Certified Memory Care Marble Falls Meet Your Arbor House Team Rhonda Tedford Rhonda@arborhouseliving.com Executive Director Leasha Holmes Leasha@arborhouseliving.com Director of Nursing Ddd Debra Weaver debraw@arborhouseliving.com Evergreen Coordinator April Caropepe april@arborhouseliving.com Engagement Coordinator Jessica Robbins jessica@arborhouseliving.com Community Liaison Heather Garcia APRIL 2017 Certified Memory Care Community Where Dreams are Made Happy Spring and Happy Easter!! March has come and gone and we had a fabulous time celebrating St. Patrick s Day social with crafts and a green shamrock floats, cookies and shamrock pretzels and of course it wouldn t be a party without funny hats and accessories. We love celebrating anything we can!! Now that the weather has been some what nice we are getting our garden ready to plant some veggies and flowers. We will be spending a lot of time out in the garden and having lots of nights on the patio enjoying the flowers. We will be taking a road trip to see the wildflowers and all the beauty that our eyes can take. Please make sure that you save the date for our annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 14 at 2:30pm in the Assisted Living Courtyard. We will also have an Easter Egg Hunt for our Community during that time in our courtyard and we would love for you to come celebrate with us!! heather@arborhouseliving.com Executive Chef Mike Corpus Mike@arborhouseliving.com Maintenance Director Arbor House of Marble Falls 1801 King Road Marble Falls, Texas 78654 830.613.3260 www.arborhouseliving.com License # 105513 With All My Art
HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!
Ask the Expert, By Natalie Kunkel Mom s cousin just passed away, I think she would want to know At this stage of life, familial losses are becoming more frequent. And then there is other news as well: divorces, hospitalizations, diseases and such. Families often feel like they are expected to keep their loved on in the loop of family activity. This is not always the best idea. The person experiencing dementia is encountering brain changes that interrupt the way information is processed and stored. For some people bad news will only be bad news in the moment, for others the feeling of bad news stays but they cannot recall what it related to so they start creating stories that it must be and for others the feeling of loss and helplessness can result in decreased function. Yes mom would have wanted to know, but her ability to cope has changed. I think this is one of the more distressing parts of the journey for families: the conflict between what their healthier family member would have wanted and now what the dementia affected brain can handle. When choosing what information to share and which troubling messages to screen out, here are a few things to consider: Will having knowledge of this event change your loved one s day to day activities? Ex: is this a cousin they have not seen in 10 years or is this a cousin she sees weekly How will this information benefit your loved one? Will it explain an absence or will it create stress? Are you providing the information out of sheer obligation? Will the person be able to act on this information such as attend a funeral or send a card? If this information is left unsaid, what are you concerned about? As with every step of this journey, your Arbor House family stands ready to help. Feel free to talk through any concerns like this or others. We are happy to provide you a light on this journey. You are welcome to email me directly at Natalie@arborhouseliving.com.
We have added a few new things to our wish list. If you have any of these items laying around the house not being utilized, we sure could use them here in Evergreen. All donations are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance... Prizes for Bingo (we love candy!) Fishing Lures and tackle box Costume jewelry Sunscreen for when we are gardening Gardening Supplies (flats of flowers) Fast drying Nail Polish Aprons Board Games Memories in the Making Browse the Boutique Helpings Hands Sorting Swatches Balloon Bash Do you have a special talent that you would like to share with our residents? Do you enjoy playing games, cards, reading or arts & crafts? Can you sing or play an instrument? We love musical groups!! If so, we are always looking for volunteers to spend quality time with our folks in Evergreen. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact Debra at 830-613-3260.
Keeping Family Members on the Same Page By Ava M. Stinnett As our loved ones enter their senior years, a new set of challenges often develops. Some concerns involve financial security; loneliness due to a changing social environment and the passing of friends; conditions such as arthritis, cataracts, and heart disease; and physical aging with a loss of mobility and independence. It is important to learn about coping with these types of issues before they happen. When the diagnosis is Alzheimer s or other dementias that threaten a senior s cognitive and physical abilities, however, there isn t always time to prepare. And as the disease progresses, family conflicts about care decisions can bring out strong feelings. Alzheimer s / Dementia Family Support Group Please join us for support and encouragement on the second Tuesday of the month at 2:00pm. Contact Rhonda Tedford for more information at rhonda@arborhouseliving.com According to writer Jeff Anderson (2014), family disputes generally revolve around the following: Differing views on a parent s condition and, therefore, their needs Parents who value their independence and resist any change in their care When caring for an aging parent falls to one particular family member (e.g., the oldest sibling, the child who lives closest), which can cause resentment if others are unable or unwilling to help When family members feel left out whether it involves getting regular updates on an elder person s condition or feeling that they don t have a voice in the decision-making Determining how to pay for care if a loved one does not have the necessary resources There are numerous organizations and educational resources both online and at your local library or a health care provider s office that can provide assistance for families with aging parents. Some provide support services and guidance to help families develop a practical care plan for when the need arises. Others offer family conflict programs to help improve communication, clarify roles, and develop a feasible team approach to making decisions when a parent can no longer live independently. Arranging for a visiting nurse with a background in elder care assessments or getting information from the senior s primary physician can also clarify what level of care is needed when family members disagree. Dealing with dementia-related diseases can intensify emotions. Developing strategies to keep the focus on a loved one s needs is the key. FUN FACT ABOUT APRIL FOOL S DAY April Fools Day is one of the most widely celebrated nonreligious holidays, although no one seems to know how or why it actually started. Some people believe it began as a celebration of the coming of spring, while others think it was tied to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. FUN FACT ABOUT PASSOVER When the sun sets on Monday, April 10, Jews the world over will begin their holiest eight-day holiday, Passover. The exact day varies on the Julian calendar, but the start of Passover always falls on the 15th day of Nissan on the Jewish lunar calendar. The Seder plate is one of Passover's dearest traditions. This supper, conducted at sundown before the first day of Passover, involves many important rituals including six foods symbolizing the plight and salvation of the enslaved Israelites
Arbor House Assisted Living, specializes in Alzheimer s and Memory Care, has been designed based on the most current and relevant studies dedicated to creating environments that promote independence and dignity for those managing dementia causing diseases like Alzheimer s. Arbor Houses Design Response Our Memory care community is comprised of two houses, each which offer 8 bedrooms, 2 living areas, 2 dining rooms, and courtyard. We use orange and red dinnerware, which studies tell us, helps people experiencing visual processing problems, navigate their plate better. We practice social dining, a technique in which the care team dines with our residents to promote conversation and provide socially appropriate cueing and assistance. Our engagement program boasts a minimum of 10 programs a day, which offers a consistent routine to increase independence and are designed to touch 8 key areas of interest, engagements, and vocation. Studies suggest people with dementia perform with greater independence in less crowded environments. Color should be used to promote independence and appetite in dining programs. People managing dementia often benefit from modeling. For people managing dementia, a structured and purpose filled day reduce stress and Sun downing. Familiar relationships reduce stress during caregiving. Our 1 to 6.5 staffing ratio and designated care team per house allow for strong relationships to grow. This ratio does not included administrative staff. Arbor House of Marble Falls 1801 King Rd Marble Falls, Tx 78654 Main:820-613-3062 Fax: 830-613-3263 Www.arborhouseliving.com @ Arbor House Assisted Living