Governor's Glen

Understand The Assisted Living Lifestyle With These Resources

Getting older is a part of life, but it can be hard to accept the effects that aging has on our loved ones. Explore the links below to learn more about assisted living and how memory care communities can serve your family. For more information on senior living in Atlanta, call Governor’s Glen at (678) 954-2372 or visit our website.

• Pet therapy can be a simple and effective way of boosting a memory care resident’s well-being. Find out more about pet therapy in this article from EverydayHealth.com.
• Speaking with your loved ones about transitioning to an assisted living community can be difficult. Take some advice from Livestrong.com to see how to have the conversation.
• Seniors who are experiencing dementia need activities in order to keep their minds and bodies from more rapid deterioration. Here are some ideas for activities for seniors who are memory impaired.
• Find out more about the stages of Alzheimer’s in this helpful post from the Alzheimer’s Association.
• Read this New York Times article to learn about the importance of socialization for seniors, especially for those with memory impairment.

Governor's Glen is Participating in the 13th Annual Southern Cresent Walk to End Alzheimer's!

Governor’s Glen Family and Friends

Governor’s Glen Assisted Living & Memory Impaired Community is participating in the 13th Annual Southern Crescent Walk to End Alzheimer’s.If you have participated in the past, we cannot thank you enough and we hope you will continue to support our efforts by participating again this year. The Southern Crescent Walk consists of corporate sponsors as well as team and individual walkers from seven counties on Atlanta’s south side. Over the last 12 years this walk has raised over 2 million dollars to provide programs and services to Alzheimer’s patients and to help find a cure. We are pleased that eighty percent of the funds raised in Georgia stay in the state to support families dealing with this disease.

• Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
• One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's Disease.
• It is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
• Two thirds of employed caregivers of people with AD report having to go to work late, leave early or take time off due to care giving needs.
• Today over 200,000 Georgians suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s will once again take place at the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater parking lot in Peachtree City on Saturday, October 6th. Please join us as a sponsor and encourage your employees to form a team to represent your business.Enclosed you will find information on the benefits of your donation at various levels.

We look forward to you joining our sponsorship team.If you have questions about the walk, please do not hesitate to contact us at rebecca.fitzgerald@govglen.com, alzwalkshaffer@aol.com or visit our website at www.southernalzwalk.org.

Sincerely Rebecca Fitzgerald

Chair for Clayton and Henry Counties

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Tips for Talking with Your Loved One About Moving into an Assisted Living Facility

Talking with a loved one about moving into an assisted living community can be very difficult for you as well as your loved one. As stressful and challenging as this conversation may be, there are a few ways to make it a little bit easier.

1. Start early. Many people avoid the topic of moving into an assisted living facility because it is so difficult to broach. However, it’s best to start the process early before your loved one experiences a crisis such as a fall or significant memory impairment. That way, both you and your loved one can be fully mentally present to discuss all of the options of assisted living. He will also be able to tell you what he wants while all of his faculties are intact.
2. Enlist the help of siblings or other family members. If you have siblings or other close family members who are involved in your senior loved one’s life, it may be helpful to involve them in the conversation. Having everyone on the same page about what may be best for your loved one’s future makes the process less confusing, and is especially important if your loved one is resistant to the idea of moving to assisted living.
3. Provide specific examples. You may have general concerns about your senior loved one continuing to live independently, but this can be difficult to convey. Try using specific examples of what concerns you—for example, if the stairs are unstable and you’re worried about her falling, express this to her. Grounding your reasons for concern with something concrete can make the conversation about assisted living that much easier.
4. Focus on the benefits. Your loved one may be resistant to the idea that he needs help, so focus on all of the positives of an assisted living community. Emphasize that he will be able to socialize and have fun, as well as receive the care he needs at all times.

It’s never easy to speak with your loved one about this life transition. At Governor’s Glen in Atlanta, we have caring and experienced staff ready to assist you and your family with this change. Call us at (678) 954-2372 to learn how we can help you in this challenging time.

Exercising Your Brain

Physical exercise has many benefits for your body, and can even have a positive effect on your mind. As we grow older, it’s important to keep our brains and bodies limber to improve our quality of life. Watch this short video with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to learn more.

Studies have shown that activities like walking can actually improve your brain function.  After as little as six months of walking, study participants showed improvement in memory, attention, and decision-making skills. Even for people with the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s and other memory impairment issues benefited from physical and mental exercise. Scientists previously believed that the brain could only deteriorate, but these studies are proving that it is possible to maintain and improve brain function.

At Governor’s Glen in Atlanta, Georgia, we provide different levels of care for your loved ones.  No matter what their needs are, we offer experienced, compassionate service. Call us at (678) 954-2372 to schedule a tour of our assisted living community.

A Look at Pet Therapy

When a loved one is experiencing the unfortunate effects of impaired memory, it can be difficult for you and your family to witness. There are many treatments to help keep a senior person’s mind and body as active as possible. Pet therapy has gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Here is a look at what pet therapy can do for an assisted living resident.

• Physical Benefits

Interacting with an animal can have positive effects on a senior’s physical state. Whether the resident is walking, brushing, or simply petting a therapy dog, the activity can lower blood pressure and provide gentle exercise for arthritic fingers. Having an animal near can encourage residents to become more active because the desire to interact with the pet is so strong.

• Mental Benefits

Even if a resident is unable to have a pet or take a visiting animal for a walk, the basic interaction with a therapy pet can stimulate his mental faculties. A person may be reminded of pets he had in the past, which is a valuable exercise for memory care residents. The pet provides the resident with something to notice and pay attention to that may be a break from his usual routine. Additionally, interacting with the animal’s handler provides beneficial human contact.

• Emotional Benefits

The presence of a therapy pet can have significant emotional benefits for all kinds of seniors. Animals can provide seniors with a sense of companionship, which is especially important if they have lost a spouse or if their families do not live close by. Many seniors form bonds with therapy pets, and look forward to the animal’s visits. They take comfort in the animal’s presence and may find that they feel less lonely after a therapy pet’s visit.

At Governor’s Glen, we understand the importance of quality care for your senior family member. We offer a supportive community and different levels of care depending on the resident’s needs. If you’re looking for an assisted living community in the Atlanta area, call us at (678) 954-2372 or visit our website to learn more.