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
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
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
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
This letter was written to our Autumn Leaves of Edmond resident, Ronald, from his loving son, Kevin. Dear Dad, You have been the best Dad that ever lived, and I am fortunate! I have always admired and have the utmost respect for you. It is amazing that in 91 years, you
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
Written by Mary Behringer, Regional Director of Operations – Midwest Regional Director of Healthcare for the Midwest, Star Maizonet, is always ready to go the extra mile for our residents and their families. She is ready and willing to travel at a moment’s notice – like the time she assisted a family in
Written by Mary Behringer, Regional Director of Operations – Midwest Dana is not only a spectacular nurse, but she also has an extraordinary heart. Dana is extremely passionate about providing great care to our residents. The best part is that I am able to watch her in action, coaching and training the
Some people can just laugh…laugh through it all…laugh until they have the entire room laughing…until everyone feels that much better. That’s Jackie Lomosi, Director of Health Care at Autumn Leaves of Arlington. Jackie’s irresistible personality and enormous heart make her a driving force as well as a resident, family, and
What makes an exceptional employee? Is it someone who is always willing to help? Someone who continuously strives to ensure things get done right? Someone who consistently goes above and beyond for our residents? Is it a person of true positivity and character – someone who can engage their colleagues
“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” – Val Saintsbury Nurse Pam Sazoie, at Autumn Leaves of Crystal Lake, exhibits a rare sensitivity. There are very few who create warmth wherever they go, who bring hope to those who need it most, and who are a
“The trained nurse has become one of the greatest blessings of humanity…” – William Osler You call and she comes running. Whatever you need – she’s there! A nurse is a blessing, but an exceptional nurse is the pillar of the health care community. Joan Saigh is the Director of
This is an actual letter that was written to one of our residents (Ruby), from her loving daughter (Janet). Sometimes the most heartwarming stories don’t need any revisions – they are sparked by an inherent need to convey, what can oftentimes be very hard to express. Here, Janet shows her
Often, when we think of Mother’s Day, we focus on the more “traditional” roles. Although, sometimes, there is an undeniable bond that transcends the archetypal parent/child relationship. Here at Autumn Leaves of Glen Ellyn, we’re lucky enough to see one of these special bonds quite often. Betty has been with
Schedule a tour at one of our communities, or download our brochure.
Save up to $3,000 when you move in before 1/1/26. Offer based on availability, so contact us today to learn more!