191 Leestown Center Way | Lexington, KY 40511 | 859.878.1300
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It’s not uncommon for people to lose their interest in socialization as they age. The importance of avoiding this loss of interest is crucial in one’s health and quality of life. If you’re still living at home and have been thinking about your next steps or if you have a loved one that could benefit from more socialization; a thriving assisted living community could be the perfect solution. Meadowthorpe Assisted Living & Memory Care is a family owned community that thrives on encouraging elders to enjoy their last years by actively socializing with their peers and retaining their independence.
A study done by the University of California, Berkeley showed that the rate of cognitive decline was 70 percent less in seniors that have frequent social contact compared to those with low social connection. Placing yourself or your loved one in an environment that can provide you with enjoyable social contact on a day-to-day basis is critical. An assisted living community will not only provide you with social activities throughout the day, but social interactions will naturally take place through meal-times and time spent in common areas.
Socialization can be a scary endeavor, even for those searching for a senior living community. Meadowthorpe Assisted Living takes pride in removing the intimidation out of the moving process and allowing seniors to transition into their new home seamlessly. There are only eight units in each of the five buildings at Meadowthorpe, so the level of intimacy is much higher than other senior living communities. Instead of having meals with a hundred of your favorite strangers, you’re coming out to the dining table to have meals with your eight closest friends just a few steps from your apartment.
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
Finding ways to communicate with your loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can be difficult, frustrating, and confusing. It’s important to understand: extra steps must be taken to communicate effectively. Introducing yourself each time you interact, being mindful of your body language, and avoiding criticizing or correcting them are all great ways to improve interactions with individuals suffering from dementia.
While it’s difficult to understand the importance of introducing yourself to someone close to you, it’s crucial you do. Depending on the day, your elderly family member suffering from dementia may or may not remember who you are at that specific moment. Introducing yourself can help jog memories and set the tone for the rest of the interaction.
We all have body language habits we unknowingly display while conversing. Being mindful of these habits and correcting them is vital. If we are habitually pointing fingers, waving hands, or covering our face while talking with our loved one it will inevitably derail the conversation and cause frustration and/or distraction.
Lastly, it is tremendously important to not criticize or correct seniors with dementia during conversation. Place yourself in their shoes and try your best to understand that they fully believe what they’re saying is true. Correcting their words or stories will only create tension and weaken the relationship.
Meadowthorpe Assisted Living & Memory Care staff are trained in effective communication techniques and our doors are open to discuss any questions you may have about Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Meadowthorpe Assisted Living & Memory Care in Lexington also offers the Virtual Dementia Tour. The Virtual Dementia Tour is a scientifically proven method of building a greater understanding of dementia through the use of patented sensory tools and instruction. During the Virtual Dementia Tour experience, participants meet with certified trainers who guide them through the tour and outfit them with patented components that alter their senses. Tasks and exercises that are part of the tour enable caregivers and professionals to experience for themselves the physical and mental challenges facing those with dementia.
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it is important to carefully consider options for their long-term care to ensure their highest quality of life. In addition to them receiving specialized dementia care, placing them in the right living environment can slow down the progression of their cognitive impairment. This is why many people seek out residential facilities that specialize in memory care. These senior living communities keep residents safe and allow them to maintain their quality of life, even as their condition worsens. However, every community is different, and it can be challenging to choose the best fit for your loved one. Below are some specific qualities to look for.
Top Characteristics of a Reputable Memory Care Facility
1. Low Staff-to-Resident Ratio
The fewer residents that each caregiver is responsible for, the higher quality care you can expect your loved one to receive. The staff will be more attentive to everyone’s individual needs, and residents won’t be left waiting for help or sitting in front of a television for hours at a time. It’s also important that caregivers are available around the clock.
2. Personalized Approach to Care
Both your loved one and their family members should feel comfortable with the community that is chosen. A community that takes a personalized approach to care is essential because this means they will get to know each resident on a more personal level. By asking for input from family, the staff can design a customized care plan most suitable to a resident’s unique needs and goals.
3. Activities That Preserve Autonomy & Dignity
Make sure the memory care community you decide on offers daily activities your loved one will enjoy. This is vital for helping residents preserve their independence and dignity as much as possible. Activity calendars should be full of programs that will promote socialization, make residents feel empowered, keep them engaged, and provide therapeutic benefits.
Meadowthorpe Assisted Living & Memory Care offers all of this and more. Our memory care residents enjoy a 6:1 care ratio to ensure their individual needs are consistently met, allowing them to receive the attention they deserve and often require.
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
When you last visited your senior loved one, did you leave wondering if it was time to transition them to elderly care? Sometimes, older individuals may be hesitant to accept additional support. Below, Meadowthorpe Assisted Living in Lexington, KY, offers insight on three ways to change senior’s perspective of elderly care so you can assure they’re in good hands.
3 Ways to Address Unease Pertaining to Elderly Care
1. Learn Where They’re Coming From
The best way to mitigate fear is to address its origins. Ask your loved one why they don’t want to move to assisted living. Once you know the answer, you can focus on their worries and come up with the means to approach them.
2. Discuss the Benefits
elderly careSome people don’t realize the amazing benefits available to residents of elderly care. Seniors can enjoy home-cooked meals, house keeping, fresh laundry, and in-home health care when they make the transition to assisted living. Plus, it’s easy to socialize and make friends through outings and activities with people their age living nearby.
3. Offer a Trial Period
People often adjust better to the idea of trying something new when they know they can go back to their previous arrangements if desired. Seniors are no different. Offer your older friend or family member the chance to try living in elderly care before officially making the transition. You can do this by signing them up for a short-term stay. Or, even touring the facility and meeting some of the staff and community members can be convincing if this option isn’t available.
Making a move to elderly care stands to benefit seniors in many ways. Enlisting these tips will help to alleviate any stress they harbor toward the transition.
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
Alzheimer’s care is unique and requires specialized approaches to make sure loved ones are comfortable, safe, and content. While you can’t cure this disease, you can provide the assistance seniors need to survive and even thrive through their memory issues. Below, Meadowthorpe Assisted Living in Lexington, KY, shares nine tips they recommend to help those providing Alzheimer’s care.
A Guide to Alzheimer’s Care
1. Keep It Simple
Language often becomes difficult to understand for people with memory issues. Help your loved one by speaking in plain sentences and asking one question at a time to prevent overwhelming them.
2. Follow a Daily Routine
Routine is a major benefit for people with dementia and other cognitive impairments. Those providing Alzheimer’s care should help their loved one stick to the same habits every day so they understand what’s happening and know what to expect.
3. Focus on Feelings
Seniors may not always be able to express themselves through words. The carer must assess body language and note how a person is feeling by how they’re acting. Pay attention to emotions and address them as needed.
4. Take Breaks
Alzheimer’s care can be very emotional at times. Carers should take breaks from their duties to decompress even if that means spending a few minutes on their own.5. Use Humor
It’s helpful to find the humor in situations where you could despair. Try to use jokes and humor to brighten your loved one’s day. Doing so may have the same effect on you.
6. Offer Pacers Some Space
It’s not uncommon for people with Alzheimer’s disease to pace when they are anxious. Support seniors with this habit by ensuring they’re walking in a safe area while wearing comfortable shoes. Provide them with snacks and water so they stay fueled and hydrated.
7. Get Musical
If your loved one enjoys music, let them sing, dance, or simply listen to some. Music is a welcomed distraction in times of Alzheimer’s-related confusion. In fact, tunes familiar to your loved one can combat feelings of anxiety and agitation.
8. Ask for Help
Seniors don’t want to lose their sense of independence. Help them feel needed by asking for their assistance on tasks they can accomplish. For example, they can set the table for dinner or fold some laundry.
Those providing Alzheimer’s care to loved ones may find themselves unable to continue doing so. When this happens, it’s necessary to transition seniors to a memory care facility where they will be well taken care of. At Meadowthorpe Assisted Living, they have around-the-clock teams of skilled caregivers. To learn more about their available residences call (859) 878-1300. Visit our website for information on their staff and how they can improve your loved one’s quality of life.
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
Our Belief System
Complications related to Alzheimer’s and various other forms of dementia, such as memory loss and decline of physical abilities, often place family members in the position to seek a higher level of care for their loved one. At Meadowthorpe Assisted Living and Memory Care, we truly understand the various challenges linked to choosing the best long-term option for someone you love dearly. It is quite possibly one of the most difficult decisions you will face in your life as you seek a senior living community you can trust to care for your family member. It is vital to seek a memory care option that ensures resident safety, promotes dignity and quality of life, fosters engagement and socialization, and offers compassionate care in which residents are treated like family.
What We Offer
Meadowthorpe Memory Care utilizes a person-first approach to care which focuses on providing residents with meaning and purpose through a number of activities designed to preserve their sense of self. By focusing on each resident’s unique needs, abilities, and preferences our Community ensures each individual enjoys the most appropriate support possible. To bring activities to life, Meadowthorpe Memory Care offers a number of Memory Stations to provide opportunities for productive engagement. Memory Stations are designed to spark memories and encourage interaction.
Meadowthorpe Assisted Living and Memory Care offers that and so much more for our residents and their family members. We are a tight-knit, homelike community where staff, residents, and their family members bond to provide the most loving approach to care that exists. Our memory care community is simply an extension of our highly successful assisted living with a lower care ratio, extensively trained caregivers, and a person-centered approach to activities and socialization based on each resident’s strengths and preferences.
What sets apart our memory care community from others?
A few of the most significant factors which set our memory care community apart from others in the industry include:
- Low caregiver to resident ratio
Our person-first approach to care is accomplished by staffing one caregiver for every four residents, 24 hours per day. - Thoughtful building design
Small, one-level, and easy to navigate. - Individualized service
Our team evaluates each resident and works collaboratively with their family to create customized service plans to meet the resident’s specific needs. These service plans are as individualized as each resident; no two residents have the same service plan. - Person-centered and person-appropriate activities
Activities are designed to provide residents with meaning and purpose to preserve their sense of self. Residents remain engaged in customized activities throughout each day in order to minimize stress and ensure each resident enjoys the most appropriate support possible.
Security for Your Loved One
As cognitive decline occurs, it is imperative to ensure your loved one is safe and secure. Confusion linked with memory loss can encourage wandering behavior, therefore our memory care community is secure and offers a beautiful courtyard with a secure fence for your loved one to safely enjoy the beauty and freedom of the outdoors. Family and staff enter through a secure door with a camera doorbell, allowing staff to closely monitor resident safety, while encouraging family members to be an integral part of their loved one’s care. Our memory care provides a 1:4 caregiver to resident ratio, 24 hours per day.
Let the dedicated team here at Meadowthorpe Assisted Living & Memory Care assist your loved one through the ups and downs of the aging process and let us love them like family. Call 859-878-1301 or visit us online at www.meadowthorpe.com.
Alzheimer’s Overview
Dementia is the impairment of two or more areas of cognitive function; for example, the ability to form short-term memories, engage in coherent language exchanges, and manage daily tasks can be affected with the onset and progression of dementia. There are various forms of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease contributing to the majority of diagnosed cases. The common factor present in all forms of dementia is a neurological decline that results in a series of cognitive, physical, and behavioral changes that can hinder one’s independence.
Everyone experiences acute memory lapses at some point or another throughout the aging process. This occurs when a name is forgotten or an item is misplaced. Occasional memory lapses are not equivalent to dementia, however. With dementia, impairments become chronic and progressively limit one’s ability to manage situations in which they were once independent. Some symptoms of dementia include memory loss, disorientation, language processing challenges, lapses in judgment, skewed perception, loss of concentration, and difficulty routine tasks.
Stages of Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association describes three stages in which the disease progresses along with common symptoms and behaviors that may occur at each stage. It is important to note that symptoms can overlap between stages and symptoms may vary based on individual diagnoses.
- Early Stage (mild) – challenges with words or names, challenges with social or work-related tasks, forgetting content just read, losing items, and struggles with planning and organizing.
- Middle Stage (moderate) – increased forgetfulness, mood swings, loss of recall of significant information, confusion of day/time, challenges with selecting seasonally appropriate clothing, incontinence, sleep issues, wandering, personality and behavioral changes, compulsive or repetitive behavior, suspiciousness, and delusions.
- Late Stage (severe) – loss of ability to care for oneself independently, loss of awareness of recent events and surroundings, loss of ability to walk/sit or swallow, difficulty communicating, and becoming prone to infections.
If you notice yourself or your loved one(s) exhibiting any combination of the signs or symptoms related to dementia, it’s important to seek timely medical advice. Early planning and intervention coupled with proper care can slow the progression of one’s cognitive decline. We stand up to dementia with a person-centered approach to care and activities at Meadowthorpe Assisted Living and Memory Care. Our ultimate goal is to ensure our residents have the best quality of life throughout all stages of dementia and the aging process. Our community care team is committed to going above and beyond the norm by customizing, designing, and managing care plans and activities based on the needs and interests of every resident in our community. Our residents are loved, challenged, engaged, and empowered!
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
According to research conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association, one’s ability to maintain cognitive function and brain vitality are closely linked with a combination of physical & mentally stimulating activities along with consuming a brain-healthy diet. This suggests the onset and rapid cognitive decline linked to dementia can be prolonged through socialization, physical activity, and consuming a brain-healthy diet.
At Meadowthorpe Assisted Living and Memory Care, we understand the importance of maintaining a well-balanced life in order to promote healthy aging. Our activities program encompasses a wide array of opportunities for residents to maintain a healthy brain, body, and heart by providing stimulating person-centered activities. We provide opportunities for residents to evolve physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and cognitively through a variety of meaningful activities. Community partnerships allow our residents to take part in intergenerational relationships by way of socialization and mentorship. Our exercise program allows residents of all abilities to focus on their physical and mental health through aerobic exercise, Tai Chi, Yoga, and meditation. Our residents also have a variety of ‘power’ foods to choose from to fuel their aging brain and keep it healthy.
So, what does all of this mean for current and incoming residents who are already facing cognitive decline linked with Alzheimer’s Disease? It means it isn’t too late to slow the progression by adding a few key components for improved well-being and to foster a positive quality of life. Let Meadowthorpe Assisted Living & Memory Care motivate your loved one to maintain a healthy diet, exercise daily, and share joyful moments with others to ensure their brain is being challenged in every way possible.
If you would like to take a tour of the community, participate in an activity, or have a meal with us, please contact us today!
Making the decision to seek assisted living can be extremely difficult for you and your loved one(s). Knowing when it may be time for a transition can assist in the process. Use this questionnaire to see if it might be time to seek an assisted living community for someone you love.
- Do you notice mom/dad wearing the same clothes from day to day?
- Has your loved one lost weight due to lack of eating properly?
- Has there been an increase in urinary tract infections resulting from your loved one not
consuming enough liquid? - Does your loved one need assistance with dressing, bathing, hygiene, toileting, or transferring?
- Are you exhausted from providing care for your loved one(s) and don’t know what else you can do?
- Is one or more of your parents using the microwave to “cook” every meal?
- Are overdrafts and late notices beginning to pop up?
- Is your loved one taking their medication improperly as a result of forgetfulness?
- Is the physical demand of keeping up with housekeeping too much for your loved one?
- Are falls becoming more prevalent?
- Has your loved one recently been discharged from hospital rehabilitation, yet you are unsure
whether or not they are able to take care of themself without assistance?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, Meadowthorpe Assisted Living might just be the right community for your loved one(s)!