When was the last time you took a walk? How did you feel afterwards? Maybe a little winded, but probably pretty good and ready to relax, right? A good, brisk walk is one of nature’s most perfect exercises because it not only works many muscles, but it feeds oxygen to the brain, increases energy and […]
While our Anthem Memory Care community life engagement directors love to organize fun events and activities for our residents, they also recognize the value of providing plenty of opportunity to relax and experience periods of peace and quiet. A researcher from the University of Wisconsin, Laura Joosse, has studied the relationship between sound and behavior […]
Generally speaking, Alzheimer’s disease is a topic that most of us are pretty familiar with. We know that it involves memory loss that continues to accelerate over the years. But beneath this very basic understanding, sits a general lack awareness of important details. As a result, many inaccuracies continue to get passed around. September is […]
We often get asked why our memory care communities organize many of our activities to include local school children. It’s an easy question to answer. Intergenerational activities are beneficial for everyone involved. For our residents, it gives them a chance to connect with young people in ways that sharpen their senses and the opportunity to […]
Did you know that up to 40% of individuals with dementia also struggle with depression? That’s certainly not a welcome statistic, especially if you are caring for a loved one diagnosed with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. What can be challenging is being able to recognize depression in a loved one with dementia. The […]
At our Anthem Memory Care communities, few things are as exciting as outings, for both our residents and our staff. Yes, they require some planning and organization, but it’s well worth the effort. For individuals living with dementia, activities that stimulate the five senses do more than simply make for an enjoyable experience. They have […]
August is National Wellness Month. And while wellness principles should be practiced year-round, this month presents us with a great opportunity to stop and check in with our health. For individuals living with dementia, wellness takes on added significance. We believe it is important for family caregivers to understand that the limitations associated with dementias, […]
Nothing is more satisfying for residents of Harvester Place Memory Care in Burr Ridge, Illinois than finding new ways to “give back” to the community. Recently, a group of local summer school children visited Harvester Place to work with residents to create some very unique dog chew toys, all to be donated to the local animal […]
Local summer camp students paid a visit to residents of Harvester Place Memory Care to help them make dog “chew toys” for local shelters. It was both fun and purposeful for all, doing their part to give back to the greater community. The event was covered in the Chicago Tribune, which you can access here: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/burr-ridge/ct-dbr-burr-ridge-harvester-tl-0722-20210716-a6uyylafgnaj5mecad4ptnlvjq-story.html
Residents were excited to see their handmade kites fill the skies as local fifth-graders ran with them and got them airborne. The event was covered by the local TV station, KDVR. You can watch the full video here: https://kdvr.com/video/memory-care-facility-hosting-their-own-games/6833708/
As we enter the middle of summer, there is much to enjoy. Outdoor activities, a more relaxed atmosphere, lots of open windows and, of course, daylight saving time. And yet the warmer weather we have craved all winter long can reach dangerous levels which can have a serious impact on health, especially for older individuals. […]
One of our residents’ (and staff’s) favorite activities in our Anthem communities is dancing. Whether it’s fast, slow, a conga line or just swaying back and forth, the experience of moving in time to music has a therapeutic value all its own. That’s why we find every opportunity to get our residents up and involved, […]
One of the many challenges of the pandemic was that it forced many adult children to be separated from their aging parents for well over a year. For many families, the reunions are just now occurring, having waited to be fully vaccinated and for travel restrictions to lift. For most, it has been a joyous […]
As we begin to engage in family visits and get-togethers again, it can bring a certain degree of anxiety to many of us, especially our older relatives who may remain skeptical about vaccines, health protocols and just getting back to socializing again. The CDC has issued new guidelines loosening the protocols for those who have […]
Nothing can replace human to human interaction. It’s vital to our emotional and physical health and wellbeing. And yet, researchers and health professionals are finding that robots can play an important role in helping to connect individuals with dementia to information, brain-stimulating entertainment and even to each other. Denver-based DreamFace Technologies has been working on […]