Spring Arbor Living Blog

Have you ever walked into a room and then forgotten what you wanted once you got there? Have you ever put an item in a “safe place” and then forgot where it was when you needed it? Do you think sometimes that you are going “crazy” because you forget people’s names? Or maybe you forgot to do something you said you were going to do?

Sometimes we are having a “senior moment” as they say; but that’s just what it is–a moment. Usually the name is just on the tip of your tongue and you remember it when you can take the time to think. Or the reason for walking into the other room becomes clear when you slow down and let your thought catch up with you.  These are ”normal” occurrences usually due to stress, being too busy, not feeling well, or simply not paying attention.

However, when you misplace something and you have a problem retracing your steps to find it, this might be a warning sign.  If you are making a familiar recipe and forget how much salt to use, this could be normal.  But if you are confused about whether to use a measuring spoon or a measuring cup for the salt, this could be a warning sign.  If you drive to the mall and forget where you parked the car, this is typical of someone not paying attention or making a mental note of where they parked.  But, if you forget where you are and how you got there, this is a warning sign.

There are several warning signs to watch for in detecting early stage Alzheimer’s.  No one sign is an indication of having a problem in and of itself. Keeping track of abnormal behavior will give your physician details to help diagnose the problem, and only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis after appropriate testing. For more information on the warning signs, contact us today and we'll be happy to assist you in any way we can.

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The former site of Loudoun Country Day School again is bustling with activity as the Spring Arbor assisted living community welcomes residents to its new 70,000-square-foot facility on Fairview Street in Leesburg. Executive Director Zoie Nikov said the facility expects to have 13 residents fully moved in by the end of the week. The remaining 57 rooms are expected to fill up within the next month, she said, noting pre-sales have been strong.

The facility provides plenty of amenities for residents, including a kitchen serving three prepared meals a day in a dining room with outdoor patio space for uses during the warmer months; a library and reading area complete with computers for Internet access, where volunteers can help residents setup e-mail and social networking accounts to stay connected with family and friends; a wellness center with daily exercise activities and on-site physical rehabilitation specialists; a walking path around the grounds of the facility; and transportation around town via a van and bus service.

Spring Arbor also is the first assisted living center in the county to have a secure area for Alzheimer's patients, in 13 cottage-style apartments with one to two beds available. The facility provides entirely independent accommodations for patients with Alzheimer's and other memory-related illnesses, including a separate kitchen and dining area, activity room and outdoor patio.

As guests continue to move in over the coming days they are likely to see the final touches being placed on the facility as crews work to finish the construction of patio areas for both the standard and memory care areas, and the bus that will be used to transport residents to doctors appointments, shopping destinations and other venues around town arrives next week.

Nikov said community response to the new facility has been positive, with more than 200 people turning out for a neighborhood open house over the weekend. Spring Arbor, which is owned by HHHunt of North Carolina, worked closely with nearby homeowners in assuring the new facility would match the aesthetic design and feel of the community, Richard Williams, senior vice president of senior living for the real estate company, said. Contact us today to learn more about Spring Arbor and how we strive to help our residents.

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Alzheimer’s symptoms grow worse as time progresses, the disease may have unpredictable changes; making it an extremely difficult task to care of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. For both the person with Alzheimer’s and the caregiver, arranging basic activities of daily living can be difficult. Eating, talking, sleeping, and finding things to do: all these things become difficult as the disease becomes more severe.  There are many ways to help manage these difficulties.

Nighttime can seem like a blessing for some, but for those with Alzheimer’s it can be difficult. Most people with Alzheimer have become restless and irritable around this time. Putting the person to bed may require some advance planning.

Limit daytime napping and encourage exercise during the day, but still allow for a sufficient amount of rest during the day. Try to schedule more physical activities such as bathing earlier in the day. And in the evening set a peaceful, quiet tone to encourage sleep. Make certain that the lights are dim and the noise is down to a minimum. In some cases playing soothing music may help, but only if the person enjoys it. Try to keep the person’s bedtime routine. NO caffeine late in the day.  If the person gets frightened or disoriented use night lights around the halls and bathroom. Spring Arbor knows that caring for a person with Alzheimer's takes time and patience which is why if you know someone with Alzheimer's and have any questions or wish you explore our communities, please contact us today.

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We all know that there are a couple different foods that affect our brain health as well as certain vitamins and activities. And being an assisted living facility we like to stay on top of what affects the brain and the health of our patients. But there are two food items that we recently found out were excellent for brain health and we thought we'd share them with you all.

First blueberries. Blueberries contain powerful anti-oxidants to help fuel the brain, remove toxins, and reduce inflammation. Chemical compounds in blueberries can also boost neuronal signals and facilitate greater communication within the various regions of the brain. Blueberries have been found to increase memory in aging adults and may help counter symptoms associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease.

Secondly are Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C.  Brussels sprouts are also a good source for tryptophan and essential omega fatty acids critical to healthy brain functioning. Brussels sprouts may boost DNA repair in cells and block the growth of cancer cells.

While researchers are constantly working on cures for Alzheimer's its good to know that even natural foods and vitamins in the world can help as well. It gives hope that even know this is a terrible affliction that is incurable at the present time, with so many things that help our body there has to be a way to prevent it. Keep hope alive and contact us today should you have any questions regarding Alzheimer's or know someone who is affected and needs help.

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When is it time to admit the need for assisted living services? There are a couple of questions and signs that you can tell if mom or dad is needing more help. Dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia is a serious task and takes a lot of time for just one person. Which is why Spring Arbor is here to help out these individuals and be there for these people. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself and some signs to tell whether or not it's time for a caregiver's help.

• Frequent calls during the day to the same person can indicate a sense of memory loss. Does Mom or Dad discuss a hesitation to get out of bed? Are there mobility issues that impede maintaining an active lifestyle?
• Frequent falls. Has Mom or Dad expresses their fear of leaving the house often due to a fear of falling?
• Indication of depression. Is your parent or loved one lying about eating? Or are they unwilling to seek medical help or assistance? Remembering to take medication as prescribed by a doctor are always a help, if they forget or refuse then there might be an issue.

There are many questions that can be asked and it’s definitely hard to determine the right time. But it is always better to know that Mom and Dad are safe and sound when you are not around. Spring Arbor can assist you in these matters and we can be there for the elderly when they need the help they deserve. Just by simply taking a little time to talk to them about assisted living homes or elderly care can make all the difference. Be sure to check out our locations for a home near you and contact us today should you have any questions regarding senior care.

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Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be overwhelming.  In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and as many as 10 million family caregivers. For the family member afflicted with Alzheimer’s, even routine daily events, such as hearing or seeing evening newscasts, can be truly terrifying. As a result, Spring Arbor is dedicated to creating an environment for the loved one which is as safe and nurturing as possible.

With children, the term is “childproofing.”  For those with Alzheimer’s disease, there is no similar term, but the concept is the same. Many things around the home that pose no danger to people in full possession of their mental faculties can be major hazards for people with Alzheimer’s. There are many steps you can take to reduce the risk of your loved one getting into things he/she shouldn’t, or reduce the risk of injury. We have a few tips that we find work very well and we'd like to share with you all:

• Limit distractions and control noise.
• Play radios softly, and turn the telephone ringer on low.
• If your loved one watches TV, choose humorous or happy sitcoms, game shows and musical shows.  These types of shows can make the individual laugh and/or stimulate positive memories.
• Maintain consistency and organization
• Don’t rearrange rooms. Instead, maintain consistency by keeping furniture in the same place.  Keep the individual’s bedroom and living areas well-organized and keep pathways clear. In addition, clutter may confuse or upset people with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Encourage activities that are success-oriented and that make the individual feel productive.  Many individuals with Alzheimer’s enjoy outdoor activities.
• Lock up hazardous materials
• Keep all medicines, cleaning products and sharp utensils up or out of reach.
• Don’t forget, everyone needs a little TLC

With all the responsibilities and problems involved in caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s easy to forget how important a loving touch can be. A pat on the back, back rubs, foot massages, hugging or holding hands are calming, and they communicate love and safety in a way everyone can understand.  Several studies show that massage exerts a calming influence and minimizes behavior problems in Alzheimer’s care. Contact us today should you have any questions about living with Alzheimer's and steps to take.

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Congress recently sent a bill to the President’s desk that would significantly impact the future wellbeing of our nation’s aging population. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), a bipartisan bill, aims to combat Alzheimer’s with the same determination with which we have worked to prevent and treat AIDS and cancer. If enacted as expected, the main goals of the bill will be to:

•  Launch a campaign within the federal government to overcome Alzheimer’s disease.
• Establish an inter-agency Advisory Council to develop with the Secretary of Health and Human Services a coordinated National Alzheimer’s Disease Plan.
• Comprehensively address the federal government’s efforts on Alzheimer’s research, care, institutional services, and home- and community-based programs.
• Accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Decrease health disparities by ensuring ethnic and racial populations at higher risk for Alzheimer’s receive much-needed care and services.

As compared with the AIDS and cancer federal agendas, combating Alzheimer’s is unique in that there are no survivors. It is up to advocacy organizations, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, to organize caregivers, eldercare professionals, and those with Alzheimer’s that can tell their story, to provide valuable information and feedback to this new federal office. If you know a loved one that has been diagnosed with this affliction contact us today and we'll be happy to help in anyway possible.

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Being in an assisted living facility can have many benfits. We cater to all of our residents needs and special needs requested by their families. In addition to being there and helping out as much as we can, we also offer fun activities and amenities that our residents can enjoy.

Some of the activities that you can expect from spring arbor would surprise you. Our staff is dedicated to enabling a high quality of life for residents at Spring Arbor and The Oaks, including a range of activities to exercise both the mind and the body. From cooking lessons with the house Chef to gardening classes to discussions of current events, residents are encouraged to rekindle old interests or develop new ones.

Maintaining contact with the community is an important component of life at Spring Arbor and The Oaks. To that end, we arrange outings to churches, synagogues, parks, theaters, shopping trips, local restaurants, and numerous other social venues. We understand that our residents have diverse backgrounds, different hobbies and varying levels of physical ability and fitness. The professionals here have incorporated a broad range of activities into the social calendar, striving to include residents in our vibrant social calendar.

Typical activities in a day might start with morning exercises and then some card playing. Other days they might go out to the local stores to get a shake or go out to a movie with a small group. Usually once a week there is transportation provided to go shopping to WalMart or Target (depending on residents’ choice). In the afternoon there is typically entertainment from someone playing the piano, singing, or playing some other instrument. Cooking demonstrations get out a very good portion of the residents where they can try great recipes and mingle with their friends of the community. Please don't hesitate to contact us as we would be happy to answer any questions and help you in any way possible.

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Spring Arbor is a member of the ALFA, which is the Assisted Living Federation of America. This company is also committed to helping elderly individuals and educating people on assisted living.

Assisted living is a residential alternative to nursing home care. There are 36,000 assisted living communities’ nationwide serving more than one million seniors. A relatively new concept twenty-five years ago, today assisted living is the most preferred and fastest growing long-term care option for seniors. Spring Arbor is proud to have a 40-year success full track record of specializing in all types of housing and lifestyle options.

Assisted living is regulated in all 50 states. Based on the varied preferences and needs of the elderly, there are a variety of settings from which to choose. These choices range from high-rise buildings to one-story Victorian mansions to large multi-acre campuses. All settings offer 24-hour care and supervision for those who need assistance. Care is provided with dignity and respect.

While many of today's baby boomers are primarily concerned with finding the right assisted living community for their aging parents and relatives, these 74 million boomers will be the next generation of assisted living residents. Innovations in technology and research will improve the existing model in years to come. True to the HHHUNT tradition of excellence, our senior housing group enjoys occupancies above 92%, which is well ahead of the industry average. In addition, we are committed to educating consumers about the benefits of assisted living and improving on the standards of our industry. Contact us today to find out how you can become apart of our community or simply to learn more information about assisted living.

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