The unfortunate reality of our industry is that our residents do not improve and get to return to their homes. But every so often we are lucky enough to witness something incredible; an exception to the rule. This was the case for Georgetown resident, Philip, affectionately known as “Doc.” Doc was involved
When Camo and Chelsea arrive at Autumn Leaves of Glen Ellyn, the residents’ faces always light up with smiles. “I know they feel a heart-soul connection of unconditional love, because I feel it, too,” says Chrissie Sadowski, owner of Chrissie & Chelsea’s Healing Love. April is Dog Appreciation Month —
Incorporating heart healthy foods into your diet is always a good idea, but when you have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, eating heart-healthy is especially important. As dementia progresses, appetite can decrease, which can be challenging when planning meals. Food needs to be nutrient-dense AND appeal to an increasingly
Originally published in the Daily Herald, 1/4/17 “If you start to notice things that make you worry about your aging loved one’s safety, it is probably time to consider taking some steps toward protecting them,” said Jessica Akaah, Senior Vice President of Operations for Autumn Leaves Memory Care which has
We recently recognized some employees throughout our company for the way they exemplify our values. On December 30th, CEO Mitch Warren announced our the 2016 Employee of the Year, and winner of the Strong Roots Award, Wade Hobbs (click here to see Wade’s win!). Congratulations to Wade for all of
Guest Author: Mitch Warren, CEO As we close out 2016, I want to thank each of you for your dedication to our residents, their families, each other, and our company. In particular, I would like to recognize Wade Hobbs, winner of our 2016 Strong Roots Award – Employee of the
Caregiving at Autumn Leaves is a team effort – it takes everyone doing their part to make it work. While our caregivers are trained to provide excellent care, they also rely on family caregivers back home to help fill in the blanks and paint a life portrait to draw from
It’s very common for people with Alzheimer’s to have anxiety or feel agitated in the late afternoon or early evening. It’s called “sundowning” or sundowner’s syndrome, and it affects an estimated 20 percent of people with Alzheimer’s. Here are some tips to soothe your loved one as the sun begins
The holidays can be a challenging time of year for families living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. With some planning, adjusted expectations, and the tips below, your celebrations can still be happy, memorable occasions: Be good to yourself. Consider inviting just a few guests for a simple meal.
Bart joined the Glen Ellyn community in April of last year. Since then, his wife Diane has become a huge part of the Glen Ellyn family. Diane knows she needn’t reach out to management or nursing with a question about his care; she goes straight to the people who spend
The Alzheimer’s Association suggests these questions to help you decide whether it’s time to consider an assisted living memory care community for your loved one: 1. Is the person with dementia becoming unsafe in his or her current home? 2. Is the health of the person with dementia or my
Making the transition from home care to living at Autumn Leaves is a coordinated effort. Acclimating to a strange new environment and unfamiliar faces can be disorienting and upsetting for someone living with dementia. During this time family caregivers are instrumental resources as our staff gets to know our new resident, as
Forty-five years after organizing the first ever Lake Allatoona Cleanup in 1971, eighty-four year old Eleanor Hope Crisler Babcock returned to the sand and red clay shores to once again do her part in keeping the lake clean. “It looks like people really care about it,” a fit 84-year-old Eleanor
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, one of the first questions posed by the individual and the family is, can the memory loss be reversed? The answer can be complicated because professionals must do a thorough diagnosis of the type of dementia and the severity of the disease. Treating
Many people head out to the malls on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But here’s an alternative that won’t cost you anything, and could create treasured memories: spend a few hours that day sharing family stories. November is Family Stories Month. And on the day after Thanksgiving, an organization
Many adult children must ask themselves the difficult question, “Should my mom still be driving?” For some, after a quick observation the answer can be obvious. For most individuals, a much more thorough analysis and a medical opinion need to be taken into consideration before making this important decision. An
Forgotten, but not gone. Has your loved one reached the point where he or she no longer recognizes you? It’s a deeply upsetting milestone and a heartache to bear. Sometimes family members wonder whether their visits are meaningful, if a spouse or parent no longer recognizes them. Do they see
Providing good nutrition can pose a challenge when your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Even when you prepare appealing, nutritious meals, you may find it difficult to entice your loved one to eat enough food — or the right foods. As cognitive function declines, appetite often diminishes as well.
We recently received this poem from Phyllis who is the wife of Autumn Leaves of Edmond resident, Merle. When she discovered that there was another woman in Merle’s life, she took pen to paper and vented her frustrations in this ode of sorts… perhaps you can relate!
“I try to make my residents’ dreams come true…” Those were the words of 2016 HERO Award Winner, Lindsey Hernandez, when she accepted her award earlier this year. On Tuesday of this week, she added another completed resident dream to her list when she fulfilled resident Josie’s wish to see
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