“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” – or so the song goes. But for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the holidays can be especially stressful. This stress has only been compounded by the pandemic which continues to distance us from our extended
The onset of Spring signifies a rebirth of sorts. The familiar tune of birdsong returns, tiny buds begin to appear in our gardens, and the chill of winter slowly starts to fade. So too do we find ourselves celebrating new beginnings as the vaccine begins to arrive in our communities
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” – or so the song goes. But for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the holidays can be especially stressful. This stress has only been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which has isolated us from our extended
It’s completely understandable if you’ve recently found yourself wondering whether or not your loved one is safer at home or in an assisted living community such as Autumn Leaves. We’re all worried for the safety of our families, both near and far. Geriatrician and Chief Medical Officer of the American
Houston Area Nurses celebrate Nurses Week In honor of National Nurses Week, we asked our amazing nurses to share their thoughts about working in memory care; here’s what they had to say. When asked what qualities make a great memory care nurse, the most common response was compassion, followed closely
Healthy feet are critical to mobility, but dementia may hinder a person’s ability to recognize foot pain. If you notice a change in gait, increase in falls, or an unwillingness to ambulate, foot problems could be the culprit. In addition to regular visits to the podiatrist, check feet often for
There’s something about the first of the month—especially January 1st—that sparks us to set a new goal or resolve to take better care of ourselves. But when you are living with someone who has memory impairments, you may find your life reset to the “first” more than once a month.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” – or so the song goes. But for those of us caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the holidays can be especially stressful. We put so much stock in our own holiday traditions that when those shared experiences
It’s not uncommon or unnatural for caregivers to experience frustration when spending time with our loved ones who are living with dementia. Often those frustrations lie in their diminished recall, especially when it comes to short-term memory. You may catch yourself saying things like, “Mom, I just told you that!”
As a caregiver, having a strong support system in place is critical. This is a big job – so big, in fact, that we have an entire team on hand to do what ONE family caregiver bravely takes on each day. Remember that you are not alone in this journey.
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
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
While tangible gifts like flowers, scented candles, jewelry, and cozy loungewear are all great ways to show your appreciation, the most important thing you can give to Mom on Mother’s Day is the gift of time. The two of you are making a journey together—one that started with the joining
In a recently aired segment on CBS’ 60 Minutes, Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook shared an update on Carol and Mike Daly, a couple he has followed for the last decade as Alzheimer’s slowly took Carol away, leaving her husband physically and emotionally shattered in its wake. Schekesia Meadough, BSN, RN,
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
In our previous installments, we’ve covered all the many ways hospice can help, but when is the right time to make that call? Challenges and Signs To Look For Like so many other aspects of this disease, there are some challenges and patterns we see in hospice care for persons
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
A dementia diagnosis is life changing, both for the individual with the disease and their loved ones. If you sense that you or a family member may be showing signs of dementia, you likely have dozens of questions. But who should you call first when seeking a diagnosis? Dementia is
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