Evaluating care

This consumer guide for caregivers provides an overview of dementia care services and tools for selecting the right residential community. A free digital copy of How to Evaluate the Quality of Residential Care for Persons with Dementia can be downloaded. Or contact Kagan Jenkins at kjenkins@abesgarden.org or 615.522.5274 to have up to five hard copies shipped for $5.

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We help caregivers and loved ones of those with ADRD

This week’s featured Abe’s Garden blog:

Can Mom & Dad Stay Together?

By Judy Given, Director of Campus Development at Park Manor and Abe’s Garden “…in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” This vow was spoken by many of our parents on their wedding day. For

Responding to Repeated Questions

By Beverly Theis, Abe’s Garden Licensed Clinical Social Worker It can be very frustrating when a loved one with dementia asks the same question over and over. When that happens, take a deep breath

Keeping the love of art alive

By Brenda Nagey, Abe’s Garden and Park Manor Director of Life Engagement, Abe’s Garden and Park Manor How can I bring arts back into my loved one’s life who used to paint but now has vision problems

Traditional vs. Memory Care

By Judy Given, Abe’s Garden and Park Manor Director of Campus Development I often hear families remark, “I think my loved one needs assisted living, but don’t think his dementia is to the point yet

Joining a day program

Following a tour of The Club, Abe’s Garden’s adult day program, I often hear, “Wow, this would be great for my dad, but he refuses to try anything new. How do I get him to agree to try it?” This

Keep Someone with Dementia Engaged

By Brenda Nagey, Director of Life Engagement, Abe’s Garden and Park Manor “Mom is bored. She can’t follow the story on TV or when reading. What else can I offer her?” You can simplify tasks similar

Preparation tips prior to diagnosis appointment

It helps to be prepared for the neurologist appointment and have realistic expectations. Some things you can do to be prepared include:

Keep a journal of changes you and others have noted. Be prepared to give the doctor some examples of worrisome, challenging, or problematic behaviors that have been observed. As your loved one is likely to be present for this meeting, be sensitive in your communication so it won’t appear that you are giving a listing of all their faults. You may want to leave some notes if the list is extensive.

Bring in a list of medication s/he is on, and information on the method of delivery, (i.e. independent, pill box, reminders from a caregiver, etc). It will help to check up on the compliance and accuracy of medication usage, if possible.

Bring a list of questions you and your loved one may have. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget important questions you wanted to ask.

Beverly Patnaik, Abe’s Garden Director of Staff Training and Community Education

“Communication is all about continuing relationships. It doesn’t change if you have a memory impairment. We still have to communicate. If they are sitting, get down to their eye level. Hold their hand. Give maximum information and expect minimum responses.”

Will Hudson, Physical Therapist Assistant

“Exercise is important for people with dementia because they are at a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and exercise lowers those risks. If they can no longer walk, the exercises we recommend are sitting exercises of marching, kicking straight out or side to side, ankle pumps, and reaching at different angles.”

Kim Campbell, wife of the late legendary musician and Abe’s Garden resident, Glen Campbell

“The doctors say music activates all the regions of your brain at once, so with everything firing, it’s very stimulating for people who have dementia and helps them maintain their function.”