A memory care assisted living community is designed to meet the unique safety and care needs of the ever-growing demographic of seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. These specialized memory care retirement communities are increasing in number across the country, and around the world. But many of these communities aren’t the [...]
Do you remember what you were doing the last week of April in 2020? Odds are, you weren’t doing much of anything as the COVID-19 lockdown was in full force in numerous areas of our nation. It was a lonely time for many people as the social isolation intended to keep us safe wore on [...]
According to data from the Alzheimer’s Association, there are approximately 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older who currently are living with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common type of dementia. A large majority of Alzheimer's patients are 75 years old or older (72 percent), and almost two out of three Alzheimer’s patients are [...]
Taking on the role of unpaid family caregiver can be difficult even under the best of circumstances. But caring for a loved one who suffers from dementia can present a unique set of challenges. In addition to the burnout and stress faced by many caregivers, dementia caregiving is rife with unpredictability, safety concerns, behavior issues, [...]
(Photo credit: snoezelen.info) Dementia, an over-arching term for memory loss and other cognitive issues that interfere with daily life, is a growing problem in the United States. From 2000 to 2017, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease (the most prevalent form of dementia) have increased by 145 percent, according to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association. In fact, [...]
A special care unit (SCU) is an inpatient unit within a healthcare facility that is custom-designed, staffed, and equipped to care for people with specific health conditions. They are usually in a physically separate space from other patient populations. Traditionally found in hospitals, SCUs also are becoming increasingly common within assisted living and skilled nursing [...]
On May 21, I'm scheduled to speak at River’s Edge, New York City's first and only life plan community (also known as a continuing care retirement community or CCRC). River’s Edge is an innovative community being developed by a not-for-profit organization called RiverSpring Health, which also operates several other senior living and senior healthcare properties [...]
There are a number of so-called “brain game” products on the market these days. These typically are computer or smartphone/tablet-based games that claim they can help improve seniors’ cognitive function and memory. But do they really work? Could playing video games be the secret to decreasing the prevalence of neuro-degenerative conditions like dementia? And what [...]
In last week’s post, I highlighted a recent article that discussed the advice that caregivers of a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease would share with others who are newly embarking on this labor of love. Much of the advice centered around the emotional and financial challenges that caregiving can present and the need to [...]
Some journeys you get to pick; others are chosen for you. Such is the case for people who are caring for a loved one who is suffering from a degenerative mental condition like Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.7 million Americans are currently living with [...]
