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Five Activities To Help With Memory Loss

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Elderly Memory Loss

There are many benefits for elders for staying mentally engaged. Most notably, implementing activities and brain exercises can help with memory loss. There are a wide variety of activities that can be used that are enjoyable, engaging, and easy to do. Using these practical exercises can greatly help elders’ mental and social needs, as well as improve their mood and quality of life. Here are five activities to help with memory loss. 

Cooking

First off, simple baking recipes are a great way to stay mentally active and fight memory loss. Following the instructions and using their hands to make something keeps them engaged and active. Moreover, this activity can also be done with others to socialize.

Reading Aloud

Reading on its own is effective for staying mentally engaged. However, reading aloud is even better. This uses both their mental and verbal skills. If they have books, newspapers, or online articles they enjoy reading, try having them read aloud to stay even more mentally active.

Share Memories

Reminiscing together is an enjoyable way to bond and spend time. Socializing and sharing stories together will help fight memory loss and keep their minds sharp. Even more, sharing pleasant memories will help boost their mood and fight anxiety and depression. 

Crafts

Simple crafts require creativity and mental effort. Ideas such as knitting and painting can be a fun way to engage, socialize, and express themselves. In a nutshell, art and creativity of any kind that is practical and fun can help with memory loss.

Board Games And Puzzles

Finally, board games and puzzles are an easy and enjoyable way to stay engaged. Moreover, these are perfect for group settings so they can socialize as well. Finding a game or puzzle they especially enjoy will fight memory loss, boredom, and give them a sense of connectedness and purpose. 

Family-Like Environment

At Courtyard Manor, your family becomes our family. You deserve to know your loved one is treated with respect and dignity. Our all-inclusive nursing care is on the floor 100% of the time, 24 hours a day to give exceptional care and quality of life. Visit our site today to learn more!

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Three Benefits Of Aging In Place

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Aging In Place

Nine out of ten seniors would like to live in their own home as long as possible. Moving into new environments can be a great undertaking. On the other hand, aging in place can be very beneficial for the aging process. Even more, aging in place is not limited to a single home. This can also be done through living facilities with aging in place services, homelike environments, and caring assistance. Here are three benefits of aging in place for your loved ones.

Independence

First off, maintaining independence is vital for achieving a high quality of life for seniors. However, the physical and cognitive decline that comes with aging can make this difficult. There comes a time when complete independence is no longer a viable option, and assistance is needed. Aging in place can help maintain their independence so they still feel like their own person. 

Healthy Routines And Setting

Seniors need an environment that they can feel at home in. Having familiar and healthy routines go hand in hand with a home-like environment. Aging in place gives your loved ones a sense of belonging and comfort that feels familiar and safe. Undoubtedly, this is a major factor in determining quality of life.

Safety

An unhealthy environment can be detrimental for the physical and mental health of seniors. This can lead to depression and overall poor quality of life. Aging in place can solve this issue, keeping seniors safer and healthier. Additionally, a loving and caring 24-hour staff is one of the best ways to help age in place. 

Quality Of Life You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

At Courtyard Manor, we offer a quality of life your loved ones deserve. Our goal is to see a smile on your loved one’s face every day. Our aging in place services and loving, home-like environment will give your loved ones the safety, care, and compassion they need. Are you ready to learn more? Contact us today for a 100% risk-free assessment!

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Five Benefits Of Assisted Living Communities

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Assisted Living Communities

At Courtyard Manor, we believe your loved ones deserve the best possible care and quality of life. A great way to ensure that happens is through a loving and caring assisted living community. In fact, there are a number of important areas that assisted living communities aid your loved ones. Here are five benefits of assisted living communities that your loved ones deserve.

Safety And Security

First off, assisted living communities give your loved ones safety and security. These communities are designed to minimize injuries such as falls or other accidents. Features such as ramps, hand railings, and walk-in showers make their environment safer than ever. Finally, a caring and loving staff ensures safety as well. Twenty-four on-floor nursing care means your loved ones are always in good hands.

Fun Activities To Stay Engaged

Retirement opens up a lot of free time. The best way to prevent boredom is to have a multitude of fun activities to keep them engaged. Assisted living communities offer activities such as movie nights, art classes, book clubs, and more. These help keep your loved ones active socially and mentally, giving them a life of connection, fun, and friendship in their community.

Caregiver Aid

Everyday activities often require assistance for seniors in assisted living communities. Your loved ones will get the help they need for these things they might not normally be able to do on their own. This includes daily activities such as getting dressed, bathing, managing medication, and more.

Mental Stimulation

One of the best ways to ward off mental decline is through intellectual stimulation. The socialization, activities, and classes assisted living communities all help keep your loved ones mentally active. Essentially, staying mentally engaged offers a longer, better quality of life.

Healthier Lifestyle

Preparing healthy meals and staying physically active can be difficult without the help of assisted living. All-inclusive dining services make this possible, even preparing special meals for special dietary needs. Additionally, assisted living facilities have safe, healthy, and fun physical exercise activities to help them stay active and socially engaged. 

Our Family-Like Environment

At Courtyard Manor, we give you the peace of mind knowing your loved one is cared for with compassion. Our all-inclusive nursing care is on the floor 100% of the time, 24 hours a day. Your family becomes our family. Contact us today for a 100% risk-free assessment!

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The Differences Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia

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The Differences Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia

June is recognized as Alzheimer’s And Brain Awareness Month. In honor of raising awareness, we at Courtyard Manor would like to discuss an important topic. Terms like Alzheimer’s and dementia often get used interchangeably. In fact, they both refer to declining mental ability and share many similar symptoms. However, there are a number of key differences between the two. With that said, let us show you the differences between Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Alzheimer’s Is A Disease, Dementia Is Not

First off, a major difference is that dementia is not technically a disease. Unlike Alzheimer’s, dementia is referred to as a “syndrome.” This refers to a group of symptoms, but not a disease. Essentially, dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive decline that Alzheimer’s falls under. The symptoms are centered around a decline in cognitive function, including memory, thinking, language, and behavior.

Triggering Dementia

While Alzheimer’s is a disease, dementia can actually be triggered by other diseases. Diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s are common causes for dementia. As time goes on, dementia symptoms often start to show.

Treatment

Another major difference is treatment. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s is incurable. However, dementia symptoms can be treated with some success. Medications and therapies have been shown to be effective in dementia treatment. However, these methods do not work with Alzheimer’s.

Physical Symptoms

While dementia as an umbrella term focuses on cognitive issues, Alzheimer’s goes beyond strictly mental symptoms. It can cause physical problems as well. Common symptoms include trouble walking and swallowing in later stages.

Compassion For Your Loved Ones

At Courtyard Manor, we understand memory issues affect the entire family. You deserve the peace of the mind that comes with knowing your loved ones are receiving the best care. Our all-inclusive facilities have 24-hour care with compassionate, expert staff. Your family becomes our family. Contact us today to learn more.

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4 Things To Look For In An Assisted Living Facility

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Choosing An Assisted Living Facility

Choosing the right assisted living facility for a loved one is an important decision. The last thing you want to do is settle for a facility that does not meet their needs. Simply put, making sure your loved one’s quality of life meets all their needs is vital. At Courtyard Manor, we know how important compassion, care, and peace of mind are for you and your loved ones. With that in mind, here are 4 things to look for in an assisted living facility.

Top-Quality Care

First off, the type of care is most important. You want to look for an assisted living facility that offers the best possible care. In the best cases, you want 24/7 on-floor nursing care. Essentially, you want your loved one to be cared for at any time. Secondly, this gives you peace of mind knowing they are safe and cared for. Especially in circumstances of memory or behavioral issues, you want your loved ones to receive the best care.

Amenities And Activities

Does your assisted living facility feature available amenities and activities? If not, you will want to look elsewhere. Both amenities and activities play a large role in your loved one’s fulfillment and quality of life. Keeping them engaged mentally and socially will be important in this chapter of their life. 

Compassionate Staff

Another one of the 4 things to look for in an assisted living facility is to have a compassionate staff. Unfortunately, there are many assisted living facilities where the staff does not give them the kindness and compassion they deserve. The friendliness, or lack thereof, can play a big role in the overall happiness of your loved one. If the staff are not treating them kindly and giving them positivity, their mood will drop significantly. Always look for a facility where they treat each resident as if they were their own family.

All-Inclusive Stay

Finally, you should always look for a facility that features an all-inclusive stay. Essentially, this means they handle everything you can think of: medication, administration, meals, and more. The last thing you want is the added stress of unforeseen circumstances. Whether that is hidden fees or finding out they do not meet all your loved one’s needs, you should avoid this at all costs. Find a facility that is all-inclusive, transparent, and compassionate.

Your Loved Ones Deserve The Best

At Courtyard Manor, we believe every resident deserves the best. That is why we have created a family-like environment with top-quality care with loving staff. Our all-inclusive stay includes activities and amenities to give your loved ones a quality of life you can be proud of. Contact us today to learn more!

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5 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

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Recognizing Early Signs of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes memory and thinking skills to decline over time. It can be difficult to identify whether someone is showing signs of it. However, there are a number of ways to identify symptoms early on. With that in mind, let us take a look at the 5 early signs of Alzheimer’s.

Memory Loss

First and foremost, memory loss is an early sign. Specifically, this deals with memory loss that interrupts daily life. This includes asking the same questions over and over, forgetting events and dates, and more. Essentially, if they are having trouble remembering things they normally did not need help with it can be considered an early sign of Alzheimer’s. 

Trouble Speaking Or Writing

Another early sign may also be trouble conversing. As a result, they may struggle finding the right word. Additionally, joining and keeping caught up in a conversation can be difficult. 

Misplacing Things & Problems Retracing Steps

A person with the early signs of Alzheimer’s will often place things in unusual places. Consequently, they struggle to remember where they placed them. Finally, it becomes difficult for them to retrace their steps and figure out where those items might be.

Decreased Judgement & Reasoning Skills

Decision-making can be a challenge and an early sign of Alzheimer’s. The person may show a lack of attention when dealing with money, hygiene, and more. Essentially, their judgement and reasoning skills will start to falter.

Changes In Mood & Withdrawal

A person with the early signs of Alzheimer’s may experience a change in their mood and personality. As a result, they may become depressed, anxious, or confused. Additionally, this can cause them to withdraw socially as they have trouble emotionally and conversationally.

Quality Of Life You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

At Courtyard Manor, we understand memory issues affect the entire family. That’s why we offer 24-hour on-floor nursing care. We give your loved ones quality of life and compassion you cannot find anywhere else. Are you ready to give yourself and your loved ones the peace of mind they deserve? Contact us today.

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5 Safe And Healthy Summer Activities For Seniors

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Summer Activities

Staying active is an important part of aging healthily. Partaking in healthy activities is great not just for physical health, but mental well-being as well. The social benefits can even prolong life. With summer just around the corner, it is a good idea to have some activities ready to go. Let us take a look at these 5 safe and healthy summer activities for seniors. 

Have A Picnic

Getting outside is especially important. Sunlight is an excellent source of Vitamin D, which helps fight a number of issues including anxiety, depression, and osteoporosis. The sunlight and nice weather is a great way to stay active and keep spirits high.

Board Games And Puzzles

Board games are a fun and easy way to socialize, have fun, and keep seniors’ minds active. Additionally, studies show that mental activity may even help dementia. 

Crafting

Another one of the 5 safe and healthy summer activities for seniors is crafting. Art therapy can be very beneficial for seniors. Working on a craft gives them a creative outlet to express themselves. In addition, it keeps their motor skills healthy. This is also a great way to socialize.

Visit Sporting Events

This is another fun activity that helps seniors get their Vitamin D from sunlight. Also, it can be a great way to connect with family and friends. Watching sporting events that their grandchildren are playing in can be a great way to stay social and active.

Reading A Book

Reading can also be done outside to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. Moreover, joining a book club can give seniors some wonderful socializing. Reading also keeps their mind active and has mental health benefits.

Compassionate Assisted Living

At Courtyard Manor, we give your loved ones a quality of life you can’t find anywhere else. With 24-hour on floor nursing care, you can rest easy knowing your loved ones are in a safe and caring environment.

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Do you want to learn more about our many services, including memory care? If you do, please reach out to us today!
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5 Benefits Of Memory Care For Seniors

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If you have a loved one with memory care needs, it is easy to feel hopeless and stressed. Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and brain injuries all severely affect memory. It is difficult to watch a loved one have their memory affected. However, there are steps that can be taken to alleviate that difficulty. Memory care can go a long way to make a difference through a number of ways. Let us take a look at 5 benefits of memory care for seniors.

Engagement

Memory care helps a great deal with engagement. In truth, a lack of engagement and social interaction can cause Alzheimer’s and Dementia to worsen. By having regular engagement and social interactions, however, your loved one can avoid this. This is especially valuable with professional 24-hour care. Stimulating the brain with activities and engagement leads to a more fulfilling life for your loved one.

Physical Safety

Seniors with memory-affected conditions can easily become lost or confused. In these moments, they may wander and find themselves in potentially harmful situations. Because of this, memory care is especially important. By having memory care professionals available at any time, your loved one will always be safe.

Quality Time

If you are the primary caregiver for your loved one that is affected by memory conditions, it can be difficult to find quality time with them. Your time and energy goes into caring for and protecting them. Due to this, it can be hard to find time to spend uninterrupted, quality time with your loved one. With memory care, you can step away from the caregiver role and become the family or friend you both need.

Daily Tasks

Memory care also helps greatly with daily tasks. This takes care of things such as doctors bills, medication, food, and more. With memory care, you no longer need to worry whether your loved one is receiving food or cleaning. Their daily tasks and needs are taken care of.

Peace Of Mind

Peace of mind is one of the best of the 5 benefits of memory care for seniors. At the end of the day, you deserve to have peace of mind regarding your loved ones. Memory care offers this for you and your loved ones. Truly, knowing your loved one is getting the best possible care is an invaluable gift. 

All-Inclusive Care

At Courtyard Manor, we know memory issues affect the entire family. Additionally, we know that no two situations are the same. That is why our memory care facilities have 24-hour nursing care for your loved ones. Our philosophy, training, and engagement focuses on meeting your loved one where they are in the moment. We go above and beyond to give your loved ones the compassion, joy, and comfort they deserve.

Do you want to learn more about our many services, including memory care? Contact us today.

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Do you want to learn more about our many services, including memory care? If you do, please reach out to us today!
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4 Tips For Long-Distance Caregivers

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Being a local caregiver is already a demanding situation: being a long-distance caregiver even more so. If you already have long drives for work, errands, and other appointments, being a long-distance caregiver can be especially difficult. Here are 4 tips for long-distance caregivers to make your life a little easier.

Create A Local Caregiver Team

You can’t always be there to give care when you are a long-distance caregiver. In addition, you can’t do it alone. Having some local caregivers to help out is crucial in your role as a long-distance caregiver. This can be done by keeping in touch with local agencies, neighbors, yard service members, house cleaners, and more. 

Be Realistic About What You Can And Can’t Do

This goes along with your local caregiving team. You can’t fulfill every role, so being realistic about what you can and can’t do is important. If you aren’t realistic about what you’re able to do, you will end up not giving the quality care you’re aiming for. If you focus on the tasks that can be done long-distance, you’ll find you can still be a vital part of the caregiving process. This can include things like handling finances, scheduling appointments, calling doctors, and more.

Make The Most Of Each Visit

Since you can’t be there all the time, making the most of each visit is very important. First and foremost, make sure your visits are fun and full of love. That is why you do what you do. In addition, make sure to check for any work that needs to be done while you’re there. Leaky faucets, yard work, and so on. You can also use this time to meet any local caregivers and service providers, such as neighbors, yard care workers, and more. Checking in with them will also help make the most of each visit. 

Stay Connected

Just because you’re a long-distance caregiver doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected. Regular phone calls or face-time calls make a huge difference in staying connected. This is great for keeping spirits high. Other ways to stay connected can be scheduling phone meetings with doctors, calling neighbors to check in, and more. You might not live right next to each other, but it does not have to always feel that way.

The Perfect Place For Your Loved One

Do you have a loved one in need of assisted living? Courtyard Manor promises you the peace of mind you deserve. We guarantee safety and compassion you can’t find anywhere else. Our goal is to see a smile on your loved one’s face, every day. Contact us today for a free assessment.

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4 Self Care Tips For Caregivers

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Being a caregiver is not an easy task. Caring for someone else’s life and putting their needs before your own can be overwhelming, especially if you were suddenly thrust into the position of caregiver. This is why self care is so important for the caregivers themselves. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, it can become more difficult to take care of someone else. Here are 4 self care tips for caregivers.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say No

This is at the top of the list because it is one of the hardest to do. As a caregiver, you may find it comes naturally for you to say “yes” to everything asked of you. It’s in your nature to help others as much and as often as possible. However, sometimes you need to say no: and that can include turning down invites to fun things that you’d even like to attend! You might occasionally need a night of alone time just to recharge, and that’s fine.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

This is another one that can be daunting. Do you find yourself piling on responsibilities so you don’t inconvenience others? Perhaps you think you’d be a bother to ask others for help. However, this can quickly take a toll on you and cause burnout. Your friends and loved ones are there for you, and chances are they would be happy to help you. Even if it’s just something small, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Get Enough Rest

Easier said than done, right? However, getting proper rest is essential for your role as a caregiver. Having a routine sleep schedule can be a great help to staying properly rested. Avoiding naps during the day will also help you sleep easier at night so you can more easily develop a healthy sleep schedule.

Find A Therapist

In an ideal world, everyone would have a therapist. But caregivers especially need a professional they can talk to. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Finding a therapist doesn’t mean you have “failed” or that you are weak. Quite the opposite: it means you are strong enough to know your limits. Caregiving day in and day out means putting others before yourself. Having professional help makes this journey easier on you. Even if it’s just to have a licensed professional there to listen, it makes a big difference.

Peace Of Mind For Assisted Living

Do you have a loved one in need of assisted living? Courtyard Manor promises you the peace of mind you deserve. We guarantee safety and quality of life you can’t find anywhere else. Our goal is to see a smile on your loved one’s face, every day. Contact us today for a free assessment.