Hillside Terrace Hosts Solstice Soiree!

The Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan had a Mix, Mingle & be Merry Solstice Soiree on Thursday, December 21, 2017. This special event was by invitation only. However, this year was even more special because Hillside Terrace Senior Living in Ann Arbor hosted the event!

This gathering gave donors an opportunity to join the Alzheimer’s Association efforts to help make a change. Guests learned about the vital work of the Alzheimer’s Association, including the care and support they provide to families and the latest advances in research. There was no charge to attend; however, guests were asked to address the growing needs of our community by making a contribution. 

“We’re so happy to be hosting this year’s Solstice Soiree!” says Trey Litz, Director of Community Relations at Hillside Terrace Senior Living in Ann Arbor. “Donors are incredibly important in order to find a cure to help end Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Do you or a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease? Then you know how hard it is and how important donations are to the Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan.

Thinking About Moving to a Memory Care Facility?

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is in good hands. Discussing moving your parent into assisted living can be a scary thing, but it’s the reality of so many in this country. 

For more information about memory care in Ann Arbor and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today!

Celebrate The Winter Solstice!

The winter solstice is almost here! December 21, 2017 marks the longest night of the year! We’re stepping up our fundraising efforts for the Longest Day and want to let others know that we’re continuing our fight against Alzheimer’s.

This holiday season, give a donation in lieu of a gift!

It’s the season for gift giving! Not sure what to ask others to give you for Christmas? Ask them to donate to a great cause instead! You can make an online donation and print out a holiday card to let them know you’ve donated on their behalf.

All donations to The Longest Day are tax-deductible and will help advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

We hope you have the happiest of holidays this season!

Donate to our team today!

How to Make Great Tasting Food for the Senior Palate

Worried all the nutritional concerns that come with older age will turn you cooking bland? Cooking for a senior who’s even pickier than a toddler? Want to make tasty food that meets all your senior nutritional needs?

Good nutrition can be a great medicine, keeping us strong and active throughout our senior years. But as certain medical conditions start to creep in with old age, it might be recommended that you cut out certain foods you used to rely on for flavor in most of your dishes. 

But that doesn’t mean your new menu has to be bland or unappetizing! To make tasty food suitable for your nutritional needs, check-out our helpful guide to cooking for the senior palate:

• Replace bad fat, like saturated and trans fat, with the good, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in avocado and nuts. 
• Substitute pureed potato or cauliflower for cream in recipes likes soups and pastas for a creamy texture minus fat and calories.
• Take a class to get out of your cooking comfort zone and find some good ideas for meals you never considered before. 
• Include naturally sweet foods, depending on blood sugar needs, but avoid added sugars and sugar substitutes. 
• Cook softer meals like soups, stews, and braised meats for satisfying, complete, easy-to-eat meals. 
• Cut salt without losing flavor by adding fresh herbs, spices, onions, garlic, wine, or vinegars. 
• Incorporate healthy snacks and smoothies to supplement diet and add a nutritional boost. 
• Recreate comfort foods and other favorite dishes to entice anyone with a lack of appetite. 

With these tips, you’ll practically be a gourmet chef! Or at least you’ll be pleasing anyone you cook for and keeping them healthy, too. If you have more questions about cooking for seniors or hospice care in Ann Arbor give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace, our family shares life with yours. 

Combating Senior Isolation This Winter!

Want to help yourself or a loved one avoid isolation as winter approaches? Need help fighting winter isolation for a senior in your life? Want tips to help preventing winter isolation from experts in hospice care in Ann Arbor?

Past their sixties, the older a person becomes, the more likely they are to live alone. As mobility and other health concerns become more of an issue, living alone can lead to a greater risk of isolation. In winter this can be a particularly big issue when many seniors worry about slippery conditions and moving around in bulky clothing and visitors may be less likely to stop by.

To help you combat senior isolation this winter, we’ve put together a list of our top 7 tips to stay connected! 

1. Build a Network: It might be harder for family members to visit a senior in winter, so ask neighbors to check-in on them once week. You can also utilize other modes of communication, like phone calls or connecting online, to fend off isolation. Try putting a weekly call in your calendar to help you remember!
2. Keep Them Nourished: Nutrition is incredibly important when it comes to keeping seniors feeling their best, but meal prep and cooking can become a real challenge. Help seniors stay nourished by arranging meal or grocery delivery. You can take a big task off their to-do list and free up their time for socialization and activities. 
3. Get to Know Community Services: Make sure seniors are familiar with the local senior center, senior transportation options, and other senior services in the community. AAA can be a good resource for discovering and locating all that’s available in the community. 
4. Tackle Medical Concerns: Being proactive addressing health and medical conditions will help seniors feel more confident to get out or take visitors at home. Help out by making appointments for them, arranging for medical supplies to be delivered, and etc. 
5. Mobility Assistance: Keep encouraging and reminding seniors to use their aids like canes, walkers, hearing aids, glasses, etc. to keep them moving and engaging with others easily and safely.
6. Transportation: Offer and arrange rides to appointments and activities. You can use community senior transportation services, private services, or simply call a taxi!
7. Consider Assisted Living: A facility designed to keep seniors healthy, active, fulfilled may be the best bet to combat senior isolation and other concerns that become too much for family members to take on. 

With these strategies to combat isolation this winter, the senior you’re caring for should get through the season happily and confidently. If you have any questions about helping a senior through winter or other needs from assisted living to hospice care in Ann Arbor, give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace, our family shares life with yours. 

How Do I Know If I Need Assisted Living?

Do you or does someone you know need assistance getting around the house?

Are you (or someone you know) having a hard time doing everyday tasks?

Is your caregiver finding it hard to bear the burden of providing home health care without suffering illness themselves?

When it becomes too difficult to handle care on your own, you should consider the option of assisted living. Imagine how much easier it would be to have all the available help you could possibly need.

According to A Place for Mom, “there are some telltale signs that caregivers can look for in order to recognize when it’s the right time for assisted living,” including:

1. Aggression 
2. Caregiver stress
3. Escalating care needs
4. Home safety
5. Wandering 

Best Assisted Living in Ann Arbor: Schedule a Tour Today!

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Discussing moving your parent into assisted living can be a scary thing for any adult to face. However, it’s the reality of so many in this country. 

For more information about assisted living in Ann Arbor and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today!

How to Make Friends During Retirement and Why It’s Important!

Do you or a loved one feel lonely because you wish you had more friends?

Are you (or is your loved one) worried you’re too old to make new friends?

You’re never too old! Imagine being able to lean on someone when life throws curveballs your way. Having someone you can talk to makes things a lot easier.

According to AARP, “close relationships with others are vital to your health — physical, mental and emotional — your self-esteem and even your longevity, according to recent research.”

Here are some things you can do to help make friends during retirement:

1. Accept invitations
2. Check out continuing education classes at your local college or university
3. Go to your local senior center. Most have a variety of classes and activities!
4. Invite a few of your neighbors for dinner if you like to cook or organize a potluck!
5. Volunteer in your community!
6. Have faith and exercise it. Many churches make it a point to welcome newbies!
7. Start a part-time job to meet new people!
8. Set up a page on Facebook to connect with old friends.

The atmosphere at Hillside Terrace also offers an opportunity to build lasting friendships for seniors. We offer many activities each month that allow our residents to interact with one another on a personal level.  

Get Started Today: Schedule a Tour! 

Our "Aging by Choice" philosophy allows a flexibility of options for our residents and their families; you choose what is best for you, and we make it possible. We’re confident in our ability to provide the best quality of care, the security, and the family atmosphere that you’re seeking! We warmly invite you to see the difference we can make when your family shares life with our family. 

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today– a facility for assisted living in Ann Arbor.

For more information about hospice care offered at Hillside Terrace, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here!

How to Manage Hoarding Behavior in a Person with Dementia

Has your loved one’s “waste not, want not” attitude gone a little too far? Are you dealing with the combination of hoarding behavior and dementia in an older family member? Need more help tackling this tough combo? 

The tendency towards collecting can be a normal and natural part of aging. Whether for nostalgic or practical reasons, the behavior might help the collector feel more comfortable and secure about aging. If a memory issue like dementia or Alzheimer’s takes hold, however, the collecting behavior can intensify and become a serious problem, interfering with the ability to live comfortably. 

Dementia on its own is already a lot to handle; adding hoarding to the mix might seem overwhelming. But there are actually a few easy tips caregivers can follow to help manage hoarding in a person with dementia. 

1. Be Kind

Address the issue with calmness and kindness. Hoarding isn’t something the person is doing intentionally, so punishment or anger will only hinder the process. Consider involving other people in the management of the problem or in a clean up so everyone has support in the process.

2. Use Incentives

If you need to go through and get rid of a significant amount of material, offer the person incentives to deal with the challenge. These could include donating items to charity, giving things to their church, or passing down to other family members. Personal rewards for hard work can be effective, too. 

3. Provide Distractions

Whether a major cleanup is necessary or not, to keep things under control moving forward, keep the person busy with active tasks. Activity will lessen the compulsion toward collecting and hoarding. Organization tasks, like sorting and labeling, can be particularly helpful. 

4. Know the Hiding Spots

Don’t try to eliminate collecting completely. Manage it by making sure you know the special places used for hiding so you can occasionally take a look and keep track of the behavior. You can even encourage collecting and storage in certain places, like a unique box or chest, to help control the behavior. 

5. Seek Advice

Make sure necessary doctors are aware of the behavior and ask for advice. This is especially important if you feel the behavior is out of control. Social workers and psychologists can also be a great help with a difficult cleanup or managing hoarding behavior. 

You can help a person for whom you’re providing care manage their hoarding, even when added complications like dementia make it seem impossible. These tips are simple to use and really work!

If you have questions about your options for a loved one in need of memory care in Ann Arbor, give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace Senior Living, our family shares life with your family.  

5 Things to Consider Before Planning a Cruise Ship Retirement

Thinking about your retirement options? Do the open waters and exotic destination of cruise ship retirement sound appealing? Want to know more about cruise ship retirement?

Looking into the possibility of retiring to a cruise ship seems to be a growing trend, many claiming it’s actually less expensive than a typical retirement community. The appeal of a truly permanent vacation speaks for itself. But what do you really know about the reality of retirement life on a cruise ship? 

Before you crack your nest egg on the deck of an ocean liner, here are 5 things you should consider:

1. Cost- Cruises might be an affordable way to see Europe or the Caribbean, but if you’re considering spending years of your life on a ship, the costs can add up. Cruise ship add-ons include alcohol and soda, laundry, internet service, data roaming, and medical expenses. Retirement communities and assisted living facilities are often priced comparably or more affordably, and aren’t always the dull places you see portrayed in media. 
2. Care- Even if you’re in great health, chances are you are going to need a level of medical care and attention a cruise ship is not equipped to supply. Emergency visits with a doctor at your cruise residence can be very costly, and there’s a chance you won’t find insurance that will cover you if you live on a cruise ship. 
3. Mobility- Cruise ships will have some accessibility features, but more than not, they’re designed for energetic (and temporary) vacationers. Because mobility and balance tend to be an issue as we age, the difficulties posed by a cruise ship residence can quickly become tedious. In rougher weather, seniors will likely find hard or even dangerous to maneuver the boat. 
4. Relationships- Many seniors place high value on the friendships they forge with peers and neighbors in their retirement communities. Living on a cruise ship will make such relationships difficult to come by, considering you’ll be surrounded by new people every few weeks. You may also find the hiatus from family and old friends a burden.
5. Baggage- If you plan to call a cruise ship home, there’s a lot you’ll have to leave behind. If you’re okay with paring down belongings to a few suitcases, this won’t be a challenge; if not, you’ll have some tough decisions to make! You can also expect relatively small quarters in your new home without much freedom to personalize it to your comfort or liking. 

Don’t get us wrong… cruises are great! But we recommend you take a long vacation rather than taking up residence. For your long-term security and comfort, you have better options than this trend. 

If you have questions about your retirement situation or are exploring options for a loved one in need of memory care in Ann Arbor, give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace Senior Living, our family shares life with your family.  

How Important is Hydration As We Age?

Wondering if you should up your water dosage as you’re getting older? Need motivation to stay hydrated? Curious how hydration needs change as you age? 

Hydration is important at any age and is crucial to anyone’s overall health. However, there are some key factors that make hydration more important and tricky as we age, including:

1. Water Loss: as we get older, we lose water more quickly, making frequent hydration more important now, then 10 or 20 years ago. 
2. Decreased Sensitivity: many seniors may not realize they’re less sensitive to their bodies’ needs and may not feel parched until dehydration has already set in. Drinking water regularly can combat this issue. 
3. Mobility Changes: limits in mobility can make getting a glass of water a hassle; having a reusable bottle of water with you can alleviate the burden. If a trip to the restroom is a bit of workout, drinking your fill of water is less rewarding. To address this, make changes to your home for bathroom accessibility. 
4. Memory Trouble: even in our younger years we can get to the end of a day and realize we’ve forgotten to eat or drink anything! Now that we’re older, memory can be a bigger issue. If you often forget to drink water during the day, put yourself on a simple schedule, like drinking water at the beginning of each hour or having a glass before and after every meal. 

Dehydration can range from mild to severe, just like your symptoms which can include headaches, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, and confusion. Chronic dehydration can damage the brain and kidneys, leading to irreversible problems. 

Because dehydration is not just a matter of comfort but can be fatal, it’s important to remember your water today and everyday! 

Here are a few tips for easier hydration:

• Carry a reusable water bottle. 
• Eat fruits and veggies with high water content, like apple and cucumber. 
• Avoid salt and caffeine. 
• Drink water before, during, and after a workout, including walks or a round of golf. 
• Maximize your accessibility to a restroom at home. 

Learn more about the importance of hydration for seniors and senior care and give us a call. As experts in senior living and memory care in Ann Arbor, Hillside Terrace is ready to serve you. And remember, at Hillside Terrace, our family shares life with your family. 

De-Clutter: How to Create Space That Matters!

Want to create space in your home that matters but not sure where to start? Feeling the urge to purge and looking for tips? Need motivation before you begin the de-cluttering process?

The longer we live, the more we tend to collect! There are lots of good reasons to hang on to objects and mementos from knick-knacks, to furniture, to documents, and etc. But there can be equally compelling reasons to let things go!

To help you start the process, consider our top three reasons why you might want to de-clutter and three techniques to help you do it.  

Reasons to De-Clutter:

1. Access to what you need: de-cluttering your rooms and storage spaces will give you better access to the things you need and use every day and more space to enjoy them. 
2. Space and safety at home: letting go of a few things will lead to a better flow in your house, which will keep you safer as your mobility changes with age. 
3. Prepare to downsize: reducing your clutter and possessions can help you downsize to a more manageable home or make your current house more comfortable with space for things that matter, like visitors and guests!

Techniques to De-Clutter

1. Don’t save it, scan it: Living with stacks of paperwork you might not need, but may end up needing it a week later? Solve your problem by scanning documents and saving them on a computer. Only hang on to originals of what you really need, like birth certificates. Don’t be afraid to ask your kids or grandkids to help with technology if you need it!
2. Getting over nostalgia: Are you hanging onto things only for the memories they’re tied to? A good technique to get past this is to keep a file of photos of nostalgic items and let the physical item go. Keeping the image will keep the ties to memories, but make more space in your home. 
3. Three box technique: Need a clear process to get you through a room-to-room de-clutter? Try labeling three boxes as keep, sell/donate, and trash. Then start tackling one area at a time. In each area, make sure you consider every item separately and place it in one of the boxes. It’s OK to move slowly and take your time! At the end of the process, you’ll have more space in your home for things that really matter!

It can be a lot to consider, and feel overwhelming to get started, but if you dig in, the process and the result can be rewarding. 

If you’re interested in de-cluttering for downsizing purposes, give us a call today to learn your options. As experts in senior living and memory care in Ann Arbor, we’re here to answer all your questions. At Hillside Terrace our family shares life with your family.

Far-Reaching Effects of Falls on Seniors

Worried about a senior in your life suffering from a fall? Wondering how to help someone recovering from a fall? Trying to prevent falls in your home or in another living space?

Falls are one of the greatest common threats to seniors and often have effects that reach far beyond what we might expect. The physical impact can be immediate and obvious, or more subtle. And the emotional effect is not something to neglect either. Because falls can be very serious, it’s important to understand the effect of a fall and to do what we can to prevent them. 

Physical Effects

A serious fall can leave someone with a broken bone, deep bruises, and long-term pain. Any one of these things can be a lot to deal with for someone who was already struggling with a decline in mobility. If a fall takes you off your feet for a significant period of time, the physical effect can be exacerbated by muscle and bone loss. This is why it’s common for people to suffer additional falls after their first. 

It’s important to get moving and stay active as much as possible after a fall, following medical advice, of course. Although taking a load off is easier, it will cost you in the long run!

Emotional Effect

Many seniors say they lose confidence and are afraid to do things on their own after falling, even if they never tell a doctor about the fall. This emotional burden can contribute to isolation and withdrawal which will likely accelerate mobility loss and increase the risk of falling. 

Talk with your doctor and family members to help make a plan for staying active. Having a support system can help with fear and loss of confidence.

Prevention

Many believe there’s not much to do to avoid a fall, but this isn’t true! Some ways to prevent a fall are as easy as picking up clutter in the living space or whenever a senior visits your home. Ridding a space of hazards like loose rugs or floorboards is helpful, too. Making sure a space is well-lit and wearing shoes inside instead of socks will also reduce the risk of falls. 

Staying active and maintaining or improving mobility are also great ways to avoid falls. And when setbacks happen, it’s really important not to let it get you down for too long! 

To learn more about the far-reaching effects of a fall or if you have questions about Assisted Living in Ann Arbor, give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace Senior Living, our family shares life with yours.

Dance Your Way to Health!

When’s the last time you got up just to shake it? Wondering if dancing could be the perfect activity for you? Are you looking for ways to get more exercise into your daily routine?

Nobody’s expecting you to be the next great salsa star, but when you start hearing about all the undeniable health benefits of adding a little dancing to your day, you might be ready to try! Even if you think dancing might be too far out of your comfort zone, read on and see if the rewards can sway you to give it a go!

Fitness 

Research shows low impact dancing is a great way to get in shape and that you’re more likely to stick to it compared to other kinds of exercise classes. 

Relaxation

Dancing offers a great outlet for stress, anxiety, and can even help with insomnia. Add a dance class to your weekly routine, and you’ll likely feel the relaxing benefits in no time!

Mobility

Getting into a dancing class or dancing regularly will help reduce chronic stiffness. One study shows that dancing helped reduce the amount of pain medication seniors used. Increased mobility is always good for maintaining independence. 

Cardio

Regular dancing can replace some of the more monotonous cardiovascular activity you might be recommended to do for a healthy heart and lungs. More cha-cha anyone?

Brain Boost

Dancing really is good for the body and brain! When dancing, you challenge yourself to make split-second decisions. This activates your neurons, reduces the risk of dementia, and keeps you sharp.  

Researchers have studied actual dance classes from salsa to waltz, so you can’t go wrong with any kind of dancing you do to improve your health! Be sure to discuss with your doctor before engaging in a new fitness routine. 

If you have more questions about the health benefits of dancing for seniors or questions about assisted living in Ann Arbor, give us a call today. At Hillside Terrace Senior Living, our family shares life with yours.

6 Questions to Protect Elderly Patients in the Hospital

Are you wondering what the hard questions are that you should ask when you or your parent is in the hospital?

Are you prepared for the unexpected?

Are you worried about you or your parent’s potential risk for memory loss?

Don’t worry! Going to the doctor can be stressful, but we have some information that will be useful for you and your parent’s next visit to the doctor, especially if there’s a hospital stay.

The New York Times asked “three experts their advice when it comes to six questions family members should ask to lower an elderly patient’s risk for hospital delirium:

1. Do the nurses and doctors routinely screen for delirium or identify high-risk patients?
2. How does the hospital deal with agitation or delirium in patients if it develops?
3. What does the hospital do to keep patients from being disoriented?
4. What policies are in place to make sure patients get adequate sleep?
5. If my family member needs a urinary catheter or other bedside interventions, how does the hospital decide when to remove them?
6. Will the physicians and pharmacy staff review my family member’s medications to identify medications that increase delirium risk?”

Get Started Today: Schedule a Tour! 

Our "Aging by Choice" philosophy allows a flexibility of options for our residents and their families; you choose what is best for you, and we make it possible. We’re confident in our ability to provide the best quality of care, the security, and the family atmosphere that you’re seeking! We warmly invite you to see the difference we can make when your family shares life with our family. 

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today– a facility for memory care in Ann Arbor.

For more information about hospice care offered at Hillside Terrace, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here!

8 Tips for Exercising Safely as a Senior!

Are you worried about starting an exercise routine?

Do you think you’re too old to exercise?

Did you know a little exercise can go a long way?

Keep your bones strong with a little bit of exercise to help avoid falls and breaks. According to the National Council on Aging, “one-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year.” Don’t let this be you!

If you want to stay young and strong, follow these helpful tips from Senior Advisor to keep your exercise routine safe as you age:

• Talk to your doctor before trying out a new exercise
• Stretch regularly
• Know your limits
• Work with a trainer or instructor if you’re doing something new
• Stick with senior friendly exercises
• Eat plenty of protein
• Drink plenty of water 
• Rest when you need it

We have daily exercise opportunities to help you improve the quality of your health and wellness. These activities include strengthening movements, stretching, volleyball, bocce ball, ring toss, NuStep, and we even have a walking group you can join!

If you’re at all worried about following an exercise program, it’s best to consult your regular physician for medical advice.

Best Elderly Care in Ann Arbor: Schedule a Tour Today!

Is your parent prepared for their end of life care? Discussing moving your parent into assisted living can be a scary thing for any adult to face. However, it’s the reality of so many in this country. We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands!

At Hillside Terrace, we understand that it can be a challenging time and we want to help you in any way we can to make 

things easier. We’re focused on holistically improving and maintaining the well-being of our residents through promoting independence, a stimulating environment, and building rapport.

Hillside Terrace Elderly Care Communities

View a virtual tour of our floorplans:
The Heritage & Grace
The Rose-Marie
The Mayflower

For more information about elderly care in Ann Arbor and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today!

Understanding How Doctors Diagnose Dementia

Does your memory loss interfere with everyday activities?

Are you having a problem with visual perception?

Are you able to communicate well with others?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “while symptoms of dementia can vary greatly, at least two of the following core mental functions must be significantly impaired to be considered dementia:

• Memory 
• Communication and language 
• Ability to focus and pay attention 
• Reasoning and judgment 
• Visual perception

People with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments or traveling out of their neighborhood.

Many dementias are progressive, meaning symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse. If you or a loved one is experiencing memory difficulties or other changes in thinking skills, don't ignore them.” You should make an appointment with a doctors as soon as possible to determine the cause of these type of symptoms.

Get Started Today: Schedule a Tour!

Our memory care facility is available for those who suffer from the following memory illnesses: long-term memory loss, short-term memory loss, Huntington’s disease, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and even those who suffer from a traumatic brain injury.

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” We warmly invite you to see the difference we can make when your family shares life with our family. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today– a facility for memory care in Ann Arbor.

Contact us for more information about memory care offered at Hillside Terrace.

Couples Are Welcome at Hillside Terrace!

Couples that live together, stay together! All couples are welcome at Hillside Terrace Senior Living in Ann Arbor.

Often, when we age, our health can decline and one spouse is left to take care of the other. However, it can be an extremely hard job for one person to handle. Why not live the rest of your life stress free and have help on hand when you need it most?

Your later years will be more enjoyable without having to worry about mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, cooking meals, or even washing your laundry. At Hillside Terrace, you can do all the activities you enjoy without the annoyances of every day chores. Leave them to us!

We have couples needs in mind, whether you need hospice care, assisted living or memory care. You’ll appreciate the many dining options available, as well as the opportunity to learn and live a healthy life. We’ll also help you stay engaged with many activities throughout the month including bingo, shopping trips, book club, baking club and more!  

Best Independent Living in Ann Arbor: Schedule a Tour Today!

After raising a family together, you may decide that keeping up a home is too much for you. And that’s okay! There are many communities for independent living in Ann Arbor that will allow you the flexibility to create a retirement lifestyle that is perfect for you!

For more information about independent living and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today! 

The Power of Laughter for Senior Health

Looking for an easy way to boost your health and happiness during the senior years of your life? Caring for a senior family member or friend who has been a little less than perky lately?

You’ve heard it before and we’ll say it again: laughter is the best medicine! Well, as far as non-medicine medicines go. There’s no replacing blood pressure prescriptions if that’s something your doctor has assessed you need, but the powerful medicine of laughter can do wonders for our health.

Read a list of the amazing benefits of laughter!

1. Studies show that taking a break to laugh can improve your short-term memory performance by 40%. That’s a big deal as we start to get older.
2. Laughing significantly reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which is linked to cardiovascular disease.
3. A good laugh relaxes the entire body and can alleviate muscle tension and stress.
4. Laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer lessening the aches and pains common with old age for up to two hours.
5. A healthy chuckle reduces blood pressure and improves circulation and oxygenation.
6. Laughing regularly boosts the immune system and the body’s ability to fight disease and infection.
7. Laughter reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while increasing levels of dopamine in the body.
8. Laughing exercises the muscles of the core which are crucial for breathing, posture, and mobility.

Each of these benefits happen immediately and as a direct result of laughing. The long-term and greater psychological benefits of laughing and humor are far too many to count here!

To add some laughter into your day, choose comedies over dramas, get everyone to tell a joke or funny story at dinner, or subscribe to a joke of the day email and share it with friends.

If you have questions about the power of laughter or providing elderly care in Ann Arbor, please give us a call. We’re confident you’ll see the difference in quality of care when our family shares life with yours. Schedule a tour of our facilities today. 

Why Seniors Should Join a Knitting Club

Retired and looking for a way to spend your new found free time? Interested in finding a rewarding activity for older parents or a friend?

For a senior activity, you’d be hard-pressed to find something more beneficial for its members than a knitting club. With their relaxed and rewarding environment, these groups are full of opportunities to put both the hands and mind to work. Read on and discover 5 benefits seniors get from joining a knitting club.

Physical

The dexterity and fine motor skill exercised in knitting and crocheting help knitting club members maintain and improve these abilities. Being physically active is also good for both the mind and body.

Mental

Not only is learning or practicing an intricate skill good for mental health and cognitive function, but being part of a social group puts seniors in a stimulating environment. Neurons will be firing all over the place!

Social

Depression can be a common malady of the elderly, especially those living in isolation or prone to spending time alone. Involvement in a group that promotes socialization, like a knitting club, can be a simple way to help an elder family member beat their blues.

Emotional

Engagement in knitting activities can help stay the stresses and anxieties in a senior’s life. Because knitting requires moments of great focus, it’s also a perfect time for relaxation and tranquility as the mind quiets to allow the hands to work.

Purposeful

Settling into retirement after decades of working a regular job can lead seniors to a low valuation of self, missing the feeling of making a contribution to a team or effort. Being creatively active with knitting projects can provide new purpose. A plan to donate projects to hospitals or charities can lead to an even greater sense of purpose.

The importance of these 5 benefits cannot be understated! Joining a group such as a knitting club could be an act which truly saves quality of life at a senior age. If you have questions about knitting or other social clubs, or providing elderly care in Ann Arbor, please give us a call. We’re confident you’ll see the difference in quality of care when our family shares life with yours. Schedule a tour of our facilities today. 

How to Tell the Difference Between Normal Forgetfulness & Dementia!

Aging is a part of life, there’s no doubt about it! But, is forgetfulness normal?

Is it normal to forget the little things as we age? Whether you forget an appointment, forget to pay a bill, or walk into a room and forget why you’re there, is that normal?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a person has problems with memory or another core brain function. These problems are severe enough to be noticeable to other people and show up on tests of mental function, but not serious enough to interfere with daily life.

People with MCI have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the near future, especially when their main problem involves memory. However, not everyone diagnosed with MCI progresses to Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is not a disease. It’s a general term that describes a set of symptoms that may be caused by a number of different brain disorders. These symptoms involve mental decline severe enough to disrupt daily life that affects more than one of the following core brain functions:

• Recent memory (the ability to learn and recall information)
• Language (the ability to write or speak, or to understand written or spoken words)
• Visuospatial Function (the ability to understand and use symbols, maps, etc. and the ability to correctly judge where objects are)
• Executive function (the ability to plan, reason, solve problems and focus on a task)”

You may ask yourself: Will I get dementia? Is my forgetfulness a sign that I’ll be diagnosed with dementia when I’m older?

No, not necessarily. There are certain factors that increase your risks as you age. If you’re aware of those things and make some lifestyle changes, you should be well on your way to living a long and happy life!

Get Started Today: Schedule a Tour!

Our memory care facility is available for those who suffer from the following memory illnesses: long-term memory loss, short-term memory loss, Huntington’s disease, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and even those who suffer from a traumatic brain injury.

We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands. Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” We warmly invite you to see the difference we can make when your family shares life with our family. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today– a facility for memory care in Ann Arbor.

Contact us for more information about memory care offered at Hillside Terrace.

What is "The Longest Day”?

The Longest Day on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, is all about bringing people together to support a common goal: the fight against Alzheimer’s. It’s the celebration of the year!

We help raise funds and awareness for research while doing activities you can enjoy. You can honor a caregiver, someone living with Alzheimer's, or someone you’ve lost by selecting his or her favorite hobby and doing it from sunrise to sunset.

Do you know someone fighting the disease?

Are you at risk?

Are you noticing symptoms?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “The Longest Day is all about love. Love for all those affected by Alzheimer's disease. On the summer solstice, team up with the Alzheimer’s Association and select any activity you love — or an activity loved by those affected — to help end Alzheimer’s. Together, we will raise funds and awareness for care and support while advancing research toward the first survivor of Alzheimer’s.”

Thousands contribute to The Longest Day activities on the longest night December 21, and the longest day, June 21. Last year, over 10,000 people from nine countries participated in 3,200 Longest Day tributes and $3.8 million was raised for the Alzheimer’s Association. That’s incredible!

“What motivates us year to year is the fact that the Alzheimer's disease is now more than ever not just an "Old Person" disease. People of all ages are being affected by Alzheimer's. There is still no prevention, no cure, and not enough funds and research to provide us with a possible cure. We live and breathe this disease everyday here at Hillside Terrace. Our mission this year is to raise as much awareness as possible at our "Longest Day" to the youth and to the community,” says Trey Litz, Director of Community Relations.

This year we’re partnering with Bumpin' Bubbles and giving people and businesses in the area a chance to sponsor an hour of team building skills while playing Bubble Soccer. The orchard will be set up like a real soccer field with bleachers for fans, food & drinks, silent auctions, live DJ, Cardio Drumming, NuStepping, Zumba, Yoga, and even Jon Falk from the UM Athletic Department will be there handing out and signing his books!

For more information on how you can donate to the Hillside Terrace team visit The Alzheimer's Association's The Longest Day page.

All donations help provide care and support to all those facing Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association also helps drive new research studies toward new treatment, prevention and ultimately, a cure. Donate today!  

To learn more about how you can get involved in Hillside Terrace Senior Living's Longest Day, contact us today! (734) 761-4451

The Benefits of Art Therapy For Seniors!

Does your parent love art?

Do they do any kind of creative activity?

Do they live in a retirement community that provides the opportunity for seniors to be creative?
Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and the first researcher to conduct a national study on the quality of life, found that the arts have a positive effect on health and illness as we age. His research found that art therapy benefits seniors by:

• helping individuals relax;
• providing a sense of control;
• reducing depression and anxiety;
• assisting in socialization;
• encouraging playfulness and a sense of humor;
• improving cognition;
• offering sensory stimulation;
• fostering a stronger sense of identity;
• increasing self-esteem;
• nurturing spirituality; and
• reducing boredom.

At Hillside Terrace, we believe art is very beneficial to the health and well-being of seniors. We make it a priority to offer activities that will help stimulate the mind, body, and spirit! Our monthly activities try to appeal to everyone’s likes including:

• Arts & Crafts
• 3D Painting
• Manicures
• Baking
• Ring Toss
• Bocce Ball
• Bridge
• Meditation
• Bingo
• Volleyball
• and more!

Best Memory Care in Ann Arbor: Schedule a Tour Today!

Is your parent prepared for their end of life care? Discussing moving your parent into assisted living can be a scary thing for any adult to face. However, it’s the scary reality of so many in this country. We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands!

For more information about memory care in Ann Arbor and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today!

Hillside Terrace Joins The Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum in 2017!

Did you know that 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?

Are you or a loved one at risk of suffering Alzheimer’s?

Do you want to help increase the funding to find a cure?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number could rise as high as 16 million.”

Amanda Harvey and Nanya Litz at the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum last year.

Here at Hillside Terrace, we’re very passionate about helping others! Alzheimer’s is a cause that’s very near and dear to our hearts. Many residents here at Hillside Terrace, a facility for memory care in Ann Arbor, suffer from this terrible disease with no hope for a cure.

Nanya Litz, owner of Hillside Terrace, experienced the struggle in a very personal way, losing her father to the disease in 2010. “More research needs to be done to find a cure!” says Nanya Litz. “It saddens me to see families go through the same struggle we had.”

This Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum is the nation's premier Alzheimer's disease advocacy event. Hillside Terrace joins more than 1,000 advocates in Washington, D.C. on March 27-29, 2017, to advocate for research, care and support services.

This year, Nanya Litz will be joined by her son Trey Litz, Director of Community Relations at Hillside Terrace, to meet Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and members of Congress to consider an increase in funding to the National Institute of Health (NIH) by $414 million for Alzheimer’s research. “We’ll discuss what needs to be done on a state level to help pass legislation and figure out ways we can help lead the effort,” says Trey.

Do you want to help create a better future for your loved ones?

Send a letter to your state senators and representatives letting them know you don’t want funding to disappear! We need the help of our state officials to get things done. Let your voice be heard! Let them know you don’t want your loved one missing out on a promising future!
Join the cause! Donate today!

7 Signs Elderly Parents Need Help With Finances

Does your parent need assistance paying bills each month?

Has your parent forgotten to pay an important bill?

Does your Mom or Dad have a hard time keeping track of money?

If you answered, “Yes” to any of the above questions, then your parent may be showing signs of possible memory loss that could lead to financial problems down the road. You’re not alone! It’s very common nowadays for children to have to assist their parents with finances as they get older. You may have to re-teach them what they taught you ... to be financially responsible.

According to A Place For Mom, here are some warning signs that your parent(s) may need assistance:

1. Bills and mail are piled up and unopened
2. Creditors are calling
3. They’re mishandling money and unaware of finances
4. They make sudden expensive purchases
5. They’re complaining about not having enough money
6. You suspect they’re victims of elder fraud or a financial scam
7. They seem unable mentally or physically to keep up with daily living tasks

Are you still having problems dealing with your Mom or Dad’s finances? At Hillside Terrace, we understand that it can be a challenging time and we want to help you in any way we can to make things easier. We’re focused on holistically improving and maintaining the well-being of our residents through promoting independence, a stimulating environment, and building rapport.

Best Memory Care in Ann Arbor: Schedule a Tour Today!

Is your parent prepared for their end of life care? Discussing moving your parent into assisted living can be a scary thing for any adult to face. However, it’s the scary reality of so many in this country. We can help your family create peace of mind. When you’re at home, you’ll know your loved one is taken care of and in good hands!

For more information about memory care in Ann Arbor and the other services we provide, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! Hillside Terrace – “Where our family shares life with your family!” Schedule a tour today!