November is “Family Stories Month,” and there is nothing like the onset of dementia to remind you just how precious those memories are. One way we’re preserving our residents’ stories is with the OneDay for Senior Living app. This tool allows us to record short interviews or special moments with
As verbal and cognitive functions decline, how do you know if a person living with dementia is in pain? It was once thought that people with dementia don’t feel pain the way we do; we now know this isn’t the case. People with dementia indeed experience pain, but often have
The Summer Solstice not only represents the transition from Spring to Summer but it is also the longest day of the year. Each year on “The Longest Day”, the Alzheimer’s Association invites people to spend this special day doing an activity you enjoy from sunrise until sunset. The goal is to raise funds
Earlier this month, several representatives from Autumn Leaves attended the Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference in San Diego including regional team members, home office staff, and management from many of our communities. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to spend time sharing ideas, insights, challenges, and successes with the
As you walk with your loved one down this final path on their earthside journey, making sure you have a trust-worthy, compassionate, and qualified hospice care team to support you is critical. So what should you look for in a hospice care provider? Word of mouth or personal referral is a
The amount of financial and legal decisions you are faced with as a loved one comes to the end of life can be overwhelming. In addition, families may also seek spiritual support to guide them through this transition. Hospice has a team of experts who can help. Treating body and
In our previous post, we discussed the history and background of hospice. But what does hospice care look like today? Hospice is covered by Medicare Part A, Medicaid, and most private insurance. You must qualify for hospice, which is done by a doctor’s evaluation. Medicare stipulates that you must have
Hospice. The word alone can incite panic. It signifies the end of one life and the beginning of another chapter for the ones left behind. And perhaps that’s the reason just the mere mention of hospice evokes such sadness and fear – in trying to avoid that final goodbye, we
Many of our resident family members express an interest in staying involved in the daily lives of their loved ones and in our Autumn Leaves community life. If that’s important to you, please consider joining the Autumn Leaves Booster Club! The Autumn Leaves Booster Club is a volunteer group run
Meeting the specialized physical needs of individuals who are living with a form of memory impairment has long been a priority for caregivers, but it is all too easy to dismiss or diminish their complex emotional needs. Having grown up among seniors in the assisted living home where her parents
When you walk into Autumn Leaves of Arlington Heights and are greeted by a vibrant, energetic man, it is probably resident John! John moved to our community in late 2015, and continues to be a big part of our family. As a young person, John was very active and could
Howard grew up in Emporia, Kansas, with the exception of his service to the US Army during WWII when he was stationed in Europe from 1944-1947. We are incredibly proud to share that Howard won the Purple Heart as a result of his service to this country. He was happily
Lorida is one incredible lady! She is the loving mother to her three children, an outstanding grandmother to seven grandchildren, AND a dedicated great-grandmother to three great-grandbabies! In her younger years, Lorida was very active in her church and was responsible for managing the rummage sales and coordinating many of
Jeannette was born in Orange Grove, Texas in 1926. She spent a year in London but has lived in Texas most of her life. She received an Education Degree from University of Texas and University of Houston and became a German and English teacher for Westchester/Stratford High School for Spring
David was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army and is very proud of his service to this country. He was a member of the 293rd Engineer Battalion and during his tenure he built roads among other things on the bases in Germany. David trained as a Ranger and was
Mr. Herve was born in Oakland Beach, Rhode Island. His life has involved a lot of traveling and service, not only to our country but the communities in which he has lived. Mr. Herve proudly served our country as a member of the United States Air Force. Upon retiring from
No two people experience dementia the same way. In the early stages of the disease, many can function independently. Your loved one may continue to drive, work, and enjoy social activities. During this period of time, your role may be more like a care partner than a caregiver. Still, your
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.
As the weather continues to warm up, you may be reorganizing your closet–putting away the heavy sweaters and winter coats and bringing out the swimsuits and lighter clothes for summer. You may want to do that for your loved one with memory impairment, too. Alzheimer’s and dementia affect judgement, and
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