Care Perspectives From Senior Solutions

Senior Beauty Tips from Senior Solutions

Britny Lawhorn — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 14:01:10 GMT

Let's face it: as we age, we find ourselves taking different care of our hair, skin, and nails. Whether it's for the better or worse, we all face changes to our bodies that require our own unique approach. Just like at 40 we might not need the acne medication we needed at 16, we will find out at 75 that we don't necessarily need the same health and beauty products we needed at 40 years old.

In honor of all the Glamorous Grandmas (and Grandpas!) out there, we're sharing our Senior Beauty Tips this week!

Body Care

A common change people notice as they age is that their skin has a harder time holding moisture. The cause of this can vary person to person, with some examples being illness, medication side-effects, and lifestyle habits.

We always stress the importance of staying moisturized. That can mean keeping a good lotion on hand to use as needed, moisturizing (but not greasy) body wash for bathing, and even paying attention to the type of face wash your loved one uses (some are more drying than others).

Fun Fact: since dry skin can be a big problem for some seniors, we actually recommend cutting back on showers/baths. In fact, many seniors should only bathe around once a week! Overcleansing can make already dry skin much worse, even with a good moisturizing regimen.

For some seniors, especially those suffering from Alzheimer's or other dementia-related illness, frequent bathing can be very difficult. There are no-rinse personal care products available that have been a huge relief to some caregivers. Find a link in the recommendations below.

Lastly, make sure to protect your skin! No one is too old for sunscreen on a sunny day. We recommend any product at SPF30--even better if it contains extra moisturizers.

You should always do what is best for your loved one's unique hygiene needs, especially if a trusted doctor has given specific recommendations.

Product Recommendations*:

POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser
No Rinse Personal Care Products - CaregiverProducts.com

Further Reading: Senior Citizen Hygiene Items - HubPages

Hair Care

As we age, our hair can become drier and thinner over time. Just like many of the changes we talk about in this blog, the cause of hair changes in your loved one could possibly be linked to anything from illness and medication side effects to lifestyle habits, such as poor nutrition.

No matter what the cause, you know that when Mom and Dad feel good about how they look, it can show in how they act, too!

First of all, does your loved one have a hairstyle that suits his/her features? A trusted salon stylist can help make recommendations.

Once your loved one is happy with a hair style, make sure to schedule regular trimmings.Since senior hair can become dry and brittle, it is good to prevent any damage that happens at the end of the follicle from traveling upward.

There are also many products on the market that are useful to aging hair. Dry shampoos have become more popular over time, and are convenient to use in between showers/baths.

If your loved one has a problem with over-dry hair, there are many spray-on dry oils on the market in bottles that fit conveniently in a handbag.

For those with gray or graying hair, it is good to pay attention to what type of shampoo is on hand. Did you know that it is not recommended for someone with graying hair to use shampoo formulated for blonde hair? Regular use can cause a yellow tint to appear!

Product Recommendations:

ConairPro Shiny Silver Ultra Shampoo
L'Oreal Homme Grey Anti-Yellowing Shampoo
L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Multi-Restorative Oil

Further Reading:

How to Care for Mature Hair - LoveToKnow
10 Essentials for Caring for an Eldery Person's Hair - AgingCare.com
Gorgeous Hair at Any Age - WebMD

Cosmetics

Finding the best makeup choices can sometimes be extremely overwhelming for seniors. We dug up this fantastic article from TODAY featuring a senior make-up tutorial! Click here to read the article, or watch the 14-minute long video below--it's worth every minute!

Key Takeaways:

Don't go too heavy or intense with makeup application - a little bit goes a long way!
Don't waste your money on expensive cosmetics
Don't follow trends! "Get the basics right."
Throw away expired products!

Nutrition

According to an article on examiner.com, two of the most important things you can do to improve the health of your skin and hair are to "Nourish from Within" and "Hydrate from Within."

It's true! When your body is dehydrated on a regular basis, it can show in the quality of your hair, skin, and nails. By making an effort to trade that can of soda for a glass of ice water, you could be helping your body in more ways than one.

What you eat also plays an important role in the quality of your skin. Even if your loved one is at a healthy weight (based on your doctor's recommendations), it is not an excuse to slack on important nutrients he/she needs. Diets of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can provide important antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that not only keep your loved one healthy, but can promote a healthy glow on the outside!

Further reading: Senior Health - Summer Skin Care Tips

Ask Us!

At any of our communities there are amenities available for your loved one to take care of any health/beauty needs. Have questions, or want to learn more about how your loved one can become part of our family? Contact us today!

*Note: We are not being compensated for any product or website recommendation in this blog. Simply put, we just want to provide resources for our residents, their families, and future members of the Senior Solutions Management Group family!

5 Ways to Keep Your Children Engaged While Visiting Mom and Dad

Britny Lawhorn — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:26:26 GMT

Picture this: It's a beautiful day. By some miracle, everyone's schedule has lined up in a way that you can pack up the whole family for a nice long visit with Mom and Dad at their senior living community. Once you arrive, everyone greets each other, gives hugs...

...and, almost immediately, the kids zone out behind a tablet or phone screen.

We've seen it, and we've been there. When you finally are able to get quality time for your kids with their grandparents, it can be frustrating if their engagement levels are, well, lacking (to say the least). It can even be disheartening if your children get bored, lose interest entirely, and start tugging your shirt sleeve: "Is it time to go home yet?"

Here's our checklist of 5 Ways to Keep Your Children Engaged While Visiting Mom and Dad:

Interactive Games and Activities

Not only are games and activities a great way to help your loved one's mind stay sharp, but by packing a few options in your bag before a visit you could potentially save the day in an emergency situation.

Finding easy-to-play games and activities the whole family can enjoy not only keeps your kids engaged, but helps foster relationship-building interaction between grandparent and grandchild.

If you have younger children, another option to consider is packing a childrens' book. Grandparents can read stories to the kids, or a child can show off his/her reading skills to the whole family.

Here's a few ideas:

Yahtzee
Uno
Playing Cards (Click here to find rules for popular card games)
Childrens' Books
Puzzles

Show off Achievements

Has your child recently worked really hard on a project or something else? Bring it with you (or even a photo of it) and have your child talk about it. If it's interactive, like a science fair project, you could even have your child give a demonstration!

Report cards, tests, and other school work are other ideas (plus, they're easy to transport).

Photo Albums and Videos

Even though photo albums can get a little bulky sometimes, they are a great opportunity to reminisce with Mom and Dad while teaching your child about family history.

Luckily with modern technology, it's easier to digitize photos and home videos for easy transport!

Craft Supplies

We love craft projects in our communities! They are a fun way for residents to interact with one another, brain boosting, and a great way flex our creative muscles.

Having a quick and easy craft project on hand for the family to work on is also a great way for children to grow their artistic talents and practice following directions.

Spending time together working on similar projects is a great way for families to interact with each other and for kids to get in that much-needed family bonding time.

Our recommendation: Use Pinterest as an easy, free-to-use resource for finding craft ideas for all ages.

Snacks!

Parents everywhere know that a perfectly-timed snack can be the difference between engaging smiles and laughter and a complete meltdown.

Keep some healthy, transportable snacks on hand during a visit in case of emergency. If you are facing a quivering lip and realize you forgot your snacks, find one of our friendly staff members and see what we have on hand!

Are you looking for a senior living community that is the perfect fit for your loved one? Click here for a listing of our communities in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee and contact us for a no obligation tour to learn more!

Understanding Sleep Changes in Seniors

Britny Lawhorn — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 21:22:52 GMT

Sleep is important for everyone, no matter our age. We all know that feeling we get when either lack of sleep or poor quality sleep has derailed our day.

As we rest, our bodies are able to repair our cells, process the thoughts and memories we created through the day, and boost our immune system, helping us fight off future illness.

As our loved ones age, it is important to pay attention to their sleeping patterns and how they affect day-to-day life--especially if we are in a caregiving role.

Sleeping Seniors

There are connections between the amount of sleep our bodies need and our age. Children and teenagers with growing bodies need more sleep than adults do.

It's a common misconception that seniors "need" more or less sleep than an average adult. In fact, senior adults need the same amount of sleep as a younger adult, but they often go about a different way of getting their rest.

According to The National Sleep Foundation, "Sleep occurs in multiple stages including dreamless periods of ight and deep sleep, and occasional periods of active dreaming (REM sleep). The sleep cycle is repeated several times during the night and although total sleep time tends to remain constant, older people spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep than in deep sleep.

This image via The National Sleep Foundation is a good example of how our sleep patterns look as we age:

Ideally, adults and seniors should get between 7.5 - 9 hours of sleep per night. Because of changes to their circadian rhythms, seniors tend to start falling asleep earlier in the evening and waking up earlier in the morning.

However, what is much more important than the amount of sleep is the quality of sleep that your loved one is getting each night.

When Poor Sleep Becomes a Bigger Problem

It is good to educate ourselves on the difference between signs of normal changes in our loved one's sleeping patterns and symptoms of what could be a cause for concern.

According to NIHSeniorHealth, "older people often sleep less deeply and wake up more often throughout the night, which may be why they may nap more often during the daytime."

If someone is not getting enough sleep at night, he/she may show signs of depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory loss or difficulty concentrating, a higher rate of accidents/clumsiness, weight problems, higher risk of illness, and/or an overall poor quality of life.

Research shows that prolonged sleep problems or disorders can lead to other health problems, such as: higher blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, headaches, memory loss, and depression. Many of these health problems are easily treated, and may improve once the root cause is determined.

What are the causes of serious sleep problems? There are many factors to consider for each person's individual situation. Many common reasons for sleep problems in seniors include: loud snoring, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, hypertension, GERD, physical or mental illness, side effects of prescribed medications, and even a sedentary lifestyle could be a factor in someone's poor sleep quality.

Treatment for Better Sleep

Research shows that many seniors are less-than-satisfied with their quality of sleep. If you and your loved one feel that finding a treatment for sleep issues is necessary, it is important that a trusted doctor help you decide what solution is best.

For some, a prescribed sleep aid or a routine of sleep therapy might be the ideal option.

For others, once you and your loved one understand more about why he/she is having trouble sleeping, daily routine lifestyle changes might cause a significant improvement in overall wellbeing.

Depending on what is best for your loved one, those changes might include:

Eating meals earlier in the day
Less liquid intake closer to bedtime
Regular exercise, like muscle strengthening exercises or yoga
Reducing intake of alcohol, caffeine, and/or nicotine
Increased social interaction
Less time looking at screens at night (ex: TV, laptop, tablet)
Using sleep masks or calming sound machines

While we are not here to diagnose or treat any illness or disease, it is important for us to share information that might be beneficial to others. Please contact a trusted doctor or health professional if you have any concerns about your loved one's health.

Resources

American Academy of Sleep Medicine - A little bit of exercise can go a long way to improve sleep and wellness

HelpGuide.org - How to Sleep Well as You Age

National Sleep Foundation - Aging and Sleep

NIHSeniorHealth: Sleep & Aging - About Sleep

If your loved one is one of our residents, we would be happy to sit down with you at any time to discuss his/her overall wellbeing. If you feel that one of our communities would be an ideal fit for your family, please contact us at your earliest convenience for a no-obligation tour.

Love is in the Air at Senior Solutions

Britny Lawhorn — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:25:20 GMT

February was a wonderful month in our Senior Solutions Management communities. Everyone was "feeling the love" and it was a joy to see all the fun photos from different celebrations. Of course, Valentine's Day was a big hit, but some of our other communities kept up with a "heart" theme for the month.

Parties and Banquets

River Oaks Place in Lenoir City, Tennessee had a great time with their Valentine's Day party. In addition to a fancy dinner, themed treats and cutouts decorated the building. Residents enjoyed games, photogenic props, and music with their loved ones. One user commented on social media: "You throw the best parties!"

HOPE Center for Memory Care in Dacula, Georgia held a fancy Valentine's Masquerade Banquet for residents and their families. Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal together, and the festivities included fancy masquerade masks for photos and live music!

Lakewood Place in Loudon, Tennessee held their own Valentine's party, the Cupid's Bash, and had a great turnout! Live music was provided by local musician, Larry Blair. Flowers were also distributed to all the residents during the event.

At Oakwood in Knoxville, Tennessee, residents and their families enjoyed a nice Valentine's Candlelight Lunch.

2nd grade readers joined the residents at Jamestowne in Kingston, Tennessee for their Valentine's celebrations. The party also featured an announcement of a "King & Queen" of the dance! Congratulations to the two lovebirds!

At Carriage House Inn in Shelbyville, Tennesse, the community had a special Valentine's Day Luncheon. They had a spectacular menu of garden salad, cajun chicken pasta, garlic cheddar biscuits, and strawberry pretzel parfait. Residents also enjoyed a signature cocktail of Pink Moscato Strawberry Lemondade. Sounds delicious!

At HOPE Center for Memory Care in Fayetteville, Georgia, residents and their families got together for a special Valentine's Day party. Residents were presented with flowers and everyone had a wonderful time. One person commented on social media: "Thank you! It was a lovely reception!"

Community Visitors

River Oaks Place in Lenoir City got a special treat when 60 first graders showed up from First Baptist Concord Christian School to read the residents a special Valentine's Day message!

At Alexander Guest House in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, they were thankful for the preschoolers of Chapel on the Hill and their parents for joining them at their Valentine's reception. They had a great time making Valentines and enjoying sweet treats.

Carriage House Inn got a special surprise from the local Boys and Girls Club when the children dropped off Valentines and treat bags!

Crafts and Other Activities

Residents at HOPE Memory Care (Dacula) created handmade Valentines and had a tea party.

At Lakewood Place, residents prepared for Valentine's Day festivities by decorating (and sampling!) cookies.

At Alexander Guest House, residents played with some fun props and posed for silly photos!

At River Oaks Place in Loudon, Tennessee, residents created Valentine's-themed door hangers for their rooms.

The residents at Carriage House Inn had a special Valentine's Bingo and Dessert Happy Hour. They enjoyed homemade chocolate dipped strawberries, cookies, cupcakes, and brownie bites and played a fun game of bingo with Valentine's candy and treats for prizes. Earlier in the week, they also got to sit down and decorate their very own heart-shaped cakes!

Other Heart-Themed Events

In honor of National Wear Red Day, a campaign meant to bring awareness to women's heart health, staff at HOPE Memory Care (Dacula) planned ahead and wore red on February 5th. The collaboration between the staff members was a great conversation starter about heart health with residents and visitors to the community.

Plantation South in Dunwoody, Georgia supported the "Have a Heart...Donate Blood during National Heart Month" campaign by the American Red Cross with a Blood Drive right in their parking lot! Other local groups, like Ability Rehab and Southern Grace Hospice and Palliative Care, showed their support by setting up information tables at the event.

At Carriage House Inn, staff teamed up with Alive Hospice to present a health education seminar on heart health. Attendees learned more about what they could do to keep their hearts healthy.

Click here to explore our different communities and learn more about the one closest to you.

Services You Can Expect in a Senior Solutions Community

Britny Lawhorn — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:06:36 GMT

When it is time to move your elderly loved one to a senior housing community, there is a lot to consider during your search. You have to consider location, cost, flexibility of move-in date … by the time you realize that the senior living community needs to meet Mom and Dad’s expectations of their day-to-day living, you feel like your brain is totally frazzled!

“Can Mom get her hair done?” is a question we have heard many times. It’s also a question we love to answer because we are proud of the amenities our communities have available to our residents.

Senior Solutions Amenities

We offer all of our residents all inclusive personal care assistance, housekeeping, and laundry services. As needed, our residents can also look forward to a medication management services, individualized nutrition plans for mealtimes (based on dietary need), and assistance with bathing and/or dressing. Many of our communities also offer memory care centers for those with dementia-related illnesses.

We go beyond day-to-day needs and provide social and wellness programs to our residents, as well. Our activity directors strive to consistently offer activities that exercise the body and the mind, which is much needed as our loved ones get older.

To learn more about the senior activities offered at our communities, we highly recommend that you read through our blog. There, you can find blogs we have written covering topics like pet therapy, our approach to quality activities, how we connect your loved one with the greater community, and we even highlight stories of what some of our communities are doing to go above and beyond to connect with our residents!

In addition to the trained staff we have in each community—who are all highly skilled, professional, and compassionate people we love to have around—our residents also have access to visiting speech therapists, podiatrists, physical therapists, and event dentists!

Going Beyond

As an added benefit to the families of our residents, because we know the transition to a senior living community can sometimes be a confusing and stressful process, we also offer financial guidance to our residents and their families. We can help with selling a home (finding a realtor, staging, etc.) if needed. We can also help families understand VA benefits. If needed, we can also help families explore other financial options in order to afford senior living for a loved one. If we can help, we do not want anyone to go through this process alone!

When taking a no-obligation tour of one of our communities, be sure to check out other in-house amenities available to our residents like garden and outdoor areas, coffee shops, TV rooms, event space (which is available for resident use), and more! You can find something special available at each of our communities—another thing that makes
each one unique.

“But can mom get her hair done?!”

Of course! While you’re visiting us, ask to see the Beauty/Barber shop areas and ask about Beautician services we offer. We know that having access to services that help boost our residents’ self-confidence can make a huge difference in their overall moods.

At our core, we believe that our role is not to “do for,” but to “assist with” each resident’s identified needs. By emphasizing assistance, we will support independence and promote dignity for our residents.

To learn more about your local assisted living community please contact us at your convenience. We would love to schedule a tour with you and discuss your family’s individual needs.

Community Spotlight: Plantation South - Dunwoody

Britny Lawhorn — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 16:07:29 GMT

Here at Senior Solutions, we saw a lot of great things happen in 2015, like the addition of new communities to the Senior Solutions family!

One of those communities is Plantation South - Dunwoody, a beautifully secluded 57-apartment community nestled in the woods of Dunwoody, Georgia. Located just minutes from Interstate 285, Plantation South - Dunwoody is close to local landmarks, like Brook Run Park.

The community is staffed 24 hours a day so residents can receive assistance with tasks like medication management, bathing, meal times, arranging transportation, and more. Residents receive quality, individualized care based on their specific needs. The community includes apartment housekeeping, daily activities and social programs, complimentary notary and fax services, and much more.

Residents look forward to other available amenities, like onsite AND offsite devotional services, outdoor common areas, provided meals (with vegetarian options available), onsite beautician, and more. While the community is staffed 24 hours/day, residents also have access to visiting Speech and Physical therapists, an on call doctor, visitng Occupational therapist, visiting Dentist and Podiatrist, and more.

Daily activities are always available to residents, such as computer classes, pet therapy, live entertainment, art classes, gardening, exercise classes, and birthday parties. The community will also hold events that bring in members of the greater community, such as pancake breakfast events and blood drives.

Part of Plantation South - Dunwoody also includes Cottages, a private secure Memory Care Neighborhood. There, staff provides services for those residents with memory challenges, like Alzheimer's.

Recently, the community has undergone a few upgrades like a fresh coat of interior paint and new carpet throughout the building. Later this year, they are looking forward to new furniture, as well.

Many residents and their visitors often are impressed with the community's convenient location, but also the beautiful campus which has lots of trees for shade and natural beauty.

The community has long been known to be accomodating to residents. In 2014, Plantation South - Dunwoody won an award for Best Pet Friendly Senior Living!

Plantation South - Dunwoody has been a part of the local community for more than 40 years. During that time, the community has built relationships with local schools, greater community groups, and organizations like the American Red Cross. If you or your group would like to plan an event with Plantation South - Dunwoody, please contact the community for more information.

Wondering if Plantation South - Dunwoody is the right choice for you and your loved one? As you learn more, you soon realize that what makes this community special and unique is the belief that every resident is a respected member of our family, with a goal to provide an enriching experience for every resident.

River Oaks Place in Loudon, TN Wins Award

Britny Lawhorn — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:29:06 GMT

Time to Celebrate!

We are ecstatic to announce that one of our very own communities has been recognized as one of SeniorAdvisor.com's 2016 Top-Rated Senior Care Providers!

River Oaks Place in Loudon, Tennessee received the award, along with other outstanding senior living and home care providers across the country. According to SeniorAdvisor.com, "The award places winners in the top one percent of senior care providers nationwide."

Award recipients are chosen based on the superior care and services provided to residents and their families. In every one of our communities we focus on individualized, quality care and service so we are delighted to learn that one of our communities has been recognized with such an achievement.

We hope you will help us celebrate this achievement with River Oaks Place in Loudon. Check out their Facebook page and send over a kind word!

Not familiar with River Oaks Place in Loudon, Tennessee? Click here to learn more about this location, and give them a call to take a tour to see why they receive consistently high ratings from residents and their families.

See more of the 2016 Top-Rated Senior Care Providers by SeniorAdvisor.com.

The Holiday Season at Senior Solutions

Britny Lawhorn — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 19:12:09 GMT

There are quite a few communities in the Senior Solutions family. We take pride in that we can offer consistent, quality care in each of them, but we also love that each community can take on a personality of its own.

We did some digging, and we learned how some of our communities are choosing to celebrate this holiday season!

Tree Decorations

Our residents and staff have had a blast decorating their Christmas trees this year! Many of our communities have multiple trees throughout their buildings, and even the residents have pitched in a hand with hanging ornaments!

Craft Projects

The weather is getting colder, and that means more time spent indoors. Our communities don't seem to have any problem coming up with craft project ideas!

Carriage House Inn had the pleasure of a volunteer coming in to assist residents at The Heart Remembers with making their very own ornaments.

Residents at the Alexander Guest House sat down to make their very own hats and stockings, and even had some time for some handmade ornaments, as well!

Jamestowne residents assembled their very own gingerbread houses.

Events

This time of year, we are blessed that our residents receive visits from other groups and organizations in the community. We've also put on a few fun events in-house as a special treat!

Carriage House Inn had the pleasure of a performance by Dancy's Little Dancers. It really put everyone in the Christmas spirit!

The Alexander Guest House had a blast with Italian sodas and Christmas trivia.

At Oakwood, the Overcoming Believers Church stopped by for a visit and a musical performance.

Residents at River Oaks Place in Lenoir City enjoyed a wonderful performance by the Tellico Top Notes.

At Lakewood Place, residents and their families got together for a nice brunch with delicious food and musical guest Larry Blair.

A local church donated handmade wreaths to liven up the decorations at Country Gardens. Earlier in December, the residents also enjoyed listening to the Campbell Elementary Staff Choir!

We look forward to seeing more fun and exciting events at all of our locations! Do you think a fun and inviting environment is right for your loved one? Give us a call today and we would be happy to sit down with you to discuss how your loved one can join our family!

Music Therapy and Dementia

Britny Lawhorn — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 19:52:45 GMT

Recently, one of our newest communities was featured in the news! The residents at Antebellum on Arlington (formerly Blair House) in Macon, Georgia were given a special treat recently when a local church donated new iPods and iTunes gift cards to the community.

Each resident recipient was part of the Memory Care program, and the donations were inspired by a documentary about music and memory.

Watch the video above (via WMAZ) and click here to read the entire article.

We did a little more research on the topic--keep reading to find out what we've learned!

On Music Therapy

There are multiple resources to be found about Music Therapy and its benefits in relation to people diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. A Place for Mom, which was created to help families navigate the maze of senior living options, published an article about Music Therapy.

The article states that "how the brain and body process music remains mysterious." The significance of a specific piece of music to an individual can vary person to person, so there is no blanket approach to how to treat someone with music. Some patients react better to passive therapy, which involves listening to live or recorded music. Other benefit from the active therapy of physically creating music.

Disclaimer: there has not been enough scientific evidence to medically prove the benefits of Music Therapy. However, there has also NOT been evidence that exposing those with dementia-related illness to music is a bad thing.

Click here to check out the article by A Place for Mom for more in depth information about this topic.

Alzheimers.net provides another interesting read: 5 Reasons Why Music Boosts Brain Activity.

Communicating Through Music

Sometimes, music can be a way to connect when verbal communication is difficult or impossible. The Alzheimer's Association gives tips on how to connect musically with someone who has dementia. These steps include: identifying music that is enjoyable to the person, avoiding interruptions or other noises that may cause a sensory overload with the person, and encouraging movement while listening to the music.

Click here to learn more about these steps and for other resources related to this topic.

For another resource, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) breaks down recommendations based on which stage (early stage, early and middle stages, middle stage, and late stage) of the disease the person is in. While the above link gives a broad approach, this resource breaks it down a little further.

If you wonder about how music might benefit your loved one, we would love to sit down with you and talk about your unique situation. Contact your nearest community so we can help find the best option for you!

Talking to Your Kids About Dementia

Britny Lawhorn — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:57:10 GMT

When your loved one is diagnosed with a dementia-related illness, it can mean big changes for you and your family. This is especially true if you are in the role of deciding your loved one's care. It is very easy to get caught up in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. That, piled on to deciding where your loved on is going to live and who is going to care for him or her can be even more stressful. Many times, young people can get lost in the shuffle.

Even if they don't seem to show it, young people can be just as affected as caregiving adults by a loved one's dementia diagnosis. What can make it harder for them is that many times they do not understand the changes that are happening to their loved one mentally when they see no physical change on the outside.

Here are three of the first tips that we would offer a caregiver who wants to talk to a young person about a dementia-related illness. To continue the conversation, feel free to contact us--we would love to sit down with you and talk more about this topic.

Talk About Feelings

According to the Alzheimer's Society, young people can experience a number of feelings related to a loved one having dementia. Those feelings can include: grief, sadness, anxiety, fear, embarrassment, confusion, anger, guilt, and even boredom.

It's important to know that even if you feel that your child is taking everything in stride, you should still address the situation and engage in healthy conversation. This would be a good opportunity to talk about how you both can care for your elderly loved one--both individually and as a team.

The Alzheimer's Society recommends that "[a young person's involvement in care and stimulation for the person with dementia] will help make the situation seem more normal for them, and will prevent them from feeling left out. However, don't give them too much responsibility ... it's important that they continue with their normal lives."

Keep Them Involved

Try to include your child when doing basic tasks related to the care of your loved one. A task as simple as pouring a drink or grabbing a cup of yogurt from the fridge can help your child feel involved and important without putting too much pressure on him or her.

As you are learning what upsets or confuses your loved one, be sure to talk to your child about the symptoms to help him or her understand how to react in a situation. Be sure to let them know how much their interaction benefits your loved one and how negative responses are not anyone's fault.

Learn Together

Odds are, you child may not understand much about dementia. To help avoid some of the confusion and fear that some children experience when faced with a dementia-related illness, check out the resources below.

Watch some of the videos, like the ones provided by the Alzheimer's Association, or read one of the books together. Afterward, talk about what you learned from the resource and see if your child has any questions.

Resources

National Institute on Aging - Resources for Children and Teens About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Association - Life with ALZ - Kids & Teens

Alzheimer's Society - Explaining dementia to children and young people

A Place for Mom - Top Books for Helping Children Understand Alzheimer's

What are some good tactics you have used to talk to your child about dementia?