Memory Care Assisted Living

Do Different Seasons Have Different Effects on Alzheimer’s and Dementia? | Fallbrook Memory Care Facility

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Changes in behavior with age can be natural.  However, there are some behavior changes that can link to dementia or Alzheimer’s.  With changing behaviors, there are some outside factors that can take effect on this.

Research shows that seasonal changes can impact the habits and demeanors of dementia patients. Do you have a family member who exhibits behavioral change?

It can truly affect the lives of those suffering from seasonal change, but the situation is manageable by understanding the cause and possible treatments.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Diagnosis | Fallbrook Memory Care Facility

The term dementia covers several disorders. Each shows a decline in cognitive function that leads to changes in personality, memory, daily performance, or communication skills. Alzheimer’s on the other hand, is the most common type of dementia.

Patients that show symptoms of memory loss may be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia, Huntington’s disease, or Parkinson’s dementia.

Being the most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s takes up 60-80% of all dementia cases. Although commonly observed in senior adults from 65 years and up, Alzheimer’s is also noted in the younger population with about 200,000 cases. And up to now, researchers are still working on determining what causes Alzheimer’s.

Can the Seasons Affect Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

Yes, particularly during the cold winter months. The yearly change of season especially when days are shorter severely impacts patients in Fallbrook Memory Care Facility. The extended hours of darkness can cause increased agitation, confusion, depression, irritability, wandering, and sleep disturbance.

Although this can be challenging, caregivers and loved ones can handle these effects. Regardless of what the season is, patients with dementia need to have a stable routine.

Listening to soothing music, the use of essential oils or other sleep aids can help combat the effects of changing seasons. Or better yet talk to a physician to help better understand the phenomenon as well as other ways to manage the symptoms safely and effectively.

How a Memory Care Facility Can Help Monitor Disease Progress

Senior adults suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia will have an easy and comfortable way of coping with this difficult health condition when in a specialized institution like Fallbrook Memory Care Facility. A memory care facility like Fallbrook is here to care for dementia patients.

Other than the regular care they provide to their patients, Fallbrook Memory Care Facility is a safe and secure place for senior adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Here, residents have round-the-clock care to reduce the risks of wandering or falling.

Activities and programs are also specified based on the patient’s interests and abilities. In addition, the facility has memory-care-specific programming carefully constructed for senior residents a place where they can continue to thrive.

Cognitive assessments, exams, and monitoring systems are also available through the help of physicians to track the disease’s progress.

 

Looking for excellent memory care? Get in contact with us at Fallbrook Assisted Living by clicking here!

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

Memory Care Assisted Living

How to Recognize Stress in Assisted Living Facilities

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Stress is a normal part of life and senior residents from assisted living facilities are no exception. Sometimes, stress can be a motivating factor to get the job done. It allows you to stay focused, and alert, and can even help humans in challenging situations.

However, stress can also negatively affect one’s mental and emotional health if not dealt with properly. Stress can also cause depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, heart problems, relationship issues, and more.

Thus, it is important to identify stress and its causes to begin finding ways to combat them. Even the small ways can go a long way in living a positive life.

Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month has been celebrated every April since 1992 worldwide to spread awareness of the causes and curative ways of the stress pandemic.

When stress gets out of control can lead to serious illnesses. People have different levels of stress tolerance, but regardless, stressors can be approachable.

For the last 2 years, in particular, this month is highly important for navigating the pandemic. People across the globe including the residents in assisted living facilities struggled to cope with the health scare, limited to no physical contact with families and the outside world, trauma, and uncertainties.

Because of these, this month provides healthy and helpful ways to cope or at least reduce stress. Because recognizing stress is the first step toward feeling better and lowering its dangers.

Why Identifying Stress is Important

Many people do not realize that they are suffering from stress, and it is too late that stress has already consumed them. Sometimes the impacts of stress do not show directly. It could come in the form of stress eating, and feelings of isolation and anxiety. Having emotions like these at high levels can be risky for senior residents in assisted living facilities.

Although you can not entirely avoid stress, being able to spot the signs can save one’s health. Identifying the triggers also limits the amount of stress that one will be subject to. In addition, it will allow individuals to come up with ways to alleviate stress and improve their mood, and overall health.

Ways to Identify Stress in Assisted Living Facilities

Prolonged isolation and health risks are common factors that affect the mood and mental health of senior residents. And if left unaddressed, can alleviate conditions like hypertension, insomnia, or malnutrition.

Caregivers and staff must observe and better recognize stress among residents.

Daily caregivers look out for:

  • signs of depression, loneliness, or isolation (loss of interest in socializing, attending activities and engagements)
  • lack of energy and motivation
  • loss of appetite or sudden weight loss (skipping meals)
  • difficulty sleeping, oversleeping, or daytime sleepiness
  • neglecting personal hygiene or forgetting medicine

Management and staff in assisted living facilities should have special programs and activities to help their residents with elderly depression.

Other than programs, emotional support is necessary once these signs are identified by family members. Plus, get an accurate diagnosis by accompanying loved ones to doctor’s appointments to receive appropriate treatment.

 

Looking for excellent assisted living? Click here to check out our floorplans!

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