Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) Building Bridges Across Age and Cognitive Barriers through Art The Cedars has completed its ninth year of collaboration with Opening Minds Through Art. Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art making program for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. It is designed to help build a society that values all people without regard to age or cognitive status. This art program promotes social engagement which provides creative self-expression opportunities. OMA also provides staff with opportunities to build close relationships with people with dementia. The Cedars has several OMA trained facilitators on staff to help support our residents. For more information about the OMA program...
The Cedars staff take an empathetic, positive approach with our seniors experiencing memory loss. See how this process empowers seniors, preserves independence, and enhances our many other therapeutic treatments. What is person-centered care? We all want to make decisions about the way we live our lives and this desire does not diminish as we age. In fact, it intensifies! Even older adults who need assistance with the activities of daily living or who are experiencing memory loss want and need to express personal preferences, make real choices, and participate in meaningful activities. For many years, care for older adults in community settings has taken an institutional approach, where decisions about schedules and activities are made by staff rather than residents. Even when these decisions are made with good intentions, the institutional model of care makes older adults passive participants in their own lives. If you cannot control when you...
For seniors in the early stages of memory loss still living at home, Mindful Connections provides powerful, personalized therapy to preserve independence, cognitive function, and hope. BY THE AGE OF 60, between 5 and 7 percent of people will suffer from some form of memory loss. By the age of 85, 50 percent will show symptoms of cognitive impairment, usually diagnosed as Alzheimer’s Disease. Whether it affects us or someone we love, dementia will touch all our lives—but The Cedars believes it should not define our lives. It’s a bold view, and it is true: people with memory loss have the ability to lead rich lives and make valuable contributions to their community. Our newest community-based program, Mindful Connections, proves this every day. Using forward-thinking therapies rooted in research and best practices and customized for each patient’s unique life experiences and personal preferences, we support seniors with memory loss...
“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of our souls.” –PLATO This week is National Assisted Living Week, an annual event sponsored by the National Center for Assisted Living. This year’s theme, The Magic of Music, celebrates the music we’ve all created, played, listened to and enjoyed throughout our lives. Throughout the week the residents at The Osher Inn at The Cedars will play games, sing and listen to their favorite melodies as guests share their music with us. Music is such as powerful force that brings evokes feelings of love, comfort, joy and memories of days gone by. For people with memory issues, several studies have demonstrated the soothing effects of music and the ability to bring those precious memories back. We hope you’ll embrace music this week as we honor our residents, staff, volunteers, and families – and embrace all that music brings to our...
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Does playing cards or studying a foreign language help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease? A recent study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Copenhagen found that these kinds of activities support the “use it or lose it” theory in that they lead to greater brain volume as seen on neurological imaging tests. Although the study did not reveal that brain games prevent Alzheimer’s Disease altogether, it did show they lead to better learning, memory and information processing. The best evidence suggests that a healthy lifestyle of exercise, a balanced diet and not smoking, combined with activities such as going to museums, doing puzzles and reading books can reduce the risk of dementia. At The Cedars community, we approach overall wellness from various perspectives, depending upon the individual’s needs and abilities. At The Atrium independent living, and The Osher Inn assisted living, we provide multiple opportunities to...
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The Cedars Retirement Community incorporates wellness into all that we do – for our staff, members and residents. One of our newest outpatient programs, Living Well With Dementia offered from our Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center, is gaining increased recognition. This past weekend, the Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA), honored our Angie Hunt with their OT Advocate Award, specifically for the work she has done to create Living Well With Dementia. Angie is the Executive Director of the Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Center and Skilled Care at The Cedars. Here is the letter that was submitted by Lisa Clark, Program Coordinator of Living Well With Dementia, to MeOTA: Angie (Hunt) is a physical therapist who is the Executive Director of The Cedars in Portland, Maine. The Cedars is a retirement community that offers a continuum of senior living options for elders: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care. The Cedars’ philosophy revolves around...
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The Cedars growing outpatient program for those living in their homes with the early stages of dementia, Living Well with Dementia, is introducing a Memory Support Group for those with dementia and their family/friends. August 23 was our first group and proved to be a tremendous success. The facilitator, Lenora Trussell, did an outstanding job of discussing the goals of the program, some of the issues individuals find when living with dementia and current research aimed at slowing the progression of the symptoms. Lenora is a registered nurse who is also a story teller and educator, utilizing both facts and humor. She is an excellent speaker and facilitator – and we look forward to future support groups. The next group meets at The Cedars on Thursday September 13th at 4PM. For more information call 221-7150 or check our website for October’s meeting...
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Help with Aging Parents: Four More Ways to Make the Most of Visits – Part III By Melanie Desjardins, Manager of Care Coordination at The Cedars The third part of our series on making the most of a visit with a loved on at The Cedars, senior living community. For more help, contact our Care Coordination department. 1. Have grandchildren bring or send along artwork, papers or projects from camp or school. The delight that many residents get from seeing the works of children is wonderful – and the children benefit as well, receiving input and kudos from older adults. 2. Plant and take care of an indoor/outdoor garden cart. Our outside patio is beautiful this time of year. Talk to the Life Enrichment staff for this activity. In addition, taking a leisurely stroll through our community pathways provide a great opportunity to enjoy the flora. 3. Do crossword or jigsaw...
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Living Well with Dementia: Caregivers of People with Dementia-Part I by Lisa Clark OTR, Program Coordinator of Living Well with Dementia In a recent issue of “OT Practice” from the American Occupational Therapy Association, an article is featured about the needs of caregivers for people with dementia. Occupational therapists are uniquely skilled at considering needs of caregivers because of their orientation toward staying healthy through activity. Activity for health is important for the person with dementia as well as the caregiver. The Living Well with Dementia Program offers evaluation, recommendations and individual or group treatment for people with memory issues. Caregivers are an important support for people dealing with memory loss. In addition, there are some helpful hints for caregivers, making their work with their loved ones a little easier. Sometimes these seem to be the opposite of what one might think is the best care technique. Decreasing stress...
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by Lisa L. Clark, MS, OTR/L, Program Coordinator of Living Well with Dementia “Living Well with Dementia” is a new program being offeredat The Cedars, for people with memory issues. Lisa is an occupational therapist who is the Program Coordinator for Living Well with Dementia. She has thirty years of experience working with people who are over 65. In the course of her career she has also provided services to people with dementia, to help them participate in activities that are meaningful for them. Lisa graduated from the University of New Hampshire with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Occupational Therapy. She has worked in many healthcare settings such as acute rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, dementia care and consultation in Assisted Living, home health services, and acute hospital settings. Lisa has also taught at the University of Southern Maine for over 15 years, in their Occupational Therapy program at the Lewiston-Auburn campus. She...
The Cedars staff take an empathetic, positive approach with our seniors experiencing memory loss. See how this process empowers seniors, preserves independence, and enhances our many other therapeutic treatments. What is person-centered care? We all want to make decisions about the way we live our lives and this desire does not diminish as we age. In fact, it intensifies! Even older adults who need assistance with the activities of daily living or who are experiencing memory loss want and need to express personal preferences, make real choices, and participate in meaningful activities. For many years, care for older adults in community settings has taken an institutional approach, where decisions about schedules and activities are made by staff rather than residents. Even when these decisions are made with good intentions, the institutional model of care makes older adults passive participants in their own lives. If you cannot control when you...
For seniors in the early stages of memory loss still living at home, Mindful Connections provides powerful, personalized therapy to preserve independence, cognitive function, and hope. BY THE AGE OF 60, between 5 and 7 percent of people will suffer from some form of memory loss. By the age of 85, 50 percent will show symptoms of cognitive impairment, usually diagnosed as Alzheimer’s Disease. Whether it affects us or someone we love, dementia will touch all our lives—but The Cedars believes it should not define our lives. It’s a bold view, and it is true: people with memory loss have the ability to lead rich lives and make valuable contributions to their community. Our newest community-based program, Mindful Connections, proves this every day. Using forward-thinking therapies rooted in research and best practices and customized for each patient’s unique life experiences and personal preferences, we support seniors with memory loss...