GIANT FANTASY FLOWER ART PROJECT

A long-term project for the residents in the art class was making some giant fantasy flowers, inspired by the ones in the movie Oz the Great & Powerful. Ours were destined for the 9th birthday of the twin girls that spend a lot of time on the facility grounds. We made the flowers purple and pink because those are the girls’ favorite colors. The day we had the party to give the gifts, it was too hot for the residents to go outside. So instead we had a game that could involve the residents inside while the twins ran around outside. Rather than just give them the flowers, it was turned into a treasure hunt. The residents had half the clues. When the twins found an outside clue, it would say “X (resident)” has your next…

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10 Facts You Need To Know About Memory Care

Do you think your loved one may need memory care? San Diego memory care facilities vary widely in the scope of services they offer their residents. Here are ten facts you need to look at when you consider a southern California memory care facility.  1. A Collaborative, Advanced Approach to Memory Care First of all, a memory care center needs to provide services that are up-to-date with all of the latest advances in dementia care. A collaborative approach is a must, since coordinating care for your loved one involves a wide range of people: your loved one, the care team, and the family members involved.   2. A Well-Trained, Adequate Number of Staff Members  Not counting housekeeping or dietary personnel, a memory care facility should ensure that the ratio of caregivers—aides and nurses—to patients is at least…

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What Are the Best Resources for Elderly Parents with Dementia?

5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017. Quite a few more Americans are caring for them. Finding the best dementia resources is imperative for the physical and mental wellbeing of the dementia patient, and those who love them. When dementia strikes a family, the dynamics of that family change, particularly because dementia generally strikes our elders; the people we have revered and looked up to all of our lives. It’s important that we never turn our back on those feelings towards them, or on the feelings of the person inside. Alzheimer’s dementia isn’t a shortcoming, nor is it a character flaw. It’s an illness, and a heartbreaking one, for all who are involved. Dementia is complicated and ever-changing. The needs of a patient and his or her support system are constantly being reassessed…

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Annual Pinning Ceremony | Honoring Our Veterans

Lakeside Manor is full of heritage and deep rooted traditions. Every year we make sure to honor our veterans who proudly served our country by hosting the Annual Pinning Ceremony. This year we would like to send a special thanks to Apreva Hospice  who was gracious enough to sponsor the event. The Pinning Ceremony is an opportunity to express gratitude to resident veterans who served to keep our country safe. It's also a celebratory event where friends, family and loved ones gather to spend time together, enjoy the summer sun and some great food. This year we had the pleasure of Pinning Paul W, Paul K, Elwood H, Jack W and Barney. Proudly holding up the certificate! John Weber being appreciated for his services: Thank you for your service! An Annual Tradition at Lakeside Manor Recently Pinned…

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5 Tough Decisions You May Have to Make When Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s

Many couples make the promise to one another that they will never place the other in a nursing home if they become ill. When the time comes in which they may need the special care provided at an assisted living Alzheimer’s facility, they may feel they are not following through on their promise. The first thing a caregiver must come to terms with is the difference between a nursing home and a facility that addresses the needs of Alzheimer’s patients. There are a number of behavioral changes and medical concerns that many people have in common. The professionals at an Alzheimer’s facility understand the specific needs of their patients and they know what to look for when the person’s condition changes. The second factor you should realize is that putting a loved one into a care…

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How Do You Tell if a Parent Has Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most heartbreaking conditions that can occur to anyone. Long before the affected individual needs to be placed in an San Diego assisted living Alzheimer’s facility, the impact is often more pronounced on the person’s loved ones than it is on the individual with the disease. This is because the person who is affected often fails to realize that anything is happening to them. At the same time, the people around them experience the loss of the personality that makes the person who they are. Exactly What is Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes progressive deterioration of the brain. It is one form of dementia and the most common type. Most cases occur in people over the age of sixty-five, but early onset Alzheimer’s can occur in adults as…

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When Is It Time for a San Diego Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Home?

One of the most difficult decisions an adult child ever has to make is having to place their parent with Alzheimer’s in someone else’s care. A San Diego Alzheimer’s assisted living facility can help to make that decision an easier one. The focus on caring for Alzheimer’s patients ensures your parent will get the right type and level of care for their needs. Sometimes a spouse may be faced with making a similar decision. Couples who grow old together feel obligated to take care of one another no matter what happens. The problem is that Alzheimer’s typically occurs in seniors. A spouse with diminished physical and mental abilities is unable to provide the quality of care their loved one needs. The first issue to deal with when it’s time to place a loved one into an assisted…

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How to Properly Care for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Patients

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia is challenging. It is typically a fine line between caring from them on our own or locating a San Diego Memory Care Facility.  It can be difficult to keep them calm and safe, and it can be exhausting to have to provide the level of help they need. It can also be upsetting to realize that they are not the same person you once knew – not the same the spouse or the parent you have shared your life with. However, this does not mean that you cannot enjoy your time together, or that their life need be unfulfilled. There are some strategies you can use to provide proper treatment to the dementia patient you love, with dignity and respect. Try Not to Parent Because…

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Is it Alzeihmer’s or Dementia?

Actually it's called Dementia of the Alzheimer's type. 'Dementia' is an umbrella term,  Alzheimer's being the most prevalent type of dementia.  The two most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's Disease (apprx. 65%) and vascular dementia or those incidents caused by loss of blood to or in the brain - more commonly called strokes.  There are also TIA's - trans ischemic attacks or mini-strokes. Dementias are characterized by loss of memory especially short-term, loss of thinking skills including reasoning and judgement, confusion regarding time and place orientation, inability to conduct task sequencing such as cooking and a demise of feeling good about one's self or well-being.  There may also be aphasia;  a loss of the comprehension and expression of language caused by dysfunction in the brain. Next we'll get in to some more of the terminology…

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Memory Care – What’s it all about?

Memory Care refers to addressing the loss of memory and confusion of residents (at Lakeside Manor they are residents - not patients)  by the caregivers who are trained specifically in this type of care.  The loss of memory is frustrating and can contribute to anxiety, mistrust, fear and anger. The trained caregiver is fully aware of what is happening: - repetitive questions of the same wording; - confusion about time and place orientation - "where am I?" - requests for something has just happened - to do it again - and again; - wanting to talk to folks from their past who are no longer around; and, - with little comprehension that they have a loss of memory. The best ways to address this are: - stop what you're doing and listen to the resident; -…

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