“They call it the ‘long-goodbye’ disease,’ but I think that means goodbye is a long way off and there’s a lot of living to do between now and the end,” said Andy Rachelski, husband of Mary Rachelski, who is living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Andy and Mary reside at Meramec Bluffs, a Lutheran Senior Services Life (LSS) Plan Community in Ballwin, Mo.
“I want to give people hope. Don’t stop living just because of a diagnosis,” said Andy.
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At Meridian Village, a Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) Life Plan Community in Glen Carbon, Illinois, Gayle Hantak, Lifestyle Enrichment Coordinator, uses the Best Friends approach with her Memory Care residents. The concept is centered around the idea that people with dementia need a best friend who empathizes with their situation, remains loving and positive, and is dedicated to helping them feel safe, secure, and valued.
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When your loved one, whether it’s a parent, an aunt or uncle, or a dear friend, begins showing signs of memory loss, it is difficult for everyone. For a while, a little extra help from family members, friends, or even an in-home service can help an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory impairments. But eventually, around-the-clock care and more opportunities for engagement may be needed.
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Older adults living with early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease or other memory impairments can benefit from a living setting that provides the care they need with programming that engages them. Memory care assisted living is a controlled-access, purposeful environment created with the special needs of the residents in mind. Staff cater to those needs, with a focus on the residents’ holistic well-being.
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While moving to Assisted Living or Long Term Care is full of change, it’s a positive opportunity for the resident and their family. Laclede Groves’ Director of Health Services, Robin Garnett, shares some advice for families going through this transition based on what she’s learned during her 11 years at Lutheran Senior Services.
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Medicare will mail new Medicare cards between April 2018 and April 2019. Your new card will have a new Medicare Number that’s unique to you. This number will be used in place of your social security number to help protect your identity. Things to know about your new Medicare card • You do not need …
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Have you taken care of your estate planning? These 5 legal documents for elderly will help you plan for retirement. Get them in order today!
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How well do you know your family — the people you should know better than anyone else? You may be surprised at how much you don’t know about the people you’ve known the longest. But, in the spirit of the season, you can get to know your family all over again with a good round …
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There’s a long tradition of writers gathering to swap stories and feed on each other’s creative energy. At Lutheran Hillside Village, a senior living community in Peoria, Illinois, that tradition has taken the form of the Pen Souls. The members write in a wide range of styles on a wide range of topics. As a …
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Thinking about your health? You might listen to David Carr, M.D., the clinical director for the Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science for Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Carr has reviewed thousands of medical studies in his practice and has some positive news about healthy aging: we can achieve significantly healthier …
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