Archive for year: 2024

Exploring Holidays Beyond Christmas

While Christmas is probably the most celebrated holiday, celebrations like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year are also commemorated to honor the diverse community of residents in facilities for Alzheimer’s. Celebrating these holidays would allow residents to acknowledge each unique tradition and background. Exploring other Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year fosters empathy and brings joy to senior residents while at the same time learning and understanding their stories.

Hannukah, or the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration commemorating the re-dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem. Jewish families gather to light a candle each night and enjoy traditional Jewish food. Hannukah is all about God’s providence and protection of the Jewish people. This Jewish holiday is also about standing up for what is right, resilience, and faith.

Meanwhile, Kwanzaa is an African holiday from December 26 to January 01, created by African scholar and activist Maulana Karenga in 1966. For Kwanza, you light a Kinara, a wooden candle holder with each candle representing the seven principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Economic Cooperation, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Emphasizing and honoring its African heritage, Kwanzaa is all about feast, music, and storytelling.

Who does not celebrate New Year? This global holiday marks fresh beginnings, a time of hope and optimism. New Year is all about setting new goals, correcting past mistakes, dreaming big, and looking forward to continuing life with renewed faith. Parties, music, countdowns, and fireworks are often associated with New Year celebrations.

These holidays are unique and beautiful. They are meant to be shared with families and loved ones, including those in Alzheimer’s facilities.

How Facilities for Alzheimer’s Can Create Inclusive Celebrations

Assisted living communities must embrace residents’ diverse cultures to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. These holiday festivities allow residents to socialize and feel happy and included, combating loneliness and isolation. Including these festivities in the yearly activities shows respect for diversity and fosters a feeling of belonging.

Memory care facilities can learn about their residents’ diverse backgrounds through surveys, open talks, or direct speaking with them. This way, management and staff can design and prepare events appropriate for each holiday, including decorations, activities, performances, sessions, and other related programs.

Remember to actively seek feedback from residents to improve future events. Creating an inclusive environment for residents promotes and strengthens relationships, creating a sense of unity that contributes to well-being.

Engaging residents in learning and sharing

Embracing diversity allows each one to celebrate each one’s unique religious and non-religious practices. Residents should not hold back in fear of discrimination. Instead, residents in facilities for Alzheimer’s must feel comfortable and welcomed regardless of age, color, background, religious beliefs, or nationality.

Residents must feel comfortable sharing and engaging, fostering connection and understanding. Memory care facilities can organize cultural nights, storytelling sessions, and food festivals to encourage residents to share and showcase their unique culture and traditions.

Arts and crafts, learning a new language, or themed events would encourage residents to participate, spark new interest, and provide fresh perspectives.

Fun and Value for Everyone in Facilities for Alzheimer’s

By promoting sharing and learning, facilities for Alzheimer’s offer an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued. Learn about life at OxBow Living by clicking here!

Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead

The Thanksgiving celebration becomes more special if spent with family and friends. Senior family members are life’s blessings that we need to celebrate. Loved ones in senior living in Nebraska should be part of the yearly tradition even if they cannot travel. Visit your loved ones in senior housing, gather around the table, enjoy favorite family meals, share life updates, and give thanks for all the blessings.

What Thanksgiving is All About

Thanksgiving is a famous American holiday that is all about family and gratitude. It is an annual holiday with a history dating back to the 17th century.

According to history, before Americans enjoyed the feast that comes with Thanksgiving, it was originally observed to commemorate the colonial pilgrims’ harvest meal in 1621. Various reasons for gratitude were celebrated in subsequent years. However, the first official designated Thanksgiving Day was in 1789. On September 28, 1863, then-President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

Modern Thanksgiving Day is a time for families to gather over a traditional Thanksgiving meal: roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.  But more than the food, Thanksgiving is mainly a day to reflect on the small and big blessings received the entire year. It is a day dedicated to acknowledging the present blessings and what’s about to come. It is a day of reminder to be content and thankful.

Thanksgiving is also a day to give back to the community: senior living in Nebraska facilities, charities and organizations, and the less privileged. It is a time to donate time, resources, kindness, and compassion. Thanksgiving is about creating a more positive and meaningful celebration.

Celebrating in Senior Living in Nebraska

Here are simple yet meaningful ways to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Family Thanksgiving Meal

Lunch or dinner won’t matter if everyone is willing to spend time with the family. If everyone is too busy to cook your favorite meals, you can dine at your favorite restaurant nearby or order food to enjoy in senior living in Nebraska.

Keep Family Traditions

Ask senior family members how they’d like to celebrate this year’s Thanksgiving like they used to when they were younger. Ask family members to share their time in the planning and preparation.

Volunteer

Show your gratitude by volunteering. If you have the time or resources, visit institutions that need volunteer work or funds to further their mission and efforts.

Community Events

Attend community events together to meet new people and probably see familiar faces. Reminisce the good old days of previous Thanksgiving celebrations.

Thanksgiving is about being grateful and content with what you have. This year and in the years to come, it should be a memorable day for everyone, near or far. If distance does not permit, use technology to stay in touch with loved ones. Regardless of how you want to celebrate Thanksgiving, it should be centered on gratitude and everything you are thankful for.

Click here to learn about Oxbow Living!

Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead

Emotional health is a vital aspect of overall well-being regardless of age. Making healthy choices and better stress management are important components that lead to a fulfilling and healthy life. In the United States, mental health advocates designate October as Emotional Wellness Month. Although not a federal event, Emotional Wellness Month allows memory care facilities to support their residents and create a nurturing environment. Join the community in recognizing how crucial emotional wellness is through programs that promote positive emotions.

Emotional Wellness Month

Emotional Wellness Month reminds us that unstable emotional health can negatively impact overall health. It’s as important as physical health and must be prioritized to better cope with challenges and improve overall quality of life. Emotional Wellness Month is about nurturing the heart and mind, educating the public, and recognizing and addressing our emotions.

There are different ways to join the celebration in a memory care facility. Activities focused on relaxation, like yoga, meditation, and other forms of stress reduction, are highlighted. Although these are generally available in most memory care facilities, these programs are promoted extra to remind us to care for our mental health.

Through these activities, senior care facilities are creating a more nurturing and supportive community. Even past October, we should make every day an opportunity to regulate our emotions and maintain balanced health.

Emotional Wellness Tips in Memory Care Facilities

Dealing with memory-related diagnoses can be challenging for both the person affected and the family. Most of the time, they need professional care for their condition. Fortunately, memory care facilities are equipped with individualized care plans to cater to the distinctive needs of the residents.

Memory care facilities must make residents feel valued by constantly encouraging them to participate in facility-organized activities and gatherings that foster interactions with fellow residents and staff. Group-sharing activities must also be organized, allowing residents to express their feelings. Through sharing, they can hear their concerns without feeling judged, creating a safe space for expression. Relaxation activities are another way of supporting residents. Yoga sessions, breathing exercises, music therapy, and aromatherapy are proven practical ways to stimulate the senses and uplift the mood.

Promote regular physical activity among residents, which can be categorized according to their level of mobility. Offer a variety of activities, from light, moderate, to intense routines, that cater to their interests and abilities to improve brain health, mood, coordination, and cognitive function. These programs are designed not only for residents in memory care facilities but also for staff and carers, allowing them to cope with the mental and physical demands of caring for them.

Click here to learn more about Oxbow Living!

Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead

Every September, Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month is observed to spread the word about blood cancers. In assisted living Ashland, this is a perfect time to educate residents, staff, and families about these diseases. Leukemia and lymphoma are types of cancer that affect the blood and the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.

This month, the focus is on learning more about these conditions and supporting those affected. Educational sessions are being organized, informative materials are being distributed, and everyone is encouraged to participate in awareness activities. You can also help raise awareness, support research, and show care to those battling these diseases by participating in Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month this year.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month in Assisted Living Ashland

The occasion was developed to enhance the general understanding of blood cancers and the possible early warning signs. Leukemia and lymphoma are two of the most common types of cancers, accounting for 10% of all diagnoses.

Generally, this is intended to equip the public with knowledge of the diseases and some of their distinguished symptoms. In 2017, the U.S. Congress implemented the Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month observance to point people to verified resources that may increase early diagnosis.

Most of all, although these are aggressive forms of cancer, they are curable, with a 72% survival rate. Thus, the organization was formed to raise critical awareness and funds to conduct further research on blood cancer. Furthermore, you can participate by getting a check-up, donating, and spreading the causes, symptoms, and treatments.

What is Leukemia?

Leukemia occurs when there are changes or mutations in the bone marrow, leading to the inability to develop and function normally. In other words, it is like white blood cells that behave abnormally. There is a cure, but it will depend on the type, your overall health, your age, and whether the disease has already spread to other tissues and organs of the body.

Leukemia is also among the most common types of cancer in the U.S., which can affect anyone. However, the most vulnerable groups are between the ages of 65 and 74, Caucasian/White, and assigned male at birth. Although the most common belief is that it is a form of pediatric cancer, some forms develop in adults. That said, it is the most common form of cancer that may affect children and teens.

What is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is another form of cancer that belongs to a group of blood cancers located in the lymphatic system. There are only two types of lymphoma, namely Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin, in which healthcare providers can generally treat and cure it.

However, according to the American Cancer Society, it is not a common type of illness. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma typically affects people aged 60-80, while Hodgkin lymphoma affects people between the ages of 20 and 39. Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month makes it possible for residents in assisted living Ashland to take advantage of a near-perfect chance of survival through cancer awareness and early diagnosis.

Click here to learn about assisted living care at Oxbow Living!

Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead

We all have senior citizens in our family who deserve to be appreciated and showered with gratitude. What better way to recognize their valuable contribution to our society than to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day? This month of August, let us demonstrate our gratitude to them. Let us celebrate their lives, accomplishments, and what they will continue to do.

National Senior Citizens Day

The United States celebrates National Senior Citizens Day every August 21st. This special day is dedicated to senior adults and highlights their contributions and achievements.

In 1988, then-U.S. President Ronald Raegan signed Proclamation 5847, declaring August 21st National Senior Citizens Day. This day honors seniors for their accomplishments for their families, communities, and the country. Through this yearly celebration, seniors feel accepted and appreciated.

One way of showing our senior loved ones our heartfelt gratitude is by putting them in facilities for Alzheimer’s Ashland NE. This way, they can continue living a dignified life with the help of trained carers in a safe environment. With all the facilities and professionals available round the clock, they will now enjoy the rest of their years in a community where they benefit from professional assistance and world-class care.

Thank you to President Ronald Raegan, 36 years after his signed proclamation, millions of seniors in the United States will celebrate this event annually with scheduled activities, programs, events, and engagements.

Celebrating in Facilities for Alzheimer’s Ashland NE

Take this as an opportunity to plan something special for your loved ones in facilities for Alzheimer’s in Ashland, NE, or anywhere in the country. Encourage the whole family to join in and shower your loved one with the gift of time and love.

Try these suggested activities to create memories everyone will cherish. Above all, these will fill their hearts with warmth and joy.

Give the gift of time.

Make time to reach out to your loved ones on this special day. A phone or video call will suffice if you cannot reach the facility. Another option would be to schedule a visit if you are out of the state to brighten your day, as every day can be an opportunity for celebration. But if you can make it, plan a visit with the rest of the family members. You can tag with friends or neighbors, and everyone can reminisce about the good old days.

Organize game nights, picnics, leisurely walks in the park or nearby mall, lunch at your favorite restaurant, or any activity that allows everyone to participate.

Karaoke or music night is a fun idea, too. Music can evoke happy feelings and nostalgia. Give seniors this time to share wonderful stories from the past. Have the sessions been recorded so you will have something to reflect on and share with the younger generations?

Regardless of what you plan to do, spend quality time with your loved ones in facilities for Alzheimer’s Ashland NE, and together, create memories you will cherish forever.

Learn more about Oxbow Living by clicking here!

Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead