THE HOLIDAYS BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER to catch up with each other’s lives, share in a few festive traditions, and savor their favorite holiday foods and treats. Spending time with family during the holidays also provides the perfect opportunity to assess our senior loved ones for potential signs of memory loss or other developing health concerns.
“The adult children of seniors usually know best what constitutes normal behavior for their parents, and coming to visit them over the holidays—whether just for a day or for several days—makes it possible to observe them firsthand for signs that they might need more formal assistance with memory issues or in managing activities of daily living,” explains Sarah Marsh, the Executive Director of St. Clare Commons, a CHI Living Community located at 12469 Five Point Road in Perrysburg.
Marsh emphasizes that it’s not unusual for people to become somewhat more forgetful as they get older. For instance, recollecting the name that goes with a familiar face, finding the right word in conversation, locating a misplaced set of car keys, or recalling the reason for entering a room can become more challenging with age. However, these aren’t necessarily the types of memory issues that should concern you.
“It’s critical to distinguish between typical age-related forgetfulness in a senior loved one and signs that he or she may be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or another form of memory impairment,” Marsh comments. “Recognizing these early warning signs and seeking expert memory care services promptly can help our senior loved ones reap the greatest benefit from treatment, maintain their independence longer, and take a more active role in planning for their future care and support.”
Some memory loss warning signs to watch for include forgetting important dates, appointments, or events—and not recalling them later; repeating the same questions or comments over and over; misplacing possessions in peculiar locations; and forgetting the names of loved ones or everyday objects.
Other examples of memory loss red flags include having difficulty assigning the right name to common objects; struggling to manage tasks that require abstract reasoning, such as paying bills or balancing the checkbook; consistently failing to take medications according to the prescribed schedule and/or dosing; forgetting how to perform routine tasks, especially those requiring multiple steps, such as following a recipe or preparing a meal; and forgetting not just what day it is, but what month, season, year, or even stage of life they’re in.
“People with Alzheimer’s-related memory loss are also prone to exhibiting poor judgement and decision-making skills, such as going outdoors in bare feet and pajamas in the middle of winter,” Marsh says. “In addition, keep an eye out for new and unusual emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression, fearfulness, or mood swings, as well as for behavioral changes like increased irritability, suspiciousness, or aggressiveness,” Marsh says.
If you do observe signs that could indicate memory impairment in your senior loved one this holiday season, or any other time you visit, rest assured that expert help is available. St. Clare Commons is poised to provide the advanced, nurturing services he or she needs through the facility’s Memory Care Program. Residents in this program receive holistic, personalized care that honors their individuality in a safe, secure, neighborhood-like setting.
Marsh adds, “Each private suite in our Memory Care neighborhood is designed with the philosophy that this is home. Outside each suite is a personalized memory box that offers a window into the life of the person with items that stir happy moments and remembrances of his or her life. Memory Care residents also enjoy access to a beautiful, enclosed, secure outside memory garden, as well as an exclusive dining room and activity center that allows them to interact with caregivers and others in a private environment.”
Some of the strongest endorsements of St. Clare Commons’ Memory Care program come from the family members of individuals who are already benefitting from it. The daughter of a new Memory Care resident writes, “On behalf of my family, thank you for helping us provide care and support for Dad as his memory loss progresses. It was an incredibly difficult decision to move Dad from the home he built and wanted to live in for the rest of his life, but we are united in the opinion that this is the best option for both Mom and Dad at this time.”
In addition to Memory Care, St. Clare Commons offers Assisted Living for seniors who may no longer be able to live in their own home but don’t need 24-hour, complex medical care; as well as Skilled Nursing Care and Rehabilitation for those who need either a short-term stay for recuperation from surgery or a long-term stay for ongoing health concerns. “Working in our state-ofthe- art, dedicated therapy center, our expert rehabilitation specialists provide individualized physical, speech, and occupational therapies, along with other services, to help rehab clients regain as much function, mobility, and independence as possible,” says Marsh.
Marsh also emphasizes that the broad range of services and residential options available at St. Clare Commons ensures that residents’ care requirements will continue to be met on the same campus as their health status changes over time. “That means that once you choose the St. Clare Commons community, you’ve got a home for life,” she says. ✲
