Memory Care

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Music and Memory

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Do you ever hear a song that instantly brings you back to a specific memory or feeling?  At Commonwealth Senior Living, we know that music is a vital part of living a meaningful life, and it’s especially important for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.  In fact, recent studies have shown there is a significant connection between music and memory in the brain. Psychology Today describes a recent study from the University of California, Davis in which researchers mapped the regions of the brain that were activated when people listened to familiar music.  The researchers found that the medial prefrontal cortex was highly activated by the music. This is also one of the last parts of the brain to become damaged by Alzheimer’s disease, which may explain why people with Alzheimer’s and dementia respond to music so strongly.  The researchers also found, unsurprisingly, that the songs linked to the strongest memories evoked the highest emotional response and the most activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. This study shows that people have a significant physical and emotional response to music.*

While we now have the science to back it up, at Commonwealth Senior Living, we have known for a long time that music can be transformative for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia.  That’s why we love our Sweet Melodies program, which is one of our signature programs in which our Program Directors get to know what songs trigger happy memories or positive response from our Sweet Memories residents.  After the six-week long process, each resident has a personalized playlist with songs that create a strong, positive emotional response. This is a great resource for both families and our team to connect to each resident on a personal level. For those who have lost verbal skills, Sweet Melodies ignites a spark within the resident and resonates deeply within them.  For more information about our Sweet Melodies program, visit one of our communities or email us at AskTheExperts@CommonwealthSL.com.

*Berglund, Christopher. “Why Do the Songs from Your Past Evoke Such Vivid Memories?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 11 Dec. 2013.

Four young women performing modern dance (B&W)

Back to the Future in 2019

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We all have days when we would love to drop everything and travel somewhere else. For 3 years Commonwealth Senior Living has offered our residents and their families an opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, music, art and culture of other countries and states from the comfort of their own home with our Travel the Word Signature Program. But what if the place you would like to experience is in the past? This year, we will take our Commonwealth family “Back to the Future” to revisit some of our favorite inventions, dances, music, historical events and popular culture fads though out the decades.

Each month, our program professionals will be developing a unique calendar of activities, a menu of popular foods, and outings that focus on a decade in time beginning in January with 1900-1909 and wrapping up 2019 with the present in December.

We will incorporate new and engaging programs that focus on the decade theme for the month while also meeting the eight domains of wellness which help ensure a well-rounded quality of life for all of our residents living in Assisted, Memory Care, and Independent living. These domains include the categories of cognitive, creative, intellectual, nature, outings and spirituality, physical, productive, reflective and contemplative, sensory and social programs.

Imagine all the new things you could learn and experience about the past between 1910 -1920 our decade for February. Maybe revisit the Titanic which sank in 1912 through documentaries and YouTube videos of actual submarine footage that were not easily available to our generation of residents. Did you know the first sewing machine was invented in 1910? What if you could dance the evening away on a yellow brick road in ruby red slippers at a Wizard of Oz themed party, which opened in 1910?

All this and more awaits our family of Commonwealth Senior Living residents in 2019. Where will March take you? Come visit a Commonwealth Senior Living Community and see where we are going during 1920-1929. It’s sure to be a great trip!

Find the community closest to you by visiting our communities page.

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Autumn Salad with Chef Andre

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At Commonwealth Senior Living, we are proud to serve our residents nutritious, filling, and delicious meals made from locally-sourced ingredients.  We also know that caregivers need to take care of themselves by eating nutrient-dense foods, which will provide plenty of energy. No matter who you are, you can use a quick, easy, delicious meal like this Autumn Salad presented by Chef Andre at Commonwealth Senior Living at Gloucester House.  

 

With hearty ingredients like kale, apples, cranberries, butternut squash and a simple vinaigrette, there’s no reason not to try this perfect salad for fall!

 

If you’d like to see Chef Andre demonstrate his tricks for making this salad, check out this video: https://wtvr.com/2018/10/18/hearty-and-colorful-autumn-salad/ We’re very proud that he’s been featured on the local news again!

 

Autumn Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ready Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 2

Salad:

1 Large Bunch of kale, ribs removed and chopped
1 Romaine lettuce heart, chopped
1 fresh gala apple, sliced (Toss in lemon juice to keep these from turning brown)
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup candied pecans
¼ cup sliced pickled beets
¼ cup crumbled bleu cheese
¼ cup diced butternut squash, roasted
½ each small red onion sliced

DRESSING

½ cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon white cane sugar
Sea Salt
Ground Black Pepper

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, orange juice, and sugar.

2. Continue to whisk while slowly adding the olive oil to insure the dressing pulls together.

3. Season dressing with salt and pepper to taste

4. This is where it gets FUN!!!! Be Creative!

5. Using a large dinner plate, place greens in the center of the plate

6. Add sliced apples, dried cranberries, pecans, bleu cheese, red onion, pickled beets, and butternut squash

7. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve

Hermitage

Commonwealth Senior Living Expands to Eastern Shore of Virginia

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Hermitage Eastern Shore to Join Commonwealth Senior Living (CSL) communities and Add Independent Living and Memory Care services.

On October 10, 2018 CSL announced that it has entered into an agreement with Pinnacle Living to purchase Hermitage Eastern Shore in Onancock. CSL has committed to investing $3 million in capital improvements to the senior living community, converting the skilled nursing wing into memory care and adding independent living services.

The community, which will be known as Commonwealth Senior Living at the Eastern Shore, will have the area’s first dedicated memory care neighborhood and be the only independent living provider on the shore. “We understand the importance of continuing the mission Pinnacle Living has so capably carried on for more than 50 years, and we are both excited and honored to have the opportunity to bring our passion and our expertise in caring for seniors to the Eastern Shore, ” said CSL CEO, Richard Brewer. “While nursing home utilization has declined over the last 10 years, the need or more affordable options such as independent living, assisted living, and memory care has grown. We are making a significant commitment to ensure those needs are met.”

“This decision came after many months of careful consideration and research into who would be a good partner to continue our mission of enriching life’s journey,” said Pinnacle Living President and CEO Christopher P. Henderson. “We are pleased with CSL’s plan to further invest in the community, the additional services and its commitment to ensuring the community will remain a resource to seniors on the Eastern Shore for the long term.”

All residents living in the community are expected to remain and will not see any increase in their base rate for at least 12 months. Those residents currently residing in nursing will be assessed in the coming weeks to ensure their needs can be met in assisted living. It is expected that those residents will see a reduction in their monthly fee once the transition to assisted living is complete. Skilled nursing services will continue to be available through local home health providers.

CSL and Pinnacle Living will work together during the transition from nursing to assisted living to determine staffing needs and any associates not retained will be offered a severance package from Pinnacle Living. It is expected there will be future opportunities to grow employment as renovations are completed and occupancy grows.

CSL will begin management of the community next month once the nursing beds are decertified. The transaction is expected to be complete before the end of the year with construction starting shortly thereafter.

For a listing of other communities nearby, visit our communities page: https://www.commonwealthsl.com/our-communities/.

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Talking to Your Employer About Caregiving

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The American Senior Housing Association provides a tremendous amount of helpful information for caregivers and families researching senior living options through their blog, Ageless Advice. The following post came directly from their site and addresses the issue of work/caregiving balance which so many families face.

“I’m trying to be a good employee, but taking care of my mom at the same time is making it hard. I feel guilty leaving work for her appointments, but there’s no one else to do it. I’m stressed and worried that I’ll lose my job.”

Working daughters make up the bulk of family caregivers, and they’re feeling the pressure. According to the Daughters in the Workplace North American Research Report, one in four working daughters:

  • Say their career growth has suffered because they’re caregivers
  • Feel their supervisor is unsympathetic to their caregiver responsibilities
  • Believe there’s a stigma associated with taking time off to be a caregiver

Whether you’re a new family caregiver or a veteran, how can you talk to your employer about being a caregiver so you can get some support with balancing work and caregiving?

Start with HR

Ask your Human Resources department about the company’s policies and programs that support caregivers. Some companies have resources to help you find community services, legal or financial assistance, caregiver support groups, counseling or respite care. They may also offer caregiving leave or flexible scheduling. If your company doesn’t have any policies in place, they might be open to making some. Download this toolkit to help your employer learn how they can support their working caregivers.

Under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees are entitled to unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks per year without losing health benefits or job security so they can care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition. The law doesn’t require companies to pay you during time off.

  • You can take those 12 weeks all at once or in smaller pieces.
  • To qualify, you must have worked for the company for at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months.
  • Companies are required by law to tell you your rights under FMLA, and if you qualify, to offer you leave.
  • Employers may not threaten you or make your work life harder because you request a leave.

It’s important to note that companies with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from FMLA. And that means unless there are state or city laws in place, they’re not required to make accommodations or give you any time off.

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) allows for employees taking time off to care for a disabled parent to receive the same treatment as employees taking time off to care for disabled children. The ADA also offers protection against losing your job or harassment due to taking leave.

Talk to Your Supervisor

You may not feel comfortable sharing personal information with your supervisor, but they can be a great ally for you. Good bosses don’t want to lose good employees, and many will work with you to find solutions.

  • Make notes about what you want to say and what you hope to get out of your conversation. It will help you stay on track and not leave out important points.
  • Be clear and realistic as you explain your caregiving role and how it’s impacting your work-life balance.
  • Explain what you’ve been doing to try and juggle work and caregiving. Tell them what’s worked and what hasn’t.
  • Have some ideas about how you might proceed in ways that don’t cost the company more money or time. These ideas are to start a longer conversation — there may be more than one way to achieve your goals.
  • Be flexible and willing to compromise. If a flexible work schedule isn’t possible, perhaps a change in schedule or working from home one or two days a week is.

Look for Additional Support

If your parent needs more care than you can give and you still need to keep your job, it may be time to consider other resources.

  • Many senior living communities offer respite care for caregivers who need a break every now and then. Knowing your parent has a safe, caring place to go for a few days can let you focus on a big project or take a work trip.
  • If your parent lives out of town or a longer drive across town, consider bringing them closer to you. An assisted living or memory care community near you could provide the help they need while letting you be closer to them — cutting down on your travel time and easing your caregiving stress. Explore senior living options near you.

Being a caregiver is hard, especially when you work full-time. But having honest conversations with your employer can go a long way toward making life a little easier.

Sources:
AARP
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Elizz.com
Northeast Business Group on Health

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You are not in this alone. We are with you.

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When families are looking for help for a loved one with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, it can be difficult to get a feel of how the care will be before moving in. Families are often inundated with health care materials, questions about logistics, and a lot of emotions. That’s why hearing from other families is so important.

We received a letter from a family this week that warmed our hearts and reminded us how important it is to reassure families that they aren’t on this journey alone. We are with you.

“I am writing this letter to express my husband’s and my gratitude for the excellent care provided to my father-in-law. His quality of life was very much enhanced by being in such a caring environment with staff that is equipped and willing to deal with the uncertain behaviors of patients challenged with various forms of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to Mr. Young’s loving and outstanding care, I would remiss if I didn’t point out that your Resident Care Director, Ms. Diane Towns-White and Ms. Pam Harris went the extra miles by providing the education on the Alzheimer’s Disease process and helping us to navigate through the various stages. We never felt alone as your staff and these unsung heroes have always made us feel welcome and part of the family. The communications was open, honest and often.

The professionalism of your staff and doctors, your security measures, the concept of family involvement and being on the cutting edge in developing treatment plans; places Commonwealth Memory Care both head and shoulders above all other like facilities. I will certainly share my many fond memories and will highly recommend your facility to anyone in need of such services. Thank you and please thank your staff for all that you do!”

Receiving educational support and knowing that you have a team dedicated to the care of your loved one is essential to navigating the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s. If you are interested in a support group or education in the Hampton Roads area, please reach out to Jennifer Merritt at jmerritt@commonwealthsl.com.