When Memories Fade …

She lovingly handles
her mother with care
as she washes and curls
and fixes her hair.

They laugh and talk
the hours away.
Then out of the blue,
her mother did say,

“You’re so nice.
Now what is your name?”

–          A poem about a daughter whose mother suffers from dementia

 

Our memories are precious. They shape us, they teach us, and they make us who we are. When times change and people move on, we are only left with the gift of our memories. Losing those fond memories and the ability to perform daily activities can be heart-breaking and frustrating. And it is exceptionally hard to see our loved ones struggling to remember cherished moments.

“My worst fear,” agonized 79-year-old Hans, “is senility.” Like many older people, Hans got perturbed about being forgetful. He worried that he was losing control of what one ancient poet called the “the golden bowl”​—the precious brain with its treasured memories. (Ecclesiastes 12:6)

–          Awake (g 2/06 p. 4)

Legacy Place began the Memory Care unit to help care for our dear older ones with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. In this blog, we will talk about some of the challenges that dementia and Alzheimer’s can bring and also what is involved in Memory Care.

Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a loss of thinking ability, memory, logical reasoning, and other mental abilities. A well-known and common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. It is a progressive brain disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die, slowly destroying memory and thinking skills.

As Alzheimer’s worsens, memory loss increases along with other cognitive problems. These difficulties can include wandering, trouble handling money, repeating questions, loss of attention, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, ultimately leading to personality and behavior changes.

Dementia mainly affects older people, although there is increasing recognition of cases that start before the age of 65. Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. There are over 55 million people around the world living with dementia. A rough estimate of 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia as of 2021. One in nine people aged 65 and older (11.3%) has Alzheimer’s dementia.

Roughly about three-quarters of people with dementia have not received a formal diagnosis, and so do not have access to suitable treatment, care, and organized support. The World Alzheimer Report 2011 shows that earlier diagnosis and early intervention are important measures by which the treatment gap can be closed. Acknowledging the disparities in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is the first step toward evolving prevention strategies and providing amenities to those most at risk for developing the disease.

Why Is Specialized Memory Care Important?

Memory Care is a differentiated kind of care for people with various forms of dementia. The Memory Care unit in Legacy Place provides a uniquely designed environment for residents with key focuses on improving quality of life, reducing confusion, and preventing wandering. Notable features that make memory care facilities different from usual senior care homes include 24-hour care, providing stability and security, therapy sessions, and more.

More importantly, specialized memory care is important because caring with dignity and integrity allows the resident to feel more comfortable and helps them retain as much of who they were as possible. “The clearest need for those who suffer from one of the dementias is to be able to maintain their dignity, respect, and self-esteem,” says the book When I Grow Too Old to Dream. While registering that with dementia there are, regrettably, a great number of unknowns, the right care can curb most of the negative impacts.

What Is Included in Memory Care in Legacy Place?
The Memory Care unit in Legacy Place includes necessities and lifestyle enhancements such as:

• Accommodations, dining, and laundry
• 24-hour monitoring of health and medication. Outside agencies like skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy can come to the community on an as-needed basis.
• Grooming and personal care
• Room cleanliness and repairs

Memory care extends various therapies and activities that help with behavioral problems. Along with prescribed medications, these reassuring therapies help in treating dementia.

A few of these therapies include:

• Occupational therapy
• Music therapy
• Reminiscence therapy
• Pet therapy
• Art therapy
• and more …

 

At Legacy Place, we try and incorporate these therapies by providing activities that help build physical, intellectual, and social wellness. Along with this, it is our primary focus to provide our dear residents with the protected spiritual environment that they need. These dear older ones have lived a dedicated faithful life for decades and giving them an environment where they can continue to do so despite their failing health and memories is very important to us.

If you have a loved one who is suffering from cognitive problems like dementia, please feel free to contact us if you would like them to benefit from care in Legacy Place. Our love and prayers are with all our dear elderly ones and their families. We cannot wait for the time when “no resident will say ‘I am sick.’”