The Grove offers a state of the art clinical program for dementia management that utilizes the Allen Cognitive Battery, a proven framework for identifying the dementia resident’s highest level of function in all activities. The Grove team works in partnership with our in-house rehab team – Legacy Healthcare and Neuro-psychiatrist, Dr. Salmaan Khawaja to identify the type of dementia and then uses that information to develop an Individual Care Plan that encompasses everything from recreational and social and functional activities to Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy.

The Allen Cognitive Battery, developed by Claudia Allen, measures overall reasoning and mental abilities through observation and assessment of performance with familiar as well as unfamiliar tasks to identify the resident’s BATF (Best Ability to Function). By determining the resident’s Allen Cognitive Level, our staff and therapists are able to provide superior treatment and education that can maximize the current level of intellectual function using therapeutic activities and interventions that are most appealing to the resident’s personal interests. We work to educate family and staff to provide activities that do not exceed the resident’s specific cognitive level (which could increase frustration and agitation) or fail to provide the stimulation the resident needs (which could lead to boredom, isolation, and possible depression). Our therapy is not a one-size-fits-all type of treatment. At The Grove we are committed to ensuring that each resident has access to services aimed at maintaining his/her highest level of function and independence.

Additionally, The Grove offers a brand new, state of the art, secure environment that has been specifically designed and built for residents with dementia. Beautiful walking paths in the Grove’s own outdoor gardens coupled with eye appealing dining areas and restful casual areas make it the perfect environment for safety, comfort and peace of mind.

For more information on The Grove, or any of the Tower’s programs and services, you may call (804) 320-1412 or visit our website at www.TheTowers.net.

Communication affects all aspects of our lives. Our words express our intent, emotion and desires. We understand other’s words and converse about our day. We connect with each other on a deep level through communication. The brain uses very complex pathways to allow us to express and understand each other. When a person develops dementia, brain cells are destroyed and those complex pathways become interrupted. As a result, communication skills become impaired and problems arise. These changes in communication are frustrating to both you and the person with dementia. But, always remember that it’s the disease of dementia, not the person, causing these changes in communication.

Some of the more typical problems you may notice with someone who has dementia are: difficulty finding words, using the wrong word, not being able to follow a conversation, taking longer to respond to questions or simple tasks, or becoming easily frustrated by background noises produced by the television, radio, or even household appliances. These changes may start subtly, but as the disease progresses, may become more pronounced.

Though these changes in communication are frightening and frustrating to both you and the person with dementia, you can minimize the impact by following some simple steps. There are strategies that you can use to communicate more effectively with someone who has dementia. First, remember that a quiet environment and the use of body language is the foundation for effective communication. So, before you speak to your loved one, turn off or turn down the TV or radio, make eye contact, and gently touch the person before you speak to him or her. Then, give simple directions- tell or ask the person to do one thing at a time. It can be especially helpful to ask questions that require a yes or no response. Or, ask questions that give a forced choice response. For example, instead of saying “What do you want to do today?” Ask, “Do you want to go shopping or go for a walk. Rephrase your statement with different words if the person does not understand your first request. Since the brain takes longer to process the spoken word, give ample time for the person to respond. Try not to correct the person when he or she misuses a word or says something odd. Above all, unless the person asks you to, do not try and finish the person’s sentence or thought. However, you can try and express the feeling the person is trying to communicate. Remember, also, to give yourself and your loved one a break if the communication is just not happening for you and you both are becoming frustrated. Taking a few minutes away from the situation reduces stress and will make it easier for the person to find the words.

We all want to stay connected to each other through communication. It can be very scary when dementia takes away that connection. However, with a little patience and a lot of love, using the strategies described above, you will be able to navigate through the complex maze of communication in dementia.

As a person gets older, all parts of the body go through normal, age-related changes. The brain is no exception. But how can you tell if the changes you are seeing in yourself or a loved one are due to the normal aging process or the result of some disease process? Knowing the specifics about normal age-related changes can help you determine that answer.

When we age, our brain goes through changes. It literally reduces in size; blood vessels narrow; inflammation increases. These changes affect our ability to learn new things, do complex tasks, and remember names, people, or events. However, scientists have also found that an aging brain can also recruit other areas or functions to compensate for some of the early difficulties. You can maximize your “brain health” a number of ways. Start by controlling your risk factors for chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes. Engage in regular exercise, doing things you really enjoy like walking, gardening, or playing golf. Always maintain a healthy diet indulging in splurges only occasionally. And, remember to spend your free time engaging in intellectual, social, and spiritual activities.

However, some people as they get older begin to exhibit more difficulties in the area of memory and learning. These changes may result in dementia. Dementia is a general term that refers to a loss thinking, memory, reasoning skills, and behavioral skills. The loss is great enough to affect daily living. According to the National Institute on Aging, the most common causes of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

The hallmarks of early dementia behavior include word finding difficulties, poor judgment, and poor problem solving. However, as the disease progresses, behaviors such as forgetting a familiar route, problems handling money or paying bills and repeating questions are common. In addition, you may notice the person taking much longer to do simple tasks, losing items, or placing items in unusual places – car keys under the mattress, for example. Even at this stage of dementia, a person may be able to live in their own home. Usually when mood or personality changes happen, it may spur families or spouses to seek help. Frequently, a person with dementia will display anger, paranoia, or repetitive behaviors. They may become suspicious of family and strangers and falsely accuse loved ones of stealing.

Be aware of the subtle changes in memory and behavior early on and enlist the help of your family physician. A thorough examination with neurological testing may differentiate between normal aging and dementia. The earlier the diagnosis the earlier you can begin treatment.

During the process of normal or “healthy” aging, there are natural changes that take place if one is free of any disease. Dementia, on the other hand, is not a normal outcome of aging. Being able to recognize the difference between normal aging and dementia in you or a loved one can assist you in determining when additional help or evaluation is needed.

Normal Aging
In normal aging, you can expect a number of skills and abilities to remain intact or only slightly different. You will continue to be independent in what are often referred to as daily living activities. These activities include bathing, dressing, driving, preparing meals, managing finances and working. You may notice that sometimes you forget things, but you will be able to give details about those incidents of forgetfulness. This occasional forgetfulness may concern you, but may not be noticed by friends or family. Despite these occasional lapses of forgetfulness, your memory for recent events and your ability to hold a conversation will remain robust. Although you may notice occasional difficulty finding the specific word to use, your vocabulary will still be as extensive as it always was. It is also “normal aging” when you get lost in a familiar place, forget where you put your keys, or forget birthdays or anniversaries. You may have to give yourself a few moments to remember these things, but you WILL remember. As you age, you will also continue to learn new things, if you are open to learning.
Lifestyle factors that contribute to healthy aging include: not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, healthy social activity, physical exercise that promotes flexibility, strength, and mood, routine medical care to maintain good health, and keeping your mind stimulated through activities such as reading, crossword puzzles, or new hobbies.

Dementia
Now, contrast the abilities and skills of normal aging stated above with what you can expect with dementia. A person with dementia depends on others for those daily activities that will keep them independent. He or she will not be able to recall incidents of memory loss and may only complain about memory problems if specifically asked. These more frequent occasions of memory loss will become most obvious to close family members. In addition, there may be a noticeable decline in memory for recent events or the ability to maintain a conversation. A person with dementia has considerable difficulty finding and using the right word. The person may use substitutions for the word he/she wants or may use a description instead of the actual word. Word finding continues to decline in dementia. The person may lose his/her way in what was very familiar territory and sometimes may take hours to find their way back. Also, a person who has even early dementia will not be able to learn new things or may take extensive repetitions to remember the sequence of new events. Factors that can lead to decline and possible dementia include: untreated high blood pressure or diabetes, poor nutrition, heart disease, stress, depression, social isolation or a family history of dementia.

If you are noting memory changes in yourself or a loved one that you think might be dementia, make an appointment with your doctor. He or she can assess your health and answer any questions you may have. If you or your doctor believes that staying at home is not an option, then independent senior living or assisted living communities may be an opportunity for you to get the care you need.

An article published in the Health Day News on March 2nd by Steven Reinberg discussed the results of a study which showed a correlation between purpose in life and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The article that follows is an adaptation from that report.

“As the population ages and dementia becomes a more frequent diagnosis, there is increasing impetus to determine the causes of the disease, associated risk factors and how to prevent it,” explained study co-author Dr. Aron S. Buchman, an associate professor in the department of neurological sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

The study looked at the positive aspects of life and their possible effect on keeping dementia at bay. In the study, 951 older people without dementia were asked to respond to statements such as: “I feel good when I think of what I have done in the past and what I hope to do in the future.” After an average of 4 years of follow-up, 16.3% of the people in the study developed Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that people who responded most positively to statements about their lives were the least likely to develop the condition. Also, people who said they had more purposeful lives were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and had a slower rate of cognitive decline.

People who scored 4.2 out of 5 on the purpose-in-life measure were about 2.4 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, compared with people who scored 3.0, the study found.

Dr. Buchman stated that “the importance of the study is this doesn’t prove anything, but it points researchers in the direction of a link between purpose in life and cognition in late life. He also added that “more social activity, more physical activity, higher cognitive activities, high purpose in life – all these psychosocial factors seem to be linked with longer life, decreased mortality, decreased disability and provide important clues to a public health approach to try to increase independence in older people in later life.”

William H. Theis, chief medical and scientific officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, said the new study “contributes to the literature that says there is a linkage between behavior and disease. The study begs the question whether there is more Alzheimer’s disease because more people have a lower sense of purpose, or is a lower sense of purpose an early, subtle, sign of dementia.”

The retirement communities of Retirement Unlimited, Inc. provide a wide variety of social activities to provide even more purpose in your life. In addition, some communities also provide care for persons with dementia. Take a virtual tour of our communities to find the activities that suit you best!

Every time you interact with the world, your brain learns and grows. Active thinking and all kinds of physical activity improve brain function and can protect against cognitive decline. The human brain is a very flexible organ that can continually adapt and rewire itself based on activity, even as we age. The Franklin Institute Online suggests that though severe mental decline is usually caused by disease, most age-related losses in memory or motor skills are the result of inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation. In this article, we’ll take a look at how our brains can learn to form new connections and what simple tasks and exercises can be done to help your brain stay young.

Throughout your life, the neurons in your brain respond to each new stimulus and every learning experience. Each time this happens, the neurons in your brain reorganize or reinforce neuron pathways. A healthy, active neuron can be linked to thousands of other neurons making the potential for millions of new connections. This is why memory can be sparked not just from repeating the exact same experience, but by any aspect of a similar experience. Think about how a certain song or wonderful aroma can conjure up a memory. Your brain is literally changing each time you learn something new! So, simple tasks and exercises can stimulate your brain and build these receptors and connections keeping your brain young.

While crossword puzzles, math tasks, and even bingo are activities that can help your brain stay young, so too, can other more simple tasks. For example, try using your non-dominant hand to dial the phone, use the remote, or brush your teeth. Though at first it will be difficult to be precise and accurate with your motions, fear not, because this awkwardness is a good thing. It means that your brain is learning a new skill! Challenge yourself to try something new or different every day. Venture out of your comfort zone by driving a different route to or from work, learn a new hobby, or meet some new people. Even if you never repeat the exact same activity, you have created a new connection for your brain to use! A recent study even showed that one hour per week of doing internet searches resulted in an increase in the working memory of study participants over the age of 55.

The Franklin Institute Online suggests that we try to include one or more of our senses when doing a task. For example, get dressed with your eyes closed or in the dark (make sure you are sitting down to do this to minimize the risk of falling). Share a meal and use only visual cues to communicate. Listen to music while smelling a bouquet of flowers. Listen to the rain and tap your fingers at the same time. The point is, give your brain multiple opportunities to flex its muscle and grow. A passive life does not promote a young and vibrant brain.

Activate your life, activate your brain, be healthy and stay young.