alzheimers

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease | Millennium Memory Care

Visiting Nurse
Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging for physicians to detect at an early stage if patients themselves do not recognize the warning signs or are reluctant to communicate their concerns. Often, it is family members or friends who observe signs of dementia even before the patient is aware they have a problem. There is still no definitive test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease, so a careful medical evaluation is needed to help lead to a diagnosis. In addition to physical exams and a review of ...
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Art Therapy For Dementia | Millennium Memory Care

Art Therapy at Holmdel
People often think art is for the elite, only important if created by one of The Masters, hangs in a museum, and is perfect.  This is incorrect.  Studies show that art, and making art, is important because it engages the mind, helps hand-eye coordination, and reduces anxiety and stress.  It’s a form of self-expression and communication.  Art is for everyone. The benefits that come from creating art are important for those with Alzheimer’s.   While it allows them to relax and enjoy the cre...
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Psychiatric Care or the Right Care?

young doctor comforting a sad senior man
By Galina Markovich Director, MMC In my 25 years of practice with geriatric populations suffering from dementia, I have learned that patience, proper timing of medications, close observation of immediate needs and an individualized approach are the keys to success in managing difficult cases of dementia. Families often ask me how we can manage 16 residents in one home, especially with so many having advanced dementia and exhibiting challenging behavior, when the family can’t even manage one ...
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Social Support For Dementia Patients | Millennium Memory Care

4 Friends at Monroe
According to new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, public engagement and civic activity helps the memory center in aging brains maintain its size and in some cases even grow larger. This new research recently appeared in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association and was drawn from a study of a Baltimore based program that matches retirees with young people in public schools to act as reading mentors. At two years in length, this...
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Lifestyle Changes To Prevent Dementia | Millennium Memory Care

Senior Fitness Class
Alzheimer’s disease, along with other forms of dementia, is expected to affect more and more of us and our loved ones as our elderly population continues to increase in number. While some deterioration of memory or cognition is not unexpected with age, ongoing research into cognitive decline is providing evidence that certain lifestyle changes can significantly contribute to improved cognitive health and reduced risk of decline and dementia. With no treatments currently available to effectively ...
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Lifestyle, Positivity & Alzheimer’s

Activities in Freehold
Studies, opinions and conjecture about causes and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease are hardly in short supply. It seems that every week, there is suspicion of a new contributing cause to the increasing rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia. In the last several years, everything from processed foods to genetics has been named as contributing factors, yet there is very little information that is conclusive. And to date, there is no single thing that we can point to and say “This is a definite cau...
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Dementia Wandering Prevention | Millennium Memory Care

dementia wandering prevention
Of all the issues facing someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, perhaps the most dangerous is wandering. Understanding the potential warning signs of those at risk, the causes and preventative actions, can help keep your loved one safe.  There are five main reasons someone may wander.   Stress or fear. When someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is uncomfortable or does not understand what is happening around them, they might feel the need to flee and seek calm and familiarity.   Searchi...
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Dementia And Excessive Sleep

Sleeping Senior Couple
Sleep problems are often experienced by people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It is not entirely clear why this is such a common issue with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but scientists believe that, along with memory and behavior changes, the impact of Alzheimer's on the brain can also affect sleep. This may result in less time in deep sleep and more time awake at night. Additional difficulties may include excessive sleepiness or agitation during the day and abnormal movements or brea...
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Challenges with Challenging Behaviors

Lonely senior man feeling very sad
By Galina Markovich Director, Millennium Memory Care Dementia care is becoming ever more needed in an increasing variety of settings including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, boarding homes, rehab centers and of course, in the homes of friends and neighbors. It is crucial to understand what the best care setting is for someone with behavioral dementia. In my support groups, I frequently meet caregivers who ask this very question. Many of them have already had experiences with f...
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Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease | Millennium Memory Care

Behavior changes may be a sign of Alzheimer's.
With so much misinformation surrounding the conditions of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, it can be difficult to sort fact from fiction. If your loved one is getting more and more forgetful, is it just a normal part of aging or is it a sign of Alzheimer’s? If your loved one is becoming increasingly withdrawn socially, is this an indication of dementia, or could it be something else? Some behaviors that may point to early warning signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be hard to detec...
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