Safe Haven has a comprehensive Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program that specializes in care techniques which reduce challenging behaviors and result in better days for themselves and loved ones. We know that providing care to seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia can be challenging, and often makes the people involved feel isolated.

If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or Dementia, we understand that you may be unsure or frustrated with what to do after the diagnosis. At Safe Haven, we strive for independence and compassion.

Maintain Routine and Structure
Research shows a daily routine allows people with dementia to experience better moods, less anxiety, and generally function better. Develop a sense of structure by maintaining consistent wake, sleep, and mealtimes. Communicate their daily routine and what to expect next, even if they may not completely understand.

Keep Your Loved One Hydrated
Maintaining hydration is critical to good health. Dehydration can cause medical destabilization, agitation, confusion, and promote infection. Keeping plenty of water bottles on hand can help make it easier to boost hydration. You can even make it a social activity by drinking water at the same time and tracking it daily.

Enter Your Loved One’s Reality
Don’t argue with people with dementia when something they say is incorrect. Arguing may make them feel angry and that you have disrespected them. Instead of arguing, join them in their reality when talking about the present or the past. Talking things through may help you to keep the connection and familial bond healthy.

Focus on Feelings Not Facts
Make increasing their positive feelings a daily goal. Increasing their positivity can be achieved by engaging them in activities they enjoy. By accommodating their personal preferences, you’ll have better results and help them experience positive feelings. Family problems can profoundly affect people with dementia and can cause challenging behavior – even refusal of care.

Try to Effectively Communicate
Remember the saying, “your actions speak louder than words.” With dementia, nonverbal skills become more critical as their verbal skills start to fail. Avoid using words such as “don’t,” “can’t,” and “I told you.”

Don’t Go at it Alone
You can’t do it alone. Often, as a family caregiver, feelings of being overwhelmed make caregiving an emotional experience. It is important to remember that help is available at Safe Haven.

If you’re ready to find a senior living home in Atlanta that is ideal for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, contact us here for a tour.

Moving to an assisted living residence is a big change in a person’s life. Offloading the items you’ve spent years accumulating can be hard, but once it’s done, you’ll likely feel lighter and breathe a sigh of relief. Here are a few ways to sort through your things and determine what items are the most important to have in your new home at Safe Haven.

Host a Goodbye Party
If you feel attached to your items, consider honoring the memories they hold by hosting a get together with close friends and family. Spend time sharing memories and reminisce over your various items and ceremoniously load them up and give them away. This will help to remind you that once the item is gone, the memory is still there.

Donate to Family
There are quite a few benefits to donating items to the family. One is that if you have a young relative moving into a new home, it can come in handy since you’ll be able to send your furniture to a good home. Family can also stop by and pick it up, rather than transporting it yourself. Best of all these items stay in the family.

Have an Estate Sale
Estate sales are perfect if you need an easy way to get rid of most of your items in a short amount of time. There are companies that plan and manage every aspect of the estate sale so you won’t have to do a thing. Any left over items can be donated to charity.

Put Items in Storage
Even if you do a combination of all these choices, there may still be items you want to keep. If you can’t bring the items to your new space you can invest in a small storage unit in case you want to use them someday or give them to relatives the next time they are in town.

Eat more healthy options.

No matter what your age, it’s important to eat your fruits and vegetables. It’s suggested by the USDA to have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables in order to maintain a healthy diet. Opt for dark leafy veggies that are high in vitamins and nutrients this year.

Take your vitamins.
Talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements if you haven’t started already. If you have dietary restrictions that make it more difficult to intake needed nutrients, like lactose intolerance, taking Calcium vitamins can help keep your bones and teeth in good shape.

Stay active.
No matter what your physical condition is, it’s crucial to keep moving and stay active every day. Taking a walk with a friend is an easy way to get started if you need a challenge try taking up yoga or water aerobics.

Challenge your brain.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Reading, crossword puzzles and Sudoku are simple activities that can be done virtually anywhere. Join a card club to not only keep your brain active but also your social skills.

Update legal documents.
If you have paperwork that you’ve put off for months or documents that you haven’t updated in years, make this year the one you where you get it done. This includes things like wills, directives like a living will, or power of attorney documents.

New Years Resolutions can be big or small as long as it improves your quality of life in any big or small way.

Learn more about the Safe Haven Senior Living community in Atlanta, Georgia.

When you think of a five-star resort, what comes to mind? Fine dining, laundry service, themed events, roaming in the garden. Not only will you find these amenities at a resort, but also at Safe Haven Senior Living, our luxury assisted living home right outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

Forget your preconceptions about senior living being drab and dull. At Safe Haven, we think of senior living as an exciting new chapter.

We have dozens of amenities designed in mind to maintain an at-home atmosphere with a resort lifestyle.

Fine Dining
Leave behind hours spent above the stove and washing dishes; our kitchen provides home-cooked meals inspired by five-star culinary dishes. We keep seniors health in mind and can accommodate healthy options and meet any dietary needs.

Time to Relax
Have a hard time with cleaning? You can leave the chores to us! We provide laundering and housekeeping services to give you more time to enjoy.

Be Our Guest
Need help running errands or just need an extra hand? We help with prescription pick up, medication management, transportation, and hygiene help. We also have a range of living options including Alzheimer’s Care.

What Else Does Senior Living Offer?
Want to learn more about our amenities? Schedule an appointment today or call (404) 235-7733.