Senior Living Residences (SLR) is thrilled to be opening Compass at Golden Pond in Hopkinton, offering our research-based treatment for the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the metro-west area of Massachusetts for the first time.

Golden Pond Assisted Living, Hopkinton, MA

SLR’s Compass Memory Support will be coming to Golden Pond Assisted Living as of July 1^st, serving individuals with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

This exciting new venture will expand Compass Memory Support, enabling more individuals to benefit from this innovative program.

Let me know if you want more information.

A recent study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago has shown that intake of certain foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, nuts, seeds, olive oil, lower intake of meat, moderate wine consumption and non-refined grains (found in the Mediterranean diet) is associated with less mental decline with age.

http://www.alzheimersbeacon.com/2010/06/09/mediterranean-diet-associated-with-reduced-cognitive-decline/

Senior Living Residences’ Compass Memory Support Assisted Living offers individuals with Alzheimer’s disease the opportunity to live fully. Compass Memory Support’s unique program includes a focus on research, diet, learning, and exercise. In combination, these innovative research-based programs work to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the assisted living setting.

At SLR, residents with Alzheimer’s disease are recognized as individuals with a disabling illness. Treating the symptoms of their disease provides the opportunity to uncover and regain some of their lost abilities. In the right setting with the right support, these individuals can lead active, purposeful and inspiring lives.

A recent study conducted by a group of New York researches have found that certain foods can help ward off the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers examined the dietary habits of 2,148 older men and women, age 65 or older and free of memory loss or other symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The study determined that brain-healthy foods including salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, cruciferous vegetables, fruits, and dark and green leafy vegetables may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Conversely, particular foods may be bad for brain health and may be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s including total fats, particularly saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids.

At Senior Living Residences, we have a truly holistic approach aiming to improve our residents’ quality of life. Nutrition is one of the most important. SLR is the first assisted living company in the nation to offer the Memory Preservation Nutrition® program, developed by internationally recognized expert Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD. With our years of experience, we know there is a better way to provide care for individuals with dementia.

A recent study conducted at the University of Iowa proves that people with memory loss can still feel and remember both happy and sad emotions well after having forgotten the memory that caused the sentiment. This research confirms what we at Senior Living Residences have recognized for years, that simple actions taken by family members and caregivers of Alzheimer’s residents can have a significant effect on a patient’s mood, although they may not remember why. This discovery provides another reason why respect and dignity are essential elements to an Alzheimer’s patient’s care and an integral part of our mission at SLR.

This just in! The Alzheimer’s Association’s “2010 Facts and Figures Report” presents a thorough and comprehensible breakdown of the information that is currently available regarding Alzheimer’s and dementia in the US. It touches on all the major topics, including the suspected causes and available treatments of the disease, prevalence and risk estimates, care-giving and mortality and the costs and effects on individuals and society as a whole.

Basically, the report states what experts have been saying for some time now – that we are at the brink of an epidemic that needs to be addressed, and measures need to be set in place so that we as a nation can be better prepared to deal with the impending circumstances as they arrive. Some of the most pressing facts that the report states are:

-         One in eight people over the age of 65 (13 percent) have Alzheimer’s disease.

-         In 2000, there were an estimated 411,000 new (incident) cases of Alzheimer’s disease. For 2010, that number is projected to be 454,000 new cases; by 2030, 615,000; and by 2050, 959,000.

-         An estimated 3.5 million additional formally trained healthcare providers will be needed by 2030 – more than a 35% increase in the current ratio of providers to the total population – just to maintain current levels of staffing.

The numbers are out there. It is time to take action and start preparing for the future needs of our population. I am proud to be part of an organization that has recognized this issue and is actively doing their part to help. SLR and the BU School of Medicine Alzheimer’s Disease Center continue to work together to develop a state-of-the-art research-based senior living environment to care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and work towards creating a brighter future for those currently affected by the disease and the generations yet to come.

Concord Council on Aging hosted a program on care options for seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders on April 7, featuring presentations by The Liberty Alzheimer’s Partnership and Robert Larkin, president and founder of Senior Living Residences.  Concord Park, a Senior Living Residence, sponsors The Liberty Alzheimer’s Partnership and frequently hosts their meetings.

Is Having A Community Health Fair And You Are Invited!

The Standish Village will be having a health fair in honor of World Health Day.  This event will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7th. We encourage our community to stop in and receive information from local businesses and enjoy giveaways, raffles, demonstrations, and delicious healthy snacks.

Exhibitors will include: Caritas Carney Hospital, Elder Service Plan, YMCA, Partners Homecare, Eastern Therapeutics, Senior Companion Program, Partnership for Heart Healthy Stroke-Free Massachusetts, Milton Co-Op Adult Day Health Care, and Stil Mee Alzheimer’s Coaching Services.

Location: The Standish Village Assisted Living, 1190 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA, 02124.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Diabetes is a known risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe this risk is due to blood vessel problems as well as tissue damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Major depression has also been noted as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

A recent study has found that major depression more than doubles the risk factor for dementia in adults living with diabetes. The study article in the Journal of General Internal Medicine noted that depression is common among people with diabetes and advised clinicians to add appropriate screening and treatment measures. Additionally, the study noted the need for exercise as well as weight and blood sugar control to protect people with diabetes from developing cognitive deficits.

It is not known how diabetes and depression interact to result in the increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

Noting, the link between exercise, diet, and brain health, Senior Living Residences offers an exercise program in all of its communities as well as an innovative nutrition program.

The early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include decreased judgment, lack of initiative, challenges in solving problems, difficulty completing tasks, and withdrawal from social activities.

Residents at Senior Living Residences' Standish Village organized a fundraiser to benefit Haiti Relief.

I have a different picture of Alzheimer’s for you today, shared with me by Brooke Patterson, Memory Support Neighborhood (MSN) Program Director at Standish Village, a community owned and managed by Senior Living Residences.

Most days Brooke begins her day by encouraging the residents, living on the MSN, to come to her daily activity program. The day after the earthquake in Haiti, she came into the community and asked the residents to do just that. The residents all looked at her and asked, “What are we going to do?” She smiled and replied, “Something fun,” the response she offers on most days. The residents looked at her and said “Don’t you know what is going on in the world? We shouldn’t be having fun, we need to do something to help!”

More residents of Standish Village who are organizing a food and water drive to benefit haiti Relief efforts

Hearing about the tragic earthquake that occurred in Haiti, the residents were driven to action to offer compassionate assistance to those in need like many of us across the globe. Responding to the crisis, they have organized a community-wide food and water drive to donate to the Haitian Relief efforts.

The resident-directed drive was organized by individuals who are actively engaged, directed in their purpose, and proud of their compassionate efforts. Each one is living with Alzheimer’s disease.