In a study done at Boston University over 20 years ago, biopsychologist Alice Cronin-Golomb and her research partners undertook a research study they call “The Red Plate Study” . The idea was to see if seniors with Alzheimer’s would eat more from a red plate rather than a white plate. It has been estimated that 40% of individuals with severe Alzheimer’s lose an unhealthy amount of weight. It used to be thought that depression, inability to concentrate on more than one food at a time, and an inability to eat unassisted led to this drastic weight loss but in this study, they wanted to see if it could be related to something as relatively simple as being unable to see the food.
We’ve all heard that a diet of made up mostly of fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, whole grains and fish — the Mediterranean diet – is good for the heart.. But a Mediterranean diet may also be good for your brain! Studies show that people who closely follow a Mediterranean diet may be less likely to develop cognitive decline when compared with people who don’t follow the diet. Research shows that a Mediterranean diet may:
Continue reading “Can the Mediterranean Diet help prevent dementia?” »
What is a Memory Care Facility?
Memory care is a special kind of care for seniors with memory issues like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Many communities worldwide offer special services to meet the needs of individuals dealing with the effects of memory loss.
There are different types of memory care options. AARP states, “Many assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes have special memory care “neighborhoods” for dementia patients. There are also stand-alone memory care facilities.” Another option for memory care is a senior day care center like Aspen Senior Day Center in Provo, Utah, which offers memory care services throughout the day but still allows seniors to remain in the comfort of their own homes.
Professional staff help residents with activities of daily living and help manage medication, provide meals, transportation, housekeeping, and other social activities. Memory care units maintain a higher staff-to-resident ratio than a typical senior living community. The staff is trained in caring for dementia patients, and common areas and units are protected with an access code to avoid wandering.
Memory Care Facilities
- Special staff training to meet the mental and emotional needs of residents.
- Intense supervision and safety protocols to prevent wandering.
- Good staff to resident ratio.
- Uniquely designed living spaces to ease agitation, anxiety, and disorientation.
- Safety features like an emergency call system and alarmed doors.
- Simple navigation and building layout to avoid confusion.
- Social programs and activities to encourage socialization.
- Secure fences, gardens, and courtyards for sensory stimulation and exploration in a safe space.
What is In-Home Care?
Many seniors wish to spend their later years at home surrounded by the companionship of their loved ones. For many seniors, in-home professional care may offer practical help along with peace of mind. In-home care allows seniors to remain comfortably in their own homes while receiving aid from professional caregivers. It’s also a cost-efficient option for family caregivers to receive additional respite care.
In-home care caregivers offer help with activities of daily living or “ADL’s.” The intensity of care may vary based on the senior’s needs. Typically care can range from a few hours a week spent preparing meals and housekeeping to round-the-clock supervision.
In-Home Care
- Assistance with ADLs like bathing, personal care, dressing, and more.
- Ongoing caregiver and family companionship and assistance.
- Ease of transportation to appointments and everyday errands.
- Help with housekeeping, dishes, and laundry.
- Respite care for family caregivers.
- Specially trained caregivers who can help seniors dealing with memory loss.
How to Choose Between In-Home Care and Memory Care Facility?
Consider how much care and help is available in the senior’s home and how much additional support is needed. It’s good to jot down a list of things your elderly loved one needs help with on a weekly, monthly, and daily basis. These notes will help you see the bigger picture to pick the right level of care. Be realistic about how much your family members and friends can help. Keep in mind the long-term, ongoing care during this stage.
Once you’ve drawn this comparison, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed. Sometimes, creating this list clarifies that in-home care might be the best option. However, there are times where picking from memory care facilities for seniors is a clear choice. So, before you go ahead with either of these living arrangements, you should weigh their offered services along with critical pros and cons.
In-home care
The most significant advantage of in-home care is that seniors get to live out their days with family and friends in the safety of their own homes.
Pros
- Tailored care based on the senior’s personal preferences and needs. Even the most luxurious senior living communities do not give the same one-on-one attention that a home care agency can provide.
- The ability to stay at home surrounded by familiar faces as they age.
- Cost may be flexible based on the hours of necessary care.
- You get to pick the caregiver based on their credentials, competence, and personality fit to the senior.
- Seniors develop a personal bond with the caregiver rather than working with multiple caregivers.
- There’s more room for flexible care arrangements. For example, caregivers can help at different times throughout the day or week to help with specific needs like meals, showers, or errands.
Cons
- The cost can be considerably high if you need around-the-clock care.
- Social isolation is a potential issue as seniors may not interact with peers. Isolation could fuel cognitive decline, health issues, and even depression.
- You may have to modify the home to ensure safety, such as wheelchair accessibility, potential fall risks, etc.
- You will have to take care of home maintenance and personal care while regularly stocking household supplies and groceries.
Memory Care
Memory care communities are designed to promote safety and avoid wandering clients. There are caregivers with special training and memory-specific therapies to promote cognitive health.
Pros
- Seniors receive 24/7 care.
- Special community programs and activities to improve quality of life.
- The living arrangements are comfortable, safe, and welcoming. They are uniquely customized to avoid confusion and disorientation.
- Several memory care units deploy therapies and technology to ensure positive stimulation so that residents can thrive.
- Seniors get to interact with people of their age every day. Peer interaction prevents isolation and depression.
- Family members can visit their loved ones to offer ongoing support.
Cons
- Based on the facility and the level of care required, the cost can be considerably high. Some luxury memory care facilities can cost upwards of $10,000 per month.
- Often the transition from moving out of the home to memory care be overwhelming and stressful.
- It may be challenging to convince seniors to move from their homes.
- No two communities are the same, which means you would have to do a large amount of research to pick the right fit.
Understand Your Financial Situation
Sometimes, the cost of living arrangement is the single deciding factor regarding which option may be the best fit.
The cost of regular memory care can be considerably high. For instance, it costs upwards of $6000/month to receive memory care in some states. In terms of in-home care costs, Genworth reported the cost of in-home in 2020 to be around $4500 for 44 hours/week.
The best way to understand the actual pricing for different living communities is to compare some of your top choices. You might also want to work with a financial planner to get a more accurate picture of a feasible option. Once you have a full-fledged comparison between the two, you will know which option is the best fit.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to picking a suitable living situation for your loved one, knowledge is vital. So, ask around and do thorough research, read reviews, and ask for professional advice.
By Holly Klamer
Aspen Senior Care Contributor
Holidays tend to add a higher level of confusion and stress for those experiencing a decline in cognition. A change in routine and busy gatherings can be overwhelming and confusing for your loved one. Long-term caregiver, Betty De Filippis, gives her tips regarding her experiences with her mother-in-law, Joan, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2013.
As the disease progressed through four years of caregiving, Betty learned many different techniques that aided — or hindered — Joan’s care. She learned how to help Joan more fully enjoy the holiday season with loving advice from friends, neighbors, and her family physician.
Let others know what is going on
“One of the first things that comes to my mind is to not be afraid to tell people what is going on. Explain why they are noticing a change in your loved one’s behaviors, so they understand how to better help or respond. I actually announced it one night at a church gathering of our friends and neighbors. It was so amazing how many people came to me later to offer their advice on how they handled similar experiences.”
Remember, it’s not only your loved one who will be experiencing change. Family from out of town, or those who may not see your loved one often, may be in for a shock when they see changes. Be straightforward and help them learn what may be helpful or not helpful. A family email before a get-together would be a great way to share some information and update your family regarding any changes they may experience.
Keep your expectations realistic and go with the flow
Photo courtesy of Pixabay (Beesmurf)
Events or tasks that may have once been easy and enjoyable for your loved one tend to change when they begin to experience a decline in cognition. You may need to change plans due to your loved one’s struggles. Just slow things down and make sure they feel comfortable and included. Read their body language and give gentle cues to help them if they seem to be struggling.
“Some people at a more advanced stage of dementia may experience ‘realities’ that are not actually happening (hallucinations or delusions). Instead of trying to convince them what is real, ask them about the reality they are experiencing,” says Betty. “If they ask questions, answer them honestly, but if they disagree, it will be ok if you just go with it. Help them do what they forgot how to do; if they want to do it another way, go with it. It shows caring and doesn’t embarrass them or confuse them further, which could cause them to feel frustrated and act out.”
Be respectful, patient, and kind
“This is probably the best advice I ever received from our family physician, while he quite literally let me cry on his shoulder,” says Betty. Remember that at whatever stage of memory loss your loved one is experiencing, they are not acting out or being difficult on purpose. “This is not something they are doing to irritate others, they are not just being ornery. This is something that is happening to them. If it is hard and frustrating for us, think how much more difficult it is for them.”
Holidays are meant to be a time to cherish with loved ones. Although your loved one may be “different” than you’re used to, they are still the person they used to be — they are just dealing with a difficult disease. They are doing the best they can in a situation that may be too overwhelming for them to handle. In some cases, they may not even understand what it is you’re gathered to celebrate or why there are so many people there. Check in with them often, read their body language, and respond accordingly. Most importantly, remember to be patient, be kind, and enjoy your time together.
See Part Two Here
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, it affects the whole family. Most families don’t know where to begin when it comes to finding help and resources. Taking a team approach to dementia care is the best way to support families as they support their loved ones.
What is a team approach?
When we think about a team, we think about individuals working together towards the same goal. For families caring for a loved one with dementia, the goal is to provide good care as the disease progresses and also to support each other. Life doesn’t stand still for family members caring for their loved one. Families need to be able to continue with their hopes and dreams, even if some of those hopes and dreams have changed due to their loved one’s illness.
This is why a team approach to dementia care is so important. There are agencies here in Utah County that share the same caregiving and quality-of-life goals for people with dementia that caregiving families have. They offer dementia care education, respite care, and other kinds of support to these families.
Knowing where to find these resources can sometimes be a challenge, especially for families who have just received a diagnosis of dementia. This is where a caregiver coach can be of help.
A Caregiver Coach
Teams usually have a coach – someone who helps the team members by providing education, guidance, and support to help the team succeed. A Caregiver Coach helps families caring for loved ones with dementia. There are many resources available for such families – the challenge is knowing where to find this information and what applies to their situation.
Each family caring for a loved one with dementia has unique challenges. A caregiver coach meets one on one with family caregivers and helps them find the right resources for them.
A family caregiver coach can:
- educate families about the type of dementia their loved one has
- offer ideas for creating a safe home environment
- be a listening ear for caregiver challenges and frustrations
- help problem solve challenging behaviors and situations
- find support groups the caregiver might feel comfortable attending
- help families access respite, in-home care, and adult day programs in the area.
Caregiving takes a team
Aspen is here to help
The caregiving journey doesn’t have to be made alone. There are people who want to help and who know from experience the challenges families face. Aspen Senior Care takes a team approach to dementia care and wants to help you meet your caregiving goals. This is why we have a Caregiver Coach to help families meet the challenges of caregiving. Meeting with our caregiver coach is a complimentary service we offer. To find out more about this service please call 801-224-5910. We are here to help!
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Learn about different types of dementia in our other blog posts!
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
What is Frontotemporal Dementia?
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We specialize in helping seniors live at home longer.
Sometimes daily tasks become difficult for your loved one to accomplish and a loving and helping hand is all they need to maintain a good quality of life at home. Aspen Senior Care’s trusted professional caregivers offer non-medical services to help your loved one live comfortably in their own home for as long as they desire.
Here are the words of two of our clients:
- My mother’s caregiver helps her with bathing, feeding her breakfast, getting her dressed, making her bed, and doing her laundry. The caregiver also takes out the garbage and makes sure the kitchen is cleaned up. She does everything.
Lynn B.
- My caregiver cares about me and takes care of me, then takes care of things around the house.
Lois C.
Our specific services include:
Aspen Caregivers – We love what we do!
- Caring companionship
- Shower assistance
- Hygiene care
- Homemaking
- Meal planning and preparation
- Errands and Transportation
- Light housekeeping
- Medication reminders
- Alzheimer’s and dementia care
- Respite and Hospice care
- Delivering peace of mind
- And much more
Our sister company offers adult day care services and activities for seniors needing memory care. Just visit their website at Aspen Senior Day Center.
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We give family caregivers the break they need!
Family caregivers work tirelessly each and every day to give the best care possible to their loved one. We at Aspen Senior Care know that while being a caregiver is one of the most rewarding callings, it can also be tiring and difficult at times. This is where our professional caregivers step in and provide respite care. Every hard-working caregiver deserves a break to accomplish their daily tasks, run errands, visit family and friends, or take a nap! We’re not taking over, we’re giving family caregivers a chance to take a much-needed break while their loved one follows their daily routine with our trusted professional caregivers.
- I can’t be there in the afternoon so the services allow someone to be with my mom when I can’t be.
Tricia L.
- Having the services helps so that someone is with my mom while I’m at work, and the caregivers show compassion by the way that they talk to my mother. It shows a lot.
Kevin B.
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We take great care of our clients and our caregivers.
Gary Staples, Owner and Administrator, founded Aspen Senior Care over 13 years ago because he believed that seniors need the finest care during their final years of life. Our team here at Aspen Senior Care values that belief and works every day to ensure that belief stays true by having a great love and respect for the seniors we care for. We value our clients and our caregivers and want to ensure that not only are their needs met to their full expectation, but that they feel heard, loved, and appreciated each and every day.
- Aspen Senior Care is right on the mark. They check back and their people are professional and kind. I think they’re perfect.
Josephine C.
- The services from Aspen Senior Care made me feel like my father was being cared for by people that truly care about him.
Ron S.
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We have a reputation for delivering on our promises.
Aspen Senior Care values transparency and ensuring we are living up to our promises! We love what we do, and we hire only those we trust to care for those you love! We at Aspen Senior Care have a promise to each and every client that we work with to 
always:
- Be caregivers you can trust in every situation
- Give you the type of service that will make you want more
- Be professional in all that we do and treat you with love and respect
- Follow the care plan on every shift and document what is accomplished
You are very important to us and we always consider you our highest priority. So, each of us has made the above promise, and we have signed a poster-size version of it and displayed it in our offices as a reminder of our commitment to you. If for any reason you believe that we are not keeping our promise, please let us know immediately. After all, a promise is a promise.
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We provide award-winning home care with loving, professional caregivers you can trust!
Aspen Senior Care is an award-winning option for those searching for caregivers devoted to providing the highest level of care, respect, love, and professionalism. Every year for the past eight years, Aspen Senior Care has received Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice from Home Care PulseⓇ, an independent third party company which interviews our clients and their family members regarding their experience with our company. This award means that we have received the highest customer satisfaction scores from our clients compared to other in-home care providers.
Aspen Senior Care was also voted #1 in the ‘Best of Homecare’ category for Daily Herald‘s – The Best of Utah Valley 2017 Readers Choice Awards. This will make 5 years in a row!
For more information, call our office at 801-224-5910
What is it?
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia and makes up about 60% to 80% of dementia cases. However, many researchers believe this number is too high and that other forms of dementia may be under diagnosed. On average, a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will live with the disease for 4-8 years depending on the person’s health and age. The majority of cases are people aged 65 and older.
In some cases, individuals with this disease aren’t diagnosed until they have had the disease for a few years because the symptoms come on gradually and can be confused with normal aging.
A healthy brain versus a brain affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.
What causes Alzheimer’s Disease?
Although there are ongoing studies, Alzheimer’s Disease is believed to be caused by protein build-up in the brain. These abnormal protein particles are called tangles and plaques and as these tangles and plaques start to attach to nerve cells in the brain, they block communication between the cells and also keep the cells from getting nutrients and oxygen to survive. When a nerve cell dies, that part of the brain shrinks causing the disease to gradually worsen over time. Subsequently, this begins to affect memory, thinking, and behavior as the brain’s “file system” is progressively removed.
Symptoms include:
- Forgetting how to use common, everyday items
- Forgetting how to do common activities, such as cooking and driving
- Misplacing things and not being able to problem solve to find them
- Becoming fearful or jealous of people
- Unable to find the right words to speak or write
- Repeating the same question over and over
- Poor judgment about appropriate behavior
- Confusion about time and place
- Mood and personality changes
We Are People Who Have Alzheimer’s. We Are Not Alzheimer’s.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are different stages of the disease which will progressively worsen over time, although the disease will affect each individual differently. Initially, early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease will result in mild memory loss but as it progresses towards late-stage, the disease removes functionality and the ability to make conversation or respond to what is happening around one’s environment.
Unfortunately, medication does not slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. However, there are both drug and non-drug treatments which can help neurons in the brain to fire, aiding in cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementia related topics, visit our blog or the following websites:
Alzheimer’s Association (24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900 and Find Your Local Chapter)
NIH – National Institute on Aging
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Learn about different types of dementia in our other blog posts!
What is Frontotemporal Dementia?
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At Aspen Senior Day Center in Provo, we provide adult day care services (fun activities and personal care) for seniors with all types of dementia.
Aspen Senior Care provides in-home care for seniors with all types of health challenges, including all forms of dementia.
Contact Karen Rodgers, Family Caregiver Coach, for a free assessment to help you navigate the challenges of caregiving. You can reach her at 801-224-5910.
Visit aspenseniorcare.com or call our office at 801-224-5910 for more information.
Aspen Senior Care is excited to share some great on-line dementia care help for family caregivers!
With all of the information about dementia care out there, it can be an overwhelming task to sort through and figure out just what information is best and how it applies to your situation.
At Aspen, we understand the difficulties family members face while caring for loved ones with dementia and our goal is to be a source of support, education, and information to which family members may turn as they cope with the daily challenges of caregiving.
Learning from the best and looking for the positive
Because there is so much material on dementia care out there, we have looked long and hard to find up-to-date, quality information that is both useful and practical for families to implement, and we believe we have found this resource in Teepa Snow, a dementia care education specialist with over 30 years of experience in this field.
Teepa Snow,
Dementia Care Specialist
She has developed The Positive Approach to Care training series to help professional and family caregivers better understand the physical changes that happen with dementia, and develop skills to understand and care for people with dementia
Our professional caregivers use Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care training series to better understand memory loss and how using this approach improves the quality of life for both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
The positive approach focuses on what individuals with dementia CAN do at each stage of the disease instead of focusing on the skills they have lost.
Online Caregiving Tips
With this in mind, we have put together a list of short video clips taken from Teepa Snow’s training DVDs. More can be found at Teepa’s YouTube channel and The Pines of Sarasota YouTube channel.
- Dementia skills – Meet Teepa Snow
- Dementia – Getting a proper diagnosis
- The Positive Approach to Dementia Care
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy Body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementiaConnecting with a person with FTD
- Helping a person with dementia brush their teeth
- Bathing a person with dementia
- Recognizing pain in a person with dementia
- Understanding how vision changes with dementia
- Dementia and driving
- I’m Sorry
- Celebrating the Holidays
- Helping distant family members understand dementia has become a problem
- Finding moments of joy through activities
These are j
ust a few of the on-line dementia care help available for family caregivers. Aspen Senior Care has some of the full-length DVDs from which the above clips are taken. Family caregivers are welcome to come and watch the entire DVD if they would like. Just give us a call at 801-224-5910 to check on availability and schedule a time to come in.
Aspen Senior Care is here to help families meet the caregiving challenges they face. We want families to feel they aren’t alone, that there is hope and help available. Please visit our website at aspenseniorcare.com and call us at 801-224-5910 for more information. We’re here to help.
What is respite care?
Respite care is short-term care provided to a dependent, disabled, or elderly person with the purpose of giving the main caregiver a break from caregiving responsibilities. This is done while at the same time making sure your loved one is well cared for and able to follow his or her regular routine.
Respite care allows family caregivers to care for loved ones long-term, avoiding caregiver burnout. The care can be designed for a few hours, a day or for longer periods of time depending on what the caregiver needs and what type of care is needed and what services are available in your area.
What types of respite care are there?
There are several types of respite care available.
- In-home care is provided by a licensed agency specializing in care for seniors or others needing special care. This may be for a short period of time or up to several days to a day, whatever the family caregiver might need in order to get a much-needed break or visit with family or friends. Respite care provided by an agency allows the caregiver peace of mind knowing their loved one is being cared for by someone who is trained to provide personal care, make nutritious meals, and handle challenging behaviors or situations that may come up.
- Adult Day Care Centers provide licensed care during day-time hours, usually five days a week at a warm & welcoming facility. This is a great option for family caregivers who work during the day. Some caregivers choose to bring a loved one a few days a week on a regular basis.Adult day centers are a nice option in that they provide socialization, activities and nutritious meals. All adult day programs are NOT the same so it’s important to visit and ask questions when considering this type of respite option.
- Specialized respite care facilities are places with staff trained for specific care, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, where a loved one may stay for several days or a couple of weeks when the caregiver needs to go out of town or has other obligations.
- Emergency respite care offers help and care on an emergency basis. Usually, home care agencies or respite care facilities offer this type of care.
- Informal respite care is provided by family members or neighbors and usually allow a limited but much-needed break for the primary caregiver to run errands, go to a doctor’s appointment or simply take some time off from caregiving.
What are the benefits of respite care?
Caring for someone with special needs can be overwhelming at times. Family caregivers today have family, work, church and community obligations on top of providing care for their loved-one.
They want to provide the best care and attention to everyone in their circle of influence but this is unrealistic and overwhelming. It can lead to caregiver burnout.
Respite care allows the caregiver to step back and take time for themselves, to refresh and recharge their energy and focus. It actually helps caregivers become better caregivers and take care of their responsibilities longer.
If you are interested in learning more about respite care options call Aspen Senior Care at 801-224-5910. We can help you find options and help determine what type of respite might be right for you. We provide in-home respite care and we also run the Aspen Senior Day Center in Provo which is an adult day center that specializes in working with individuals with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Visit our websites at www.aspenseniorcare.com and www.aspenseniorcenter.org to learn more about the services we provide and how we can help.
Caring Super Star of 2022
Daily Herald Best of Utah Valley, 2022
Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year