Governor's Glen

How Diet and Exercise Can Ward Off Alzheimer's Disease

A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has found that Americans who follow a “Mediterranean diet” can reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by up to forty-percent. This type of diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as olive oil in place of other oils or fats. Watch this video to learn more.

It’s clear to researchers and those in the medical profession that a healthy diet and plenty of exercise can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. Exercise can come in the form of fun activities like horseback riding or even simple calisthenics. Exercising the brain is also very beneficial!

The memory therapy programs and activities offered here at Governor’s Glen in Atlanta are focused on improving memory function and quality of life for those suffering from memory loss. Call us at (678) 954-2372 to learn more.

Can Aromatherapy Aid with Memory Impaired People?

Both conventional and unconventional therapies can offer valuable benefits to Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones. If you have a family member living with memory impairment and you’re interested in learning more about new treatments, you may want to explore aromatherapy. Here are three ways that aromatherapy can aid memory care:

Scent Activates Emotional Responses Anyone who has ever smelled a scent that quickly sent him or her into thoughts of childhood or a specific place or person from the past knows that scent can quickly trigger powerful memories. Once a scent enters the nose, it causes nerves to signal parts of the brain including the amygdala and hippocampus. These two parts are responsible for emotional understanding and associative learning, which are both essential in the fight to preserve memory. 

Oils Stimulate Energy and Hunger Many assisted living facilities have discovered that residents who are exposed to aromatherapy oils in the morning have an easier time gaining energy for the day. Additionally, residents expressed a greater desire to eat, which has led many to believe that aromatherapy increases the appetite. Since decreased appetite can be a major problem for those in the memory-impaired community, aromatherapy should be considered for its potential to stimulate hunger.

Therapy Leads to Improvement in Cognitive Function The results of a 2009 study on twenty-eight patients with dementia concluded that all of the patients treated with aromatherapy showed improvement in personal orientation measured by two observed evaluation scales. Although these patients showed no physical improvements when laboratory test results came in, doctors still observed significant behavioral, social, and cognitive improvements.

If you have a loved one living with us here at Governors Glen, be sure to discuss the benefits of this natural therapy with one of our staff. We’re always embracing new effective ways to assist our memory care residents. Call us today at (678) 954-2372 to learn about all of our memory stimulation activities.

Click On The Following Links To Find Out More About The Advantages Of Living In A Memory Impaired Community

For adults living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, it’s so important to engage in everyday activities and social interactions with others to slow down the effects of these conditions. To learn more about the advantages of living in a memory-impaired community, come and visit Governor’s Glen here in Atlanta. To set up a tour or to learn more about the services we offer, call us today at (678) 954-2372.

In a high-quality assisted living community, these activities become a staple of residents’ everyday lives and have a positive effect on their overall health and wellness. Click on the following links to learn more about the many advantages of living in a memory impaired community:

• Strength exercises are just one of the four types of exercises residents are encouraged to perform weekly. Find out the benefits of these exercises with this National Institute on Aging article.
• To learn how community activities like exercise can slow the advancement of Alzheimer’s, take a look at this page offered by Helpguide.org.
• Our community members enjoy meals high in Omega-3s. Learn which types of food contain this important nutrient with LiveStrong.
• For a better understanding of how Omega-3-rich foods can increase brain function, don’t miss this research article featured on The Washington Post.
• Socialization is at the center of memory impaired community activities. Learn about its benefits by visiting Alzheimer’s Prevention.

4 Types of Exercises That Can Contribute to Memory Care

In order to improve memory and slow down the progression of dementia, there are many exercises that memory care specialists recommend for adults. These exercises will produce separate benefits that work together to provide strength to the body and the mind. Here are four types of exercises that can contribute to memory care:

Exercises That Increase Flexibility: Flexibility exercises will allow an individual to be more nimble and increase the span of their reach. These exercises include stretching hamstrings, calves, and wrists as well as rotating hips. This rotation works to elongate hip and thigh muscles while giving them a good stretch.

Techniques to Improve Balance: It goes without saying that improving balance can dramatically increase an individual’s stability and decrease their chances of falling. Balance exercises include lower body exercises like knee flexion and leg raises conducted while either sitting or standing.

Working to Promote Endurance: To increase breathing function and improve the cardiovascular system, exercises like swimming, light walking, bicycling, and golf should be encouraged. These exercises will increase stamina and allow individuals to endure the other types of exercises discussed here.

Movements to Enhance Strength: Those living in an assisted living facility or a memory care home should engage in strength exercises like arm raises, side leg raises, knee extensions, and bicep curls. For less active individuals, these exercises will promote weight control. Furthermore, these exercises help to improve balance and lower blood sugar.

These four types of exercises offer a great opportunity for adults at any stage of memory loss to improve their physical and mental health. Here at Governor’s Glen, our caring staff is trained and experienced in assisting residents with their health and wellness. Find out more about our services and activities by giving us a call today at (678) 954-2372.

Using Music Therapy to Slow Down Alzheimer's Disease

In this video, we see the incredible ways that music therapy can ward off the negative effects of those suffering from a cognitive decline. Music therapy benefits people with dementia or Alzheimer’s by offering them an opportunity to interact with others and to engage in musical activity that they may be able to recall enjoying in years past. This social interaction is important as it establishes a sense of community for a person and helps him or her feel less isolated or alone. To learn more about the positive impact that music therapy can have on persons with Alzheimer’s, be sure to watch this video.

Here at Governor’s Glen, our Atlanta residents are able to participate in daily activities like music therapy that offer them the opportunity to interact with others and to express themselves musically. To learn more about this program and others offered here at Governor’s Glen, call us today at (678) 954-2372.