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
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!
Your kids may sense it–if they don’t know already–because they are a lot more intuitive than we sometimes give them credit for. If a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you need to be honest with your children and help them to understand the best ways to deal with the situation.
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
Guest author: Clair Jameson, Director Of Life Engagement As human beings, we are defined by the roles that we hold: father, mother, son, daughter and friend, not to mention the professional and societal roles we hold during a lifetime. Over the course of our lives, those roles change, transform and
1. Savor the moment Someone can tell if you are in a rush. This is especially true for people with dementia, who pick up on body language and other nonverbal cues. So stop and savor the moment. Take time to engage in conversation. When you ask a question, give your
We are privileged to care for so many wonderful folks with long and storied lives, and every so often we have the distinct honor of ringing in a resident’s 100th year! Such was the case this week when Autumn Leaves of Sugarloaf resident, Horace, turned 100 years old! Horace is a
At Autumn Leaves of Crystal Lake, we have been very blessed and extremely privileged to know Erhard and Ingrid, an amazing couple who have stolen our hearts with their incredible story. Erhard met Ingrid at a local church in Germany, and for Erhard, it was love at first sight. Without
The Music Discovery process actually begins long before Music Is Our Weapon™ (MIOW) walks through the doors of Autumn Leaves, in the form of a questionnaire for the family members of the resident. What kind of music did your husband like? What song did Mom dance to at her wedding?
The enormous success of last year’s Oscar-winning motion picture, Still Alice, gave much needed exposure to Alzheimer’s, a devastating disease that cannot be cured at this time. Another independent film, His Neighbor Phil, also takes on this topic, taking a closer look at how deeply Alzheimer’s affects everyone in its orbit. Families, friends,
We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is essential for our health, but for many living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, changes in sleep behavior are part of the new normal. Frequent daytime napping and restlessness in the evening are all results of the sleep/wake cycle getting out
From a happy song that evokes a smile to a familiar tune that awakens something deep from within, we’ve all experienced the power of music at Autumn Leaves. It’s hard to contain your happiness when you witness a resident go from a state of agitation or non-responsiveness to one of
Memory loss may make you feel as if the person you’ve loved for many years is no longer here, or as if the love is no longer alive. There’s no denying that it’s a heartbreaking situation, says Jolene Brackey, author of Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer’s
One of the best parts about visiting Autumn Leaves of Denton is catching up with their vibrant community of residents. Denton’s passion for arts, music, and creativity is perfectly reflected in the folks who call Autumn Leaves of Denton home, and no better example of this joie de vivre can
For those affected by memory loss, telling stories may not be an option. As an alternative, gather the family together to create a family memory book. Assemble some old photos of key moments in your family’s history, along with colorful scrapbook paper, stickers, and other supplies. Family members can talk
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Save up to $3,000 when you move in before 1/1/26. Offer based on availability, so contact us today to learn more!