Magnolia Manor Blog

Pet therapy, formally known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is known to provide both physical and mental benefits for seniors with dementia. Prior to COVID-19 concerns, many Memory Care facilities around the country had adopted pet programs of some kind. Some chose to bring in animals as full-time residents, others chose visiting pet programs.

All types of senior living communities are including pets to make their communities feel homier and offer a special kind of comfort and stimulation for residents. However, AAT can be especially beneficial for those suffering from mild or more advanced memory loss.

Medicare and Medicaid are both government programs that provide certain types of health care coverage for seniors. Although the programs are very different, they are often confused. And Medicaid, especially, is often misunderstood. So let’s clear up some of the confusion, to help you know if Medicaid may be a viable financial resource for you some day.

Just as the name implies, art therapy combines the creative process with psychotherapy, to help individuals improve their mental health and overall well-being. Art therapy addresses the mind, body, and spirit – a holistic approach to quality of life that we heartily endorse here at Magnolia Manor. But we appreciate art therapy for another reason, too.

One of the things that distinguishes Magnolia Manor from other senior living communities is the sense of family among staff and residents that permeates all aspects of everyday life and care. In this environment, it’s no surprise that everyone has stepped up to pitch in and make the best of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, boy, do we appreciate these everyday heroes!

With so much talk about Alzheimer’s disease, it is easy to forget that there are other forms of dementia. Whether you’re getting older yourself, or you care for an aging loved one, it is important to understand the different causes of dementia, and especially the symptoms. The earlier you get medical advice if you suspect a problem, the better the chances there will be help to manage the disease.

One of the toughest things about getting older is having to admit you need help. Devoted couples look to each other for assistance as one of them needs a helping hand with daily living tasks or shows early signs of memory loss. Filling in the gaps this way enables the couple to continue living together, independently. But what happens when one person’s needs become just too much for an elderly spouse to handle? What if the couple is your parents?

We all age differently, so this scenario is not unusual. But it can be very difficult for adult children as well as aging parents to acknowledge that Mom and Dad now have different senior living care needs

Searching for that just-right retirement community for yourself or a senior parent can be truly daunting. There are so many different types of facilities to choose from, and each one is unique in its living accommodation options, range of professional services, amenities and overall ambiance. We’ve all heard the expression “aging in place.” In a perfect world, we would never have to leave the home we love just because our mental and/or physical capabilities change. Yet for most of us that time does come. And when it does, choosing a full service retirement community will give you the peace of mind that you don’t have to move again.

Do you ever catch yourself humming or singing along to a song when music isn’t even playing? The power of music is so extraordinary, it gets “stuck” in our heads and can even help us recall memories.

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and while many of us probably prefer not to think about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other afflictions of the brain, this is an important topic that affects millions of us each year. In fact, dementia affects 47 million people around the globe.