Picking the Right Assisted Living Facility for an Elderly Loved One with Dementia
Coping with dementia is, naturally, a hard thing to do. But it is, perhaps, harder for the family members of a person suffering from dementia to wrap their heads around the changing shape and mannerism of their loved one. After all, you are not a person who has any professional training or knowledge regarding what to do with, or how to treat a person who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or any other kind of dementia. Additionally, the ordeal becomes a lot more difficult to manage when it’s a loved one, or a family member, or a friend, because in this care your emotional involvement might get in the way of logic and entice to you to make irrational decisions—which, while made with good intentions serve no purpose other than complicate matters for your loved ones.
The best option would be to find a residential senior living community near you which has professionals on board, who have been trained in the field and know best how to extend a helping hand to individuals with dementia.
Provided in this blog are a few things we suggest you look into carefully before finally settling on a senior living community.
The Location
Two things come into play here: the proximity of the area to your own residence and the laws of the area in which the facility is located. The principal objective should be to ensure that the facility is located in the same state as you so that you can pay frequent visits to your loved ones, and through these regular visits keep them grounded to reality. Also consider the amount of medical assistance your loved one needs. Find out more about the allowances and terms that are California specific here.
The Size of the Facility
You’re looking for comfort and you won’t find it in a facility that is tiny in size, as you may be sure it will be housing quite a number of members. These dynamics also affect the services that are provided therein since the team will be understaffed, overworked, and provide unsatisfactory performance. We suggest find a facility with one staffer for each 5 or 6 members, which is manageable.
The Services
A senior living community is only as good as the services that it offers. Find out as much as you can about the amenities and facilities that are being offered, some of which might include:
- The kind and timing of meals
- Sports
- Avenues for socializing
- Personalized care
- Entertainment
- Health care
Think in terms of enhanced and improved quality of living, with services that are specifically tailored to serve all specific needs that might arise with the various members.
Looking for a Senior Living Community near Van Nuys?
Discuss with us at AvantGarde Senior Living your problems, requirements, and concerns. We offer various options of living which include independent living, assisted living, and memory care. We specialize in providing customized care and are well known for providing a number of facilities to our members, such as sports, theatre, transportation, etc.
The Power of Music: How Music Benefits Seniors in Assisted Living Communities
No matter what age you are, music will always have an impact on you. It builds connections to important events in our lives which is why it’s effective in improving the memory of people with Alzheimer’s.
Independent Living vs. Assisted Living: Top Choices for Elders
There are approximately forty-seven million senior citizens in the United States. Of this number, many of them are prone to chronic illnesses that can be debilitating, both physically and mentally.
Benefits of Companionship in Your Later Years
It’s a sad truth, but aging and loneliness go hand-in-hand in most parts of the world. 43% of the elderly population reports feeling lonely and isolated. According to medical studies, this sense of being ‘left out’ and social estrangement can trigger health conditions like dementia and can even lead to an early death if the person is not given the care they need in time.
Identifying the Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is classified as a type of dementia that creates problems with behavior, thinking, and memory. Symptoms develop slowly and tend to worsen over time, interfering with the ability to carry out routine tasks. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are around 5.8 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s and the number is expected to reach 14 million by 2050.Read more
Beating the Retirement Blues
Most people have their own visions of life after retirement. Some plan on taking trips, taking up an old hobby or spending more time with family and friends. However, things don’t always turn out as expected.
Retirees often find themselves feeling like they’re losing their sense of purpose and end up experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety. Also known as the retirement blues, these feelings can be pretty difficult to cope with and their management requires a considerable amount of time and energy.
Here are some tips that can help you deal with post-retirement blues.
4 Ways Socializing Benefits Older Adults
Humans, regardless of their age, have an innate need to socialize. Having a strong network of friends and family is essential for the emotional well-being of every individual, regardless of their age. However, keeping up with loved ones can sometimes be a challenge for older adults a.k.a seniors.
Health issues, mobility limitations, and decline of energy are some factors associated with old age that tend to leave a strong impact on the social life of elders. Absence of consistent social interactions can lead to deterioration of the cognitive health of seniors and may even result in reduced self-esteem. On the other hand, maintaining an active social life can decrease stress, lower anxiety levels and increase lifespan in seniors.
Reducing Joint Pain in the Winters - Senior Care
According to studies by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 15 million U.S. citizens reported arthritis related severe joint pain in 2015. Decreasing temperatures can be devastating for individuals suffering from joint pain, as persistent pain tends to worsen in low temperatures.
Muscle Building After 60: Paving The Path For Healthy Aging
As we age, our body’s functions deteriorate at several levels. We may be faced with changes in our musculoskeletal or cardiovascular health, we may experience restricted mobility. While these are all experiences that we can try to prepare for mentally and with our habits, what most seniors do not prepare for is age-related muscle loss, also known as sacropenia.
Sacropenia can start as early as 30 years in some cases and can cause a decrease of up to 5% muscle mass each decade.
Symptoms and Causes
Sacropenia may result in a reduction of the body’s ability to convert protein into energy. This may also lead to a decrease in muscle size and a loss of muscle fibers. The loss in energy may induce weakness, a decreased in stamina and may lead to a reduction in physical activity. Those suffering from sacropenia may also experience low levels of hormones, difficulty in maintaining balance and climbing stairs.
Sacropenia has the potential to greatly impact and impair a person’s functionality. Hence, it is crucial that a regular fitness regimen be in place to help you recover from the loss of muscle mass. Here are a few recommendations.
Ensuring Proper Nutritional Intake
As we age, our body’s daily calorie requirement lowers but we still need several other nutritional needs to account for. A balanced diet that includes lean protein, nuts, greens such as broccoli and spinach as well as food that is plentiful in calcium is a pre-requisite of a healthy diet for seniors. It is also crucial to take multivitamins daily and ensure that you are hydrated sufficiently.
Increase Reps, Not Weights
Increasing weights may lead to overexertion. Rely instead, on increasing the number of reps per exercise so that each muscle group is worked sufficiently to retain its mass. Break away from the typical pattern of 10 reps per set and work each muscle until you begin to feel fatigue.
Recovery Time Is Important!
According to research, it is more difficult for us to recover our muscles after a workout when we are older, as opposed to when we are younger. This means that older adults may subject themselves to the risks of overtraining, increasing their chances of overexertion and injury. It is therefore recommended that the workouts be spaced with rest days in between. Another way to ensure that you give yourself enough time to recover is by alternating between strength training and cardio workouts.
Looking for a senior living facility that helps seniors age healthily? Reach out to AvantGarde.
AvantGarde is a senior living facility and retirement community in Tarzana, CA that provides services in assisted living, elder care and memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
Book a tour at the AvantGarde facility, by calling (818) 881-0055 or visit their website for an online tour!
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Alzheimer’s Disease is a challenging condition for the individual dealing with it and their loved ones and caretaker(s). Caring for someone with this debilitating condition requires precise care, and if handled incorrectly, can be risky for both the patient and the caregiver.Read more