​photo credit: chuttersnap accessed 7/30/19 via CC0

Barry ZeVan (aka "The Weatherman") offers some insightful ideas about the importance of staying fit and some possible signs of hidden health problems:  

By the time we reach a certain age, most of us have probably reached stages when we know what to recognize as signals that something happening to us physically isn't quite right, and it's time to visit a doctor or hospital. Above almost every element for good health, especially for us seniors, DAILY EXERCISE is the major key for keeping fit. 

“When you see changes in the body, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a certain medical condition,” says Robin Evans, MD, a clinical instructor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, about recognizing subtle or unusual symptoms. “However, a bell should go off in your head to get screened or talk to your doctor.” Our body gives us many signs about a certain health condition. So, if you see something unusual occurring, please visit your doctor, because research shows  early screening could prevent many diseases and even premature death. Here are some:  

Martin Luther Campus, an Ebenezer Senior Community, values the health of our residents. We offer aquatic therapy, exercises classes as part of our Adult Day Program, and nutritious meals for our residents. Schedule a tour to see why our focus on healthy living for older adults makes a difference in the lives of those we serve. 

Now that summer is here, you may want (or need) to travel with a loved one with Alzheimer’s. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, your loved one can still travel, but it’s important to plan ahead to minimize stress. Traveling with a person who has Alzheimer’s can have its challenges, but with these tips, you can be more prepared for some traveling obstacles that may come your way.  

Traveling with a person who has Alzheimer’s can become easier if you bring his or her insurance information, list of current medications and dosages, emergency contact information, doctors names and contact information and a list of food or drug allergies. Get in the practice of having your loved one wear an identification bracelet that includes their name, your name and number and contact information for at least one other family member who can be notified in the case of an emergency. While you are traveling, bring a recent photo of your loved one so that you can show people what they look like just in case they wander off and get lost.  

Those who are affected by Alzheimer’s generally have the tendency to thrive on following a consistent routine and feeling in control of their environment. If possible, try to maintain a similar schedule during vacation that mirrors their typical day-to-day schedule. For instance, try to implement a familiar meal and bedtime routine and bring some comforting and recognizable items from home.

Travel during the time of day when your loved one is the most active, alert, and in a good mood. If your loved one is the most alert in the mornings, travel during the morning and try not to plan a multitude of activities the first night you arrive at the destination. Caregivers know the patterns of their loved ones, so the time of day when your loved one is at his or her best can depend on each person and situation.

Before you embark on your trip, you can plan to have special accommodations for your family member who has Alzheimer’s. If you and your loved one are flying on a plane, discuss your situation with the airline ahead of time so that they can look into arranging an escort to and from the gate or a wheelchair for your loved one to use. Also, speak on the phone beforehand with the hotel(s) along the way and discuss the special services that will be needed.

Trips can easily become filled with sightseeing, adventures, and events. While a packed schedule might work well for a younger crowd, this type of schedule may cause fatigue, stress, and anxiety for your loved one who has Alzheimer’s. Remember that it is healthy to schedule time to rest and relax.

With these tips, you can safely travel with your loved one. Want more travel tips? Our team of memory care experts can give you advice on travel, care, assisted living and more – contact us for more information. ​

Recently, we wrote a blog explaining some of the benefits of Adult Day Programs. There are so many reasons why Adult Day Programs are beneficial that we wanted to provide more information regarding the advantages of attending an Adult Day Program.

An Adult Day Program is great for people with dementia because it provides stimulating activities, flexibility, assistance with personal care, socialization, and more. Stimulating activities are beneficial for someone with dementia because they can decrease anxiety, encourage engagement and self-expression, and help with maintaining motor skills.  

People who are looking into joining an Adult Day Program may not be able to drive anymore or their full-time caretaker may not have the time to take them on various outings. One of the benefits of our Adult Day Program is that we offer transportation in Bloomington for our members. The Adult Day Program members get to enjoy fun outings such as fishing at Lake Riley, MacPhail Music, St. Paul Cathedral, Padelford Riverboat Sightseeing Cruise, Minneapolis POPS Orchestra and Picnic, and more! The great news for both members and their caretakers is that they don’t have to pay extra for the outings provided by Martin Luther Campus.

Studies have shown that staying physically active can help prevent cognitive decline and that it's important for seniors to keep learning by challenging the brain with mental exercises. At the Martin Luther’s Adult Day Program Clubs, we offer activities that promote brain health and physical health. Some of the brain fitness activities that we provided this July was fishing for trivia, know your State capitals, creative writing-summer poetry, and more. Some of the large motor skill activities that our members to part in this July included target practice, bean bag toss, Wii golf, and more!

For a majority of their life, seniors had jobs to do and kids to raise. Now, many retired seniors are at a point in their life where their kids are grown, they have retired, and they are looking for a purpose. At the Martin Luther Campus Adult Day Program, many of our members say that they are “going to their job” when they attend our Adult Day Program. The friendships, activities, and events that we offer can give members a sense of purpose and enjoyment.

For caregivers, the biggest benefit of an Adult Day Program is that it gives them a break from the stress of being responsible for their own commitments while taking care of a loved one at the same time. An Adult Day Program can also provide resources to support the caregiver. At our Adult Day Program, caregivers can attend one of our support groups on campus. At the support group, caretakers are encouraged to tell their stories and experiences of being a caregiver.

If you or a loved one is interested in becoming a member of our Adult Day Program, call Amy at 952-948-5167 for more information and to schedule a tour today. 

References:  
https://blog.ioaging.org/senior-socialization/the-surprising-benefits-of-an-adult-day-program-for-senior/ 
https://www.alzheimers.net/2014-03-06/stimulating-activities-for-alzheimers-patients/ 
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/6-simple-steps-to-keep-your-mind-sharp-at-any-age 

Martin Luther Campus is part of the Ebenezer family of Lutheran Senior Care Communities. We provide transitional care and assisted living apartments for seniors in Bloomington and Richfield. We also have adult day clubs and memory care programs for seniors living at home. We’re located at 1401 East 100th St. Bloomington, MN. Are you interested in transitioning to assisted living or do you have a loved one that needs assisted living? Call Amy at 952-948-5167 for more information and to schedule a tour today.

Residents of Meadow Woods Assisted Living and students from Bloomington Public Schools Galaxy Summer of Service program recently embarked on an 8-week poetry journey. They were guided by wonderful artists from the Alzheimer's Poetry Project of Minnesota. This project is designed to build relationships, activate the senses and spark imagination. Together, they created poems honoring each participant's unique voice and experience. Special thanks to the Minnesota Regional Arts Council for supporting this intergenerational collaboration.

Here is one of the lovely poems written by our group entitled, Let the Rain...

Let the Rain kiss racism so it will disappear
Let the Rain kiss my sister so she will listen better
Let the Rain kiss the ocean so it will be clean
Let the Rain kiss the turtles so the straws get out of noses
Let the Rain kiss all the little critters so they become normal
Let the Rain kiss the hate, turning it into kindness
Let the Rain kiss the living things going extinct
Let the Rain kiss small sailboats on the lake so it cleans the sailors and crew
Let the Rain kiss everyone with dementia so they remember again
Let the Rain kiss humanity so we have compassion for every person's life experiences

An Adult Day Program is a great resource to help your loved one with dementia because it can provide socialization, stimulating activities and assistance with personal care. Maintaining an engaging routine is one of the best ways to treat dementia.  

Daily socializing can lead to a happier and more satisfying and purpose-filled life; these activities challenge the mind and body, which may help ward off and slow the progress of memory loss. At Martin Luther Campus, Adult Day Program members get to bond with new friends through socializing, events, and stimulating activities. Some of the group activities that we provide are bingo, dances, trivia, exercises classes, fun and educational outings and more! Our Adult Day Program members especially love the included outings and the transportation we offer in Bloomington. Many of our Adult Day Club members lovingly call these programs school or work – it provides the same sense of stability and socialization as these familiar routines. 

Many people who have dementia can still remember stories, songs and pop culture from years past. Reflecting back on the music of the good old days can bring happiness to people who have dementia who are struggling with remembering what happened yesterday. An Adult Day Program that provides music (especially music from the big band music era) and the opportunity to attend musical events can help with improving the overall mood of a person with dementia.

Care assistance is not only helpful for the person who has dementia, but it can also give their caregiver at home a break. At our Adult Day Program, we provide each member with an individualized care plan, monthly health monitoring and assistance with personal care. If your loved one needs extra help with bathing, medication management and therapy (physical, speech, or occupational) we offer these services for a fee.

If your loved one enjoys the idea of going to fun events and meeting new people at an Adult Day Program, but he or she still wants to have down time as well, an Adult Day Program can be flexible to meet these needs. At Martin Luther Campus, our Adult Day Program offers members the opportunity to choose how many times a week they want to attend and if they want to come for a full day or a half day. This also allows caregivers to coordinate around their own schedules.  

Through an Adult Day Program, seniors with dementia can look forward to the fun activities and spending time with their new friends. If you or a loved one is interested in becoming a member of our Adult Day Program, call Amy at 952-948-5167 for more information and to schedule a tour today. 

Martin Luther Campus is part of the Ebenezer family of Lutheran Senior Care Communities. We provide transitional care and assisted living apartments for seniors in Bloomington and Richfield. We also have adult day clubs and memory care programs for seniors living at home. We’re located at 1401 East 100th St. Bloomington, MN. Are you interested in transitioning to assisted living or do you have a loved one that needs assisted living? Call Amy at 952-948-5167 for more information and to schedule a tour today.