Now that the new year is here, it’s a great time to welcome the possibilities that the changing of a calendar brings. At American House Senior Living, we want to talk about senior living in 2024 and offer 5 ways to embrace joy.

A new year brings the opportunity to celebrate a new beginning, leave the past behind and focus on creating new joyful memories with friends and family. Whether you’re aging in place, living with family or enjoying life in your own apartment in an American House Senior Living community in Michigan, there are many ways to welcome 2024.

Senior Living In 2024: 5 Ways To Embrace Joy

Our communities work to foster friendships and community, and the new year is no exception. We had New Year’s events, and we welcome our residents and their families to attend our social activities throughout the year.

Here are some ways to welcome the new year and embrace it with a sense of joy and wonder.

1. Host your own New Year’s themed party. You don’t have to stay awake until midnight to celebrate New Year’s. In fact, hosting a party during the first week of the year is a great way to keep the celebration and festivities going. Choose a theme for your party and invite friends to attend. Do you enjoy tea parties or Hollywood glam or action movies? Plan your party with decorations, foods and activities from your favorite theme.

2. Don’t go it alone when you set your resolutions. Whether you take time to talk about your resolutions, new habits you want to start or old habits you want to stop, you’re more likely to follow through when you share it with others. Use your resolution-setting time as a way to get together with your family at American House and make an afternoon of talking about resolutions and why you’re setting them.

3. Take a trip down memory lane as a way to welcome in the new year. Take any photos that you have from the previous year and make a scrap book. When you look at the photos from the past year, it is a great way to embrace the positive from the year that’s passed.

4. Consider learning something new in the new year. Many of our communities offer activities that you can get involved in and learn something new from. If you’ve never played chair volleyball or taken part in our craft activities, maybe put that as a resolution. If you want to learn to knit or paint, see if there are any classes at local senior centers where you can do that.

5. Work on your mental and physical wellness. Find a walking partner and take a stroll around the American House community regularly. This is a great way to get physically active and foster friendships. Work on puzzles or trivia to help stay mentally alert. Your mental and emotional wellness can be enhanced by visiting friends or family – if your loved ones aren’t local, set up a time to meet via video to have a chat. Volunteer with a local group whose mission you embrace.

As with almost anything you do, you get out of it what you put into it. But at American House, we believe the new year opens doors to new adventures, experiences and opportunities. Let’s celebrate 2024 with excitement and a time of renewal and possibility.

Give us a call today, schedule a tour and consider making American House your new “home sweet home.”

American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

Call an American House Senior Living community near you today to schedule a tour of one of our beautiful facilities and ask questions to help put your mind at ease if you’re considering a move for an aging loved one, spouse or even for yourself.

The post Senior Living In 2024: 5 Ways To Embrace Joy appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.

We may not want to face it ourselves, and we don’t want to think about our aging family members having to leave their homes, but there may just come a time when aging in place isn’t feasible. There are 5 benefits of living at American House, but it certainly makes sense that you’d want to start researching and visiting senior living communities before an immediate need arises.

The “sandwich generation” is the term given to adult caregivers who are taking care of aging parents, holding down jobs and raising their own children. It’s a recipe for caregiver burnout, and before that happens, it’s wise to sit down with your aging loved ones and have a talk about what’s best for everyone. This is especially true if the seniors in your life can no longer perform daily living tasks or can’t keep up with home maintenance or grocery shopping.

If your aging parents and loved ones are struggling with daily tasks and it’s getting harder for you to take care of it all, consider a respite stay at one of our communities. This will give your family member an introduction to what we offer and to the amenities of our apartments. One of the biggest benefits of living in one of our communities is peace of mind – for you and the senior in your life.

There are no long-term commitments at American House. Not only do we offer short-term respite stays, but there are no long-term lease arrangements, and that’s why a senior living community like ours lets you try before deciding to move in.

There are always questions and concerns you and your family have before making a move, and we’re here to answer your questions.

What are the 5 benefits of living at American House?

1. You can rest assured that your loved one is in a safe and secure apartment. The apartments provide one-story living along with bathrooms that accommodate seniors or those with limited mobility and more.
2. You need to determine the level of care you or your loved one need and choose a senior living community that suits that. Not all communities provide personal care, and if your aging loved one requires it, you will need to understand what is offered, what isn’t and what may be required in the future.
3. Help eliminate loneliness with our social activities and outings, as well as dining room facilities, where you or the senior in your life can get involved and make new friends.
4. You can rest assured that you are moving your loved one into a community where they are making friends, enjoying themselves and are in a safe environment where there is no maintenance required.
5. There doesn’t have to be a loss of independence. Some of our residents have cars and come and go as they please. Other residents rely on our transportation options to take them grocery shopping, on special outings or to doctor’s offices. If you’re concerned about a loss of independence, talk with one of our staff when you’re on your building visit.

Prepare in advance and know what you’re looking for in a senior living community in Michigan. Here are a few questions to think about.

1. Choose a location that allows for easy visits, and if your loved one is still driving, find a community that is close to shopping centers, doctors and family.
2. Do you want to live in a large, bustling community, or are you more comfortable in a smaller, more intimate living arrangement in a smaller community?
3. What services are needed now? What services might be needed in the future?
4. What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
5. What is the cost?

We understand there can be relocation stress associated with moving from a family home and into a senior living community and do what we can to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Give us a call today, schedule a tour and consider making American House your new “home sweet home.”

American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

Call an American House Senior Living community near you today to schedule a tour of one of our beautiful facilities and ask questions to help put your mind at ease if you’re considering a move for an aging loved one, spouse or even for yourself.

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Older adults have been known to struggle with loneliness and isolation; this is especially true if they age in place and if they’ve lost a spouse, significant other and family members. The pandemic highlighted the almost epidemic proportions of the harmful impacts that isolation and loneliness can have on the health and well-being of seniors. At American House Senior Living, we welcome older adults with activities, socialization and ways to alleviate the health issues that arise from being lonely, and we have 10 ways to help seniors beat loneliness at the holidays.

We’ve put together a list of 10 ways to help seniors beat loneliness at the holidays, but these tips and strategies are important year round. The holidays seem to highlight the fact that an older adult is alone, and they can bring up sadness and could lead to depression.

In Michigan, once the time changes, we face dark, cold and long winter days. When the snow is blowing and the sun sets around 5 p.m., it makes it difficult for older adults to muster the energy to leave the house. In fact, many seniors who are aging in place may find themselves not leaving the house for days on end.

Don’t give into the idea that because it’s the holidays you must be “merry and bright.” You, or your aging loved ones, are allowed to feel your feelings, but we do want to help you feel happier and less isolated this season.

10 Ways To Help Seniors Beat Loneliness At The Holidays

To understand loneliness and its impacts on seniors, let’s talk about it before we get into the strategies to make the holidays and the long winter days less lonely and less isolating.

1. Many older adults feel they have gone through enough change and loss, and because of that, they don’t want to give up the home they have known for years. For those seniors who age in place, their world can become very small; this is especially true if they’ve lost a loved one or their neighbors and family have moved away.
2. Losing a loved one, spouse or significant other makes the holidays not shine as brightly for many people. The holidays may also bring up memories of the time and love they were once surrounded by, and that leads to heightened feelings of loneliness.
3. Lack of mobility or lack of access to a car can mean a senior is housebound and may be reliant on the goodwill of neighbors or family members to get them to the grocery store, church or doctor’s visits.

Here are some of our favorite strategies to bring light and happiness back into the lives of your aging loved ones and help them beat loneliness at the holidays.

1. Be patient and lend a willing ear. Whether you’re in a rush or if your aging parents have told you the same story over and over, give them time to re-tell the tale. Even if the senior in your life wants to complain for a while, give them a sympathetic ear – sometimes just knowing someone is listening is good for the heart and mind.
2. Make sure you include your loved ones in holiday plans or shopping trips. Drop by and bring them a meal or a holiday treat. If possible, invite them to stay with you for a few days during the holidays. Ask them if there is somewhere they’ve been wanting to go but haven’t been able to and take them there.
3. Pull out the photo albums and look through them together. Let them reminisce, and then make sure you’re taking new photos throughout the holidays – and throughout the year – and give them the gift of a new photo album of the new memories they’ve made with you.
4. Take the pressure off your loved one who may be living on a tight budget and tell them the holidays are going to be about togetherness and making memories – not about gifts. If you give gifts, they need to make their lives more comfortable or happy, and you should give them at a time other than Christmas morning, for example. That way they won’t feel bad if they are receiving gifts but haven’t given any. Consider gifting your loved one an easy-to-use computer so you can stay in touch via video calls.
5. For loved ones who live in one of our American House Senior Living communities, urge them to get involved in our holiday activities. Feel free to join us for the many events that we open to families. Reach out to the activity director in the community where your loved one lives and ask about the events you can attend.
6. Bring a box of decorations and bring a festive flair to their apartment. Make certain none of the decorations pose a safety hazard. Plan to spend a few hours together or even a couple of weekends decorating. Turn the decorating time into a bonding activity, and pick up their favorite take-out food and enjoy a meal together.
7. Speaking of food… bring their favorite foods or meals when you visit. If your loved one’s apartment is equipped with a kitchen and they enjoy cooking, bring the ingredients for a feast or to make some cookies and spend time together cooking, baking and enjoying the foods together.
8. Get the senior in your life involved in the holiday celebrations. Ask them if they’d like to help with the planning, prep and day-of activities.

Surround them with the love of the family, and when you make them part of the prep and the overall celebration, you’ll truly give them a gift of family and feeling they’re making a difference. Give your aging loved one the gift of family and making memories this holiday season.

Give us a call today, schedule a tour and consider making American House your new “home sweet home.”

American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

Call an American House Senior Living community near you today to schedule a tour of one of our beautiful facilities and ask questions to help put your mind at ease if you’re considering a move for an aging loved one, spouse or even for yourself.

The post 10 Ways To Help Seniors Beat Loneliness At The Holidays appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.

The pandemic may have brought the “loneliness” epidemic to the forefront, but seniors and older adults in Michigan have faced issues brought about by social isolation for longer than the past three years. At American House Senior Living Communities in Michigan, we have put together tips to combat the loneliness epidemic facing seniors. We understand being alone can lead to depression and other health issues for older adults.

Where you live as you age can make a big difference in your health and overall happiness. Many older people find their world shrinking with the loss of a spouse or other loved one and family members and friends moving away or passing away. Some seniors cling to their homes and want to age in place because it’s familiar and comfortable, but being alone is detrimental.

Tips to combat the loneliness epidemic facing seniors

If you or your loved one finds the ties that have connected you to friends and family have been severed, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and find ways to boost health and happiness and rebuild your community. Keep in mind that loneliness is one issue older adults face, but social isolation is becoming more prevalent. Loneliness is the feeling of being alone. Social isolation is the state of being alone – not having friends or family nearby and not having other people with whom to interact. Social isolation itself leads to loneliness and depression.

According to a study published in the medical journal PLOS Medicine, “the health impact of loneliness is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” Loneliness has been found to be a “strong predictor of poor physical and emotional health and early death.”

The risks of loneliness and social isolation include:

1. Depression
2. High blood pressure
3. Heart disease
4. Anxiety
5. Cognitive decline, including dementia
6. Weight gain or loss

Seniors who are socially isolated may not get enough exercise, may not eat healthy meals (or at all), may drink too much alcohol and suffer from sleep problems, among other issues.

Some of the risk factors that lead to social isolation and ultimately loneliness include:

1. Physical inability to leave your home/lack of transportation or health reasons, etc.
2. A major life change such as the death of a spouse
3. Financial struggles
4. Living alone
5. Having a limited social support network

What can you do to combat loneliness and social isolation? Here are a few ideas from the senior professionals at American House in Michigan:

1. Find an activity you enjoy. Look for a class where you can meet people and learn something new.
2. Phone or video chat with family members. Schedule this so it’s on your calendar and gives you something to look forward to.
3. Sign up for a computer class at a local library (many of these are free) and learn to use technology to stay connected.
4. Adopt a pet if you’re able to care for it. Be certain you have a plan for your pet’s care should you be no longer able to care for it.
5. Get up and get moving. Take a walk. Join an exercise group. Find a friend with whom to walk. Aim for at least two hours of exercise a week. Any movement is better than no movement.
6. Look for a senior center or a faith-based group you can join.
7. Consider moving into a senior living community that offers planned activities, beautiful maintenance-free apartments and home-cooked meals. When you move into a senior living community, you could potentially be surrounded by new friends that will combat social isolation.

Give us a call today, schedule a tour and consider making American House your new “home sweet home.”

American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

Call an American House Senior Living community near you today to schedule a tour of one of our beautiful facilities and ask questions to help put your mind at ease if you’re considering a move for an aging loved one, spouse or even for yourself.

The post Tips To Combat The Loneliness Epidemic Facing Seniors appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.

Winter in Michigan can be long, lonely and cold. At American House Senior Living Community, we understand there are several months of the year when the sun doesn’t shine brightly – or at all – and snow is falling and the doldrums set in. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can impact anyone of any age, but in some cases, older adults are more negatively affected because they may be isolated in the winter months. We have put together a list of 7 ways seniors can beat the winter blues that you or your loved ones may find helpful.

American House Senior Living Communities have life enrichment directors on staff, and they plan activities, exercise classes, events, themed dinners and bus trips to help ease the feeling of being shut in. Staying active and involved goes a long way toward beating the winter blues, even if you or your loved one lives alone.

7 Ways Seniors Can Beat The Winter Blues

Before we get into how to beat the winter blues, we want to share some of the symptoms of SAD and feeling “down.”

1. The most obvious is feeling sad or depressed.
2. Your energy is low.
3. You don’t want to be with or talk with friends and family.
4. You overindulge in unhealthy foods OR you have a lack of appetite.
5. You feel apathetic and have no motivation to get involved in activities you once enjoyed.
6. You’re sleeping more than usual, and you may wake up still feeling tired.

Here are some easy – and fun – ways to make it through winter and find ways to cope with the long, gray snowy days. Remember, you don’t have to wait until spring to feel better! We think you will like these 7 ways seniors can beat the winter blues.

1. Eat a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, and try to avoid carbohydrate-heavy foods or sugar-filled treats. Ask your doctor whether supplements can help round out your diet to ensure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.
2. Turn on the lights! One of the main reasons people suffer from depression in the winter is the lack of sunlight. You can buy a light that simulates sunshine and casts a bright enough light to help lift your mood. You may want to talk with your medical professional about whether you’d benefit from light therapy.
3. Take comfort in being comfortable. Cozy, warm blankets, thick socks, sitting in front of a fireplace and sipping a warm drink will all work together to take the chill off the day. Being cozy is a mood booster, and it might make sense to invest in blankets, clothing and other items that make you feel wrapped in comfort.
4. Get up and get moving. This may seem counterintuitive to being comfortable and cozy, but throughout the day you can alternate from sitting and relaxing to getting physical activity. If the weather doesn’t cooperate to let you get outdoors and take a walk, just take a walk inside your home. Walk in place, walk around your home, do stretches or practice chair yoga. When you’re being physically active, you are boosting your serotonin (feel-good hormone) levels and boosting your mood. Additionally, staying active will go a long way in helping you stay healthy. At our American House communities, we offer a variety of exercises suitable for older adults and even those with limited range of motion.
5. This may be harder for seniors who live alone and don’t want to venture out into the cold and snow, but you can still “socialize” by calling a friend or family member. Go online and do a video chat with a loved one. If you live in a senior living community in Michigan, eat your meals in the dining room with your friends, participate in various on-site and off-site activities and spend time with your American House neighbors.
6. Learn something new. Have you always wanted to learn to knit or crochet? Do you love an evening with friends putting together a puzzle or playing cards or bingo? Maybe you want to learn a new language or learn to write a story. If you’re housebound, there is no time like now to take a class, spend time with your friends, learn something new or take up a hobby.
7. Practice gratitude. There are days when it may seem as though there is nothing to feel happy about or look forward to, but if you take a little time to think about it, you may just find something to be grateful for. Perhaps you had a wonderful talk with a friend. Maybe you enjoyed a delicious dinner. If you spent a couple of hours watching your favorite movie in your favorite comfortable place and it brought a smile to your face, write it down. You might have played a rousing game of balloon volleyball with your friends at your American House Senior Living Community and your team won! Get into the habit of writing down a few things that you’re grateful for every day and when you’re feeling down, read them. They just might put a smile on your face and even motivate you to do more of what made you happy. You don’t have to have major life changes in order to be grateful. Some days it’s the smallest things that bring the biggest glimmer of happiness.

A bonus tip for beating the winter blues is to plant some greenery. Buy a plant and nurture it. Plant some seeds and grow herbs on your windowsill. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider getting a few succulents – they are very hardy and still add a pop of nature and greenery to a gray wintery day.

If you try some of the strategies and you’re still not feeling yourself, make sure you reach out to a loved one or your doctor and talk with them. Winters may be long, but you don’t have to feel alone or lonely.

American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

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In life, we have many choices that determine how healthy we are, and those choices also lead to how healthy we stay – or can stay – as we age. There are some conditions that are genetic and out of our control, but there are other steps we can take to help us age in a healthy way. We have put together this list of 6 tips to help you age in a healthy way.

If you’re like most people, you want to age as healthy as you can and live as long as you can. Living longer also means you should take care of yourself – starting today – to ensure you have a high quality of life as you age. Being an active adult is what Baby Boomers are seeking, and staying healthy and happy means taking a few, mostly easy, steps toward a healthy lifestyle.

6 Tips To Help You Age In A Healthy Way

Physical health matters. This is obvious, we know, but it’s still true that people aren’t as healthy as they should be and that can be attributed to many factors.

• Get up and get moving. Physical activity is one of the most important steps you can take toward good health. Take a walk. Do chair yoga. Go swimming. There are many simple steps you can take to get more physically active. Call an American House Senior Living Community near you because we welcome “drop-in” visitors to our physical and fun activities.  
• Wear an activity bracelet that counts your steps. Challenge yourself to go just ten more steps today than you did yesterday. Even if you can’t get outside and walk, there is no reason you can’t walk around your home or march in place during television commercials. Any physical activity is better than no activity.

Eat healthy foods. We know it’s easy to grab processed foods from the cupboard or stop at a fast food drive-through and there’s nothing wrong with that occasionally. Make smarter food choices, and that coupled with physical activity will help you stay healthier.

• Cook meals at home. Eat the meals we offer our American House Senior Living Community residents because they are healthy, balanced meals.
• Count calories.
• Eat fruits and vegetables every day.
• Eat lean proteins.
• Watch your salt intake.
• Make whole grains a part of your daily diet.
• Don’t skip meals.

Get your zzz's. Your body needs a good night’s sleep to repair and rejuvenate itself. Lack of sleep could make you depressed, forgetful, irritable and more prone to falls. If you can’t sleep at night, talk with your doctor.

• Strive for seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
• Individuals who sleep fewer than six hours a night may be at a higher risk of developing dementia.
• Lack of sleep can make depression symptoms worse.
• Getting a good night’s sleep can lower your risk of heart disease or obesity.

Live a healthy lifestyle. There are many habits we may have carried with us from our youth, and if we can rid ourselves of these unhealthy habits we may live longer and healthier.

• Cut back on alcohol use. Wine or beer or spirits in moderation is not a bad habit but drinking to excess can lead to health issues.
• Quit smoking.

Don’t skip doctor’s visits. Prevention is better than trying to cure an illness that has gone unchecked.

• Go to the doctor once a year, at a minimum, for your annual health screenings.
• Follow your doctor’s advice.
• Have regular health screenings that your doctor may recommend. If you’re experiencing symptoms, you may lose the chance of having your doctor catch a disease in its earliest stages, when it would be most treatable. Regular check-ups can help ensure you could start treatment months or years earlier than would have been possible otherwise.

Mental health matters. Your mental health is an essential component of your overall quality of life and health.

• Manage stress. Monitor those times when you feel stress and anxiety. When you make note of them, you might be able to avoid those stressful situations. Physical activity helps combat stress. Journal about those items or times that cause you stress and anxiety.
• Monitor your moods.
• Seek out friendships and social interaction.
• Combat loneliness.
• Social isolation was detrimental for so many older adults during the pandemic. We also know it’s not as easy to make friends and stay in touch as we age.
• Make use of technology to call friends and family or ask for help setting up video chats. Connecting and being able to see the faces of loved ones can help combat isolation.

Protect your cognitive health. There is no truth to the myth that we should stop learning because we’re aging. Don’t let your cognitive health decline and put you at risk of dementia.

• Get more than 100 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous activity. Find something you enjoy and you’re more likely to stick with it.
• As mentioned, stop smoking and drinking heavily.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Engage in activities that are mentally stimulating like writing, reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles or card games.
• Getting a full night’s sleep will also protect your cognitive health.
• Learn something new.

All of this may seem overwhelming, but many of the items mentioned here naturally go together to help you age in the healthiest manner possible. Look at these items and pick and choose one or two things to try for a week. Next week add something new. We hope our 6 tips to help you age an a healthy way gives you food for thought!

Here’s to your healthy aging.

Contact an American House Senior Living Community near you and take a tour and also ask us about the physical and fun activity sessions you could try out!

 American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

The post 6 Tips To Help You Age In A Healthy Way appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.

At American House Senior Living Communities we understand that if you, or your loved one, have been given a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease you need a place to stay where you can feel secure, engaged and connected. The American House memory care services are ideal for individuals with dementia or who require a higher level of skill and supervision. Our memory care services are offered by a third-party home care company and are in a secure environment with 24-hour medical assistance, life enrichment programs

Because we are so experienced in the older adult field, we also understand there is a myriad of myths that surround Alzheimer’s Disease and we wanted to help “bust” a few of those in this article. In the United States, Alzheimer’s Disease is the leading cause of death and millions of Americans are affected.

There is a lot of misinformation online and many myths surrounding this cruel disease.

5 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease

1. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same. The terms may be incorrectly used interchangeably but there are major differences. Impaired memory, reasoning, behavior and impaired thinking are signs of dementia. Alzheimer’s is one of the most common causes of dementia, but there are different types of dementia that someone can be diagnosed with.
2. It is hereditary. Many people believe that if their parents had Alzheimer’s disease, they will also be diagnosed with it. While there is a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s if a parent has it, it doesn’t mean you will develop it.
3. You have to be older than 70 to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms do occur in older adults, but symptoms can appear in your mid-60s and you could develop mild symptoms even earlier in life.
4. It’s “normal” to develop Alzheimer’s as we age. You may become forgetful as you age but that doesn’t mean you’re developing Alzheimer’s disease. But if you start losing track of time and not recognizing friends or family are signs that you should talk with your doctor who can perform assessments to gauge your memory.
5. There are no treatments available. While there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there has been medical progress toward better treatments and coping strategies for those with the disease.

 While you cannot prevent Alzheimer’s disease there are lifestyle changes and steps you can take that might help reduce your risk of developing it. A healthy lifestyle including controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight and staying mentally and physically active could help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

We know that many people believe that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is a death sentence, but it isn’t. Many people with Alzheimer’s live from four to eight years after diagnosis, but many can live longer. In the beginning stages, the person is diagnosed with mild memory loss. As the disease progresses the individual will lose physical and mental capacity and that’s why we recently opened our memory care units at American House.

Our personalized plan offers five daily enrichment opportunities where residents are encouraged to participate in physical, mental and expressive activities. It helps residents feel secure, engaged and connected to their surroundings.

We welcome the opportunity to introduce you to one of our memory care communities. Our compassionate team will be happy to meet with you to help determine the right fit for your loved one.

Contact an American House Senior Living community near you and take a tour.

 American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

The post 5 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.

We have heard “it takes a village” to raise a child and it is true when caring for aging loved ones. Moving your aging mom and dad into your family home, though is something that needs to be a well-thought-out plan. There are at least 3 considerations before your aging parent moves in that you need to discuss with members of your household. Your aging parent may not want to “be a burden” and may not want to feel “forced” to move in with you and that needs to be explored, as well.

Imagine having to move back in with your parents. If you’re an adult who has been on your own for years, it would be a major upheaval in your life and in the lives of your parents. They may welcome you with open arms, just as you’d welcome them, but it is not as easy as making sure they have a place to sleep.

A study by the AARP, in 2020, found that close to 20% of adults in the United States care for someone who is fifty years old or older. If you’re thinking of having your aging loved one move in with you, you’re going to be one of those statistics. An aging loved one who can no longer live alone is a stressor for your family because you worry if they’re safe, if they’re eating and how they are coping with loneliness, if they’re bathing and many other things.

3 Considerations Before Your Aging Parent Moves In

Before you open your doors to your aging parents, ask yourself:

1. Does your aging parent require special assistance for mobility or do they have mental or physical health issues you may not be equipped to handle? Aging loved ones who are healthy and relatively independent and require only a small amount of care is, honestly, much easier than moving in a parent who requires care you may not know how to provide. We know that sometimes a fall or other health issue is what leads to a loved one moving in and this “crisis” move is stressful for everyone.
2. Do you have the time to provide any supervision or physical or personal assistance your aging parent requires? If you work outside the home or if you work at home and are raising children, caring for an aging loved one might not be physically possible for you. You need to consider your own health and well being as that of your loved one.
3. What kind of relationship do you have with your aging parent? This is not a consideration to be taken lightly or brushed off. If you have long had a contentious relationship, moving them in with you won’t change that. In fact, it may make it more obvious and the living arrangement more difficult.

Here are a few more items you and your family and your aging parent need to think about and consider before your aging loved one moves in.

1. Will you need to make special accommodations to your home? Ramps? Wheelchair accessible items? Are the doors in your home large enough to accommodate a wheelchair or walker? Will you need to retrofit your bathroom? Is there a bedroom available for your loved ones that they can call their own? They – and you – won’t want to have to share a space all the time.
2. Will you ask your aging parent to contribute to any of the household expenses? They may think you’re moving them in, and they can live rent-free. It’s a conversation you need to have before you make any kind of move. Talk with them about current and potential expenses and talk about any home remodeling or upgrades projects needed to accommodate them safely into your home.  
3. Do you have buy-in from the rest of your family? Is your spouse or significant other truly on board? How about your children? It may be one thing to have Grandma and Grandpa visit for a few days or weeks a year than it is to have them move in. Also, will they try to intervene in the way you are raising your children? You need to talk about all these things before they move.

What happens when mom and dad are no longer healthy enough to live with you? Where will they go? Even if you’re planning on having them move in with you right now, it makes sense to tour senior living communities and find one in which they want to live should the need arise in the future.

In some cases, it may make sense for your aging parents to move into a senior living community rather than into your home. Moving is stressful and having to move more than once adds to that stress.

Contact an American House community near you, take a tour and also ask about how you can connect with General Fausone to ensure you or your loved one is receiving the veterans’ benefits you, or they, have earned.

 American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

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Winter months in Michigan are long. The days are gray. The sun doesn’t shine as brightly or produce the warmth it does in the summer (if it even shines at all). During the winter, your senior loved one may feel sad, be missing loved ones even more and are not interested in participating in activities they once enjoyed.

While you can’t make winter move along any faster and summer arrive any more quickly, there are ways to help the senior in your life have brighter days.

At American House Senior Living Communities in Michigan we understand the importance of planning activities, interacting with our residents and serving warm, delicious meals.

How To Help Your Senior Loved One Beat Winter Blues

We have put together a list of ways in which you can help your senior loved one beat the winter blues this season.

1. Get involved. Urge your loved one to get involved in the activities at their community. Getting out of their room, and even getting dressed to visit friends is something to look forward to and may brighten their day.
2. Add more lighting. In the winter when the sun doesn’t shine as brightly you may want to add more lighting in their room. Open the curtains and let what little bit of light the sun produces into the room.
3. Brighten up their room with greenery. Whether it’s fake foilage, a houseplant that is easy to care for or an intriguing succulent, the greenery makes any dreary day seem brighter. Send mom or dad flowers as a way to brighten their mood and their room!
4. Stick to a routine and eat meals at the same time. If you’re feeling blue it might be tempting to either not eat or to eat “comfort foods.” Ensure your aging loved one is eating healthy meals, but don’t forget to sneak in a treat or two every now and again!
5. Get up and get moving. The longer you sit, the more you want to sit; that is a fact. American House Senior Living Communities in Michigan are ideal places for walking around indoors if it’s too cold to get out-of-doors. Many of our communities also have planned activities like arts and crafts, chair exercise and more. Urge your loved one to participate in as many activities as possible.
6. Be around friends, family and other residents. Simply talking with another resident or one of our caring staff can brighten a mood. Socializing helps prevent isolation and might even lift a blue mood.

Contact an American House community near you, take a tour and visit with our caring staff.

American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

The post How To Help Your Senior Loved One Beat Winter Blues appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.

The veterans of World War II are the “greatest generation.” At American House, MI we go out of our way to ensure the veterans who live here are cherished and know that we appreciate the sacrifices they made for our country.

Because we want to take care of our American heroes and their families we have partnered with General Carol Ann Fausone, a long-time advocate for veterans. She served as Michigan’s Adjutant General of Veterans Affairs and served in the Air Force for thirty-six years.

General Fausone has helped many of our veteran residents apply for VA Aid and Assistance benefits and that’s allowed them to enjoy a worry-free lifestyle at American House MI.

Enjoy this Flag Day Ceremony video we made when we celebrated our veterans earlier this year.

Partnering with General Fausone means our communities are helping ensure our veterans received their well-deserved benefits.

The veterans who live at any of our six communities are cherished members of the community, have access to the delicious meals we serve, independent lifestyles and friendships fostered through activities and entertainment provided.

We understand that the veterans who live with us served our country and as they age we treat them with the respect they so richly deserve and that means continuing to live independent lives.

Here are some of the reasons we welcome veterans, and others, to our six senior living communities and why they enjoy being here.

1. They are treated as individuals. Our residents have options and make choices throughout their day. We understand that making decisions has positive impacts on an older adults’ personality, beliefs and overall happiness.
2. Residing in one of our communities means the residents have access to activities that keep them up, involved and active and that helps lead to a longer, healthier life.
3. If you, or your loved one, is living in isolation that can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness. Living in an American House MI senior living community means you don’t have to be alone or isolated.

Contact an American House community near you, take a tour and also ask about how you can connect with General Fausone to ensure you or your loved one is receiving the veterans’ benefits you, or they, have earned.

 American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.

The post American House MI Cherishes Its Veterans appeared first on American House Senior Living Communities.