By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
With September designated as World Alzheimer’s Month, I wanted to share with you highlights of an informational program on the ABCs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia that was conducted earlier this month at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Dementia is a broad umbrella description used to describe declines in cognitive and intellectual abilities. It includes memory loss, confusion and disorientation.
There are almost 80 different types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive degenerative disorder that is characterized by an increasing loss of memory and changes in language, personality and the ability to handle activities of daily living.
Increasing age is the most common risk factor for Alzheimer’s. The prevalence among those 65 to 74 years of age is 2% to 4%; among those 75 to 84 years of age, it is 18% to 20%; and among those 85 years of age and older, it is 50%. If you hit 90 years of age, however, the odds of getting Alzheimer’s start going down.
Cognex (tacrine), Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), Reminyl (galatamine), and Namenda (memantine) are medications currently available for Alzheimer’s. Cognex is one of the very first drugs to be approved for Alzheimer’s and is not being used much anymore. Some of the medications are available by patch.
The purpose of the medications that are currently available to treat Alzheimer’s is to try and slow down the progression of the disease. There isn’t a cure. Patti did note that when Namenda was first released, we put eight residents at Arden Courts on it and four were able to communicate and function better for a period of time. At that time, it was really significant because of the drastic change. Now, however, doctors are prescribing the medication so soon that most families will not see these shifts in ability. She stressed the importance of seeking the counsel of a doctor regard medications.
The signs and symptoms of early stage Alzheimer’s include loss of memory, difficulty following directions, difficulty handling money, difficulty driving a car, changes in mood, poor judgment and poor concentration. People are doing things that are not typical for them. They get lost within a mile of their home. They start drifting when they are driving. They often give away money to anyone and everyone. You’ll see changes in their mood because of the way the disease affects their brain.
For those in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s, memory loss is more severe because there has been more damage to the brain. People will be getting up in the middle of the night thinking they have to go to work. They will not understand what a tool is for, such as a toothbrush being used to brush your teeth. They will get agitated because they can’t make sense of the world around them. People will be wandering possibly because they are in pain, they are looking for something, or they are constipated. They will be rummaging because they no longer have an understanding of mine and yours. If they are hungry but can’t communicate this to anyone, this might trigger inappropriate or harmful behavior.
Late stage Alzheimer’s is probably the hardest stage for families. The person may be unable to communicate or use one word sentences. Immobility is common, and they likely need total assistance with activities of daily living.
Patti provided some helpful advice on handling challenging behaviors:
Introduce yourself by name, and communicate at eye level. Remind the person that “we used to do such and such.” Speak and move slowly. Hand movement or the waving of hands as you talk can be a problem. Use a calm, non-demanding approach. Maintain good eye contact.
Validate the person’s feelings rather than patronizing them and saying everything will be okay.
If they are hallucinating or having delusions, do not tell them that it is just in your mind. To them, it is real. Patti talked about a resident she found sitting with her trench coat on and in tears. She was reliving her Mom’s death and was waiting for the undertaker to arrive. To her, the situation was real.
Understand that the layering or stripping of clothing is common because executive brain functioning and sense of modesty are gone. Patti talked about a person who wrapped a pair of pants over her head, with the pant legs around her neck. She was cold and used the pants as a hat and scarf.
Limit environmental distractions, and simplify the environment because an environment that is over stimulating can cause harmful behaviors. This includes too many bright and bold things and too many things that sparkle. Blinking lights on a Christmas tree, for instance, can be a problem.
Simplify tasks and routines. Give one step directions.
Be patient for responses. If you need to ask a question again, ask it the same way, using the same language.
If the person is not sleeping well at night, keep them active so they are not napping all day long.
Allow adequate rest between stimulating events. This often can be a problem during the holiday season. Someone with Alzheimer’s needs down time.
Patti also provided some tips on what you can do to help maintain a healthy brain and possibly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease:
Physical Exercise – Physical exercise gets oxygen to your brain. It also helps you keep your muscles strong, which can help reduce your risk of falling and hitting your head. Show up for the exercise classes that are available at Heritage Woods, Patti told the residents who were in attendance at the program she was conducting.
Mental Exercise – The more you work your brain, the better it will function. Be sure to try new things. For instance, Patti told the residents of Heritage Woods, be sure to take advantage of the Dakim computerized brain fitness program that is available at Heritage Woods.
Get adequate sleep. Your brain needs time to rest.
Maintain a low stress level as stress is a factor that can feed into dementia.
Maintain normal blood pressure.
Eat a brain healthy diet. If it is good for your heart, it is good for your brain.
Protect yourself from head injuries. Wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a car and a helmet when riding a bicycle. Take steps necessary to maintain or improve your balance so you do not fall needlessly. If you feel wobbly, don’t ignore it. Seek help.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
Did you know that two of the three members of the “Holy Trinity of Singing Cowboys” had connections to Chicago?
I didn’t until I had the opportunity to attend the “Songs of the Singing Cowboys” performance by Rick Pickren last week at our Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community is Batavia, Illinois. He also has performed at other Heritage Woods communities.
He portrayed the role of Jim in the original Chicago production of Pump Boys and Dinettes.
About Rick’s “Songs of the Singing Cowboys” Performance
Rick combines performing the songs of the singing cowboys using guitar, harmonica and vocals with telling stories and talking history.
Here is some of what I learned:
“Home on the Range” is the official state song of Kansas. We have an official state song here in Illinois. It’s called “Illinois.”
The song “Oh My Darling, Clementine” is from the Gold Rush of 1849.
Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter make up what Rick calls the “Holy Trinity” of the Singing Cowboys.
Before saddling up and heading out to California where he became a famous movie cowboy, Gene Autry came to Chicago and joined the WLS National Barn Dance radio show. The Barn Dance was performed at the 8th Street Theatre twice on Saturday nights in front of a live audience. (In case you didn’t know, WLS was started by Sears Roebuck and the call letters stand for “World’s Largest Store,”).
The first movie that Roy Rogers was in was a Gene Autry film. Roy played a villain. His band, the Sons of the Pioneers, played stage coach robbers.
Tex Ritter was the only member of the “Holy Trinity” to win an Academy Award. He won the Oscar for singing the title track to the movie “High Noon.” The father of actor John Ritter was just about to start classes at Northwestern Law School when he received a telegram about a small role in a folk musical in New York. He took the part and the show ran for nine months.
Among the songs that Rick performed were “Back in the Saddle Again,” “Red River Valley,” “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Don’t Fence Me In,” and “My Rifle, My Pony and Me,” a song performed by Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson in the John Wayne movie “Rio Bravo.”
If you ever get the chance to see Rick perform, I would recommend you take advantage of the opportunity.
Thought you might enjoy seeing Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson perform “My Rifle, My Pony and Me” in Rio Bravo.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are saying this year will be one of the worst years we ever had for the flu, Lori Johnson, R.N., told those attending the “Preventing the Flu” informational program she conducted last week at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Lori, who has been a Registered Nurse for 25 years, is with Regional Home Health Crossroads in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
The flu season usually begins in October and can last through the end of May, says the CDC.
There are things you can do to help reduce your risk of contracting the seasonal influenza virus and things you should do if you get the flu, Lori said.
Signs of the Flu
Just because you are not vomiting, does not mean you do not have the flu, Lori cautioned.
Symptoms of the flu include diarrhea, gas, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal pain and cramps, fever, feeling tired or weak. Headaches and muscle aches may also accompany these symptoms.
Things You Can Do To Reduce Your Risk
Since flu viruses can travel through the air, coming into close contact with a person or animal infected with the flu virus increases your risk of getting the flu.
Avoid close contact with someone who has the flu.
Do not drink from the same glass or share clothes or linens.
Encourage everyone if your house to wash their hands with soap and water after they use the bathroom.
Wash the clothes and towels that you use while you are ill separately from the rest of your laundry.
Clean the surfaces in your homes with antibacterial cleaner or bleach.
Use tissues to blow your nose and throw them away.
Wash your hands before preparing or serving any meals.
Older adults also are strongly encouraged to get the flu shot. The shot, says Lori, may not keep you from getting the flu, but helps with the symptoms. The CDC recommends that you get the shot as soon as possible each year.
What To Do If You Get The Flu
Make sure your stay hydrated. Dehydration is the biggest reason why people end up in hospitals. People do not realize how quickly they can become dehydrated. Dehydration can be life-threatening for people with health problems and for older adults. Without treatment, dehydration can affect your organs. Even if you feel sick or have been vomiting, suck on ice chips or take small sips of clear liquids often. Slowly increase the amount of clear liquids you drink.
When you feel hungry, begin eating foods that are soft and bland such as bananas, clear soups, potatoes and applesauce. Do not have dairy products, alcohol, sugary drinks or drinks with caffeine until you feel better.
Rest as much as possible. When you begin to feel better, slowly start to do more each day.
Seeking Medical Help
Always contact your primary care physician should you have any concerns.
Contact your caregiver or physician if you are not urinating as much as you usually do; you have a fever; you continue to vomit or have diarrhea, even after treatment; or if you mouth or eyes are dry.
If you are living in an assisted living community, do not hesitate to contact the nurse or other staff member.
The flu is a serious contagious disease. Complications can lead to hospitalizations and death. And seniors are among those most at risk for developing serious complications.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
The BlueRidgeNow.com headline on Google certainly caught my attention in a way I was not expecting. I was doing a little further research for a Blog I was writing on Chainsaw Wood Carving Artist “Mountain Dan.” He had visited the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in Dwight on Aug. 29, 2012.
I was waiting until today to post the Blog because the impact of the events of September 11, 2001 are what led him to take up chainsaw wood carving.
Becky Gish, the Resident Services Coordinator at Heritage Woods, had arranged for Dan to do a wood carving demonstration. He was in the area because he was one of the attractions at the Central States’ Threshermen’s Reunion that is held annually over the Labor Day weekend in Pontiac, Illinois.
Dan carved a 32-inch black bear out of a hemlock log. His daughter, Stephanie, put the hair on the bear and sanded the face. She is learning to chainsaw. A young man who is learning the art, torched it for color. The used spray paint and a combination of linseed oil and paint thinner to provide the finishing touches.
Heritage Woods was purchasing and dedicating the bear in honor of Hollis Porter, who was one of the first residents of the assisted living community. Hollis’ daughter, Barb, was there to see Dan in action and for the dedication ceremony for her mother.
Dan and I had a chance to talk about his life as a chainsaw wood carving artist.
He started at the age of 60 just a few months after 9/11. “I was doing high dollar landscaping work in North Carolina,” he said. “What happened to the market and to the economy shut us down.”
One option was to go back to the west coast and “do the timber thing.” He had years of experience working for timber companies.
Instead, he tried his hand at chainsaw wood carving. He said he had been “running a chainsaw since he was 10 years old” and was good at it. He also had seen what others were doing when it came to chainsaw wood carving.
On Jan. 2, 2002, he decided to take a block of wood to see what came out. “It was pitiful,” he said. “I cut its head off.”
Rather than be discouraged, he kept at it and discovered “a gift from God that had been dormant all his life.”
He spent 12 hours a day, seven days a week for 120 days straight wood carving. He wanted to build a sufficient inventory of wood carvings by Memorial Day weekend, when the tourist season starts in the Great Smoky Mountains.
“I can take a picture of any animal and do a wood carving,” he said. “I run the fastest chisel in town.”
“Most of what I do is with wood that has been rejected by sawmills,” he added.
He talked about his belief that, “God never lets someone who he gave a gift starve. There were times that were tough, but we never went without.”
But, he told me, you have to do your part and put in the work.
He also talked about how his 65th Birthday was his toughest. “I was programmed from the time I was a kid that at 65 you are done.” That is what he was told by others and what the government says. “The government even starts sending you a check (social security).”
He came to realize that “I’m done when God tells me I’m done, not when society says I should be.”
The bear, he prophetically added, “will last longer than any of us.”
The BlueRidgeNow.com headline read “Chainsaw Artist ‘Mountain Dan’ Smathers Dies at Fair: Heart Attack Fells 70-Year-Old Woodcarver from Etowah.”
The article notes that he was advised he needed a pacemaker. With one, however, he could no longer operate a chainsaw.
Dan saw wood carving as a means to an end. He loved to talk with people, especially as a way to spread the Gospel. People stopping by to watch him work and to look at his wood carvings gave him the opportunity to talk with them.
He died doing what he loved.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
Let me tell you, I love the Fourth of July – Independence Day in the US of A.
As I watch fireworks light up the night sky with family and friends, I thank my lucky stars that I was born and live in the United States. As Lee Greenwood so aptly notes in his song “God Bless the U.S.A.,” I deeply appreciate living in a country “where at least I know I’m free.”
I hope that each of you took the opportunity yesterday to salute our Founding Fathers for our Declaration of Independence, which was penned by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776, and all those who through the years sacrificed so much to protect our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
As we celebrated Independence Day yesterday, I also thanked my lucky stars for the opportunity to be working for a mission-driven company that has as its focus helping folks of all financial means maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible.
Thirty-three of our 35 senior living communities operate through a special program here in Illinois called Supportive Living. The program is designed for adults 65 years of age and older and disabled adults ages 22 to 64 who need some help to maintain their independence but do not require licensed skilled nursing care.
One beauty of the program is that the emphasis is on personal choice, dignity, privacy and independence. Another is that it especially benefits those who cannot afford private pay assisted living, including those who are on or would qualify for Medicaid.
Since the first Supportive Living community opened more than 10 years ago, the program has experienced significant growth. Today, there are 136 Supportive Living communities housing more than 10,600 apartments located throughout the State.
The communities provide a wonderful alternative to living in a nursing home or to struggling alone at home.
The Supportive Living communities managed by BMA combine the opportunity to live in a residential apartment-home environment with the availability of personal assistance and support services. Each of the private apartments at these affordable assisted living communities feature a kitchenette, spacious bathroom with shower, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, and emergency alert system.
Certified nursing assistants are on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide help with medications and personal assistance. Meals, housekeeping and laundry are included.
Residents also benefit from plenty of opportunities to easily socialize with friends and neighbors and to participate in activities and special events.
Our focus at each of the communities that we manage is on providing residents with the love, compassion and dignity that they so richly deserve in addition to the care, services and assistance that they need. Our approach is to place residents first in each and every decision that we make.
You can find Supportive Living communities managed by BMA in the City of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs as well as in northern, central and southern Illinois.
This fall we will be opening up Heritage Woods of Gurnee, our first Supportive Living community in Lake County.
We also will be completing the expansion of our Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community in South Elgin. The expansion features the development of White Oaks, which is one of only five affordable Memory Care communities approved by the State of Illinois to operate under the Supportive Living program.
White Oaks at Heritage Woods will house 32 apartments for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia in two specially designed neighborhoods.
The expansion project at Heritage Woods of South Elgin also includes the addition of 18 affordable assisted apartments.
For a complete list of the senior living and assisted living communities managed by BMA, go to the Our Communities pick list on the top right hand side of the page.
With September designated as World Alzheimer’s Month, I wanted to share with you highlights of an informational program on the ABCs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia that was conducted earlier this month at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Mental Exercise – The more you work your brain, the better it will function. Be sure to try new things. For instance, Patti told the residents of Heritage Woods, be sure to take advantage of the Dakim computerized brain fitness program that is available at Heritage Woods.
Did you know that two of the three members of the “Holy Trinity of Singing Cowboys” had connections to Chicago?
By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.
The 
