Paradise Living Centers a specialist in Alzheimer’s Care?

Alzheimer's care

Caring for an aging parent or loved one experiencing memory decline or cognitive aging is one thing, but caregiving for an Alzheimer’s suffer is a different matter. Unless you are an expert in Alzheimer’s care, most caregivers or family members are learning about the signs or behaviors of the disease after the fact.

An outside point of view from a Certified Dementia Practitioner or medical professional is probably the most valuable input due to their impartiality. It can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that your loved one is not just experiencing memory decline, but is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. It is a lot to process. The needs of your loved one become much more apparent after a diagnosis is provided. Often times, the caregiver is no longer able to meet the needs of their loved one. The next challenge is finding the best way to provide your loved one the specialized care that is required and deserved, which allows them also to live with this disease in a dignified manner.

What Alzheimer’s care at Paradise Living Centers looks like?

Paradise Living Centers prides itself with the ability to offer the best in quality care. All our caregivers are certified by the state of Arizona. Caregiving is a vocation for our team, not just a job. Our full-time nurse, Tracy Strand is available on call 24/7 and works closely with the caregivers to enhance the care and well-being of our residents. Our Care Manager, Kristie Chadwick is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP®) with comprehensive knowledge in the area of dementia care and she has completed the Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia care course. The CDP® certification reflects a deep personal commitment on Kristie’s part to the quality of care given to our residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Memory care at Paradise Living Centers

In addition to Kristie and Tracy working with our caregivers, the residents’ primary care physician and their loved ones, and family members, they are always looking for ways to enhance the level of care we provide. We also work with memory care professionals from A Wiser Mind to provide on-site, one-on-one engaging sessions to delay cognitive decline. The sessions are designed to meet the specific needs and abilities of each resident.

To learn more about our memory care programs or to schedule a tour of our assisted living homes in either Paradise Valley or Central Phoenix, call Kristie Chadwick at 480.878.4112. We encourage you to meet our team and find out more about our services and the quality care we provide.

Top 5 Memory Care Activities To Practice With Seniors

Top 5 Memory Care Activities To Practice With SeniorsSeniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease often withdraw from their favorite activities with family members and friends because it’s too difficult to remember or stay focused. While witnessing such behavior can be devastating, it’s imperative you, their caregiver, family member, or friend, work hard to maintain their relationships and interests.

Various research studies have found physical and mental activities can help stimulate memories and emotional connections while reducing the severe cognitive effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Therefore, it’s important you encourage your loved one to participate in meaningful activities that help them feel connected to their surroundings.

There are many “suggested” activities available on other dementia and Alzheimer’s disease-related blogs, but the caregivers, nursing staff, and memory care experts at Paradise Living Centers have actual experience in this area. They are available on call 24/7 or during normal business hours to provide residents with the individualized attention they deserve. In their experience, the following memory activities work wonders for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease:

  1. Participate In Arts and Crafts

This may seem like a “no-brainer,” but helping seniors participate in arts and crafts can help encourage self-expression and positivity while lessening irritability. The goal, however, is not to choose activities you think they’d enjoy, but pick activities you know they would enjoy. Do your research and take the time to actually find out what your loved one or patient likes, and most importantly, keep is simple. Some crafts, like knitting or cross stitch, may overwhelm the person you’re caring for, so keep these little tidbits in mind as you come up with memory care activities.

  1. Read Books, Newspapers, Magazines, Etc.

Reading is a great brain-stimulating activity for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Try to encourage your loved one to read a book or article aloud to you or someone they know. If their condition is so severe that reading is too difficult, take it upon yourself to read them some of their favorite books. Re-reading books they’ve already read may help stir memories.

  1. Take Long Walks

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, exercise helps memory and cognitive thinking through direct and indirect means. The research team found regular aerobic exercise increased the size of the hippocampus, which is the area of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning. That said, the caregivers at Paradise Living Centers encourage daily walks for those affected by these debilitating conditions.

  1. Work on a Puzzle

Puzzles are a fun, yet mildly challenging activity that can help boost cognitive function, specifically problem solving skills. Because puzzles are relatively thought-provoking, they may hold the interest of your loved one with dementia for long periods of time. This activity is generally more enjoyable for individuals affected by dementia over Alzheimer’s because it requires a great deal of concentration. Nevertheless, gauge the situation and see if your loved one would be up for the task.

  1. Sing Songs or Dance

Lastly, singing and dancing can help stimulate healthy brain activity in people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. As we alluded to previously, movement of any kind can help boost cognitive function, and dancing is no exception. If your loved one is physically capable of dancing, have them participate in a dance class or play some music in their room to encourage movement. Singing can also help bring up memories and promote self-expression, two things that can help with behavior, memory, and thought.

Try these five memory care activities with your loved one today and let us know what you think!

Key Differences Between Assisted Living And Nursing Homes

Key differences between assisted living and nursing homes

Do you have a loved one in need of assisted living? Are you looking for an affordable, yet luxury assisted living option for yourself? Whether you stumbled across this article intentionally or by accident, you’ve come to the right place for information about nursing home care options. As one of the leading assisted living care homes in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise Living Centers is dedicated to helping residents and their loved ones feel at home in a safe, yet welcoming environment.

We understand there is a growing concern for the safety and well-being of loved ones who may be at risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s, which is why we stress the importance of part-time or full-time care early on. While there are many benefits associated with assisted living, nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities, figuring out what’s best for you of your loved one in this predicament (i.e. dementia and Alzheimer’s disease) can be overwhelming. In this blog, our team discusses the key differences between assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

First and foremost, an assisted living facility or community is a type of living quarter (similar to a private apartment or condominium) that encourages an atmosphere of independence, but still provides medical aids and housekeeping to aging adults (i.e. senior citizens). This living arrangement is usually recommended for seniors who are younger or more physically and mentally capable of taking care of themselves and others, but still require custodial help. More often than not, these residents can dress, bathe, eat, and go to the bathroom without the help of an aid, but the facility has these people present in case of an emergency.

A nursing home, which is also referred to as a skilled nursing facility, is a living quarter that is staffed with medical aids who provide residents with around-the-clock care. These facilities generally offer less privacy than assisted living homes, and for good reason. Residents usually suffer from debilitating medical problems that require constant care. Because of this, nursing homes tend to cost more than assisted living facilities because they provide medication dispersal, access to physical and occupational therapists, healthy meals, and other amenities.

Deciding which environment is right for you or your loved one depends on the physical and mental well-being of the person in question. Fortunately, there are options out there that offer both services, making it easier for residents to transition into a more hands-on environment should they ever require the care. We, of course, are talking about Paradise Living Centers: an assisted living care home that provides access to expert care for residents 24/7 that includes memory care for those in need.

The caregivers and on-site staff at Paradise Living Centers are committed to healthy senior living, which includes planned activities for residents, chef-prepared meals, pet therapy sessions, intergenerational programs, and lively entertainment.

While the process of finding a home that’s right for you or a loved one can be nerve-wracking, you can rest assured knowing there is an assisted living facility in your neighborhood committed to exceptional care. For more information about Paradise Living Centers, please call 480.878.4112 to speak to a Care Manager today.

Warning signs of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

ALZHEIMERS-AND-DEMENTIA-CARE PLCA popular misconception about aging is that senior moments are common and considered a normal part of getting older. While an occasional senior moment can be expected, if your loved one is frequently having difficulty with his or her memory it may be a warning sign of dementia or the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia is a group of symptoms that affect mental tasks like memory and reasoning. This impairment interferes with a person’s ability to do things which he or she was previously able to do. Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, is a progressive disease of the brain that slowly impairs memory and cognitive function.

Memory loss is the main warning sign for both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but there are others you should watch for:

If your loved one has two or more of the following symptoms it may be considered dementia:

Alzheimer’s disease shares similar signs to dementia, although there are a few others to be aware of that may present themselves in varying degrees:

If your loved one exhibits any of these signs, consult his or her doctor for diagnosis and to learn more about treatment options.

*Source: Alzheimer’s Association