Living in the year of a pandemic has changed the way staff work with our residents. Although PPE such as face masks/shields, gowns, and gloves are essential in lessening the potential spread of COVID-19, it can leave residents and staff feeling “empty”. Many residents have voiced being lonely, sad, depressed, anxious, imprisoned, and disconnected from their loved ones. Staff have …
There are a number of cognitive screening assessments that are used to assist in diagnosing early Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. These are quick screens and consist of tasks such as listing objects, recalling items that were provided at the beginning of the assessment, naming the current President, etc. Although there are inconsistencies in outcomes with these types of assessments as …
People living with Dementia experience changes in their ability to comprehend and process language. Dementia may also interfere with how they understand words; which can pose challenges with daily activities and accepting assistance with routine. Comprehension versus Hearing Loss As seniors age, many times they experience a decrease in their ability to hear spoken words. This can lead to the …
This toolkit was developed to assist you, the caregiver, in creating unique activities that may help with keeping your “busy” residents occupied and in a happy place! Residents living with dementia may not be able to tell you they are lonely, bored, sad, depressed, etc. It is up to us to identify the symptoms of loneliness and boredom and address …
Recent studies have shown that constant changes in the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for processing memory, play a role in increasing the risk of being diagnosed with dementia. In this study, it was observed that the greater the hearing impairment, the weaker the brain plasticity in the hippocampus, and the weaker the ability to change and adapt …
Researchers in France conducted a study focusing on diet, the combination of foods consumed, and the impact it may have on dementia. What the researchers found is that it wasn’t necessarily the quantity of food that was a determining fact in diagnosis, but rather food choices. The study participants were those living with dementia and patients with no symptoms or …
As the number of people living with Dementia increases around the country, researchers are taking a deeper-dive into this dynamic, progressive disease. A recent study conducted in Ontario, Canada found that patients with a confirmed diagnosis in the early stages have approximately five years before they require a care home and/or succumb to the disease. Of course, a number of …
Residents living with Dementia. These residents may require more supervision than the traditional assisted living resident. They may need to be reminded frequently to wash their hands with soap and water (this should be supervised), to stay in the common area and/or their own room/apartment (wandering can be an issue as the resident doesn’t understand why they cant move about …
As caregivers for frail elders, we see the devastating progression of dementia on a daily basis. What if we could do something to impact the risk for developing this dreaded disease? A recent study conducted by Exeter Medical School in Exeter, United Kingdom used a “healthy lifestyle score” based on 4 modifiable lifestyle risks. The goal of the study was to identify if …
Approximately 40% of people with Frontotemporal Dementia inherited it. 15% of all dementia diagnoses are Frontotemporal Dementia. These numbers are significant for many reasons; however, a recent study identified that active lifestyles may slow the symptoms of the disease by providing some form of cognitive resilience to the consequences of brain degeneration. Per Kaitlin Casaletto, Ph.D., from the University of …
