Blog
Manor on The Hill updates & insights
Learn how hospice care supports comfort, dignity, and families at Manor on the Hill in Leominster, MA with compassionate assisted living care.
Learn why estate planning is essential when transitioning to assisted living or memory care. Protect your loved one with the right legal guidance.
Learn how to choose the right assisted living in Leominster, MA. Manor on the Hill offers personalized care, activities, and a welcoming community.
Learn how Manor on the Hill in Leominster, MA helps seniors stay independent with personalized care, social activities, and maintenance-free living.
Are you noticing changes in a loved one? Learn the signs it may be time for assisted living in Leominster, MA and how Manor on the Hill offers caring support.
They say “It takes a village to raise a child”; Knowledge, wisdom, and unconditional love by seniors have a lasting effect on children. Children can also bring happiness and smiles to seniors. We can reminisce about the past when extended families lived close together on the same street or in the same town and interacted frequently. Manor on the Hill (pre-pandemic) had a “Adopt a Grandparent Program” where preschool children came every month to do activities with the residents. This was the most popular activity for both generations. Meaningful activities between seniors and children can be fun and educational. Here are examples of things that the seniors can talk about bringing back nostalgic memories and educating the children at the same time: Tin of Spam: Most children will have no idea what it is however seniors will have memories of tinned meat that could be transported and stored without refrigeration. Rotary phone: Dialing numbers one-by-one, one mistake or busy line and had to start all over again Payphones and a dime in their penny-loafers to call home. Many may have used their dime for a treat at the corner store. Printed references like the phone book, TV Guide and an Encyclopedia set Gramophone records; Side A & B with a handful of songs Silent movies & news reals Rationing during the wars Games they played
Norma Schofield, a resident of Manor On The Hill, celebrating her 107th birthday with family and friends. She also appeared in Leominster Champion Newspaper. Click here to read what her son has to say.
Sundowning is a neurological phenomenon associated with increased confusion and restlessness most commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but also found in those with other forms of dementia. The term “sundowning” was coined due to the timing of the patient’s confusion as it typically occurs late in the day or early evening as the sun is setting. The symptoms may include increased confusion, anxiety, aggression, agitation and ignoring directions. Sundowning seems to occur more frequently during the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease and mixed dementia and subsides with the progression of a patient’s dementia. Here are some useful tips to deal with sundowning behavior: Close blinds and drapes so that the decreasing light outdoors is not easily seen. Brighten the interior environment with increased lighting being careful to keep the room free from shadows. Dementia sufferers may mistake a shadow for a hole to avoid increasing the risk of falls as they move away to avoid what they believe is a danger. Create a calm environment. Turn off the TV and put soothing music on. Be sure the music is era appropriate; Sinatra not Madonna. Limit day time napping. While the cause of sundowning is not completely understood, it is known to be a disturbance of the internal clock. Keeping to a set sleep schedule with limited napping is known to help. Be patient and distract with an enjoyable activity. View a favorite photo album, brush hair, water indoor plants. Find a calm, soothing activity the senior enjoys and be patient sharing the activity with them. Here at Manor on the Hill, we incorporate these tips into our evenings to help our Residents who suffer from sundowning helping them get to their bedtime routine and sleep.
Risk factors have been identified to assess your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Some are uncontrollable, such as age, while others can be influenced by your choices. Uncontrollable Factors: Age – is the greatest known factor for Alzheimer’s. One out of three people who are 85 or older have the disease. Family History – is another strong risk factor. Those who have a parent or sibling with the disease is at a higher risk of contracting Alzheimer’s. Genetics – Science has identified several risk genes and deterministic genes that influence the odds of developing Alzheimer’s. Risk genes increase the likelihood of developing the disease but do not guarantee that the person with the risk gene will indeed develop the disease. The gene with the strongest link to the disease is apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4); those who have this gene have a one in four chance of developing Alzheimer’s. A deterministic gene is a gene that directly causes the disease. Those who have a deterministic gene will develop Alzheimer’s. Science has so far found three deterministic genes that lead to Alzheimer’s – amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PS-1) and presenilin-2 (PS-2). Controllable Factors: Recent research has found links of risk factors we can control through our general lifestyle and wellness choices. Head Trauma – research has shown a strong link between serious head injuries and further risk of Alzheimer’s. Healthy Heart – there is growing evidence of a link between heart health and brain health. Those who suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Ethnicity – because Latinos and African Americans have higher rates of vascular disease (see above), they may also be at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s. Healthy Aging – overall healthy aging may also keep your brain fit. Keep your weight within recommended guidelines, avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol use, be socially involved and exercise your brain and your body.
