear of germs and compulsively wash their hands or even develop a compulsive shopping disorder.OCD can be a chronic and disabling condition that interferes with daily functioning and quality of life. Unfortunately, some people with OCD may also be at a higher risk of developing dementia, a group of brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. Dementia is more common in older adults, especially those over 65 years old, and it can cause cognitive decline, confusion, and personality changes.How OCD is linked to dementiaAccording to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry , people with OCD are more likely to develop dementia than people without OCD. The study used data from a large insurance database in Taiwan and followed 1,347 people with OCD and 13,470 matched controls without OCD for an average of 11 years. The researchers found that:People with OCD had a higher risk of developing Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, and unspecified dementia than people without OCD.People with OCD developed dementia about 6 years earlier than people without OCD (70.5 years versus 76.7 years).People with OCD had a higher rate of early-onset dementia (before age 65) than people without OCD (1.7% versus 0.1%).The exact reasons why OCD is associated with dementia are not clear, but some possible explanations are:OCD may share some genetic or environmental risk factors with dementia, such as the APOE gene or chronic inflammation.OCD may cause chronic stress or damage to the brain over time, which may increase the vulnerability to dementia.OCD may make it harder to detect or treat dementia symptoms, as some cognitive impairments or behavioral changes may be attributed to OCD rather than dementia.How OCD and dementia affect compulsive shoppingOne of the possible consequences of having both OCD and dementia is compulsive shopping, which is the uncontrollable urge to buy things that are not needed or wanted. Compulsive shopping can cause financial problems, family conflicts, and emotional distress for the person and their caregivers.Compulsive shopping can be triggered by different factors in people with OCD and dementia, such as:Obsessions: People with OCD may have obsessive thoughts about buying certain items or completing certain collections, which may drive them to shop compulsively.Compulsions: People with OCD may use shopping as a way to cope with their anxiety or to perform rituals related to their obsessions, such as buying multiples of the same item or checking prices repeatedly.Memory loss: People with dementia may forget what they have already bought or why they bought it, which may lead them to buy the same things again or buy things they dont need.Impulsivity: People with dementia may lose their ability to control their impulses or plan ahead, which may make them more prone to buy things on a whim or fall for marketing tricks.Boredom: People with dementia may feel bored or lonely due to their cognitive decline or social isolation, which may make them seek stimulation or comfort through shopping.Compulsive shopping can be especially problematic when it involves purchasing products from home shopping channels and other ads on TV. These sources of shopping may be more accessible, appealing, or persuasive for people with OCD and dementia, as they may:Provide constant exposure to new products and offers that may trigger obsessions or impulses.Use high-pressure tactics such as limited-time deals, scarcity cues, testimonials, or guarantees that may exploit cognitive biases or vulnerabilities.Offer easy payment methods such as credit cards, phone orders, or online transactions that may bypass rational decision-making or budgeting.Deliver products directly to the home without requiring transportation or social interaction that may deter or limit shopping.How teleCalm service can helpIf you have a loved one who suffers from both OCD and dementia and engages in compulsive shopping from home shopping channels and TV ads, you may feel frustrated, worried, or helpless. Fortunately, there is a service that can help you manage this issue: teleCalm.teleCalm is a phone service that is designed specifically for seniors with dementia and their caregivers. It works with any existing phone and phone number, and it offers several features that can prevent or reduce compulsive shopping, such as:Blocking unwanted outgoing calls to home shopping channels and TV adsBlocking ALL incoming calls from telemarketers, scammers, and any other numbers you choose.Allowing only trusted callers to reach your loved one, such as family, friends, doctors, or emergency services.Viewing your loved ones phone activity and alerting you of any suspicious or unusual calls, such as repeated calls to the same number or calls at odd hours.Providing you with a dashboard on an app where you can control and customize your loved ones phone settings, such as call blocking, call filtering, or call scheduling.By using teleCalm, you can protect your loved one from compulsive shopping and its negative consequences, while also preserving their dignity, independence, and connection. You can also reduce your own stress and worry, knowing that your loved one is safe and supported.If you are interested in learning more about teleCalm, please visit teleCalmProtects.com or call 1-888-701-0411.

January 1, 2024 | Jen Griffin, Vice President of Engagement | CC Young Senior Livingby Jen Griffin, Vice President of EngagementIn my article in Decembers Lifestyle Guide, I shared my profound paradigm shift about wellness. The shift went from viewing wellness in a physical context to recognizing that wellness is really multifaceted in nature.  It is not one dimensional!  This shift has driven our theme for 2024.  As a result, the Community Outreach Team has adopted the International Council on Active Agings 7 Pillars of Wellness serve as our guide for activities and special events in 2024.  All year long, we will focus on balance within these specific areas of life:  intellectual, physical, social, spiritual, vocational, emotional, and environmental.  The theme for the year is Go for the Gold in 2024!You may ask:  What does that mean?  Well, to me, go for the gold means continue to reach- for whatever you want!  If you are exploring all pillars of wellness, the sky is the limit.  As Norman Vincent Peale once said, Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you will land among the stars!  I believe shooting for the moon is a mindset and a journey.  Its a way of life with mindful attention to balance.    Lets face it:  Nobodys perfect. I am The Worst about balance in my life, but Im inspired to be better.  And like Vince Lombardi said, If we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.  Personally, aiming in the right direction would be improvement!Sowith that in mind, what excites me most about this new paradigm of wellness?  It is that almost everything we already do at CC Young is related to wellness and therefore to these 7 pillars!  To help you along so you can see what I mean, this month you will be able to identify the individual pillars in our revamped Lifestyle Guide. There will be a guide on each page so you can start to learn how we are categorizing each event.  I hope you will eventually be able to recognize the pillars and mentally chart your course for balanced participation in all the pillars.  It will be easy seek balance because we have so many options each month!  Lets break down the pillars in more detail.  (Here we go a la Dak Prescott)Physical Wellness: This pillar is familiar to manyits about the importance of regular exercise, nutritious eating, and adequate rest. However, its not just about the body; its about feeling vibrant and energized in our physical being.Intellectual Wellness: This means stimulating our minds through lifelong learning, exploring new ideas, and engaging in creative endeavors. Intellectual wellness fuels our curiosity and keeps our mental faculties sharp.Emotional Wellness: This is about understanding, expressing, and managing emotions in a healthy way. This pillar teaches us resilience, self-compassion, and the ability to navigate lifes ups and downs.Social Wellness: This one is about nurturing meaningful connections and fostering a sense of belonging within our communities both here on campus and elsewhere. Social wellness thrives on genuine relationships and a supportive networkwherever that may be!Spiritual Wellness: The key to this is reflecting on lifes purpose, finding inner peace, and seeking meaning and depth in our existence. Spiritual wellness is about aligning with our values and beliefs.Vocational Wellness:  Sometimes a little mysterious by just the word, this one is about finding satisfaction and fulfillment in our work or personal pursuits. This pillar encourages us to pursue careers or hobbies that resonate with our passions and strengths.Environmental Wellness: Finally, hopefully we will all continue being mindful of our surroundings and making choices that positively impact our environment. Environmental wellness emphasizes our responsibility to care for our planet.As we navigate 2024, Go for the Gold! serves as a rallying call for each of us to broaden our horizons. It prompts us to ponder: What can we do differently this year to fortify our wellness not just for 2024, but also for the years beyond? Our collective journey toward wellness isnt merely about reaching a destination but rather embracing a [mindful] lifestylea way of living that nurtures every facet of our existence. Its about fostering a community where each individual is empowered to thrive intellectually, physically, socially, spiritually, vocationally, emotionally, and environmentally.  Doesnt that sound like a good path for all of us?As we embark on this journey together, lets seize the opportunities ahead, explore new horizons, foster deeper connections, and immerse ourselves in diverse experiences. Lets champion our wellness, individually and collectively, and in doing so, paint a canvas of vibrant and fulfilled lives at CC Young.I am jazzed about the transformations that await us as we Go for the Gold in 2024 and beyond. Can you tell?

Boarding Home and Residential Care HomeWhen it comes to finding care options for loved ones or individuals needing assistance, navigating the various types of facilities available can be overwhelming. With the baby boomer population continuing to age, more seniors will be needing to seek out options that provide companion services and higher levels of care.  One of the potential options includes group homes. Municipal regulation of Group homes  states, While there is no single definition of group home under state of federal law currently, under Texas law there are at least 24 types of homes, houses, centers, and other facilities, probably more that may qualify as a group home. Confusing, right? There are many types of group homes that provide housing, counseling, and programs for teens, drug addiction, mental and physical disabilities, and conditions. For the purposes of this blog, we will focus on two types of group homes that cater to adults and seniors needing assistance: Boarding and Residential Care Homes. Boarding homes and residential care homes are often confused, both cater to specific needs and offer distinct levels of care.  Understanding their differences is crucial in making an informed decision to individual requirements.Boarding HomeAccording to the Texas Health and Safety Code Section 260.001 a boarding home is classified as:  Serves elderly persons 65 and up or persons with disabilities (mental, physical, intellectual, or developmental) that impairs the persons ability to provide for ones care or protection  Provides lodging to three or more persons with disabilities or elderly that are unrelated to the owner of the home  Provides meals, housekeeping, transportation, grocery shopping, money management, laundry services, self-administration of medication assistance  Does NOT provide assisted living facility (ALF) personal care services as defined in Section 247.002  County or municipality may require a permit to operate  May have coverage under certain government programs or a long-term care policyThese homes offer a smaller environment and up to 6 residents live in a home-like setting with trained staff and supervisors that often live in the home.Residential Care HomesDefinition: A residential care home, also referred to as community, personal care home, or board and care home, is a private home that usually house 20 or fewer residents (some as few as 3 or 4) that are staffed 24/7, deliver non-medical assistance to seniors that do not need 24/7 nursing care. Services include meals, personal assistance with daily activities of living.  Homelike environment with private or semi-private rooms  Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as: bathing, dressing, and medication management  Social activities, meals, and basic medical assistance provided  Often more affordable than traditional and larger assisted living facilities  Caregiver to patient ratio is typically better than in standard assisted living facilities  Cost is private pay, long-term care insurance, or Veterans assistance programs  Supportive care services such as home health, therapy, and hospice care can be provided by a licensed third-party service provider  Unlicensed Residential Care Home is allowed up to 3 non-related residents (Legal & illegal)  Licensed homes are certified by Texas Health and Human Services for compliance at the state and federal level.   A very small number of care homes accept MedicaidThe Texas Health and Safety Code Section 123.005 notes that community homes can provide a wider array of services such as: food, shelter, personal guidance, care, habilitation services and supervision services to persons with disabilities compared to boarding homes. These disabilities can include Alzheimers or other types of dementia; autism; mental illness; muscular dystrophy; multiple sclerosis, among others. Section 123.002Residential Care Homes can be Licensed as a Type A or B Assisted Living Facility (ALF):Type A  Requires the resident to be physically and mentally capable of evacuating the facility unassisted in an emergency. They do not need regular assistance during sleeping hours.Type B  Residents may require assistance to evacuate and may be incapable of following directions in an emergency. Often require attendance during nighttime hours.When considering a Residential Care Home, it is important to find out if they are licensed or not and what level of services they provide.  If not licensed, are they operating legally and following state and federal guidelines for operations? What levels of care can they provide?  It is advisable to enlist the help of a Senior Living Advisor like Ruby Care Senior Living Advisors, as they can narrow down your search and ensure that you know what you are walking into versus wasting time on numerous homes that may not be a good fit or even worse operating illegally.  With many different care options to choose from, making the decision as to what is the right care setting involves considering the specific needs, level of independence, and medical requirements of the individual. A group home such as a residential care home may be just what you and your loved one are looking for to provide quality senior care when the time comes. Knowing one has options outside of a traditional assisted living facility or nursing home empowers individuals and families to make informed decisions based on the needs and preferences of their loved ones.Author: Britt Hemsell | Senior Living Advisor & Blog Contributor