6 Tips to Keep Your Loved One Safe at Home!

Are you worried about your parent’s safety?

Does your parent suffer from any medical conditions where safety is a major concern for their well-being?

Are you looking for ways to improve their safety at home?

According to A Place For Mom, there are some simple areas to focus on to make your home safer for your elderly parent, like:
1.    Let the light in-Install motion sensor lighting throughout their home where extra light is needed.
2.    Easy access to doors and window for seniors with arthritis-A lever style door handle may be easier to use than a round one.
3.    Restrict access to doors, windows and dangerous zone for seniors with dementia-child-locks and other child proofing products work well for this purpose.
4.    Assist with mobility- Remove tripping hazards like rugs (and if you have small children, keep the ground as toy-free as possible or establish a senior-free toy zone.)
5.    Make it easy to call for help-Consider using a call-assist service or personal emergency response system like Life Alert that your parent can wear around their neck or wrist and push a button should they need help.
6.    Use at-home safety devices- There are a number of different products out there designed to keep seniors safe like Pocketfinder GPS, GrandCare Systems, Impactactive Hip Protectors, etc.

Hillside Terrace Senior Living offers senior living services in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. Trust is an important factor when placing your family member under someone else’s care. 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!”

Looking For More?

For more information about our senior living services in Ann Arbor, call us today, or fill out our contact form here! We’re focused on holistically improving and maintaining the well-being of our residents through promoting independence, a stimulating environment, and building rapport. Schedule a tour with us today!

3 Ways Seniors Can Save Money Right Now!

Want to save money?

Are you strapped for cash?

Are you looking for ways to save money right now?

According to SeniorLiving.org, these are a few great ways you can start saving:
1.    Get rid of cable TV- Try Netflix, Hulu or Amazon instead!
2.    Drop your land line for a cell phone- You’ll save money and stop those annoying sales calls for good!
3.    Save money on car insurance- It’s important to shop around. You may be paying too much or holding onto coverage you don’t need anymore.

Senior Living Services in Ann Arbor: Make Hillside Terrace Your Home Away From Home!

If you’re still looking to save money in other areas like home expenses and upkeep, senior living may be a great option! 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. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today– we provide senior living services in Ann Arbor.

10 Tips to Help Ease Aggression When Alzheimer’s Turns Violent

Does your parent suffer from Alzheimer’s with a tendency to have aggressive behavior?

Are you having a hard time controlling your parent’s outbursts?

Are you worried about them causing harm to you, other family members, caregivers or even themselves?

If you haven’t already, it’s time you found a facility for elderly care in Ann Arbor for your loved one that has the capabilities to handle aggression in Alzheimer’s residents. At Hillside Terrace, 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! 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “Aggression can be caused by many factors including physical discomfort, environmental factors and poor communication. If the person with Alzheimer's is aggressive, consider what might be contributing to the change in behavior.” With a trained nurse and or physician on staff an assisted living facility has the knowledge and experience when it comes to handling residents needing specialized care.

However, if your parent lives alone and you take care of them, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests the following ways to respond to aggression:

1. Identify the immediate cause.
2. Rule out pain as a source of stress.
3. Focus on feeling, not the facts.
4. Don’t get upset.
5. Limit distractions.
6. Try a relaxing activity.
7. Shift the focus to another activity.
8. Decrease level of danger.
9. Avoid using restraint or force.
10. Share your experience with others.

Elderly Care in Ann Arbor: Make Hillside Terrace Your Home Away From Home!

The transition from living at home independently to assisted living can be one of the most difficult decisions families and their loved ones have to make. When a family member can’t take care of themselves, it can put a heavy burden on those they love. Many people aren’t up to the task of the daily care their loved one may require.

We’re confident in our ability to provide the best quality of elderly care, the security, and the family atmosphere that you’re seeking! However, we’re not a locked community, therefore we can’t accommodate the psycho social & physical needs for this type of dementia. Only alarmed neighborhoods can accept Alzheimer’s patients who have aggressive behavior. 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!
 
If you have further questions or concerns about what type of care is required for your family member who suffers from Alzheimer’s, contact your parent’s primary care physician for recommendations.

Superfoods That Will Cut Your Alzheimer’s Risk in Half!

Does Alzheimer’s run in your family?

Are you worried about your risk of suffering from the illness?

Do you want to know how you can cut your risk by 50%?

We’re not doctors and we can’t give medical advice, but research performed by Rush University in Chicago suggests that you can slash your risk of developing Alzheimer’s by as much as 53% with the MIND diet. “MIND stands for Mediterranean Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay emphasizing the importance of eating fish, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, beans, and a daily glass of wine. But MIND goes one step further, specifying brain boosting produce such as berries, and leafy greens.”

You may be asking yourself what makes this diet so powerful? The answer is brain boosting benefits! According to the Rush University study, other healthy foods that help give your brain the boost it needs to combat the early signs of Alzheimer’s include:

1. Olive oil, green tea and leafy greens will help fight inflammation.
2. Beets, tomatoes and avocados will help ensure your brain receives the blood it needs to stay sharp.
3. Nuts (especially walnuts), curcumin and pomegranates help the brain fight amyloid plaques that kill neurons.
4. Fish, blueberries, grapes, coffee and dark chocolate help increase the level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth of new neurons.

Elderly Care in Ann Arbor: Make Hillside Terrace Your Home Away From Home!

 

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.

For more information about elderly care in Ann Arbor, call us today, or fill out our contact form here! We’re focused on holistically improving and maintaining the well-being of our residents through promoting independence, a stimulating environment, and building rapport. Schedule a tour with us today!

6 Documents to Ease Fears Arranging End of Life Care

Does your elder parent worry about the end of their life?

Are you researching ways you can ease your parent’s fears?

Do you want to make things as simple as possible?

It’s important to be able to speak to your parent openly about their wishes. According to the National Institute of Aging, documents that are recommended that ensure you and your loved one are protected at the end of their life include:

1. Living will: Records a person’s wishes for medical treatment near the end of life.
2. Durable power of attorney for health care: Designates a person, sometimes called an agent or proxy, to make health care decisions when the person can no longer do so.
3. Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order: Instructs health care professionals not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a person’s heart stops or if he or she stops breathing. A DNR order is signed by a doctor and put in a person’s medical chart.
4. Will: Indicates how a person’s assets and estate will be distributed upon death.
5. Durable power of attorney for finances: Names someone to make financial decisions when the person no longer can. It can help terminally ill people and their families avoid court actions that may take away control of financial affairs.
6. Living trust: Provides instructions about the person’s estate and appoints someone, often referred to as the trustee, to hold the title to property and funds for the beneficiaries. The trustee follows these instructions after the person can no longer manage his or her affairs.

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!

5 Benefits of Elderly Owning Pets

Did you know that owning a pet can have a positive impact on your health? 

A furry friend may be exactly what the doctor ordered!

According to the Mother Nature Network, “Petting and interacting with a dog, cat or other animal can relieve stress, and animals can also lend a listening ear to lonely people. While isolation can make disorders like depression worse, simply scratching a cat's ears or talking to a dog can be therapeutic and boost a person's mood.”

Health benefits include:

1.    Reduces stress levels
2.    Lowers blood pressure
3.    Increases social interaction
4.    Reduces depression
5.    Lessons loneliness
6.    Reduces the risk of heart disease

Do you think a furry friend could help your loved one cope with depression or help increase physical activity? Then you might consider adopting them a pet!

Hillside Terrace is a pet friendly facility for memory care in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. Nestled in the heart of the Old West Side on 10 acres of orchard and gardens, we offer a diverse combination of residents that will quickly become members of your loved one’s family.

Looking For More?

For more information about memory care in Ann Arbor offered at Hillside Terrace, visit us at HillsideTerrace.net, or contact us here! We’re focused on holistically improving and maintaining the well-being of our residents through promoting independence, a stimulating environment, and building rapport. Schedule a tour with us today!

8 Ways to Prevent Medication Mistakes by Being Proactive with Your Parents’ Care!

Do your parents take multiple prescription drugs?

Are your parents able to remember when to take their medications?

Are your parents forgetful?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), “Nearly one-third of adults take five or more different medications. Given the volume of medications being taken, medication-related injuries may seem inevitable; however, injuries due to errors in medication prescribing, dispensing and administration are preventable.”

Taking medications properly is important to the health and well-being of your parent. If prescription drugs are not taken as prescribed by your parents’ doctors, they could suffer from complications.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services advises that the best way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your parents’ health care team by doing the following:

1.    Making sure that your parents’ doctors know about every medicine they’re taking.
2.    Bringing all of their medicine and supplements to their doctor appointments.
3.    Asking for more information on your parents’ medicines in terms you can understand.
4.    Making sure their doctor is aware of their allergies.
5.    If you have questions about the directions on your parents’ medicines labels, ask!
6.    Asking for written information about the side effects your parents’ medicine could cause.
7.    Speaking up if you have questions or concerns about your parents’ care.
8.    When they’re discharged from the hospital after a surgery, ask their doctor to explain their treatment plan you should follow at home.

Senior Care Centers in Ann Arbor: Make Hillside Terrace Your Parents’ Home Away From Home!

Nestled in the heart of the Old West Side on 10 acres of orchard and gardens, Hillside Terrace offers a diverse combination of residents that will quickly become members of your loved one’s family. 

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. Schedule a tour of Hillside Terrace today – a senior care center in Ann Arbor.