What is a living will and who should have one?

Talking about end-of-life and critical-care issues are never an easy subject and can often get pushed aside because family members aren’t ready to confront this stage, but planning ahead can avert confusion and unnecessary distress during times of concern and grief.

Knowing a loved one’s wishes in advance before an illness or accident ensures that family members won’t have to make tough calls on their behalf during a crisis.

Livings Wills Are Legal Instructions

Also called advance directives or healthcare directives, living wills are written, legal instructions detailing a person’s preferences for medical care if they are unable to make decisions. Advance directives manage healthcare choices for medical professionals and caregivers if a person is terminally ill, critically injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia or near the end of life.

Living Wills and Power of Attorney

A living will typically work together with a medical power of attorney (POA). Some states combine the two into one document. The medical POA enables a person to select a person (a spouse, family member, or a friend) to make medical decisions on their behalf.

This isn’t just for older adults either, unexpected critical care and end-of-life situations can occur at any age, it’s crucial for all adults to prepare these documents. For more helpful information for seniors read more articles on our blog here. To contact Safehaven for assisted living click here to speak to a representative.

When moving into senior living homes like Safehaven, there are four main steps to outline. These steps overview the major components of what is involved in moving into the care and compassion of a senior living facility. We intend to make the process easier and less complex for both you and your family. Moving for seniors can be a challenge which is why it’s important to have family or friends that support you in the process.

The first step is assessing care options:
This assessment is about knowing what level of care you or your loved one may need. Here at Safehaven we offer Assisted Living services and specialize in Alzheimer’s Care. This senior care is especially essential for those who may have caught the early signs of Alzheimer’s or Dementia and are preparing for the later stages. For more about our services click here.

Second is preparation for the move:
Living in a senior care facility has many long-run benefits that are hard for seniors to see during relocation. It’s important to emphasize the pros while they’re under stress and only thinking about the cons. Before you box things up, a massive help with downsizing is to print out the dimensions of your new home and plan what will fit and what won’t. Make an inventory of all of the items you’re keeping including big furniture pieces.

Next is the physical move:
Avoid the physical and emotional strain on yourself by contacting movers two weeks before you pack up. If you have a layout of your new room, share it with your movers so every item will already be in its place when you get there, only leaving you to hang photos and decorate. The sooner you start organizing and decorating your new space the sooner it will feel like home.

Finally, making a smooth transition into the community:
Important things to remember is that this is your home and everyone wants you to feel welcomed. Adjusting to a new social and cultural environment can be tough. To overcome this start by making yourself familiar with the community pragmatics. Next, walk around the grounds and say hello to everyone to start creating relationships with your neighbors. Attend social outings and participate in group activities, Safehaven has a full calendar of weekly events to make you feel welcomed.

If you are located in the Atlanta and Decatur area and want to learn more about our Assisted Living Care at Safehaven click here.

Sleeping problems occur in almost all people with mental disorders, including those with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia. Sleep determines our ability to do daily functions and maintain our physical/mental health. Many people believe that a difficulty sleeping is the center of the problem.

What is Sundowning?
Sundowning can cause someone to experience a variety of behaviors some of which include confusion, anxiety, and aggression typically with people that also have Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia. Sundowners isn’t classified as a disease because it’s a group of symptoms that occur at a specific time of day. Sundowning is also called Sundowning Behavior or Sundowners Syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Sundowning?
People can show signs of anxiety, confusion, wandering aimlessly, general disorientation and in some cases hallucinations. These symptoms are likely to occur in the late afternoon or early evening.

What are common triggers for Sundowning?

Too Much Activity at the End of the Day: Researchers believe that a rush of activity at the end of the day can lead to anxiety or confusion.
Fatigue: Exhaustion at the end of a day can contribute to Sundowning.
Lower Visibility: As the sun goes down and there’s dimmer light available, it could challenge for a person to see as well.

How do you take care of a person that’s Sundowning?

• Allow for light in the morning to help establish an internal clock.
• Daytime napping should be minimized to help manage a regular sleeping cycle.
• Encourage exercise to help regulate energy levels.
• Limit caffeine intake specifically for the morning and avoid it in the afternoon.
• Create a private place just for winding down and decompressing.
• Consider purchasing a bedside commode frequently getting up and down can make it hard to get back to sleep.

Living in a supportive community like Safehaven can help manage these symptoms with the help of professionals in a compassionate way. If you have a loved one that has Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia find out HERE how Safehaven’s Senior Community in Atlanta, Georgia can help make a positive impact on their lives.