Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month at Melody Living

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, Alzheimer’s research, and overall brain health.
 
Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia affecting behavior, memory, and thinking. It is a progressive disease that worsens over time, often to a point that interferes with daily tasks and functions.

This disease also occurs mostly in seniors. Though there currently is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, there are small actions you can take in your everyday life to support yourself and/or a senior loved one through this journey.

​Keeping up with overall health and physical wellness is the first step. The Alzheimer’s Association states that, “Smoking greatly increases the risk of cognitive decline as we age, and quitting can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s nearly back to the level of non-smokers.”

​Maintaining overall heart health and attending regular check-ups with your doctor can help to keep you aware of high-risk health concerns such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

These same risk factors for Alzheimer’s are also risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke, which means you’ll be decreasing your risk for developing all of them.
 
Regular exercise can help to get your blood pumping and increase the health of your heart and blood vessels. 

​Melody Living’s state-of-the-art fitness center is made for residents of all capabilities to engage in physical wellness. Eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables reduces cognitive decline and is made easier by our in-house gourmet chef. Every Melody Living resident is treated to fine dining three meals a day. 

Learning new things and consistently challenging your brain through occupational wellness can aid with cognitive function as well.

Challenging your mind through different activities such as building things, even something small like Legos, or playing strategy games like cards or chess, help to keep your brain sharp.

Take a class, learn a new language, start a new hobby; there are so many fun ways to keep your brain healthy.
 
Staying socially active and engaging in social wellness activities has positive effects on brain health as well - especially for senior loved ones who may live alone.

Get involved with your community, whether that’s meeting up with your neighbor for a cup of coffee to catch up or meeting with friends and family on the weekends.

Engaging in social wellness is also proven to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety which can have negative effects on cognitive functions and can even lead to decline.

Brain injuries, even minor ones, can raise the risk of cognitive decline. Older adults are at a higher risk of experiencing falls that can lead to serious side effects including loss of cognitive function.

Melody Living has partnered with Paxxon Healthcare Services to provide residents and others with our specialty Fall Risk Prevention Program.
 
Give us a call at 847.957.7070 to learn more about our Fall Risk Prevention Program and have your living space assessed. You can also schedule a tour of Melody Living today to learn more!​

​Family and loved ones of residents and seniors in the Lake in the Hills community are welcome to join Melody Living for an open-ended discussion for families struggling or facing challenges with a senior loved one, including Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our next support group will be held June 18th at 5:30pm, RSVP by June 26th by calling 847.957.7070.