The Pavilion Senior Living Blog

For many, spring cleaning can carry a negative connotation because it requires a lot of hard work and time to complete. As seniors age, cleaning the home can become more challenging for a loved one. Having a family member to help through this process can make a world of difference!  

The senior in your life will be grateful at the idea of not having to tackle this project alone, but also find that it is more convenient, and less stressful with someone else around. The Pavilion Senior Living wants to share seven tips that you and your loved one can use to help make spring cleaning easier this year!

Memory impairment may present in many forms. Whether it be dementia, Alzheimer's, or mild cognitive impairment, knowing when to be concerned about your loved one's health is essential. While it's normal for people to be forgetful, it could be an indicator that your loved one is beginning to experience early symptoms of a more severe disease.

Having trouble planning your loved one's move? Don't worry, it's common to be stressed when helping your parents downsize. The moving process can be long and complicated, causing you and your loved one frustration.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorder in the United States. With so many Americans affected by this disorder, it is common for most people to think that anxiety is easy to treat.

Our parents are our first teachers. They teach us how to tie our shoes and ride a bike, and eventually provide us with all the skills we need to live on our own as adults. They led by example and hopefully showed us how to be kind, well-rounded individuals.

Did you know that 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s? This startling number can make anyone anxious. If you have an older loved one who has expressed early signs of the disease or if your own parent has Alzheimer’s, it can be even more intimidating. That is precisely why The Pavilion is increasing education efforts for dementia-related illnesses. Fortunately, there are options for Alzheimer’s care and even steps for prevention!

Having a close friend or relative dealing with memory loss is never a comfortable situation. At The Pavilion, we see first-hand how Alzheimer’s and dementia can affect family members and friends. If your close friend does stumble into this predicament, it may impact your friendship, but it does not have to destroy it! The following is a personal story of someone dealing with a close friend being who was showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Names have been changed to protect their privacy.

One of the unique privileges we have at The Pavilion Senior Living is working with people that experience full, rich lives. We may ask ourselves "why was it fulfilling?" Where did the senior in my life once find their purpose? By addressing those questions, we can understand how we can help seniors keep passions alive. How do you help the resident that discovered their true purpose in serving their community? How do you support the resident that found purpose in teaching? By exploring each individual’s passions, we are given the gift of doing something transformative with our life enrichment here at The Pavilion. 

Have you ever heard the classic story, “back in my day I had to walk five miles to school and back every day uphill, both ways”? Well, obviously, those specifics are a slight exaggeration, but the Greatest Generation did have a tougher way of living than we do today. They had to deal with The Great Depression, with some of the worse financial times in American history, and face World War II.

When you or someone close to you rely on a wheelchair in a senior assisted living community, it can be hard to muster enough motivation to exercise. Even when someone is non-disabled and young, it can still be a challenge to gather enough motivation to get moving. Often, seniors give up when it comes to being fit, especially if they face a mobility limitation. Here at The Pavilion, we try to encourage all our residents to get the exercise they need as often as they can. We offer fitness and wellness programs for our assisted living residents. However, if you or someone close to you haven’t been active for a while, it can be intimidating to jump in and join a group. If this is how you feel, try working out with a close friend in a more private setting. Be sure to get confirmation from a doctor and have a work out buddy or physical therapist with you through the whole activity. If you and your close friend are still having trouble getting started, we are here to help you get past all the barriers.