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Empty Nest March Special Section
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Thank you for voting Home Helpers Best Home Care for Seniors! Personalized Home Care that nurtures a youthful spirit
Nutrition needs change as we age Finding the right caregiver is much more than just seeking a professional with great skills. It’s about finding a caregiver with the heart and spirit to make a difference in someone’s life. At Home Helpers, our focus every day is matching the right caregiver with each of our clients. This thoughtful selection helps establish a bond between a caregiver and client that bolsters the young at heart spirit waiting to come out in each client.
Serving Communities North of Atlanta
www.HomeHelpersHomeCare.com/Alpharetta For a free consultation, please call 678-430-8511
Greg and Hilary Eldridge,
Owners – Home Helpers of Alpharetta Certified Senior Advisors(CSA)® Each office is independently owned and operated.
By: Home Helpers of Alpharetta March is National Nutrition Month, and no matter our age, we’re all more aware of the impact proper nutrition makes in living a healthy life. But that doesn’t mean we always make the right choice when it comes H. eldridge to eating properly. And if we don’t eat properly earlier in life, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be health consequences later. The key is to not get into bad habits or, if we’re catching up for lost time, to make lifestyle changes and develop new habits to g. eldridge help us live healthier and feel better. Because nutrition needs change as we age, there are different challenges for older adults. First, they need fewer calories because they have a slower metabolism. Also, partly because of prior habits and different lifestyles earlier in life, some may now have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. That’s why it’s
especially important to pay attention to what you eat as you age. It can make a huge difference in keeping healthy and feeling good. A healthy meal should include: • Lean protein (lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans) • Fruits and vegetables (think orange, red, green, and purple) • Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta) • Low-fat dairy (milk and its alternatives) Your plate for each meal should look like a rainbow, bright colored natural low-processed foods are always the best choice! If you’re concerned that a loved one is eating properly, a professional caregiver can also help follow a recommended diet to provide the nutrition needed for a better quality of life. By making sure they stay hydrated, getting help with grocery shopping, meal preparation or kitchen clean up, in-home care can make sure your loved one is eating properly for their unique situation. Home Helpers is here to help in the comfort of your home, providing award winning home care with the heart and spirit to make a difference in your life. We offer a free in-home consultation to design the plan that is right for you. Call us at (678) 430-8511 or visit us online at www.HomeHelpersHome Care.com/Alpharetta.
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Village Park of Alpharetta Village Park of Alpharetta is now open for tours! Special thanks to the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon cutting ceremony on March 15th. Village Park is in the final pre-leasing phase and just waiting on the licensing from the Georgia Department of Community Health to begin moving residents into their new homes. Located on the corner of Webb Bridge Road and Morris Road, Village Park is a 128 unit community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Moving can be stressful and choosing a senior community can feel overwhelming. That’s why Village Park provides a family environment to meet all care needs in a building that offers all the comforts of a small community including health and wellness, social events, restaurantstyle dining, maintenance free, housekeeping, transportation, beauty salon, and a continual focus on individualized care plans to meet your needs. Call Village Park at (678) 740-3499 to stop by, meet the staff, and tour the next level in senior living! And check out our resident stories at www.villageparkseniorliving.com.
Discover a new class in senior living – exclusive to Village Park — that combines the community and character of a private neighborhood with the culture and convenience of a modern city center. Stop by today to see what’s new in senior living.
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VILLAGE PARK ALPHARETTA now showing 12300 Morris Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-740-3499
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The immune system and skin cancer Accepting Patients Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services
Insist on the BEST Voted: •Best Vein Specialist •1st Runner Up for Best Dermatologist Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care. Dr. Taylor has performed thousands of Mohs surgeries and reconstructions, dermatologic surgeries and procedures while in private practice in Florida where local and even international patients have sought him out for the best care. He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables. He now brings his highly sought after expertise back home to Alpharetta with the opening of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta!
Now accepting new patients. We accept Medicare. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Taylor today.
Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta 3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 Alpharetta, Georgia 30005 Dr. Brent Taylor
PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899
One of the most frequent questions that I receive as a Mohs surgeon and dermatologist is why skin cancers often arise in one’s 60s, 70s or 80s when the sunburns occurred as a child or young adult. The answer is likely related to the immune system. The immune system plays a much larger role in skin health than people typically consider. Your skin is the interface between you and the outside world. It is responsible for protecting you against most viruses, bacteria, fungi and other pathogens. It also protects you from environmental threats such as many toxins and carcinogens. Unfortunately, your skin itself can be damaged as it protects you, and that damage can accumulate. When the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays strike the skin, the DNA of many cells takes damage. Your cells have proteins whose job it is to detect DNA damage and repair it, but no process is perfect, and some mutations are permanently incorporated into your skin cells’ DNA. Most of the time, the damaged DNA results in the cell not working or dying, but occasionally the damaged gene is one that controls growth or cell behavior. These mutations accumulate, and the next time that the cell grows or divides it increase the chance that an additional random mutation will push the cell over the edge into being a cancer. Some genes normally cause a cell to grow, and mutations in these genes can cause a cell to grow or divide more than it should; these genes are called oncogenes. Other genes are responsible for putting the breaks on cell growth and for telling a cell when it is not time to grow and divide. When these genes are mutated, it can be like taking the breaks off of a car aimed downhill. The car gathers speed and there’s no way to stop it. These genes are called tumor suppressor genes. If a cell begins to grow and divide excessively and at a person’s expense, the cell is now cancerous. At this point, it is up to the immune system to protect the individual by killing the cancerous cell. Nearly everyone knows that the immune system is important for fighting infections, but fewer people are aware of the immune system’s role in fighting cancer. The immune system is equipped with a number of cells that seek and destroy cells gone bad. The key is differentiating self from non-
self, and a large portion of a medical school immunology course is dedicated to understanding how white blood cells called T cells generate proteins that allow them to tell whether a cell is healthy or unhealthy. If a cell is unhealthy, the T cell will often trigger the unhealthy cell’s death and protect the person from the unhealthy cell. Sometimes, the T cell is unable to kill the rogue cell. As we age, everything becomes a little more rusty. Hearing often weakens. We usually cannot run as fast as we used to. And our immune systems do not do as good a job of surveillance as they once did. We often do not appreciate just how much our immune systems do to protect us from cancer. If you spent a summer in the sun as a child, then your immune system likely killed a dozen or more cancers that resulted from UV radiation without you ever knowing it. We know this because some people are born with genetic diseases that make their immune systems and DNA editing processes fail to function, and these individuals can develop countless skin cancers at a very young age – often ten or more per year starting in their teens. As we become elderly, additional cells slip by our immune system and are able to take hold and begin to grow as a cancer. The decline in our immune system helps explain why skin cancer often arises long after sun exposure took place. Modern medicine has brought exciting changes, and our knowledge of the immune system is allowing us to kill cancers by stimulating the immune system rather than by using traditional chemotherapies. For very shallow basal cell carcinomas, I often discuss with my patients a medicine called imiquimod which can stimulate your own immune system to kill the cancer, sometimes avoiding surgeries. For patients with metastatic melanoma, the most exciting therapies of the last few years again stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer and thereby avoid many of the side-effects we think about with chemotherapy. If you or a loved one has skin cancer, consider Dr. Brent Taylor, a board certified dermatologist and fellowship trained Mohs surgeon. Knowledge about skin cancer and immunology allows for a multimodal approach to treatment that is modern, sophisticated and most importantly puts the patient first.
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Vickery Rose Retirement Resort Imagine coming home to a warm, friendly community that’s luxurious, safe and comfortable. Maintenance and housekeeping included, and every meal of the day is expertly prepared and pleasing to the palette. With all the work done, you have time for family, friends and the important things in life. That can be your life at Vickery Rose Retirement Resort. Designed for your comfort, our community will feature studios, to 3-bedroom apartments with a variety of floor plans and smart details. Each apartment will feature window coverings, climate-controlled thermostat, ceiling fans, and ample closet space. Our kitchens will be fully equipped with a dishwasher, range, microwave, refrigerator and a garbage disposal. Washer/dryer hook-ups are located in a separate laundry closet within the apartment. Our professional staff will provide as-needed maintenance repairs and light housekeeping on a weekly basis. Vickery Rose’s stunning main dining room is the perfect setting to savor meals prepared fresh daily by the chefs in our state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. Experience our signature Freedom Dining program, which includes flexible dining hours throughout the day, plus these dining experience options: • Fine dining • Casual buffet • Chef’s Pantry on-the-go snacks • Room service Residents can access to on-site banking, salon, general store, and pharmacy services. Through our
24/7 concierge services, everything you need will be available at the touch of a button, even scheduled transportation on our shuttle. Relax by the fireplace in our community lounges, or a night of movies or live entertainment in the 150-seat theater. At Vickery Rose, there will be no shortage of social activities. Our community Lifestyle
Directors consistently schedule unique activities designed to meet the resident’s requests. Ultimately, companionship and interaction with others are powerful tools to enjoy retirement and with so many entertaining options and the caring community staff on hand, Vickery Rose brings residents together.
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(BPT) - Life is just better with the perfect accessories, isn’t it? A modern space looks amazing with a bright rug and your favorite piece of art. At work, strategically placed plants and family photos breathe life into any cubicle. Accessories enhance your home and add personality. But what about your outdoor living space? A beautiful garden is easy to create and can fit into any size footprint. Gardening with a variety of textures and colors brings an instant wow factor. Best of all, you don’t have to commit to a single trend. You can change trends with the seasons, adding bold, colorful new looks throughout the year. This guide will show you how. Spring into gardening season This is where it all begins, when that first breath of fresh spring air brings life to your garden. Because spring days - especially mornings - can still be frustratingly cold, you’ll want to start your garden off with a hardier flower that can withstand the cooler mornings and warm afternoons. Cool Wave Pansies have the resilience you need to keep your garden looking great throughout the early spring until those warmer temps finally arrive. Planting these durable flowers is easy and they don’t require constant care. But what if you don’t have a large space? No problem! Add these beautiful blooms to hanging baskets and patio
containers to give your outdoor area a simple facelift everyone will notice. Solutions for summer celebrations Summertime is full of party possibilities, so why not use your garden to make your event the envy of your stylish friends? Wave Petunias are perfect for Mother’s Day and the Flying the Flag combination of red, white and blue is a must for the Fourth of July. It’s easy to get creative for any event with Wave Petunia’s Plug & Play Combos because they make tailoring your garden for any occasion a breeze. This is also a great time of year to branch out and add some fun new twists to your already amazing garden. Fresh herbs and tomatoes, anyone? The Italian Bistro container recipe gives you the best of both worlds - a beautiful patio statement and delicious summer salad, all in one pot. Delightful options for the dog days of summer Things are heating up this time of year, but keeping your garden bright and fresh is simple. Bold tropical colors like the Easy Wave South Beach combo and Tidal Wave Red Velour are all heat lovers and easy to maintain. They’ll grow quickly to fill out any container or basket, and you can watch it happen from the comfort of your air-conditioned home. For more information and to see examples of trending gardens, visit www.wave-rave.com.
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Three new luxury 55+ communities Brought to you by: Kathy Rice, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Longleaf Communities is the premier luxury homebuilder for active 55+ adults in metro Atlanta. Their spectacular, English Cottage style homes and communities are designed to meet the lifestyle needs Rice and wishes of active seniors while providing low maintenance living. With three convenient locations, Longleaf Communities provides things other Active Adult communities provide: proximity to area attractions and life necessities, low maintenance and ease of living, a lock and go lifestyle and neighborhood amenities. With a Longleaf home, you can have all that plus the distinguished architecture, attention to detail and superb craftsmanship you’re accustomed to. Our elegant homes feature airy floor plans with lofty 10-foot ceilings
and solid 8-foot doors outfitted with generous millwork throughout. Choose from a variety of custom cabinetry for your designer kitchen and select your preferred finishes for your designer bath. All of our homes feature two main floor bedrooms, each with a full bath
and laundry on the main. The upstairs includes a finished loft, additional full bath and the option to add another bedroom for more livable space to welcome guests.Longleaf currently has 3 communities: Village Green of East Cobb in Marietta, Longleaf Woodstock
in Cherokee County and Longleaf Battle Park in West Cobb. Our thoughtful floor plans and Longleaf’s reputation for superior craftsmanship are what makes Longleaf the luxury builder of active adult communities. www.longleafsouth. com (678) 697-4984
Battle Park • East Cobb • Woodstock 678.523.7063
THREE NEW LUXURY 55+ COMMUNITIES
Marketing and Sales by Atlanta FIne Homes Sotheby’s International Realty - 770.442.7300. © All Rights Reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information contained herein is believed to be accurate but is not warranted and is subject to change without notice.
678.523.4872
678.525.0823
Call today for a private tour.
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New firm guides seniors through life transitions Sherri Selman and Lisa Wilson both learned from experience that life rarely goes according to plan. Each discovered the challenges of unexpected life changes and realized the value of caring and compasselman sionate guidance along the way. “My world was thrown into chaos by Mark’s sudden health crisis,” said Sherri. When her husband was totally disabled by a stroke in 2014, Sherri faced drastic changes and myriad decisions, from houswilson ing issues to quality home care. After Sherri’s father suffered a debilitating stroke the same year, she had to find full-time care for him while dealing with her parent’s home in Missouri
Your first choice for second to none care. Call or visit us online to set up a tour today! (770) 824-3885 www.at-johnscreek.com 3180 Karen White Dr. Suwanee, GA 30024
and re-locating her mother. Knowing that many others encounter these same daunting tasks, Sherri decided to fill the need for expert advice and easy access to quality service providers. Lisa found herself in a similar situation, moving her own mother to Georgia after her father passed away. Her expertise as a Senior Real Estate Specialist helped Lisa create a roadmap for home transitions, so it was natural to join forces with Sherri and form NexSeason Transitions. Whether a life change is carefully planned or totally unexpected, NexSeason helps seniors and their families through all aspects of the home transition process: providing advice, connecting clients with carefully vetted partners, and even handling every step with concierge-level services.
Caring for an aging adult Caring for our Seniors can be a daunting task without help. Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek will be hosting a monthly Caregiver Group on the second Tuesday of the month, beginning March 13. The meeting will be from 5:45p.m. until 7:00. All families who need information, suggestions and a place to share their concerns about how to best care for an aging adult are invited to participate in this group. The focus will be for an uplifting, positive and empowering time for Caregivers. ATJC professionals will help guide discussions, address your concerns, and answer the many common ques-
tions: When is the right time to move them? When should they have a safer environment with 24-hour oversight? What is the best approach when your loved one is resistant to change? ATJC is an exemplary resort-style community, managed by The Arbor Company- a corporation that has been assisting Seniors, and their family members, for over 30 years… helping them achieve the peace-of-mind that comes from knowing your loved ones are exceptionally well cared for. Call Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek at 770-999-9577 to inform us you’d like to attend this first meeting to see if this is something you would be interested in.
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Soleil Laurel Canyon Tucked away in the North Georgia foothills of Canton and just a short drive from exciting Atlanta, Soleil Laurel Canyon is more than a beautiful community of maintenance-free, ranchstyle homes and breathtaking views. It’s the lifestyle you’ve worked your whole life to enjoy. If you are 55+, we invite you to come experience Soleil’s incomparable array of recreation, culture, and entertainment for yourself. You’ll have no doubt why it was named among the Best 50 Master-Planned Communities in the U.S. by Where to Retire Magazine in 2015. “Clubhouses, fitness centers, social clubs and education classes mean residents get much more than a house at a
planned community,” said Karen Northridge, publisher of “Where to Retire.” One of the great pleasures of living at Soleil is that a low-maintenance home gives you the free time to take advantage of all that the community offers or take a trip without concern. The landscaped grounds of Soleil Laurel Canyon are always impeccably maintained, while your HOA dues cover complete lawn maintenance and an irrigation system, in-home security monitoring and maintenance, and even Comcast cable TV. Soleil Laurel Canyon offers a selection of Cottage, Traditional and Crafts-
man-style single-family homes from the mid $200,000s to $400,000s for adults 55+. Residents live independently in homes that range from 1,500 square feet to almost 3,000 square feet. All of Soleil’s new floor plans include elegant details and are designed for aging-inplace with stepless-entry access and wide doorways. These homes are energy efficient with HERS ratings above standard. Soleil residents have membership in a 28,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with an arts and crafts room, billiards room, fitness center, gourmet
teaching kitchen, indoor heated saline lap pool, and library. Outside the clubhouse, residents have a heated Lagoon-style pool, a community garden and greenhouse, a 3.5-acre fishing lake and the tennis facility with a full-time USPTA-certified teaching professional. The Fairways of Canton golf course is located just outside Soleil’s gate within Laurel Canyon, and offers challenging golf for a reasonable, daily-fee price. Two Lifestyle Directors maintain a full social calendar of events including wine socials, movie nights, trips to nearby attractions, and Grandkids day.
Everything you came here for – and more. Amenity-Rich Resort Living for Active Adults New Homes from the Low $300s Live the way you feel and continue experiencing all the things that give you pleasure. Just north of Atlanta, Soleil is the place to be. Award-winning resort style 55+ community only minutes from shopping, dining, hospitals, culture and Blue Ridge.
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Call Today for Your Personal Tour 678.710.9258
102 High Mountain Trace Canton, Georgia 30114
©2018 Lifestyles at Laurel Canyon, LLC. Special offers, prices, home designs and other information subject to errors, changes, omissions, deletions, availability, prior sale and withdrawal at any time without notice. Not an offering to CT, NJ or NY residents. Void where prohibited.
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Preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery Sponsored by: JOHNS CREEK PHYSICAL THERAPY If you’re suffering from an arthritic knee you know how the pain in your knee can affect many aspects of your life. When injections stop relieving the pain, your next course of action is normally a knee replacement. Making the decision for a knee replacement is not one that comes easy but often times the pain in your knee makes the decision for you. If you are considering a knee replacement then you won’t want to miss our next Free Total Knee Replacement Workshop on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:00 pm.
During the workshop you will learn things you can do that might postpone your surgery, what you absolutely need to know before surgery, and how to have a successful recovery once you finally have surgery. Many people who have attended our workshop have actually canceled or delayed their surgery. If you’re considering a knee replacement please accept our invitation to our next free workshop on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:00 pm. Register by calling 770-622-5344 or visit johnscreekpt.com/knee Johns Creek Physical Therapy, 4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H, Suwanee, GA 30024, 770-622-5344
Top 3 Things to Know Before Total Knee Replacement FREE WORKSHOP
Wednesday, March 28th at 6:30pm Presented by: Johns Creek Physical Therapy Join us for a one hour workshop where you will learn the TOP THREE things you will need to know before considering Total Knee Replacement. 1. Strategies before surgery which can improve recovery 2. Conservative and preventive measures everyone can take to manage pain and possibly delay surgery. 3. Rehab tips which will enhance your recovery Preparing now can make your recovery easier and faster! Register today: 770.622.5344 or go to www.johnscreekpt.com/knee 4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H, Suwanee, GA 30024
Home sweet home >>
5 ways to avoid a life-changing fall (BPT) - Most of us who are aging hope to live comfortably and self-sufficiently at home well into our golden years. And, of course, we wish the same for our parents. The good news is advancements in healthcare and other technology are increasingly allowing aging Americans to live longer at home. The bad news is many are unable to continue to do so once they take a serious fall at home, injuring their hips, heads or other body parts. That’s an all-too-common problem: One in four Americans age 65 and older fall each year, and falling once doubles their chances of falling again, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Falls also are the number one cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. “We treat many older patients who lived happily and productively at home until they tripped and broke a hip,” notes orthopaedic trauma surgeon and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) spokesperson Lisa Cannada, MD. “A broken hip or other fall-related injuries make it difficult for people to live at home again without assistance of some kind and loss of independence. With a little foresight and planning, many of these injuries could be prevented.” Several steps can be taken to prevent debilitating falls from ever taking place. Consider how the following tips may help you or your loved ones hold on to the comforts of home for a longer period of time: * Recognize your risk. A number of health issues can make you or your parents more prone to falling, ranging from arthritis to neurological conditions to vision or hearing loss. Various medications, the use of alcohol or simple dehydration may also affect your ability to safely navigate your surroundings. But the more you’re aware of such possible hindrances, the more you can plan for them. * Optimize your health. Take re-
sponsibility for staying as healthy and fit as possible by remaining active, drinking enough water, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking and eating a healthy diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Annual physicals, eye exams and bone density tests are recommended. Make exercise a priority, and choose something that you enjoy to maintain your bone health and coordination. * Fall-proof your home. Walk through your home and that of your parents to identify and fix possible hindrances such as slippery surfaces, inadequate lighting, cluttered pathways, unsecured rugs, electric cords, loose flooring, etc. Consider installing grab bars in the shower, securing loose rugs with slip-resistant backings and installing bright motion-detector lights. You also might move clothes, kitchenware and other everyday gear within easier reach. The AAOS and Orthopaedic Trauma Association offer additional tips in this Falls Awareness and Prevention Guide. * Wear the right shoes. Limit footwear to well-fitting, low-heeled shoes or slippers with rubber or other non-skid soles. Also watch for untied shoelaces. * Maintain an action plan. If you live alone, have someone check on you daily. If you do fall, you may avoid further injury by using your arms to protect your head instead of trying to break your fall. If possible, fall on your side or buttocks and roll slightly. If you can’t get up after bracing yourself on a wall or furniture, call a friend, relative or 911 for help. Finally, consider wearing a medical alert device 24-7; you never know where and when you’ll need emergency help, and your cell phone may not always be available. Many aging Americans are able to enjoy long, productive lives in their own homes instead of turning to other accommodations. Increase your chances of making that happen for you and your parents by taking steps to plan for and avoid an injury-producing fall. Find more tips at orthoinfo.org/falls.
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Don’t be embarrassed about Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult for children, teens, even adults to understand. There will be times your grandma doesn’t seem like she used to be. Or without warning she may get confused, agitated or even angry to the point of accusing you of stealing. And it may happen when you are out in public, at church, the grocery store, or at a family gathering. Even though you know Alzheimer’s is the cause, it is common to be embarrassed about it. While you can’t stop behavior changes due to Alzheimer’s, there are tips to help you better manage the situation. Think About It from Their Perspective Alzheimer’s progressively destroys brain cells over time, so during the early stages many people living with the disease do recognize something is wrong. They may know they are supposed to recognize you, but they can’t. Imagine how frustrating and scary that would be. It is important to put yourself in their shoes and think about how you might react if your world suddenly didn’t make sense or you were in a position where you realized you should
know someone – even a close family member – but just couldn’t remember who they were or what they meant to you. Adjust Social Routines Everyone needs social interaction, even those living with memory loss. But as the disease progresses unfamiliar places and social interactions can become scary and more difficult to manage. Consider hosting the monthly family dinner at your house, or the home of a close friend instead of meeting at a new restaurant. Consider a familiar locale for the family vacation and stick to visiting favorite landmarks and attractions. While each day is different, through many stages of Alzheimer’s it is likely your loved one will feel more comforted and peaceful with the familiar vs. something new that might trigger fear or agitation. Have A Sense of Humor While Alzheimer’s and dementia are serious, as a family member or friend, keeping a sense of humor makes a big difference. Let’s face it, there are times you just have to find humor in the situation. It can lighten the mood not
only for yourself, but also for your family and your loved one suffering from memory loss. And don’t forget it is human nature to pick up on the emotions of others around you and this is no different for those living with memory loss. Getting embarrassed or anxious when grandma says the wrong thing can even make the situation worse as she picks up on your rising level of anxiety. Sometimes it is just best to whisper a quiet apology, laugh and move on. Don’t Argue Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys memory. If someone can’t remember, recalls something differently, or is convinced the neighbor stole their favorite pen, don’t spend
time arguing or trying to convince them otherwise. Even if they end up agreeing with you today it is no guarantee they will remember it tomorrow. Instead try reassuring them or even asking questions about the memory they are recalling. For information about assisted living for those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, call (678) 4564304 or visit Thememorycenter.com. Located at 12050 Findley Rd., behind Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
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