Cognitive Decline can Creep Up on a Person

According to a professor of cognition and cognitive neuroscience, a decline in cognitive health does not just happen overnight. While the process typically starts slowly, one day you may be startled to find you are not as mentally sharp as you once were. Changes you or a loved one may notice include things like finding it harder to follow a conversation, remembering dates and times of events, and difficulty performing everyday tasks.

It is common for all of us to forget the name of an actor from a movie we saw last night; but forgetting you even went to a movie last night is concerning. Another problem is losing the ability to multi-task. A person who in the past could easily put on a dinner party may find themselves unable to complete the task. They may find it hard to concentrate on things like following a recipe while trying to hold a conversation with someone.

Heather Whitson, M.D., a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and director of the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, says, “If it just doesn't seem like it's happening well, or it's happening with a lot more effort, that would be a sign that there are executive function issues.”

The Alzheimer’s Association explains while we all may misplace things like keys and reading glasses, putting something away in an unusual place, or misplacing something and not being able to retrace your steps, may be an early warning sign of dementia. The National Institute of Aging says dealing with money issues can be one of the first noticeable signs of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias as is short-term memory loss. If you suspect your problems go beyond what is normal, make an appointment to discuss it with your healthcare provider. 

At MorningStar of Arvada we provide assisted living as well as holistic memory care Arvada, CO families trust for their loved ones. Our distinct Reflections Neighborhood provides experienced, compassionate senior living designed around the individualized needs of each resident. With 29 suites, we are able to care for residents in an intimate, supportive and loving environment, where independence is encouraged through clear wayfinding and inviting common areas. Contact us to learn more about our various living options including our retirement communities.

One of the Best Exercise to Keep Our Brains’ Sharp

A fun way to lower your risk of dementia is to take up the hobby of dancing. According to a recent article, dancing combines some of the best things associated with longevity such as exercise, balance, creativity and social connections. This means while dancing may take up the same amount of time as walking, it has more benefits.

The findings come from a long-term study conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine who wanted to learn more about the aging brain. The researchers recruited seniors aged 75 to 85 who initially underwent neuropsychological testing and answered questionnaires regarding their health and lifestyle. From there, the participants’ cognitive health was tracked.

The study found that for each cognitive activity participants performed during a week, there was slight reduction in their dementia risk. Though things like board games and crossword puzzles reduced the risk, researchers say the one physical activity that stood out the most was dancing. They say while other aerobic exercises such as walking and cycling are helpful with memory and learning; dancing involves multitasking as it combines physical activity with creativity and cognitive challenges. Not only does a dancer move physically but has to follow along with the music, take into account their physical space and remember the dance steps. If a partner is involved, they also need to synchronize their movements.

Dancing is also often done in a social setting, which we know is healthy for seniors. Furthermore a 2020 analysis of over a dozen random trials linked the hobby of dancing to a 37 percent reduced risk of falling as well as an improvement in balance and lower body strength. If you are interested, check your local community center or the internet for dance classes. Another way to start dancing is to check out dance video games.

At MorningStar of Arvada, senior living we are honored to provide seniors with beautiful suites, luxury amenities and a whole host of wellness programs and activities including dancing. Our vibrant community promotes carefree retirement years with assisted living and memory care Arvada, CO families trust. Please contact us for more information regarding one of the most desirable retirement communities in the area.

Understanding Hospice and What It Offers to the Patient & their Family

There comes a time in many people’s lives where they are reaching the end of life and are faced with the question of how they want to spend their last few months. Hospice care is intended to help people have a dignified death surrounded by family and friends while offering support, guidance and pain relief to let patients and families focus on spending quality time together. It often is done in the comfort of the person’s home rather than in a hospital setting.

Angela Novas, chief medical officer for the Hospice Foundation of America, explains, “Dying isn’t really the focus of hospice care.” She adds hospice’s focus is to give the person the best quality of life possible for the remainder of their time left, however long it may be. It is often used when a person’s health is rapidly worsening and their needs are overwhelming family caregivers.

While the full cost of hospice services is covered by Medicare or Medicaid when using a Medicare-approved provider, there may be copayment charges for some medications or in-patient respite care services. To be eligible for hospice care, the person must have a doctor certify they are terminally ill with six months or less to live if the disease runs its normal course. Also, the person must be ready to stop treatments to cure their illness and only get treatment focused on improving comfort and quality of life. If the person continues to meet the requirements for hospice and lives past the initial six months, they are still eligible for services.

When the end is near, hospice caregivers provide support and comfort to loved ones as well as help with appropriate notifications and final arrangements. If desired, they also offer bereavement care, grief support resources, and follow-up for at least 13 months after the person dies.

At the Morning of Beaverton retirement communities, we provide the support, programs, companionship and security to give seniors the best quality of life. We offer an integrated senior living experience that seamlessly blends Independent Living in one community to provide residents the opportunity to remain in a familiar environment while getting the support they need. For seniors living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases, our distinct Reflections Neighborhood has 38 all-inclusive suites for trusted memory care. Please see our website for more information and to schedule an in-person visit.

The Benefits of Respite Care

The demands of caregiving can stress out even the most resilient person. Nor is it easy for the person who is receiving care as they worry about the loved one who is helping them. This is why the National Institute on Aging (NIA) encourages caregivers to ask for help and take a break when needed.

Respite care offers short-term relief for primary caregivers, giving them time to step back from their day-to-day duties caring for a loved one to rest, travel or spend time with other family and friends. It can also provide a safe haven for someone who is ready to leave the hospital or rehab after recovering from an illness or surgery but still feels like they could use some assistance with their daily care.

Many assisted living facilities like MorningStar of Beaverton offer short-term stays of up to a month for respite care. Services include 24/7 personalized care including help with the ADLs (activities of daily living) such as bathing and dressing as well as meals and medication. It can also include help with getting in and out of bed and other necessary services.

While a respite care resident, you can take advantage of the many amenities assisted living communities offer. For instance, MorningStar of Beaverton has a full calendar of daily, vibrant social activities that include meaningful wellness and fitness programs like a Stretch and Strengthen Fitness class and a Prestige Balance Fitness class. In-house church services and movie matinees, creative crafts in our Enrichment Room and a chance to express yourself in our Art Studio would be available to respite care residents. Join fun games such as trivia and bingo, or happy hours at our in-house bistro. All-day 5-star dining is sure to make your respite stay a true culinary experience.

Visit the MorningStar of Beaverton senior living community website to inquire about respite care as well as our independent living, and memory care options. Our 66 assisted living suites are available in a choice of floor plans and configurations (some as large as 974 square feet); and deliver style, comfort, services, amenities and location. For seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases, we offer 38 memory care suites. While you are on our website, set up a personalized tour of one of the most desirable retirement communities Beaverton, OR offers.

Avoiding Some Bad Habits can Improve Your Cognitive Health

While most of us know poor dietary habits and lack of exercise is bad for our overall health, Jessica Caldwell, a neuropsychologist and director of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement Prevention Center at the Cleveland Clinic, says there are other lesser known daily routines that may be undermining our cognition. She explains that changing just one of these habits could improve brain health and help us age better and healthier.

Most experts agree getting 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night is critical to a sharp and productive mind. The Cleveland Clinic reports lack of sleep is linked to stress, weight gain and forgetfulness, and may increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes and a weakened immune system. Research shows sleep deprivation over a lifespan increases one’s risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Alon Avidan, M.D., director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of California, Los Angeles adds, “untreated sleep apnea accelerates memory and cognitive disturbances due to extensive buildup of brain amyloid, a key marker for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Along with sleep, routinely getting vaccinations may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. These include an annual flu shot, a Covid-19 booster, and for qualifying seniors, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. The CDC says at this time the RSV shot is not an annual shot and for anyone who has already received one dose (including last year) has completed their vaccination.

Another problem can come from the fact a senior may have less people relying on them as their children are grown and they are retired. However, research shows it is important for seniors to have a sense of purpose. Scott Kaiser, M.D., director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, says, “Having a reason to get up in the morning, knowing that people are depending upon you, feeling that you are making important contributions can contribute to healthy aging.” A study from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago found an association in people who scored high on a purpose-in-life assessment. They were approximately 2.4 times more likely to remain Alzheimer’s-free than those with low scores.

Other habits connected to poorer health outcomes include things like failing to floss daily and keeping up with dental care, and routinely drinking alcohol. Sugar-sweetened beverages like soft drinks, sweetened tea, fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks are also linked to a decline in cognitive function.

The MorningStar of Beaverton senior living community provides the finest independent and assisted living Beaverton offers. We are honored to give residents carefree retirement years with a thoughtfully integrated senior living experience that blends Independent and Assisted Living within one community. This ensures seniors enjoy continuity of care and a familiar, supportive environment if needs may change over time. Our 66 suites are available in a choice of floor plans and configurations and deliver style, comfort, services, amenities and location. For those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases, we offer 38 all-inclusive memory care suites. Contact us to set up a personalized tour of our beautiful retirement communities.

 
Source: aarp.org/health/healthy-living/habits-that-hurt-brain-health/

Playing Brain Games Enhances Cognitive Health

Over the last couple of decades, researchers have found brain-training games may help improve attention levels, logic skills, and memory as well as enhance cognitive function in healthy subjects. Shaheen Lakhan, MD. Ph.D. FAAN, a physician-scientist and clinical development specialist and founding neurology department chair and curricular dean at California University of Science and Medicine writes the following: “The brain is just like a muscle - it thrives on exercise! As a neurologist, I'm thrilled by the incredible potential of brain games to help people flex their mental muscles, activating underused brain circuits to sharpen cognition and skills like focus, speed, and memory.”

Experts say effective brain games include Sudoku and crossword puzzles. With crossword puzzles, cognitive skills used include recollecting past verbal knowledge and memories. Sudoku relies on short-term memory, which is often one the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and requires the player to look ahead to plan out subsequent moves.

Android and iOS offer apps for brain games that are either free, include in-app purchases or require a subscription to open more games. One game is Elevate that centers on reading, writing, speaking and math; and allows you to customize training on areas you wish to focus on. Another game, Luminosity, was involved in a study that showed people who played the games for “15 minutes a day at least seven days a week for three weeks experienced improved attention and motor speed.”

MorningStar at River Oaks is a beautiful 55+ community offering independent living, assisted living and memory care. Our focus is on providing everything residents need to live their best life with resort-style amenities, best-in-class dining, and an array of senior care and hospitality services. In addition, we pride ourselves on giving residents the opportunity to explore new things, stay engaged and enjoy themselves with a variety of wellness programs and activities. Visit our website to see what sets our community apart from other senior living in Houston and why MorningStar is a great place to call home.

MorningStar, assisted living takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003. We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about the finest senior living Houston offers.

Source: verywellmind.com/top-websites-and-games-for-brain-exercise-2224140

Loneliness Poses Physical and Mental Health Risks

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, explains loneliness may be more detrimental to our overall health than smoking, obesity and alcoholism, or leading a sedentary lifestyle. The study was conducted by the Regenstrief Institute data informatics firm and the Indiana University School of Medicine. What is even more concerning is their research found a majority of those surveyed (53 percent) considered themselves lonely.

The researchers call loneliness a "biophysical stressor," and say they hope more attention to this problem will motivate doctors to address this often-overlooked lifestyle factor that negatively impacts seniors’ quality of life. One of the study authors, IU research scientist and professor Monica Williams-Farrelly, said, "So in the same way that we ask older adults: 'Do you smoke? Or do you measure your blood sugar?' We should be inquiring about and measuring loneliness and offering solutions."

Researchers say participants who identified as being lonely experienced lower mental and physical health outcomes across both demographics and health conditions. Moreover, they say while there may be a connection between those who report feeling lonely to poor eating habits, overindulging in alcohol or not exercising; there still exists a strong database showing loneliness strongly influences our health and well-being. In fact, the recommendation from the study’s authors is to stress the fact that loneliness should be treated as a serious health factor by our communities as well as by medical professionals.

At MorningStar Assisted Living Homes at Golden Ridge, our vibrant community offers comfort, well-being and companionship with senior care services, luxury amenities, wellness programs and a calendar full of activities. Our independent living is made up of 38 Casitas offering attached garages, a clubhouse and swimming pool. For assisted living residents, we have stylish suites available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In addition, our distinct Reflections Neighborhood provides care designed to elevate life for those living with dementia.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Contact us to learn more about the finest memory care in Peoria, Arizona.