Month: August 2017
The Benefits of Joining a Dementia Support Group
When you are taking care of your loved one with dementia it can seem overwhelming. We hope to receive support from other family and friends but sometimes it just isn’t enough. Also, there are challenges that are presented including navigating the path of care, changes in behavior and personality that when faced with it alone can seem daunting. Support groups such as our Memory Care Support Group aim to assist in decreasing the challenges associated with caregiving for someone with dementia. Support groups offer a safe space to connect with your loved one as well as share stories, provide each other with information and ensure that you don’t feel as if you have to face caregiving on your own.
Your community can be the very place where you find the support you need. Support groups involve regular meetings where people experiencing similar struggles can come together. It is in this safe space that we can offer encouragement and support to others. Although many groups differ in a variety of ways support groups offer the ability to share stories and express feelings. Our support group offers the ability to bring your loved one with dementia to each meeting, to enjoy a relaxed environment where they can participate in activities and enjoy the company of others. We meet regularly to offer support to our community of caregivers and their loved ones with dementia that offers a setting where they can connect with one another.
This process of connecting can involve sharing experiences, challenges and triumphs with others which can be cathartic. It can provide a sense of relief for those caregiving for someone with dementia. You may just find the information and resources you need within the support group. Caregiving without understanding all your options can be stressful. One thing you may be able to take away is a different way to manage the symptoms of dementia, develop better coping skills or identify service options.
We understand that support groups are not the answer for everyone, but identifying all your local resources can be a benefit to anyone providing care to someone with dementia. Here at the Tanglewood Group we aim to strengthen and empower relationships between the caregiver and their loved one with dementia. Please join us at our Memory Care Support Group held at Comfort Today on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
The Tanglewood Group Caregiver Tip of the Day
Creating a Safe Space at Home
Safety is one of the first things to consider when your loved one is showing signs of dementia. Many individuals with dementia can become disoriented even in their own home. Things that were once easy or familiar to them are now difficult tasks to complete and present a number of new concerns. As their personality and abilities change with the progression of the disease we must always be considering their safety. Things that once posed no risk can now be very dangerous for your loved one. Below are some safety measures to consider for your loved one with dementia in the home setting.
- WHO IS GOING TO LOCK IT ALL UP
As the disease progresses those with dementia forget how to use simple household items. It is important that all items that could be ingested be thrown out or locked up safely. This includes cleaners, deodorant, soaps, lotions, medications, toothpaste, etc. These items are now something to be considered potentially harmful to your loved one.
- WHAT IS THERE TO GRAB ON TO
Balance becomes more difficult as we age. Installing grab bars in areas that additional assistance is needed to help transfer or stand up, such as the bathroom can decrease slips and falls. As your loved one progresses in the disease they may forget to use these assistive devices and may need gentle reminders when you are assisting them.
- WHEN TO REMOVE THE CAR KEYS
Make sure that the dangers of driving no longer exist. Think about removing the car keys or even making arrangements to remove the vehicle all together. The garage possesses a number of risks as well; think about the tools and other items that could become potentially dangerous if used inappropriately.
- WHERE MIGHT THEY BE GOING
A behavior typically associated with dementia is wandering. This is frightening as your loved one begins to leave the home and not know how to return, does not watch for traffic, etc. Supervision of your loved one must be established, this should be 24 hour supervision. However some devices can also assist including window and door alarms that notify someone that the door has been opened.
- WHY SHOULD WE WATCH THE FLOOR
The floor can become hazardous as we age, not only are there tripping hazards but some of those beautiful throw rugs become dangerous as well. Many individuals with dementia struggle with their ability to see solid items on the floor as they look more like a large hole in the ground then a once nice area rug.
- HOW TO KNOW WHEN ITS NO LONGER SAFE
As time passes there will come a time when it may no longer be safe for your loved one to remain at home. It is important to start examining your options early on to identify the best possible level of care for your loved one. Many levels of service exist and it never hurts to know your options.
There are a lot of things to consider when establishing a safe home environment for your loved one with dementia. These are only some basic steps to begin setting your home up with safety precautions. It is important to have all the options and talk to the experts about the next step in care. Come to the Tanglewood Group Memory Care Support Group on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 2-3:30 p.m. for additional support or call (716) 488-9434 to request a tour today.
Tanglewood Group Caregiver Tip of the Day
JOIN US AT TANGLEWOOD
Every Option You Need Beginning At Home
The Tanglewood Group understands the intricacies of caring for those with memory problems and the challenges caregivers face. As a caregiver for someone with dementia, you never get a day off. Wishing for a day to yourself or a reprieve from your responsibility adds a layer of guilt to your mental burden.
A Memory Care Support Group offering an outlet for frustration and promise for greater quality of interactions with your loved one will alleviate stress for both. Memory Café is a FREE support group that is uniquely offered to both caregiver and those cared for. The group gathers with Nicole Mucheck, a trained behavior specialist who has day to day experience dealing with many unique individuals who suffer differently with dementia. The Support Group is but one specialized option for families suffering from the impact of memory impairment.
Partners in Care Homecare is a desirable option when it still makes sense to keep your loved one at home, and is provided by the same trained professionals employed by Memory Garden. Our certified caregivers are trained in the stages of dementia, how it manifests for each individual differently, and strategies to address behaviors as well as maintaining safety in the home and community. Each of our home care clients are provided with an individualized care plan developed by our on staff RN. Care plans include tasks associated with daily living but also activities of interest to stimulate our client’s memories and remain active in their environment.
Caring for a loved one in their home gives comfort to everyone involved. Home is familiar, offers a sense of security, and oftentimes minimizes the guilt felt by the caregiver. As this disease progresses though, communication becomes challenging, judgment is impaired, and the evil of isolation and inactivity sets in. Isolation and inactivity is a huge contributor to decline. It is at this point in the disease that one might consider Memory Garden, a dedicated Assisted Living Facility that specializes solely in memory care. Memory Garden was designed with memory impairment in mind. When the environment promotes a sense of independence among the impaired, the caregivers focus far less on deficits and far more on ability. Carmen Hlosta, Director of Certification-Medicaid Chautauqua County states it best; “the goal is always the right care at the right time and place”, however, very often the call for service comes too late. Your loved one has bypassed the ability to remain at home or even thrive at the level of assisted living and needs long term nursing care or hospice. Call us when you first notice signs of dementia in your loved one. As the community experts on dementia, we want to be your resource.
There are approximately 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017 and nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has a form of dementia according to the Alzheimer’s Association. As an agency that cares deeply about those living with dementia, we commit to funding research for a cure. While that is our hope for the future, today we spend our days making a positive impact on the quality of life for the families we serve. “Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.” – Maya Angelou
The Tanglewood Group is proud to be a for-profit business paying our share of taxes, contributing to the tax base and reducing the tax burden for everybody in the community. Still, we continue to provide similar pricing as the non-profit facilities in our area. We employ over 200 people and continue to seek qualified caregivers with values measured by their commitment to caring.
When you think dementia care, think the Tanglewood Group, your local community experts. Contact the Tanglewood Group to learn about our variety of services at 716-488-9434 or visit http://www.tanglewoodmanor.com.
Tanglewood Group Caregiver Tip of the Day
Let’s Talk Communication and Dementia
We all at times struggle with communicating with others. We forget someone’s name or can’t accurately convey our thoughts through our words. However, when your loved one is diagnosed with dementia one area that becomes increasingly difficult is communication. Over time dementia will affect the way a person communicates and these changes will become increasingly more noticeable. Their ability to find words, put together a thought, and communicate rational ideas will become more difficult. Communication becomes frustrating not only for the person with dementia but also for their caregivers. With many years of working as caregivers we have developed our own strategies for increasing effective communication with those with dementia.
- DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
Don’t assume that communication will be difficult. We know that each person’s dementia story is unique so their struggles with communication are also unique. Some struggle with finding their words, some make up words or stories, while others lose their speech completely. Each person’s progression through the disease will look different, and their day to day struggles can also be quite diverse.
- CHECK THE MOOD BEFORE YOU SPEAK
Set up the interaction to be a positive one. Check your surroundings, is this a good place to talk, is it too loud or are there a lot of people around. Are you ready to communicate? Make sure you are feeling positive and have the patience to think about not only what your loved one with dementia is saying but what their body language is also telling you.
- KEEP IT SIMPLE
Make your sentences clear and straightforward. Practice asking your loved one questions that are answerable with yes or no responses that don’t require too much detail for you to get the information that you need. Only ask one question at a time and avoid questions that require them to “remember” something. If they get off track gently redirect back to the topic, while avoiding confronting any misuse of words or conflicts in their stories.
- USE YOUR EARS & EYES
Make eye contact and allow your body to face them. Watch their body language, what do their facial expressions tell you? Remember to listen to clues in what is being said while not paying attention to the actual words that are being said. Cue in to expressions of pain or feelings of sadness. This gives you a good chance to validate their feelings and make them feel heard.
- DON’T RUSH
Allow plenty of time for communication. It may take them awhile to formulate their thoughts or find their words. Attempt to avoid “finishing their sentences” or correcting the words they choose to use. Instead encourage them to keep talking, offer up your own experiences or thoughts.
- INCLUDE THEM IN CONVERSATION
There are usually a lot of people involved in caring for your loved one with dementia. Make sure that when a conversation is about them, that you are including them. When they are also present in the room, look for feedback, check in with their thoughts on the subject. This validates their feelings and maintains dignity.
- LAUGH TOGETHER & SMILE OFTEN
Find common ground, things that you both find enjoyable. These will be the moments that pull you through the tough days and the things that will help you make connections as dementia progresses. Remember these moments, how they made you feel, so that you can help them to continue to experience these feelings and have these moments too.
It’s important to not lose hope and as dementia progresses we must remember that they may lose the ability to communicate through words their stories or experiences but they will also be able to show emotion. How you made them feel will always be there even when they may not understand what it is you’ve said. We can all understand a smile, and you can never smile too much.
Tanglewood Group Caregiver Tip of the Day
Memory Care Support Group 