Applewood Our House – What it Means to be a Leader In Dementia Care

Applewood Our House is proud to be a part of the Leaders in Dementia Care Training program that is run by the Alzheimer’s Association. We understand the only way we can provide higher quality care to our residents is to keep learning advanced care treatments that allow us to stay at the top of our field. The staff at all four houses in Lakewood, Golden and Arvada have been trained to their high standards.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s care needs the highest quality standards in the industry. Each assisted care and living facility knows that to provide top-notch service and stay in business, it is required that your facility has the best quality care available. Not only is it necessary to give professional care to your residents, you also need to be able to communicate well with families, and coordinate daily life in a satisfactory manner.

 

Requirements to be a Leader in Dementia Care

 

To be Leaders in Dementia Care through The Alzheimer’s Association required that Applewood Our House met the following standards:

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Communication Techniques – This required us to understand more about how the brain works and to learn better ways to communicate with our elderly residents.

Ways to Better Interact – These techniques have helped our staff to spontaneously interact with our residents in creative ways.

Lower Agitation – These were methods that taught non-drug related therapy for our dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. As some people might know, non-drug related therapy is always the first approach that should be used to treat patients.

Adult Learning – This included online training and other training with qualified instructors from the Alzheimer’s Association Learning Institute.

 

Applewood Our House – Other Dementia Care Requirements

 

Of course, Applewood Our House stays out front in dementia care by always making life easier for our residents. Here are a few facts that make our facility safe and secure for your loved one:

Extra Security for Wanderers – We know some residents like to wander and we provide extra security to keep them from leaving the Applewood Our House facilities.

Colored Faucets and Temperature Control – We help prevent seniors at our facility from getting scalded in a couple of ways. First, we use colored faucets, so our residents always know which one is hot and cold. We also use regulated thermostat valves that keep the water from getting scalding hot.

Well Lit Light Switches – When our residents want to move around at night, we make it easier for them by having well lit light switches and floor areas. This prevents seniors from falling or having other accidents.

 

Leaders in Dementia Care – Conclusion

 

We have been around long enough to know that quality dementia care requires more than a beautiful looking facility. It requires much individualized care and attention.

Being Leaders in Dementia Care is another way of assuring our clients that we put our staff through up-to-date rigorous training to make the lives of our residents better. We remember that those who stay with us are like our extended family, thus, we treat them as such. People come as clients, but always leave as family and friends. That is a promise that is kept at Applewood Our House.

How to Prepare a Pandemic Emergency Kit

The key to surviving a pandemic with the minimum effect is to be prepared. It is even more relevant if there is going to be a lock-down.

To prepare for a pandemic and a possible lock-down, you have to put together an emergency kit and store essential supplies.

An emergency kit you should have before an outbreak

Before there is even a worldwide outbreak, you should have the following items in your emergency kit:

• Purchase and keep some prescription medication and over the counter medicines. Prescription medication includes any form of medication that you would typically take for your existing condition. Over the counter medicines include analgesics, antiemetic, stomach relievers, antihistamines, vitamins, etc. Take good note of the expiry dates for your medication and make sure to renew it at least 30 days before it expires.

   

• Ask for copies of your medical records from your physician. These can be very useful to first responders in the event of an emergency during a pandemic.

   

• Keep a list of emergency numbers for the different government departments.

   

• Store reasonable quantities of tinned or dry food and bottled water.

   

• Store sanitary and hygiene products.

   

• Have a First-Aid kit readily available- usual antiseptic, bandage, gloves, scissors and plaster bands are essential to attend to any bumps or bruises while confined at home.

   

• Household spares and DIY kits can also become handy if you need to replace light bulbs or conduct minor repairs. So, it is always advisable to buy in advance the right type of spare bulbs which you use at home as well as the standard batteries for household equipment. A general DIY toolkit can also be of essential help since hardware stores would most likely be closed during a lock-down.
  

Refill and update your emergency kit during an outbreak

Once a situation is declared a pandemic, refill and update your emergency kit according to the type of situation. The following items must be checked and be available if possible:

• A thermometer to control body temperature. If you live with other people, it is best to get a digital non-contact thermometer. Don’t forget to also buy spare batteries for your digital thermometer!

   

• Hand sanitizers and liquid soap are a must.

   

• A backup glucometer to measure blood sugar if you or any member of your family has diabetes.

   

• One-time use only surgical gloves.

   

• Sanitary masks, if agents of the outbreak are transmissible by air or droplets. Pay attention to the health authorities and get the right sanitary masks they recommend.

   

• Food to last you for a week or two. When storing food for a pandemic, always make sure you think of other people as well. Do not overbuy to the extent that you create shortages for other people.

   

• Update and refill your medication. Add other medication that is related to the outbreak as instructed by the authorities.

   

• Ingredients from alternative medication can also be useful during a pandemic. Get lemons, honey, ginger, cinnamon, mint leaves, essential oils, and other natural agents known to have healing or antiseptic properties.

   

• Entertainment material. Depending on your interests and the number of family members, books and magazines are always a good option. Board games and group games, as well as other entertainment activities for multiple people, is also an excellent choice to keep.

   

• If you have pets, do not forget to buy pet food.

   

• You should also get some stationery and other office-related supplies just in case you have to self-isolate and work from home.

   

• If you can afford it, an Air-Purifying respirator can be a good and useful investment.

When preparing or refilling your emergency pandemic kit, remember always to check expiration dates for perishable items. Do not also forget to think about other people, meaning DO NOT OVER-BUY.

10 Ways to Stay Healthy at Home During Coronavirus Lock-Down

Being on lock-down during a pandemic should not be an excuse to let go of your body and engage in an unhealthy lifestyle. If you have to stay indoors longer than usual, it is even more essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In that way, you can avoid putting yourself at risk for certain conditions linked to unhealthy living. By staying on top of your behavior when you are stuck at home, you can prevent yourself from developing things like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and muscle atrophy. Studies have shown that people who do not maintain a healthy lifestyle when stuck at home often find it difficult to resume normal activities after the home period is over. Going back to work may prove challenging. So if you are going to be held at home, for whatever reason, here are some tips to help you stay healthy:

1. Eat healthily

You would think that this tip does not require mentioning, but you will be surprised at the things people eat when they are stuck at home. It’s fine to eat junk food once in a while, but going on a junk food bender during a lock-down can cause you many issues. So take some time and plan out your meals and snacks. For every 90% of whole, healthy foods, you can reward yourself with 10% of feel-good fare.

2. Get physical

Most people mistake physical exercise for body looks. It’s much more than that, exercise helps the body release stress, clear the mind, and it is good for the heart as it gets the blood flowing. When you are stuck at home, exercising can boost your sense of well-being and prevent you from suffering from dangerous health conditions like depression and anxiety.

3. Read books

With online streaming sites being so popular, it is easy to get stuck on the couch and binge-watch tv shows. However, people tend to forget the negative impact of long hours watching tv on the eyes, back, and intellect. In order to stay healthy when you are stuck indoors try and incorporate some books in between your tv shows. Taking time off the screen and moving images can do you a lot of good in as far as your eyes are concerned. Audio books can also help with the advantage of doing another activity while listening to the book.

4. Feed the mind

Maintaining some level of intellect is another way of staying healthy when stuck at home. There are many ways of keeping your brain active during a lock-down. You could play strategy and logic games that require you to think. You could also enroll in an online course or join forums that discuss highly intellectual topics.

5. Take care of your mental health

When one is stuck indoors, they risk developing mental health issues, especially if they are alone. Taking care of your mental health is an absolute priority when you are locked down. You need to maintain contact with friends and family if you are going to be stuck indoors for a long time. You do not necessarily need it to be physical contact, video chats, texting, and phone calls can do just fine.

6. Find a project

Having a sense of purpose can play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy attitude when stuck at home. It does not even have to be a big project. Just a simple project with results can work wonders. You can embark on a simple project like redecorating your room or something a bit more challenging, like DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects.

7. Improve yourself

When you are stuck at home, you could use that time to improve yourself. Learn a new skill that will help you get ahead when you eventually return to the world. Educating yourself will remove the unhealthy feeling of being “stuck” and replace it with feelings of finding a new purpose.

8. Help others

Being helpful to other people while you are stuck at home can do wonders for your mental health. There are many ways of helping other people that you can try. One example would be to help older people do online shopping. Another example would be to take some time to listen to other people’s problems (although not too much to avoid being depressed yourself). You can dispense services directly linked to your profession, which can also help you stay fresh and sharp for when you eventually return to your work.

9. Explore and expand your horizons

It is always healthy to explore and expand one’s horizons. The world has so much more to offer than what you already know or think. So when stuck at home, take time to explore other cultures, try new foods, and above all, make sure you come out on the other side a better and stronger person.

10. Do not miss your medical consultations

Lastly, if you have medical conditions or scheduled checkups, do not pass upon them. Instead, use technology to turn up for your medical appointments and consultations. If you have prescriptions to renew, you can also do that using telemedicine platforms and other technology.

Together with Family During the Coronavirus Pandemic

During a pandemic, some people have no option but to self-isolate and others are put into quarantine to get better control of the disease and stop its spread. These extreme measures can put a strain on some relationships, especially closely-knit families who see each other often and do things together. In some cases, a parent has to be isolated from their kids, and that can profoundly affect parent-child relationships.

Staying connected during a pandemic is very important for families. By just practicing a few habits, you and your family can come out of a pandemic even stronger than before. Here are some practical ways to encourage you stay connected with your family when self-isolating:

Talk About the Situation

Talking is the healthiest way of dealing with any issues related to emotions. If you want your relationships to survive a pandemic lock-down or to repair fractured relations, you have to take some time to talk to your loved ones. Talk about the disease and why it is essential to maintain a period of isolation. Go on to discuss in detail how the separation will go and what methods of communication you will adopt to stay in touch. Make it a must to give each other regular updates until the period of isolation is over.

Use Text and Video Calls

Check on your loved ones through regular texts and video calls. We live in the technology era, which makes it possible to remain connected with people regardless of the distance. It is even possible to have group calls where the whole family can participate in different locations.

Play Online Games Together

Staying connected with family does not mean talking and chatting alone. You have to incorporate other activities that you can do together. Playing games online, together as a family, can maintain the connection needed to get through a lock-down with minimum damage. There are different kinds of games online to suit various family interests. Depending on the sort of things you like as a family, you can play board games, sports games, role play, strategy, adventure, etc.

Work on a family project from a distance

Another way to reconnect with family members is to start a family project. A family project will ensure that you frequently communicate as a family. It will also bring about some challenges that you will have to work together to overcome, thereby uniting the family. The family project does not have to be complicated; it could be starting a family YouTube channel, blogging, or business. You could also start preparing the family’s genealogical tree.

Plan a Future Family Vacation

While you are in self-isolation or lock-down, try to work together as a family to plan the next gathering or family vacation. You can give each other tasks to do and make decisions together until the whole plan comes along. Planning together gives family members the feeling of being loved and being relevant, which plays a significant role in building connections and reconnecting for those who had lost touch.

Help with Goals and Resolutions

Encourage each other in coming up with goals and resolutions. Discuss and establish each other’s vision board and come up with a mutual vision board as a family. Help each other evaluate past achievements and failures and map up new objectives for when the pandemic is over. By being involved in each other’s lives, you build a stronger bond, guaranteed to withstand any crisis that may threaten to shake your walls.

Time to Forgive and Reunite

A time of crisis is an excellent opportunity to tackle past hurts. Talk about these issues openly with the relevant family member and forgive or ask forgiveness where necessary. Paradoxical, though it may seem, a pandemic is an opportune moment to mend and start over any broken or wounded relationship with other family members. It may hurt at first, when dealing with these issues, especially if there were deeply buried emotions, but the intense feeling of relief and restoration will be liberating once relationships are mended.