Archive for year: 2022

Warm weather is also associated with fun outdoor activities. And for senior adults in assisted living communities, summer is an opportunity to bask under the sun. However, as people grow older, the skin grows thinner and more sensitive to sun exposure, making it necessary to take precautionary measures to be protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Fortunately, there are several ways and means to shield the skin from sunburns, skin aging, loss of elasticity, wrinkles, or worst skin cancer. Be sure to remember these tips when going out or share these with your loved ones.

Tips For Aging Skin Care for Assisted Living Residents

Stay Hydrated

Water is essential to keep bodily functions and more essential as we grow older to keep the skin to stay hydrated, particularly during the hot summer months.

During summer, it is recommended to drink at least 2 and a half liters of water. Although water is the best way to stay hydrated, watermelon has high water content, celery, and cucumber.

Apply Sunscreen

Make sure to regularly apply sunscreen or at least every 90 minutes to keep the sunscreen protection effective. Choose a product that has at least 30 SPF or higher.

Moisturize

Always have a moisturizer handy to restore the skin’s protection from the UV rays and prevent it from drying out. Encourage loved ones in assisted living care to incorporate to keep the skin moisturized.

Consult Your Doctor

When taking medications, consult with your doctor first as some prescriptions may cause sensitivity to sun exposure. Ask for recommendations on how to still enjoy the summer months without the worries of negative side effects.

SPF Recommendations

With proper care and the right product, your skin can still look young and healthy. For seniors in assisted living, selecting the right SPF adds an extra layer of protection.

The SPF should be at least 30. A facial cream or sunscreen lotion or spray with SPF protection of 30 filters 97% of UVB rays while SPF 50 filters about 98%. Let us say if your skin burns under the sun in 15 minutes without sunscreen, SPF 30 product provides skin protection against sun damage for 450 minutes. That is based on 15 minutes multiplied by 30 SPF.

Sunscreen products should be waterproof or sweatproof and must be applied 30 minutes before going out. As mentioned, sunscreen must be re-applied every 90 minutes but is done more frequently when sweating or swimming. Or better yet, read the manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions on how to properly use the product.

Other than exercising these tips on how to take care of the skin for seniors in assisted living, the seniors can reduce their risk of skin damage by wearing protective clothing such as pants, long-sleeved tops, shades, and wide-brimmed hats.

Even with the appropriate clothing and sun protection, remember to seek shade when necessary. Lastly, avoid peak exposures usually between 10 AM and 2 PM.

On the market for excellent care and comfortable living? Click here to check out Fallbrook Assisted Living!

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

The summer months bring fun activities, beaches, beautiful weather, and a trip to that dream holiday destination. For residents in Fallbrook Assisted Living, summer means more outside time, fun weekly outings, and seasonal eats.

From outdoor dining, board games, and arts and crafts, there are fun activities that senior adults can enjoy whether they just observe or participate.

Summer in Fallbrook Assisted Living

Summer is almost here, and seniors can take advantage of this season. The longer days and warmer months can be an opportunity to hit the road for vacation or spend time with your loved ones. Seniors on the other hand can benefit from the longer days and more sunshine that they do not get during other seasons.

Seniors in Fallbrook assisted living can make the most of the summer season by:

Getting enough vitamin D

• Although vitamin D is in foods like fish, egg yolks, red meat, or supplements, direct sunlight can’t be beaten. Vitamin D is essential in regulating calcium in the body supporting strong bones, teeth, and muscles.
• Bone becomes weak as we age, hence, the importance of getting calcium and protein through diet. An optimum level of vitamin D is necessary to help the body absorb calcium.
• Don’t forget to keep track of UV levels when soaking up that vitamin D. Always wear sunscreen and really when going outside.
• The hot weather and natural light are a natural anti-depressant. Senior residents can increase their outdoor activities for fresh air and exercise which can alleviate stress and depression.
• The cold winter months can bring Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can lead to depression, fatigue, and low mood. But with the hot days of summer, residents in Fallbrook assisted living can now go out more often, socialize, and just bask in the sun and enjoy the moment.
• Summer is also an opportunity to load up on fruits and vegetables with more vitamins. Seniors need to eat a healthy and balanced diet to support healthy skin, bones, muscles, and overall wellness.

Summer Fun Activities for Seniors

Here are great Fallbrook assisted living activities that you can add to your June calendar.

Ice Cream Parties

Beat the summer heat with ice cream parties throughout the summer season. You can organize a “create your own ice cream” party or just prepare ice cream of different flavors for staff, residents, and family members in the social hall or outdoor.

Baking Social

Host baking events where residents, staff, and family members can participate. Make it a competition event to encourage residents’ creativity and reward winners with trophies or anything that can be used as souvenirs of the memorable event.

Garden Party

Set up tables with vases of colorful flowers. Offer food and ice-cold beverages for everyone to enjoy.

Encourage Fallbrook assisted living residents to wear their best summer outfits. Then, have flower arranging competitions, dancing, singing, and other fun activities.

Looking for excellent senior care in Nebraska? Click here to check out Fallbrook assisted living!

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

Millions of people around the world are struggling with mental health issues and people in senior housing are no exception. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and brings light to the challenges of mental illness and the importance of treatment.

The Importance of Mental Health for Seniors

Mental health is crucial in every stage of life but especially during the later years. As seniors step into late adulthood, many struggle to cope with the changes in their lives. Some of these changes include physical changes, loss of work, moving, and dealing with different medical conditions.

This can be very frustrating for anyone. This frustration can easily lead to anxiety and eventually, depression if not properly addressed.

According to the CDC, at least 7 million Americans over the age of 65 suffer from depression each year.

Some of the most common signs that a senior has mental health issues include a shift in mood, eating and sleeping habits, anger and irritability, and threat to harm self or others.

With that number, there’s a pressing need to highlight mental health as part of the healthcare goals for seniors. By having the right guidance and support, they will be able to adapt to life changes more easily, so they can enjoy their years in senior housing without battling anxiety and depression.

Different Mental Health Exercises in Senior Housing

To help seniors in senior housing battle mental health challenges, here are some exercises they can enjoy:

Taking on crafts.

• Crafting is such a great way to not only prevent memory loss but also fight depression and anxiety. When you’re knitting, painting, or sewing, you allow your mind to be creative so that there’s no room for bad thoughts in your head.

Doing puzzles.

• Puzzles are some of the most popular activities in senior housing because of their benefits to the mind and body. Aside from sharpening the memory, doing puzzles also help the mind relax and focus on a single activity. This is a great way to forget all those worries and just enjoy the moment.

Gardening.

• Taking care of plants or growing vegetables are a great way to get the body moving and keep the mind healthy. According to several studies, gardening has been linked to reducing the risks of dementia and it’s also a good way to battle anxiety and depression because you’re outdoors and you keep yourself busy throughout the day.

Mental health is a crucial topic that everyone should talk about not only during Mental Health Awareness Month but every day.

With so many people suffering from mental illness, it’s about time that we give importance to our mental health, especially for those individuals who are living in senior housing and struggle with anxiety and depression on almost a daily basis.

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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

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

Retirement comes with pros and cons. It means the freedom to do whatever you want. However, retirement also means spending more time alone or being cooped up at home due to mobility issues which often leads to loneliness and depression. Older adults in senior housing must maintain social interaction for their emotional and mental health.

Keeping relationships and spending adequate time with family and friends keep the senior adults’ minds active. Spending quality time is good for the heart and brain.

How Social Interaction Affects Us

Research shows that spending time with your support group fosters mental and emotional well-being. Social interaction is also an important aspect of adult life and as people age with the following benefits.

• Social engagement can help boost memory formation. In addition, it protects the brain from neurodegenerative diseases.
• Social interaction develops better and healthy habits, particularly when doing something difficult because of the encouragement from others. It can lighten the mood and make people happier.
• Enjoying constant communication with family members, friends, or colleagues can make people happy. Aside from diet and lifestyle, the research found that SuperAgers appeared to be socially active. When constantly surrounded by the people dear to you, being socially connected is one important element to a longer life.
• Social interaction fosters the feeling of belonging, safety, and security.

Why Social Interaction is Critical for Residents in Senior Housing

Older adults in senior housing should spend a few hours of social interaction each week to brighten up their mood and overall health. Family members should encourage their loved ones even those with limited mobility.

Boosts Brain Health

• Social interaction can keep seniors mentally stimulated and be aware of their surroundings. Being socially active can also improve seniors’ communication skills while preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disease. Constant communication will also enhance senior adults’ networks that they can rely upon in the future.

Lowers Risks of Isolation and Depression

• Residents in senior housing must maintain relationships with their fellow residents, friends, or family members so they can openly discuss how they are feeling or the things that are going on with their lives. Having no one to talk to or a strong support group often leads to loneliness, isolation, boredom, and poor decision makings.

Better Health

• Limited or failing to interact with the people around can lead to increased stress levels resulting in the development of serious illnesses. Also, having a strong support group promotes healthier habits like mental engagement, eating on time and hearty food, regular excise, and other important lifestyle choices.

Ways to Stay Engaged from Afar

Despite the challenges brought by the COVID19 pandemic, staying socially active should not be hindered. In today’s digital age, there are numerous ways to stay connected to your network from afar.

Video calling and messaging are easily available to keep in touch. Regardless of time zone differences, senior housing residents can still nurture relationships and carry on with meaningful conversations.

Even not so techy adults can still take advantage of the virtual world through emails and social media messaging. But if these are too much, seniors can always resort to phone calls.

Ready to make the move into assisted living? 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