Memory care facilities are nursing homes specifically designed for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other types of Dementia. The 24 hour staff at memory care facilities are especially trained to work with the depression, aggression, and confusion associated with this disease. Most have special safety systems to prevent wandering and keep seniors secure.  Some facilities have special classes designed to help with memory retention and mental functionality.

Like other assisted living centers, they can provide daily assistance and medical care. Levels of care can be customized to accommodate the individual need of your senior loved one.

Services

Memory care facilities vary greatly in size, price, and services available. Most commonly, services that are offered include:

  • Comfortable private, or semi-private rooms
  • Daily means
  • Housekeeping and laundry service
  • Medication management
  • Exercise and physical therapy programs
  • Social programs and activities
  • 24-hour staffing and personal assistance

Specialization

There are no federal regulations pertaining specifically to memory care, but some states require

special licensing. However, memory care facilities follow federal and state regulations for nursing homes, and often times over-do minimum requirements due to the high level of care required for dementia residents.

Preparation

Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient without specialized training is difficult and can be dangerous.  Seeking out a Memory Care center for your senior loved one can provide the level of care to best meet the challenges.  In preparing to visit a Memory Care Facility, here are some questions you should be prepared to be asked:

  • Be prepared to discuss all levels of the loved ones symptoms, behavior and limitations.
  • What level of assistance does your loved one need?
  • Is your senior fairly independent or does he or she need help with basic tasks?
  • Are there other medical concerns that will need frequent attention or special care?
  • Is his/her condition worsening quickly, or degenerating slowly over time?
  • What is your monthly budget?
  • What financial instruments do you have in place to help cover costs? Are you expecting Medicare or other insurance to assist?

Evaluation

When visiting a Memory Care Facility be sure to know these facts:

  • Are you Medicaid/Medicare certified?
  • Do you have any health requirements or other requirements for your residents?
  • How many residents do you have in your facility?
  • What is the caregiver to resident ratio during the day and at night?
  • What qualifications are required of caregivers?
  •  How are you equipped to handle medical emergencies?
  • How do you handle emotional crises?
  • After visiting, did residents appear to be clean and well groomed?
  • Was the space clean and pleasant smelling?
  • How did the staff members interact with the residents?
  • Did anything you observed make you nervous about the facility or staff?

Dementia & Memory Care Articles

Dementia & Memory Care Radio Show Segments

  • Revamping Memory Care Part 3: Sensory Walls, Aromas

    Derek Larson and Lacy Steed join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to talk about a new program for senior living residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Lacy talks about the additions of sensory walls, aromas, and the addition of life-skills stations that bring back memories. The program is at Chateau Gardens, part of Chateau at Bothell Landing in Bothell, Washington. Derek Larson is Executive Director, and Lacy Steed is Vice President of Life Enrichment, at Chateau Retirement Communities. This week’s show was recorded at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington.

    Lacy explains, “We did a lot of research on this. I would say right now, probably about two years that we’ve been doing this. We went and visited other communities. We spoke to a lot of staff, residents, family members, and higher-up leadership. We went to over 15 communities throughout the state, because we wanted to try to get a vibe of what people are doing, what works and what doesn’t. And it was really eye opening. Chateau Gardens, I hope it becomes just something that is the norm, not the exception.

    “People think that when you have dementia or Alzheimer’s, that you’re just in a nursing home. That’s it. And you’re just watching TV and you’re unable to do anything. And that is far from the truth. There is still so much that residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s can give and talk about and do. They can still share stories and participate in activities. And they’re so they’re one of my favorite populations because you just never know what they’re going to say, what they’re going to do, what they you can do. And it’s amazing.”

    Derek adds, “Some of the activities can create some of that light-bulb moment for residents, like that music bringing that light back in people’s eyes. For me, I was talking in the first segment about my mom having been diagnosed with dementia early. Up until the very end, she was able to play piano. You put sheet music in front of her and she could just play. She couldn’t even hardly talk, but she could play. And you can see in her eyes, it created this something in her brain that just put her on fire. So the idea is, we want to create that light and that spark through the activities and everything else we do. So much of what Lacy’s department does, and the activities, will play a huge role in that.”

    Lacy says, “We are trying to incorporate ways for them to be active. Now, it’s a locked unit, and it’s a safe unit. We want them to walk around, be engaged. I did a lot of research and I found this company called Arch Design, and they’re located in Florida, and they do amazing senior living, tactile wall art. And what that is, is it’s any piece of art that you can think of that you would want to be on your wall that the residents can touch, so that they can get just a sense of appreciation, sensory, tactile, everything. Get those neurons, synapses, inspiring everything… It’s Pacific Northwest, what would we like to have in our Bothell unit, specifically? Pacific Northwest is very hiking, family, mountain climbing, water … So everything that you see in our Bothell memory care unit you can touch to elicit memories, and that’s what it’s there for. And eventually we’re working on getting that [at] our Lynnwood community and our Renton community.

    “We do doll therapy. We’ve actually purchased really nice new babies that will breathe and feel like actual dolls the residents just love to hold and touch and care for. We are working on creating life-skill stations. Those are little places, for instance like a laundry area, or a makeup area, where the residents can just go and sit and tinker and play, and hopefully just go back to their days of working or getting ready for work, anything. And they are very effective… We even have an office space where we bought an old-school typewriter and a Rolodex and anything that you can think of from their era.

    “There is a company called Aroma Impressions, and [their products are] not like your typical oil diffusers that you have in your house. It is a scientifically-based product that works to elicit memories for older adults. It is a very fine mist that you can’t even see. And it’s just slight enough that you can walk into memory care, and it’s just a very lovely smell. It could smell any season you want. Summer, lavender, for sundowning it’s like mahogany, anything to elicit responses. You would never know that it’s there, but it just makes it smell homey.”

    Chateau at Bothell Landing is located at 17543 102nd Ave NE in Bothell, Washington 98011-3787.

    Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington’s Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

    Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau’s specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • Revamping Memory Care Part 2: More Caregivers

    Derek Larson and Amanda Krueger join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to talk about a new program for senior living residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The program is at Chateau Gardens, part of Chateau at Bothell Landing in Bothell, Washington. Derek Larson is Executive Director, and Amanda is Vice President of Health Services, at Chateau Retirement Communities. This week’s show was recorded at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington.

    Amanda explains, “We really wanted to bring a program together that looked at the resident and not the disease. And so what did that, as far as the care part of it, was the individualized care plans, the staff training, and then also making sure the staff is really taking the time with the residents. And so it took a lot of work.

    “One thing that we implemented was a lower staffing ratio with our expansion at Bothell. We expanded up to 45 beds at Bothell, and we have that down to a 1 to 7 for just our caregivers, and that just allows for that resident and and staff person to really develop a bond, so that way they can still get their input as best they can. Maybe it’s not verbally, but maybe it’s through action, and then seeing their eyes light up when music plays, you know, music is a huge part, a huge part of a lot of therapy.”

    Suzanne points out to listeners, “If you’re looking at memory care, that’s a question that families need to ask when you’re interviewing a potential place. Just to compare, because 1 in 7 is phenomenal. What is usually the staff ratio?”

    Amanda replies, “I’ve seen dangerous numbers of 1 to 15 in memory care. 1 to 10 is pretty general. 1 to 8, 1 to 10. And this is just caregivers. That’s not including a med tech, or a nurse, and residential coordinators, and activities.”

    Suzanne asks, “You and Derek have both talked about treating the patient rather than the disease. How does that differentiate when it comes to care?”

    Amanda answers, “I think it just allows the resident to be who they are, and to still allow them to be as independent as they go around. And having the staff trained well enough to understand that just because they have dementia, that doesn’t mean they can’t still wash their face, something simple where, let’s have that staff give them a washcloth, and then kind of mirror the action of washing a face, and still allow that resident to be as individual and independent as they can and promote that.”

    Suzanne says, “Derek mentioned a little bit about how the family is more engaged. How does that happen in the care plans?

    Amanda replies, “Letting them give us information. You know, maybe Sally has a hard time bathing, but that the family members let us know that she likes bananas. So let’s [have] a banana before we take a bath, and then that helps make it more individualized. So, taking as much data that we can from our family members, or our staff too, because our staff spends a lot of time with our residents. All the little tips and tricks, and making sure then that everybody knows what it takes, to make sure that residents care for them.”

    Derek adds, “We had something really cool happen at Bothell kind of organically, I think as we got more relationships built with our residents and their families. A lot of the spouses actually created their own groups within our space at Chateau Gardens. So every week they would sit down in our outdoor courtyard, and they would just hang out. Talk, as if things were just as they are, meeting each other in the journey. And the spouses could also kind of relate to one another at the same time. And it just it was really cool to see that organically just grow from having that space, just be welcoming in that way.”

    Chateau at Bothell Landing is located at 17543 102nd Ave NE in Bothell, Washington 98011-3787.

    Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington’s Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

    Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau’s specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • Revamping Memory Care Part 1: Treat the Person

    Chateau Retirement Communities Executive Director Derek Larson joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to give an overview of the Alzheimer’s epidemic and how it’s affecting caregivers. Chateau Retirement is launching a new program primarily for senior living residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia at Chateau Gardens at Chateau at Bothell Landing in Bothell, Washington. Derek talks about the program came about and how it’s going. This week’s show was recorded at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington.

    Derek shares his family experience. “My mom was diagnosed with dementia really, really young. She was only 51 when she passed. And as a 16-year-old kid, I didn’t really know how to process that very well. And it was really challenging. Taking care of her was one of the hardest things ever did in my entire life. And was one of the most isolating times in my life. And so, going full 360 to being here today and having this opportunity, it means the world to be able to give back to the people that really need that love, and care, and that don’t need to have less than a life just because they have this disease.”

    He adds, “It’s a blessing to be a part of the seniors that we get to serve. Meeting them in their journey, where they’re at, especially the most vulnerable, vulnerable population. Those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, they don’t often have a voice for themself. As of 2020, over 7 million people have been diagnosed with dementia. We know that by 2030 through 2050, it’s only going to grow exponentially. We knew there was a growing demand, we knew there was a need, and too often we were seeing that those needs weren’t getting met to the best [that] I think that they could. It’s just such a under-served population that we really, really felt the need to meet those people’s needs as best we could. And so we decided to fully revamp the programs we were offering. And we created a task force to work on revamping that as well.

    “As a team, we interviewed tons of our own staff. We interviewed some of our senior leadership. We toured many communities around the area to see where memory care units and communities were really knocking it out of the park in certain areas, or just in general. We did tons of research. We worked in the space as much as we could. I spent months just kind of observing the interaction between resident and staff along with some of the rest of our team.

    “Through all of that, we came to the realization that at the core of the heart of what we needed to accomplish was create a place of belonging where we’re treating the resident, not the disease. We wanted to create a space where people feel like it’s home. They belong. Our our mission and vision across the whole community is that people feel like they’re at a place where they can be happy, healthy, live long lives. They can be engaged in whatever ways they want. It’s just harder to do in that space, because people are not as able to vocalize their wants and needs. The whole process that we came up with was trying to get to the core of what those desires are for the for those residents, and meet them where they are on their journey.

    “The biggest surprise is that it was really simple. It’s not easy, but it’s really simple. What people need is understanding who we are serving. It’s just such a simple thing that just gets missed because people are so stuck on treating dementia and Alzheimer’s instead of treating the person in front of them.

    “We can see it quickly, even though we’re still in the process of implementing everything we would like to. It didn’t take long to just get a sense when you walk into a place of the way it feels. There’s an energy, and you get an energy from the residents where you see them engaged, you see the staff engaged, you see smiles, you see family getting more involved. You see the rest of the community who have friends in memory care that had the stigma against it, and now feel like they feel empowered to be there and they want to be there. What we strive for is to be a community.

    The spousal impact … was another light bulb moment for us. I mean, we’ve seen it over and over, caregiver burnout or a spouse becomes that. Another thing we continue to see is, as the spouses are able to relinquish that challenge of caring for their spouse, how much they can just come back into their full selves being just a spouse, and not a caregiver, and how great it is for them and for for their loved one, and the knowledge that if your spouse, if they’re going to become a resident with Chateau at Chateau Gardens, there’s this element of knowing that they’ll be loved. You’re not moving them into like this clinical environment where they feel isolated.”

    Derek says, “So we had to have individualized care plans. That meant more than just the physical needs, but also their preferences and their histories that we wanted to get. We needed to get the feedback from families to get them involved, where they can say, ‘Mom always likes a glass of milk with her meal.’ Mom may not be able to speak for that. Getting to know their biographies on who you know, who they are, the things that they enjoyed, the things that they still enjoy, and maybe can’t verbalize.

    “We wanted to target holistic well-being as we implemented all these changes. So not just the physical, like I said, but things that would stimulate memory, creativity, cognitive function, activities that would involve Alzheimer’s and dementia as a scale. So you have some that are, you know, very high functioning and some have progressed further, meeting the unique individual where they’re at… It has to be so fluid, and every day is different for the individual. Everything we do is very nimble and able to be adapted. And, you know, just hiring the type of people that envision that space. Being somewhere where they’d want their own mom to live here. Because then they can really bring that mission vision to life.”

    Chateau at Bothell Landing is located at 17543 102nd Ave NE in Bothell, Washington 98011-3787.

    Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington’s Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

    Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau’s specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • Senior Living Residents: A Day in the Life

    This segment delves into the day in the life of a senior living resident, having a sense of purpose every day so they can feel like they’re a vibrant member of a community that is supporting them. It looks at how Chateau Retirement Communities integrates and sustains care to make sure that residents’ quality of life is as great as possible. Nicole Bosancu and Amanda Krueger join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast, recorded onsite at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington. Nicole is Heath Services Director at the Chateau at Valley Center community in Renton, Washington. Amanda is Vice President of Health Services.

    Nicole explains, “We really rely on our housekeeping and culinary staff, because it really takes a team. We might have a resident who’s a little more independent, so housekeeping will come and say, ‘Hey, Nicole, this person didn’t come down, we haven’t seen them in a couple of days either in the dining room, or I went in their apartment and it seems like they need a little bit more help.’ So that we can go in and then either have a care conference or talk with them and [ask] what do you need from us to make sure you’re taking care of.”

    Nicole says, “If they fall, they can push their call button and the staff can come. But we also have a new AUGi system that is like a motion detector. So somebody falls, it sends us an alert that we can go in and right away.

    Amanda adds, “One of our mottos is happier, healthier, longer. And so with this new AUGi technology, it’s very proactive and that it can hopefully give motion alerts to the team before that resident even has a fall. So that way we’re hoping to prevent a fall that could potentially be detrimental if it turns into an injury fall. So it’s an amazing technology and we’re excited to have it in our communities.”

    Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington’s Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • Culture and Care Model for Senior Living

    This segment discussed senior care options, and the different ways that loved ones join a senior living community like Chateau Retirement Communities. Laura Smith and Amanda Krueger join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast talk about the Chateau Retirement care model. Laura is Health Services Director at Chateau Pacific. Amanda is Vice President of Health Services. This show was recorded onsite at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington.

    Laura says, “We are very fortunate to have the number of nurses that we have in our buildings… The benefit that I see from having so many nurses is that we get to know our residents on a more individualized basis, and then we get to know little details about their lives that guide the way we care for them.

    Amanda adds, “Really getting to know our residents is very important. In fact, one of the stories that we have recently is that we learned from a family member, or [possibly] a staff member, that a resident was having a hard time showering, getting into the shower and agreeing to that. And they found that offering her a banana before the shower allowed her to forget about the process. And [then] she was able to take the shower without any any behaviors, and never refused to shower after that point. And, making sure that gets to the service plan, so all the staff then learn of that.”

    Laura says, “We have families that don’t see necessarily what we see, because their loved one may act differently when they’re around, or they’ve maybe had some walls up that they let down and they have a little bit of dementia or whatnot. So we do see things that the families don’t see, so we do have to sit down and and have those conversations, this is what Mom’s doing lately. Her mom’s not wanting to necessarily go out to activities. Let’s figure this out. So we do like to have families come in and talk about these things. We want people to be able to live their best lives that they possibly can here, and have that quality.”

    Suzanne noticed a vibrancy about the culture at Chateau Pacific that has a lot to do with the overall view of how they treat people. Laura says, “Our philosophy here is that we are privileged to work in their home. This is their home, and we get the privilege to work here. So we’re serving them. They’re not here for us, we’re here for them.”

    Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington’s Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • Criteria for Excellent Senior Living

    Amanda Krueger joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to talk about senior living, recorded on site at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington. Amanda is Vice President of Health Services, and oversees the health and care provided at Chateau Retirement Communities.

    Amanda says, “We are a family owned small business. And it’s very much our philosophy that’s carried on then within our our communities. We believe in letting residents live life on their terms. We treat them with dignity, respect, compassion – when we do need to come into their home and assist them in their daily living. And then we also believe in treating the staff the best we can because it’s going to trickle down that if we take care of our staff, they’ll take care of our residents. And so those two platforms are something we really strongly believe in, and it’s just carried forward for over 25 years now.”

    “Maybe dad has Alzheimer’s and mom doesn’t. Well, they can both live here. We have that quite often, where one spouse is living independently or even with assisted living, and then their spouse is safely in memory care. And [there’s] peace of mind knowing they’re okay and they’re not going to wander off, or anything like that, and being with them during the day to connect with them in that way.”

    “Our assessment is based on an individual service plan. So we meet the needs, we assess the resident, each individually at various times in the year, if there’s a change of condition or annually at minimum, and then whatever that resident needs, we are able to provide. And so from there we have levels, but each person’s level and what they do could be different because of what that need is for the resident. It makes the care plan sometimes different for the staff to learn. But we’re making sure that that is exactly what the resident needs, and that’s what’s really important.”

    Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington’s Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • 20-Week Lifestyle Plan to Reduce Dementia Risk

    Practical takeaways from global studies aim to reduce our risk for developing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne to talk more how to apply these recommendations to our everyday lives. One 20-week lifestyle plan was developed by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention Intervention and Care. The plan has four components that focus on diet, exercise, stress management, and support groups.

    There’s a 30% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment by changing to whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts. Break down the diet to 14% total fat, 16%-18% protein, 63-68% complex carbohydrates. A Mediterranean diet checks all the boxes: a lot of fish, a lot of nuts. Hydration is also important.

    30 minutes of walking per day, even broken into chunks, is the best overall exercise you can do. Strength and resistance training three times per week is essential, even if you’re just lifting soup cans from the pantry. Other whole exercises, such as stretching, flexibility, meditation, in a home exercise program is recommended.

    Dr. Weiss says, “The last two things were: one, stress management and meditation, yoga, flexibility exercises, breathing strategies. And then the last one was the support groups, and they broke those support groups down into three times per week and they exercise together. They did stretch management techniques, they did straight support group talks, and lectures and education in those three times a week. At Senior Health and wellness.org, you can find some great information and other videos that I’ve done.”

    Learn more

    Get a free guide for cognitive impairment strategies.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

     

  • 12 Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

    Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne to talk about Alzheimer’s and dementia studies with an eye towards prevention. She discusses the FINGER survey (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) and ongoing global studies that study 12 modifiable risk factors: hypertension, smoking, type-2 diabetes, obesity, social isolation, alcohol, lessened cognitive activity, lower education levels, hearing loss, head injuries, lifestyle (physical activity and exercise), and air pollution.

    The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention Intervention and Care developed a 20-week lifestyle plan addressing the 12 risk factors. Broken down into four components, they involve 1) Modifying diet and nutrition; 2) Exercise routines; 3) Stress management; and 4) Support groups (having people interact on your team).

    Learn more

    Get a free guide for cognitive impairment strategies.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

  • Socialization Benefits With CarePartners Cottages

    CarePartners Cottages are secured campuses containing a small neighborhood of three or four apartments. These unique cottages are a great solution for many issues facing those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, including sundowning and socialization. Tracy Helling at CarePartners Living talks about the company, their special spot in the area of senior living, and the benefits of the cottages.

    Tracy says, “We have four cottages at my cottage community. Inside these four cottages is this amazing four season discovery garden, heated sidewalks, patio heaters, patio mister. So we can optimize the amount of time that folks spend outside, if they wish to. And I was on a tour with a family, and one of my residents was walking from her cottage to another cottage, and she had a cup of coffee in her hand. And she said, ‘Oh, we’re out of sugar. I’m just gonna go see the neighbors have any.’ And I thought, this is a perfect illustration about why this concept is unique.

    “It’s unique in so many ways. Sundowning is that period of time that some people start to have behaviors, anxiousness: I have to go to my job, I have to go home and make dinner. It could be between 2 and 5 or 6. Some people have it different times. What a natural intervention for sundowning. When we say, ‘ok, well, we’ll see you later,’ and they go outside and they walk on our sort-of-figure-eight sidewalks for a while and that anxiousness and that restlessness works itself out. And then they come back to us and we go, ‘oh, welcome back. Once you come on in, we have a snack, or we’re watching this great movie right now.'”

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Top 3 Tips for Being With Seniors Who Have Dementia

    Tracy Helling at CarePartners Living shares three most important things to keep in mind during interactions with senior loved ones who have Alzheimer’s and dementia.

    They can’t make new memories, so correcting them and arguing with them just causes distress. Have a sense of humor when the unusual happens. And remember that every day is a new day – someone with Alzheimer’s and dementia lives in the moment, so if they get angry with you, they won’t carry that into tomorrow.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Socialization, Home Care, Memory Care, and a Sense of Purpose

    Socialization and relationships are important for our mental health, and it’s a core part of memory care at senior living communities. Mom or dad wants to be with peers as well as with family. Home care agencies are available to come in and provide assistance to seniors with activities of daily living. Tracy Helling at CarePartners Living joins Suzanne to talk about these factors for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

    Tracy says, “The beautiful thing about moving your loved one, either from a home environment or from, say, an independent living or assisted living to a specialized memory care is the folks. Everybody has dementia. No one’s going to say, ‘You’ve said that three times.’ No one’s going to say, ‘You know where the bathroom is, you’ve been there six times today.’ No one is going to say that.

    “One of the things we see when people come from other environments is people have been noticing that there’s something not tracking, they have noticed. So they shut down socially, they stop doing activities, they stop pursuing relationships. When they come into a specialized memory care, everybody’s in the same boat. There is, interestingly, a bump up in both the appetite and socialization, using their brain. They’re in their tribe Nobody’s going to make them feel ‘other’ in this environment. Some of these things are very stressful for families. For us, it’s a Tuesday. So we all understand how this works. We don’t get tired of reminding, or queuing, or any of that. So I think that specialized memory care is a beautiful place where we see people begin to actually function at their optimum level. They’re with other people in an environment, and with a routine, that is absolutely pleasant for them.”

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Top Warning Signs for Dementia

    Tracy Helling at CarePartners Living joins Suzanne to talk about memory care. CarePartners has senior living communities in Washington and Arizona. She talks about the warning signs of dementia, comparing them with natural signs of aging.

    For instance, forgetting something in the microwave is common, but forgetting that microwaves aren’t a good place to keep your keys is not. Forgetting someone’s name is common, but forgetting their spouse’s name is not. If you’re afraid to leave them alone, if safety becomes a concern, the greatest thing you can give them is an elevated level of care: memory care.

    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Dementia: Self-Care to Mitigate Caregiver Burnout

    If you’re caring for a loved one who is cognitively impaired, this hour is for you. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne this hour to talk about giving yourself some grace and working on self-care to lessen burnout during the overwhelming experience of family caregiving.

    Dr. Weiss talks about recognizing the symptoms of burnout, working on self-care, and giving yourself some grace. Burnout will lead you to have a short fuse, the last thing you need while caregiving. Take time and step back, find ways to de-stress, and have someone you can vent to.

    Knowledge is power. The more you are prepared, the better as your loved one’s dementia worsens. When it comes down to it, you have to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and finding people that can help. If you have to take a break, make sure you come back refreshed, don’t feel guilty about it. Have trusted people around you. You don’t want to wait till it’s too late to find the right people, because then you’ll be forced to make quick adjustments and not find the right people.

    Get a free guide for cognitive impairment strategies.

    Learn more:
    * Shawn Weiss
    * Senior Health and Wellness website

    Hear more podcasts about:
    * Aging in place
    * Dementia

    Answers for Elders is part of the Senior Resource Network
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Dementia: 8 Tips to Become a Better Listener

    If you’re caring for a loved one who is cognitively impaired, this hour is for you. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne this hour to talk about the listening and non-verbal side of communicating better.

    We’re rushed, living hectic lives. When we walk into the room with our loved ones, are we empathetic, or just pretending to listen? With empathy, you’ll have more success with them doing what you need, like eating breakfast or going to the doctor.

    Not interrupting, not finishing their sentences for them, goes a long way. You’re going to learn more about mom, a long of things you can still learn from them if you just listen. Their long-term memory is still intact.

    Her advice: actually listen, don’t pretend to listen. Get over repetition. Don’t interrupt. Ask the right questions. Take inventory of your own weaknesses. Practice listening. Resist the impulse to correct errors. And don’t let yourself get offended.

    Get a free guide for cognitive impairment strategies.

    Learn more:
    * Shawn Weiss
    * Senior Health and Wellness website

    Hear more podcasts about:
    * Aging in place
    * Dementia

    Answers for Elders is part of the Senior Resource Network
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

     

  • Dementia: How to Tweak Surroundings and Your Tone of Voice to Improve Communication

    If you’re caring for a loved one who is cognitively impaired, this hour is for you. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne this hour to talk about ways of adjusting the home environment to improve the quality of life for those who face cognitive challenges.

    Environment plays a major role in daily success, especially as symptoms progress. Adding lavender and vanilla through diffusers can provide a calming effect, reducing stress. It helps to set lights lower after dinnertime. Colors have a huge affect as well.

    Communicate with more of a soothing tone of view, and use calmer body language. Avoid jargon, and speak one step at a time. If you want to maximize what they can do, rather than toss out lots of instructions, because the brain is processing more slowly, give them one instruction at a time, and give them time to process it. Simple tweaks can help. For instance, avoid asking they want to take a shower, because they can say no. Instead, say “It’s time to take a shower, let’s go take a shower.”

    Get a free guide for cognitive impairment strategies.

    Learn more:
    * Shawn Weiss
    * Senior Health and Wellness website

    Hear more podcasts about:
    * Aging in place
    * Dementia

    Answers for Elders is part of the Senior Resource Network
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Dementia: Communicating Better With Our Loved Ones

    If you’re caring for a loved one who is cognitively impaired, this hour is for you. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne this hour. This segment provides an overview of mental impairments, including dementia.

    12-18% of those over 60 years old have at least some mild cognitive disorder, and that is expected to grow by 20% by the year 2040. 80% of seniors in senior living communities have some kind of impairment. Most people want to age in place, particularly after Covid, and people are feeling ill-equipped when it comes to caregiving. People are looking for ways to help mom or dad, to improve their quality of life.

    There are more than 100 types of dementia. People have language deficits or an expressive aphasia, taking unnecessary risks, memory losses, confusion, decreased concentration, and some personality changes are some of the symptoms.

    Get a free guide for cognitive impairment strategies.

    Learn more:
    * Shawn Weiss
    * Senior Health and Wellness website

    Hear more podcasts about:
    * Aging in place
    * Dementia

    Answers for Elders is part of the Senior Resource Network
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

  • Dementia: When Traumatic Memories Surface

    Alzheimer’s and dementia expert Forrest Stepnowski joins Suzanne to talk about dementia, particularly when someone with dementia has gone through a traumatic event. Forrest is CarePartners Living’s Executive Director of The Cottages at Renton, in Seattle.

    Forrest says, “Whether people choose to admit it, trauma — like we used to treat dementia — is an invisible diagnosis that no one wants to talk about. And even if we ourselves have exhibited or experienced something traumatic in our life, that can be very, very scary for us to bring up. Sometimes we forget that our memories come back, and people are getting hit by these memories of traumatic events to the point where… it could be child abuse. Dare I say rape, sexual trauma, all those things come back as dementia progresses itself. And that is something that people forget about. When you see somebody who has dementia, and you start seeing them layer up, and they’re being paranoid, and they’re being guarded, we have to look at that part. And when we discover that piece, we’re able to treat them better. We’re able to provide better care and understanding of why, we’re able to speak their language and help them with their care. All those things play a role.

    Suzanne asked about PTSD statistics. Forrest explains, “In Washington State is estimated that 80% of our population has suffered a trauma of some sort. PTSD is one of the number one hidden diagnoses, or least diagnosed. Different populations in the ’80s and ’70s – women especially were misdiagnosed as bipolar versus PTSD – be fair, in the ’80s, they didn’t even know what PTSD was. Everyone’s always had that identified to people who were soldiers, especially people from Vietnam.”

    Contact Forrest Stepnowski at The Cottages at Renton at (425) 528-7070. CarePartners has communities in Arizona and the state of Washington.

    Learn more:

    * The Cottages at Renton: https://www.carepartnersliving.com/cottages-of-renton/
    * CarePartners Senior Living: https://answersforelders.com/carepartners-senior-living/
    * CarePartners website: https://www.carepartnersliving.com/

    Hear more:
    * Shows by CarePartners: https://answersforelders.com/tag/carepartners-living/

    Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

  • Dementia: Learning to Speak the Language

    Alzheimer’s and dementia expert Forrest Stepnowski joins Suzanne to talk about learning to communicate better with those who have dementia. Forrest is CarePartners Living’s Executive Director of The Cottages at Renton, in Seattle.

    Forrest says, “One thing I try to teach caregivers I work with at CarePartners — and at the Cottages of Renton specifically, as well as family members, as well as people who come to us as community outreach — is when someone has dementia, you have to learn how to speak their language. You have to learn what is triggering them, especially if someone has a trauma history, which 80% of us out there do. And that can play a role to their paranoia, into their fears, into embarrassment, when they’re needing help. All those things play a factor. I simply tell people, if they say it’s 1945, it’s 1945. I don’t know what the story is about 1945, but whether positive or negative, find out. The sky is purple? The sky is purple. What’s causing it to be purple? That’s what we should be asking, not correcting.”

    Forrest adds, “The thing about dementia is people need to realize is those behaviors happen because there is a gap in the brain, the brain will slowly deteriorating. It becomes a black hole. If you look at a PET scan, the wave of the brain becomes smaller, and smaller and smaller, and it starts exhibiting a black hole. There’s no function in the brain after a while. When people have behaviors, they can’t help it. It’s their way of communicating. They’re trying to get it out. You know, it’s OK to hear those stories back then. You might actually learn something about your loved one that you didn’t know before. You’re like, uh did mom really meet President Hoover? From siblings, they’re still alive from that generation, ‘Oh, yeah, she did all that stuff like that,’ and people truly find a side of their parents or their loved ones they didn’t know it was there.”

    Contact Forrest Stepnowski at The Cottages at Renton at (425) 528-7070. CarePartners has communities in Arizona and the state of Washington.

    Learn more:

    * The Cottages at Renton: https://www.carepartnersliving.com/cottages-of-renton/
    * CarePartners Senior Living: https://answersforelders.com/carepartners-senior-living/
    * CarePartners website: https://www.carepartnersliving.com/

    Hear more:
    * Shows by CarePartners: https://answersforelders.com/tag/carepartners-living/

    Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

  • Dementia: The Environmental Four Fs

    Allyson Schrier, founder and CEO of Zinnia TV, joins Suzanne to talk about Teepa Snow’s four ideals for making the environment a safer place for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Teepa says an environment should be Friendly, Familiar, Functional, and Forgiving. Environmental wellness is one of the 8 foundational principles of wellness, a focus of the Vitality Revolution podcast series sponsored by Humana.

    Allyson explains, “I want to look at the space through their eyes. And I want to ask myself, is this a space that’s friendly to them? Is it going to seem familiar to them, if I’m moving a loved one into long-term care, and I’m creating a space for them in that long-term care setting? Is it going to be reminiscent of where they came from? Is it someplace that’s going to appear friendly and familiar to them? And this can go with smells as well, bringing in flowers, bringing things that remind them of where they used to live.”

    The basics of the four Fs are:

    “Friendly is an environment that feels comfortable and like I belong there. So just looking at the kitchen for instance, we would want it to be something that speaks to who I was as well as who I am. So a color scheme that I love and that I find comforting a color, uses solid contrasting colors for dishware and towels, so that they are easily distinguishable from cabinets, countertops, and appliances. High contrast switch plates, so that it’s for me to find those. I also want to make sure to in this friendly vein that the light is really good. Add light strips underneath the cabinets for instance…

    “Familiar: I want to make sure that somebody is familiar with their space. We want to ensure that all food items are clearly labeled, that food storage containers are marked with contents, and a date. And we also think about removing some of the kitchen cabinet doors, using open concept shelving. So that is familiar, I’m familiar with all of the things that are in my kitchen.
    stripped down to its essentials, reducing clutter on the countertop. Use hooks to hang utensils on the wall, so that things are in plain view.

    “Functional: Reducing the quantity of items in cabinets and drawers to a minimum, stripped down to its essentials, reducing clutter on the countertop. I don’t know how many appliances you have on your countertop – I have way too many. Use hooks to hang utensils on the wall, so that things are in plain view… That table that I sit beside when I watch TV, does it just contain the things that I really need the most, or there are many other things that are going to make it hard for me to find what I need the most?”

    “The fourth F is forgiving. I want to make this kitchen a safe space. This goes throughout the entire house… removing kitchen floor mats to prevent falls. Ensuring that cords on small appliances are in good working order and not a jumble. And maybe having like a power strip where everything plugs in. Creating laminated cards with basic instructions for simple tasks like how to make a pot of coffee, how to cook oatmeal, or how to heat mechanics.”

    Learn more about
    * Zinnia TV subscriptions, with a two-week free trial: https://www.zinniatv.com/
    * Allyson Schrier: https://www.zinniatv.com/about
    * The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/
    * Humana: https://www.humana.com/
    * Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/

    Hear more
    * Podcasts with Allyson Schrier at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/allyson-schrier/
    * Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/

    Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

  • How Colors Affect Those With Alzheimer’s

    Allyson Schrier, founder and CEO of Zinnia TV, joins Suzanne to talk about how those with dementia and Alzheimer’s are affected by different colors in their environment. Environmental wellness is one of the 8 foundational principles of wellness, a focus of the Vitality Revolution podcast series sponsored by Humana.

    Allyson says, “We’ll talk about specific colors. We’ll also talk about colors in general. People who are living with dementia have challenges seeing contrast. An example, the bathroom at my house has a white floor, white walls, and white toilet. My husband [who had dementia] would go into the bathroom and he would shut the door and he would urinate on the wall. Why couldn’t he see the toilet? Because it’s the same color as the floor, same color as the walls. So what do we do? We replace the toilet seat with a bright-colored toilet seat.

    “As far as colors themselves go, red is a color that’s associated with warmth. And it’s also an appetite enhancer. It is the most common color of a plate that is used in long-term care settings – it creates contrast, and because it enhances appetite. So if I give somebody a white plate and on that I put some white pasta or rice, it’s very hard for them to actually see the rice or the pasta or the plate. Therefore, a contrasting color is really helpful.

    “Blue by comparison is considered an appetite suppressant. So maybe I wouldn’t want to have blue plates. Blue is also a color that promotes peace and calm, and can lower blood pressure and anxiety. So if I’m going to have a snuggly blanket that I’m going to cover somebody with, if it’s a red blanket, that kind of promotes thoughts about warmth. If it’s a blue blanket, then maybe that would promote a sense of ease and calm.

    “Which is something that the color green also does. And I think that it has to do with the fact that these are the colors in nature, right? If somebody runs to high anxiety, maybe I want to dress them in colors that will promote calm and soothing. Maybe a green top, for instance, with patterns. Lime green green is a color that draws lots of attention. If I’m going to put labels on cabinets, for instance, or I want to put instructions next to the coffee maker, maybe I use lime green paper or lime green sticky notes.”

    Learn more about
    * Zinnia TV subscriptions, with a two-week free trial: https://www.zinniatv.com/
    * Allyson Schrier: https://www.zinniatv.com/about
    * The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/
    * Humana: https://www.humana.com/
    * Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/

    Hear more
    * Podcasts with Allyson Schrier at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/allyson-schrier/
    * Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/

    Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
    Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

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