08/18/2025
Good morning!
I hope you all are staying dry on this dreary Monday; may this find you well and add a little bit of sunshine. Today, we are covering our last chapter summary in The 36 Hour Day before launching a new BeeHive news letter, by popular demand! The news letter will highlight upcoming events, share touching team member stories, deliver building updates, and spread joy. Stay tuned! I'm very excited.
Beginning with a look at Long Term Care Arrangements, we must first understand why long term care options are chosen instead of home care. Long term care is a solution for when an individual begins to need 24/7 assistance, in which the family and home care staff are unable to totally fill. Fall risks, wandering/elopement risks, and difficult behaviors winds up being indicators that long term care options warrant exploration, Another point for consideration is that long term care communities, such as assisted living and memory care, often have vibrant activity calendars and opportunities for socialization with peers that staying home does not always provide. A move too late can mean adjustment difficulty, and a limited ability to take full advantage of all a community has to offer. The different needs a person living with dementia has might mean they need a skilled nursing community or a memory care community versus a standard assisted living community, so be sure to consult with your loved one's care team for further insight. The speed of cognitive decline can sometimes be impacted by holistic approaches such as a nutritious diet, exercise, mental stimulation, and opportunities for socialization. Prioritize these factors, in addition with what assistance various communities are licensed for, when considering options.
Current research in dementia provides us with the following key considerations in closing our Book Club on The 36 Hour Day:
Dementia is not a normal result of aging. While some cognitive impairment is typical, dementia is always caused by a disease, damage, or other dysfunction.
A family history of dementia, alcohol use, low activity, being female, high blood pressure, low education level, brain trauma, diabetes, and protein abnormalities are all risk factors for developing dementia.
It truly takes a village to care for someone living with dementia. Planning for the future, recruiting help, and prioritizing self care are how we all can contribute to a supportive dementia journey for both the individual and ourselves.
I hope you all have enjoyed this series, and I look forward to connecting with you again with the first issue of our news letter!