RetirementHomes.com - memory care

Lack of Sleep Harms Memory in Seniors

aadmin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:49:43 +0000

Studies about older people show that memory diminishes with age. The Louisville, Courier-Journal reported that older people experience difficultly in learning new tasks or remembering simple routines, like where they left their keys.

A new study from the University of California at Berkeley illustrates that lighter sleep can have a big effect on the memory process. Older people get less deep sleep than younger people, a possible direct link to memory disruption.

The study's author, Matthew Walker, a neuroscience and psychology professor at Berkeley's University of California told the Louisville Courier-Journal:"In young adults, sleep was doing an excellent job at not letting those memories dissolve." He continued: "Sleep wasn't as effective in the elderly. Consequentially, they have far more severe problems with forgetting. A significant reason was because of the quality of their deep sleep."

The researchers said the older adults scored 55% less on the memory test after sleeping. This difference becomes noticeable in situations that demand consistently high performance

Good sleep is important before and after learning to create new memories for long-term application. A psychology professor at Northwestern University who specializes in sleep, said sleep disruption in older adults can be due to aches, pains, and bladder problems, becoming an issue in daily memory function.

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Legacy Gift Launches Ohio Memory Care Pavilion

aadmin — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:14:29 +0000

A $2 million “legacy gift” will help create a new assisted living memory care pavilion for Montefiore, a nursing facility for senior citizens in Beachwood, OH.

The gift comes courtesy of Steve Willensky and his wife, Judy Klein Willensky, members of The Park Synagogue. “I decided Montefiore was a great fit for me as I’m interested in senior aging issues,” Steve Willensky told Cleveland.com. “I felt Montefiore represented the best of what our community offers.”

The Willenskys, of Gates Mills, OH, said they felt attached to Montefiore from both an advisory and emotional standpoint. The new assisted living memory care pavilion has been named The Willensky Residence.

The Willenskys’ legacy gift positions Montefiore as a leader in senior health care and wellness services in Northeast Ohio, setting it apart with a greatly-needed service to continuum of care.

The pavilion includes specialized studio rooms and two suites with private bathroom and shower. Willensky said he and his wife were very much involved in the planning of the memory care pavilion.

The Willensky Residence comes equipped with a living room with bookshelves and a fireplace, a multi-sensory room for stimulation of the five senses, a beauty salon, a barber shop and a fully equipped laundry room. Outside and easily accessible, is a secure courtyard garden with a walking path and seating areas.

The Willensky Residence has set the benchmark for memory care in Assisted Living and Continuing Care across the USA.

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Could blueberry juice help active living seniors improve their memory?

aadmin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:04:10 +0000

A new study conducted at the University of Cincinnati's Academic Health Center suggests that the antioxidants in blueberries could boost seniors' memory and prevent cognitive decline.

According to Medical News Today, researchers asked a group of nine seniors in their seventies who showed signs of early memory loss to take a cognitive test. They then asked the volunteers to drink two and a half cups of commercially-available blueberry juice a day for 12 weeks.

After the 12 weeks, participants repeated the original test to see if their scores changed, and researchers compared their results with those of similar studies who used a control group.

It was found that individuals who drank the prescribed amount of blueberry juice showed improved performance on their second test.

"These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration," the researchers wrote in their report.

According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 5 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Active living seniors may discuss memory-preserving habits they could incorporate into their daily routine with their healthcare providers.

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Active living seniors who strength train may reap health benefits

aadmin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:04:10 +0000

Though stereotypically, the weight room in any local gym is the territory of high school football players, people of all ages and fitness levels, particularly women between the ages of 65 and 75, may benefit from strength training, according to the New York Times.

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine asked 155 women who were active living seniors to break into two groups.

One team did strength training exercises on a weekly basis, and the other did toning exercises.

After a year, the researchers found that those who were in the weight-lifting group improved their overall fitness levels by between 10.9 and 12.6 percent, while individuals in the toning group actually experienced a 0.5 percent decline, according to the news source.

In light of these findings, active living seniors might consider incorporating strength training into their daily routines as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The Mayo Clinic reports that strength training on a regular basis will help preserve muscle mass and bone density, help maintain a healthy body weight and could even reduce a person's risk of insomnia.

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Active adult communities are equally appropriate for active living seniors and those who require special care

aadmin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:04:10 +0000

Many active living seniors are searching for a home that will enable them to age in place. That means that their residence will allow them to live an independent lifestyle now, but be able to accommodate their

changing needs in the coming years.

Seniors who invest in a retirement living community that will be able to adapt to their needs, so they can rest assured that they can enjoy their new home for years to come.

For example, a facility that has only one level will always be easy to navigate, while an assisted living community can provide residents with services as they're needed.

According to the Sacramento Press, seniors who plan on settling in one place for a length of time might seek out senior housing options, such as active adult communities, where residents live in private homes but have access to assisted living services and memory care.

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Some budget-friendly vacations are geared toward retirement living

aadmin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:04:10 +0000

As the travel industry slowed as a result of the recession, many Americans have begun to take more affordable vacations, according to WLKY.com.

The news source reports that shorter vacations taken closer to home have become popular among baby boomers and active living seniors.

In particular, trips to inexpensive locations, such as national parks, have seen a spike in popularity, according to the news provider.

Many of these vacations are geared toward retirement living. Active seniors can use cost-effective trips as a way to experience new locations close to home, and make memories with friends and loved ones that will last a lifetime.

Seniors who are on a fixed income might find that options such as all-inclusive resorts or cruises are the easiest way to factor a trip into their budget.

Many cruise lines cater specifically to seniors. Savvy vacation planners are likely to find cruises ships that offer a stimulating experience, delicious food and engaging activities at a reasonable price.

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Active living seniors likely to reap the benefits of aerobic activity

aadmin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:04:10 +0000

A new study published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology suggests that active living seniors who exercise are likely to experience a variety of benefits, and that their brains may look more like the brains of younger adults.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine followed seven men and seven women between the ages of 60 and 80 who were divided into two groups: those who exercised 180 minutes per week over the course of 10 years, and those who exercised less than 90 minutes per week.

The experts found that the blood vessels in the brains of seniors who exercised were less twisted and narrowed than those in the brains of the more sedentary adults.

It is expected that this pilot study will lay the groundwork for researchers to delve more deeply into the effect that physical activity has on brain health.

Though there is still much to be learned about all of the benefits of regular exercise, the National Institute of Health reports that regular exercise can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and heart health problems.

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Seniors can travel to new places and volunteer their time and skills

aadmin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:04:09 +0000

Though many young people spend long periods of time overseas to learn a second language or strengthen their resumes, active living seniors who opt to spend a significant amount of time in a foreign country often do so with the hope of helping others or experiencing a new place, according to TransitionsAbroad.com.

The website also suggests that seniors who have had a lifelong interest or hobby can use the free time available to them to travel and get involved in a cause or an initiative overseas.

Retirement living seniors can be a valuable resource to the nonprofit world, as they are likely to have plenty of time to devote to causes which are important them.

In addition, seniors with a cause that gives them a sense of purpose might be benefitting themselves as well as the world around them.

A recent study found retirees who are older than 65 and who volunteered on a regular basis had less than half the risk of dying over a four-year period, according to ProHealth.com.

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Active living seniors can help their grandchildren learn to read

aadmin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:04:09 +0000

A recent study conducted by Northern Illinois University found that children between the ages of two and five who are being raised by their grandparents are slightly more likely to have difficulty achieving their recommended reading levels.

"This gap in reading achievement isn't the grandparent's fault," said Cavin Harper, founder of Christian Grandparenting Network. "Grandparents need to be resourced."

Over 4.5 million children live with their grandparents, and 2.4 million of those youngsters are being raised by a grandparent, according to the U.S.

Census Bureau.

Active living seniors who share their homes with their young grandchildren may decide to focus extra attention on their grandchildren's reading ability, regardless of whether or not there are the primary care provider.

To encourage good reading skills, grandparents can work with children at home. The National Institute of Literacy recommends reading with them, discussing words that are new and unfamiliar, and helping them look up words in a dictionary and thesaurus.

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Seniors plan to contribute to grandchildrens'education

aadmin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:04:09 +0000

Though many active living seniors are likely to enjoy all of the things associated with being a grandparent to a young child, like arts and crafts or field trips to new and exciting places, as their grandchildren approach college-age, it seems increasingly likely that grandparents will also begin to contribute financially to their progeny's education.

Beccause the financial crunch has reduce the amount of financial aid available to students, a new study suggests that grandparents are likely to step in and provide financial assistance.

They study, conducted by the Hartford Financial Services Group, found that 65 percent of seniors plan to contribute to the college education of their children's children.

Over half of those seniors will give over $10,000 and a quarter of that group will offer more than $30,000 to their family members.

Retirement-age individuals might surprise their children with their generosity, as only 22 percent of parents expected for grandparents to contribute.

Seniors who are able to offset the cost of their grandchildrens' college education might consider seeking the advice of a financial advisor to be sure that they can part with those funds without altering their retirement living plans.

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