April 2014

ActivCare is Hopping in April

 

ActivCare at Bressi Ranch swings into action this April, with lots of Spring activities and helpful tips for caregivers. In this issue of the e-newsletter, you'll find:

  • 5 things to do if you are caring for someone with dementia
  • Helpful techniques on maintaining skills and abilities for those with dementia
  • Find out your brain age
  • Are you feeling stressed? The Mayo Clinic has helpful tips
  • Highlights from the April activity calendar
  • Activity tips for caregivers
  • Notice about the next Caregiver Support Group meeting
  • Fun trivia, just because

Read on.

Caring for someone with Dementia?
If You Do Nothing Else,
Do These 5 Things

 

When faced with caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias you need a plan. There's a lot of information to review, research to be done and issues that need to be addressed. Where does one start?

 

We asked the experts and determined this list of top priorities when caring for a loved one. Review these 5 things to do.

 

Do These 5 Things 

 

Maintaining Skills and Abilities 

 

Use it or lose it. As the saying goes, you need to use your talents and abilities or you lose them. ActivCare program director, Dawn DeStefani, recently provided an informative presentation to attendees of the Town Hall Forum about how caregivers can maintain their best skills while maintaining functional levels of those they care for.

 

Dawn laid out regular techniques and exercises for engaging residents and exercising their skill sets. Bottom-line be creative, set your loved one up for success and try new things.

 

You can review Dawn's presentation here and gain great ideas.

 

 Techniques for Maintaining Skills and Abilities 

What is Your Brain Age?

  

You may have heard about programs that challenge your brain. Have you ever tested your brain age?

 

We've found a free online program that's easy to do and helps assess your abilities. Be advised that these quick games are not to replace medical assessment, but help you practice skills and abilities.

 

What is Your Brain Age?

 

 

Do You Have Caregiver Stress?  

 

Feeling overwhelmed by your caregiving? The Mayo Clinic has established warning signs and tips to reduce stress for family caregivers.

 

Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself 

 

ActivCare April Activities Are Amazing

 

Research shows that therapeutic activity programs can restore feelings of usefulness, sociability and the capacity to celebrate life. Focusing on productive activities and resident engagement can reduce the reliance on behavior medications.

 

This month, ActivCare at Bressi Ranch celebrates Spring, enjoys the outdoors and expresses ourselves through art. Here are a few upcoming activities:

 

April 10 - Men's Lunch Bunch to San Marcos Country Club

April 18 - Scenic bus ride to Moonlight Beach

April 22 - Earth Day picnic lunch at Bressi Park

April 24 - Intergenerational games with the Boys and Girls Club

April 30 - Working with watercolors

 

Caregiver Support Group

 

Sometimes you just need to talk. We're here for you. ActivCare at Bressi Ranch offers a support group for family caregivers of those with Alzheimer's and dementia. The meetings are held once a month and are free and open to the public. 

 

Plan to join our next Caregiver Support Group meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 10 amCall (800) 425-2091 to reserve your spot today.

 
In This Issue
5 Things to Do
How to Maintain Skills and Abilities
What's Your Brain Age
Feeling Stressed?
April's Amazing Activites
Caregiver Support Group
Did You Know?

  

ActivCare Memory Care Activity Tip 

  Happy Face

Compliments Go 
a Long Way
 

 

Compliments assist in building trust and rapport. With a big smile make honest and genuine compliments about appearance, clothing and hair styles. 

  
 
DID YOU KNOW?
  

  

Popular Spring blooms include tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, iris, daisies, and lilies. 


 Baby birds must learn to sing. Although born with the ability to sing, they must learn the specific songs of
their species. 


 April 24 is
Take Your Daughter to Work Day. 


Spring fever is real! The body may experience physiological changes due to changes in diet, hormone production and temperature.


 Spring cleaning
often accompanies Spring fever. 


 Children grow
faster in spring.


The number one U.S. Spring Break destination is Daytona Beach.



Each year the president conducts an Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. The tradition was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878 and has been kept up by every president since then.
  
  
Brush your dog 3 times a week in the spring, and you'll have a summer free from shedding. 
 
 


ActivCare at Bressi Ranch's specially designed environment, engaging activity program and compassionate caregivers provide the perfect combination for residents with memory loss to thrive.

We invite you to take a tour and see for yourself. Please call me at (800) 425-2091. 
  
Regards,

 

Melissa Koch

ActivCare at Bressi Ranch 

 

P.S. Be sure to Like us on Facebook.  and follow us on Twitter.

 

 

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6255 Nygaard Street

 Carlsbad, CA 92009
(800) 425-2091  

activcareliving.com