Memory Care Assisted Living

5 Stimulating Activities for Seniors With Alzheimer’s in Assisted Living

Alzheimer’s disease is undeniably one of the most dreaded medical conditions in the world today, especially because it affects mostly the elderly. In 2019, more than 5.8 million Americans had Alzheimer’s, 5.6 million of which are individuals aged 65 and older.

 

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the country, killing more people than prostate and breast cancer combined.  

 

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease usually stay in memory assisted living facilities where they are given the chance to enjoy an excellent quality of life even as their disease progresses.

 

One of the most important parts of any memory care plan is to offer these five stimulating activities that help reduce the effects of memory loss, so seniors can still express themselves and build emotional connections with others, especially their loved ones.

 

 

Cleaning

 

Being a progressive disease, Alzheimer’s slowly takes away an individual’s memory causing him to forget even the most mundane tasks that he used to do back when he was younger. This is why memory assisted living facilities to allow residents to do basic chores like wiping the table, folding the laundry and sweeping the floor to promote independence and give them the happiness of being able to accomplish something every day.

 

 

Baking or cooking

 

Aside from cleaning, cooking is one of those simple tasks that could stir up a lot of great memories for seniors. Making meals together with loved ones helps bring back those times when they would cook their recipes at home and this activity is also a great way to foster independence, so seniors can still enjoy cooking or baking while they are in a relatively safe environment.

 

 

Reading

 

Reading books or magazines is such a great way to keep the brain active by feeding them with information. Alzheimer’s disease progresses faster when the brain is stagnant, so reading is encouraged for seniors in memory assisted living to not only keep them informed of the world around them but also stimulate brain activity.

 

 

Playing music or doing arts and crafts

 

There’s always something magical about playing music or doing arts and crafts that make even those who don’t have Alzheimer’s disease happy.

 

For seniors in memory assisted living facilities, these activities are not only a great way to pass the time but they also keep their brains active to reduce memory impairment, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Music and art are also great activities to help foster engagement and interaction among residents in these facilities, so they can still build meaningful relationships at this stage in their lives.

 

 

Watching family videos

 

Finally, nothing beats the joy of watching family videos together with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Since memory loss is one of the most devastating effects of the disease, it’s very important for seniors to recall the most important times of their lives by watching videos that help stimulate their brain.

 

This is also a great bonding activity for residents and their loved ones, as these memories stir emotions that help them maintain their relationship even when their loved one already has severe memory loss.

 


Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

senior housing

4 Tips to Finding the Right Low Income Senior Housing

Aging is an inevitable part of life, but with it comes many fears especially it comes to managing finances after retirement. A big chunk of the elderly population is living on fixed incomes, which means they could barely afford to pay for their bills and medication, let alone senior housing that takes up a huge part of their living expenses.

 

But the government has made efforts to provide good quality of living to all seniors through low-income senior housing that allows them to stretch their budget without compromising their homes. If you’re looking for this type of housing for a loved one, here are some tips that you can follow:

 

 

Know the different types of low-income senior housing

 

The federal government and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidize these four main programs for low-income senior housing to cater to different types of needs:

 

  1. Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. This program aims to help very low-income seniors including those who need assistance with cleaning, cooking, and transportation. HUD offers capital advances to non-profit organizations to build properties to be used as senior homes and it also offers rent subsidies to beneficiaries.
  2. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Properties. The LIHTC aims to offer tax credits to investors and developers that buy, build or rehabilitate low-income senior housing
  3. Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). This program offers rental assistance for low-income families, disabled people and the elderly who are living in market-rate apartments.
  4. Public Housing. These are high-rise apartments and residential areas that are run by the county or city public agencies. Only qualified tenants who spend 30% of their income on rent and utilities are allowed to stay in these public housing facilities.

 

 

Understand the needs of the elderly

 

There are many housing options for seniors on the market. But one of the best ways to find the right home that doesn’t cost a lot is to determine the needs of the individual who will live in it. Know the current rental rates first and consider options according to what fits the requirements of the tenant. Some of the most important things to consider include space, number of bedrooms and location.

 

 

Don’t jump on the first offer you see

 

Once you know the specific needs of the tenant, it’s time to search for options that fit within his budget. It’s actually not very hard to find cheap senior housing, but you should never jump on the first offer you see.

 

Filter out your options through their amenities including the right number of bedrooms, easy access for disabled individuals and the elderly and safety measures implemented around the residence.

 

 

Get ready to apply for senior housing

 

There are certain qualifications for low-income senior housing. So when the elderly are ready to apply, he should contact the local HUD office or public housing agency to know which programs he is qualified in.

 

The elderly deserve the chance to live a comfortable life as they enjoy their later years. This is why a lot of senior housing options are provided by the government to ensure that they enjoy the best years of their lives.

 


Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper