Care Perspectives From Senior Solutions

Community involvement is something we believe in strongly as it benefits our residents, their families and the communities we touch. With that in mind, and in the spirit of giving to organizations that matter to us and our residents, we wanted to share our most recent community contributions.

 

The Palms of Punta Gorda is one of Senior Solutions Management Group's newest communities offering affordable Assisted Living and Memory Care. Our Resident Centered program at the Palms of Punta Gorda in Sourthwest Florida provides for the most complete care of residents with a carefully planned, thoughtfully considered, and lovingly administered care services while promoting participation in both mental and physical exercises to engage the mind, body, heart and soul. To join The Palms of Punta Gorda family, contact us today.

The images of a lifetime remain in the memory, but they just won’t unlock in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are discovering that most memories are stored as images and aren’t destroyed by dementia or Alzheimer’s. This finding has incredibly important implications for dementia care program offerings – incorporating visual therapy such as art just might help release memories and sooth dementia patients who struggle to communicate.

The move to assisted living can sometimes be challenging. Even if you and Mom have discussed it thoroughly and everyone in the family agrees, even in the most positive environments, depression can set in. Recognizing the signs and seeking proper treatment are essential to Mom’s ongoing contentment (and your peace of mind) while she’s residing in assisted living. Depression presents itself differently in everyone, but there are some symptoms that you can be on the lookout for:

• withdrawal from social activities 
• anxious expression 
• sleeping more than usual
• excessive worrying
• a sad voice
• sleeping less than usual
• a sad expression
• tearfulness
• no interest in hobbies like reading, crafting or sewing
• wistfulness

It is sometimes difficult to gauge the level of depression in seniors that are suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's. But there are four proven approaches that will help ease Mom’s depression while in assisted living:

1. Increase Social Interaction 
   While participating in social activities may the last thing that Mom wants when she’s feeling blue, coax her to at least attend that exercise class, sing-a-long or crafting session. She may not participate at first, but just getting her out of her room and in the company of other residents and staff may help buoy her spirits. In cases of mild depression this may be all that is needed.
2. Light Therapy 
   Just like getting out of her rooms and interacting can help with depression, getting OUTSIDE can help too. Numerous studies have shown that as little as one hour of daily exposure to bright light can ease depression symptoms. It has also been shown to be beneficial to those suffering from various stages of dementia. By taking advantage of beautiful outdoor spaces for some gardening, a short walk, being pushed around a garden or just sitting and enjoying nature, depression symptoms can be eased. Don’t let inclement weather deter a senior’s love of the outdoors, find shade or bundle up. If their community has a sunroom or enclosed porch all the better when the weather isn’t cooperating.
3. Talk Therapy  
   If Mom’s depression is mild and she isn’t suffering from severe dementia, talk therapy may be helpful. Although some seniors are reluctant to share their concerns and often belittle themselves for feeling blue, talking through the issues with someone who is NOT family can be helpful. Someone from within the community staff or an outside professional can sometimes assist in resolving or relieve some mild depression issues. 
4. Antidepressant Medication 
   If her depression increases beyond a mild case of the “blues” or lasts longer than normal, it may be time for a conversation with her doctor about antidepressants. Those that are suffering from dementia as well as depression may require medication sooner. The antidepressants that have demonstrated success are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs increase the amount of chemicals in the brain that fight off depression. Antidepressants should be thoroughly discussed with her physician due to possible medication interactions and the bone thinning that comes with them.

Have you noticed Mom displaying any signs of depression? Then it’s time for a discussion with the staff and her doctors. Be persistent and be pleasant with the staff when you discuss it. They may not realize that the personality she has exhibited in the assisted living community is not the Mom that you know and love. Ask questions and document your observances in order to have a more productive conversation and to get the best results possible to help address Mom’s depression in assisted living.

Searching for a quality Tennessee or Georgia assisted living community for your Mom or Dad? Request a tour of one of our twelve communities. We have one that is right for their needs  and yours.

When the decision has been made to relocate your senior loved one to assisted living care in Tennessee, there are dozens of questions, considerations and options. The task can be overwhelming. Just take a moment and breathe. Then separate the must-haves from the wants and prioritize your senior care list requirements. Once you have established exactly what you are looking for, you can begin evaluating communities. Review this list of must-haves for assisted living in Tennessee when you evaluate the communities that you are visiting.

When the difficult decision has been made that mom or dad can no longer take adequate care of themselves or each other, relocation to an assisted living community may be the best option. Senior care can be a daunting concept – emotionally and financially – but there are viable insurance options to help with the expenses. Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran’s Benefits, long term care and other private insurance can all offset the costs. You need to be cognizant of not only the costs of the facility itself, but also the medical and other insurance needs of your senior loved one.

The initial diagnosis is heartbreaking and you may not immediately be considering dementia care. But symptoms sneak up on you and your senior loved one. At first it is just the little things that they forget, but the configuration and chemistry of the brain suffering from dementia continue to diminish over time. Their ability to remember, understand and communicate decreases gradually. It can be hard to decide when someone who has ordinarily been independent and self-sufficient is suffering from dementia and should no longer live alone. Here are a few questions to help you determine if it is time for dementia care in an assisted living community.

The subject of long-term care insurance is never one that people want to talk about. For those on the verge of needing it, it’s like admitting they are aging, ill and will need it soon. For those who need it, and understand how it works, it is very welcomed. But is it those in between that may have misconceptions about what Long Term Care Insurance is – and how it can be used for an assisted living community. Here are six answers for seniors about long term care insurance and assisted living.

When it’s time to relocate loved ones to an assisted living community, the one of the first questions that arises is “How will we pay for it?” There are many resources out there, but it takes some legwork and research to figure out what programs your loved ones qualify for and which are a good fit for the situation. We hope our article, “10 Financial Options to Fund Assisted Living Care” will be beneficial.

Finding a senior living community with a truly dynamic and creative activity program isn’t as easy as you might think. Too many communities focus on the “same old, same old” activities like bingo. While there’s nothing wrong with bingo, and many seniors enjoy it, there should be other options and interesting new activities as well. Research shows that stimulating senior minds and bodies is critical to their long-term well-being and reduces the incidence of senior depression. So if you or your loved ones are looking at a move to a senior care community in the New Year, take a close look at the activity calendar and be sure to interview the activity director to get a sense of his or her philosophy and approach to senior activity planning.