Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

August 24, 2020 By Twin Town Villa

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia takes flexibility and patience. We have gathered some helpful tips for family members to reduce frustration and keep your loved one safe.

Reducing Frustrations when Caring for Person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

Keep instructions simple and clear. One-step directions are easiest for people with dementia to follow.
Schedule and follow a daily routine. Build-in some flexibility and get to know when your loved one will be the most alert or refreshed for more challenging tasks.
Reduce distractions. Sometimes TV, the News, or other distractions will make it hard for them to focus. When eating meals or having a conversation remove the distractions if you can.
Stay flexible. Flexibility and adaptability are key when interacting with a person with dementia. As they become more dependent over time, adapt your routines and expectations.
Put effort into communication and listening. Take the time to listen without interruptions. Speak slowly and clearly, using familiar words.

Creating a Safe Environment for People with Dementia

Since dementia impairs problem-solving skills and judgment, safety becomes a major concern by family members. When a family feels that their loved one can no longer independently live on their own, Twin Town Villa’s Memory Care Community is a great place to call home.

Safety Issues Related to Dementia to Consider at Home

Fire safety precautions. Smoking and cooking can create concerns about fire safety. Make sure a fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detectors are working and accessible.
Preventing Falls. Clutter, extension cords, rugs, and stairways can cause painful falls. Make sure to install handrails and grab bars throughout the area.
Burns from hot water. To reduce the chance of hot water burns, lower the thermostat on the hot water heater.
Locking up dangerous items. Consider locking cabinets or removing items from home that could be dangerous such as guns, medicine, dangerous utensils, or toxic cleaning substances.

Providing Care to our Residents & Support to their Families

At Twin Town Villa, we understand that every person with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory issues is different, not only in their symptoms and progression but also their past experiences and memories. Our Memory Care staff connects with each resident to get to know them, who they truly are now, and in the past. We also offer special features in our Memory Care community to reduce frustrations and provide a safe and comforting environment for our residents with dementia.

When is the Right Time to Move into Memory Care?

At Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, MN, we offer Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Care Suites to match the needs of each resident. We serve the communities near Wahpeton, ND, and Fergus Falls, MN. If you have questions about Senior Living options, how to choose a care facility, or would like a tour of our community, please contact us online or call 218.643.9542.

Supporting our Residents’ Mental Health during COVID-19

July 30, 2020 By Twin Town Villa

COVID-19 has affected all of our lives in many ways. In Assisted Living communities, where many at-risk people call home, there are additional challenges as we work diligently to keep our residents safe and healthy. But in addition to the physical health challenges we face, we also must recognize the effects that COVID-19 has on the mental health of the elderly.

It’s good for our residents’ mental health!

Friends & Family Outdoor Patio Visits

Families and friends can reunite with an outdoor patio visit with their loved one! This is a wonderful way to connect with your loved one and enjoy some beautiful weather. Twin Town Villa’s outdoor 45-minute patio visits must be scheduled in advance online here. When you arrive, please come to the SW outdoor patio (by the pond) where you will be greeted by a staff member and given your instructions for your visit. Please note that all parties must wear face masks (if able to tolerate). Please bring your own face masks with you to the visit.

Facetime Calls with Family & Friends

Face-to-face video chat helps offer reassurance since they can see family and friends “in person”. Video calls can be done through TwinTown Villa’s computer center via Facetime, Skype, Zoom, Facebook or others. If residents or families need help facilitating the video chat, the staff at Twin Town Villa can help.

Activities and Hobbies

Planned activities help the residents to keep their minds busy and cope with stress. Even simple activities like reading, playing cards, or doing an art project can help residents focus on the activity rather than things that may be bothering them.

Outdoor Concerts & Parades

The beautiful weather that we have been having in Breckenridge, MN has given us the perfect opportunity to hold outdoor concerts for our residents to safely enjoy from a distance. Our concerts have included Tim Mosser as well as “On the Mend” with musicians, Ed Moore, Rick Miller and Rick Hendrickson. Our residents also recently got to enjoy an old-fashioned tractor parade, with many local people in our farming community volunteering to bring their tractors in for our residents to enjoy!

Snail Mail & Special Packages

elderly mental health - letter writing Remember the lost art of the handwritten letter that was so prominent when our residents were younger? Many of our residents love sending and receiving mail from their loved ones and this is the perfect time to bring that back. Care packages also bring smiles to residents’ faces.

Talking to Our Staff and Professionals

The staff at Twin Town Villa does a wonderful job of getting to know our residents through conversation and finding out what activities help to make residents feel content and cope with stress. Our staff is also trained to recognize signs of anxiety and depression and when to adjust the resident’s care plan or reach out to a social worker or mental health professional.

Questions? Reach out to us!

Despite the current COVID-19 stress put on families, staff, and residents, Twin Town Villa is working hard to provide a safe and healthy environment that also provides support and activities for our residents’ mental health as well. If you have questions about Twin Town Villa or would likes to schedule a tour, please contact us online or call 218.643.9542.

Healthy Eating for Seniors

May 1, 2020 By Twin Town Villa

Eating a healthy diet helps to keep both our bodies and minds strong. When elderly people are living on their own, a healthy diet may be more difficult to achieve. Barriers such as the cost of healthy foods, transportation to the grocery store, changes in appetite, and the safety of cooking can all affect what seniors are eating. Medications can also interact with nutrients in food, causing side effects. When healthy eating for seniors becomes more challenging, it may be time to consider an assisted living community for your loved one.

A healthy life goes hand-in-hand with a healthy diet,

especially for senior citizens.

Healthy Meals Every Day at Twin Town Villa

Residents who live at the Twin Town Villa are ensured healthy, regular meals that are homemade. Three home-cooked meals plus healthy snacks are served daily in our beautiful dining room. The Director of Food Services prepares all of our meals fresh each day for our residents. Special diets are also available, depending on individual needs. When each resident first moves in, we meet with them and their family members to get a sense of what types of foods they like and which ones stir memories of the past. Our menus are created to optimize their health and prevent unplanned weight loss or lack of energy.

Communicating to Your Loved One about their Diet

Whether your loved one is living in their home or at an assisted living community, it is important to talk to them about their diet on a regular basis. This will give you an idea of how well it’s being managed and what is working for them. Communication with the person’s doctor, dietician, and other caregivers is also important in case changes need to be made. When your loved one is a resident at Twin Town Villa, our staff takes the time to get to know each person and what their diet plan and preferences are. This helps us to better meet his or her nutritional needs and emotional needs as well.

Healthy Eating for Seniors Living on their Own

Using the Healthy Eating Plate as a guide, try to fill half your plate with vegetables, a quarter of your plate with grains, and the last quarter with protein.
Adjust portion sizes as needed to maintain a healthy weight.
Many older adults find that they have a bigger appetite in the morning. If needed, have a bigger breakfast in the morning, but a lighter dinner in the evening.
Include dietary fiber in your diet to help normalize bowel function, decrease diabetes, and heart disease.
Choose healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts. Avoid saturated fats such as fatty red meat.
Drink plenty of water every day to stay hydrated.
If an elderly person has trouble getting out of their house or managing heavy grocery bags, they can also try a grocery delivery service. Meals on Wheels can also a useful resource in many communities.

When is the Right Time to Move into Assisted Living?

At Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, MN, we offer not only healthy, delicious meals, but many more daily living services and amenities that will help your loved one thrive. Our community offers Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Care Suites to match the needs of each resident. We serve the communities near Wahpeton, ND, and Fergus Falls, MN. If you have questions about Senior Living options for your loved one or would like a tour of our community, please contact us online or call 218.643.9542.

Helping our Residents Stay Connected during COVID-19

March 31, 2020 By Twin Town Villa

At Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, the safety and health of our residents and staff are always top-of-mind, and now more than ever. With our ongoing efforts of stopping the spread of the Coronavirus, especially to our residents who are at-risk or elderly, Twin Town Villa is taking extra precautions. We are screening everyone who enters the building by taking their temperature and stats. Many of the same precautions are being taken by assisted living centers, nursing homes, and other long-term care communities across Minnesota and the United States. But we are also taking extra steps to help our residents stay connected.

Protecting our Residents’ Physical and Mental Health

We know that not only is the physical health of our residents important, but also their mental health. When loved ones visit our residents, it is often the highlight of their week. We are sad to have to enforce social distancing for our residents but know that it is crucial to their health. Other changes we have implemented include serving meals in their room instead of communal dining. However, rest assured, our residents are not isolated in their apartments during COVID-19.

Helping your Loved One Stay Connected

With COVID-19, how we socialize has changed. Here are some tips for helping your elderly loved ones adapt to the changes and still feel connected:

Trying New Technology

We encourage our residents and their families to use technology to connect. Video chat can be done through Facetime, Skype, Zoom, Facebook or others. Twin Town Villa offers a Computer Center that can be used to connect with your family through video chat, social media, or email. The staff at Twin Town Villa can help coordinate alternative communications to bridge the communication gap. If you need help getting started, ask our staff for help. If you prefer to send an email to your loved one, simply send the message to Mary at twintown@midconetwork.com in care of your loved one’s name, and we’ll deliver the email message to them.

Window Visits

We love how our residents and their families are finding new ways to be close. Visiting face-to-face is still possible despite COVID-19 with “Window Visits”. Our residents and their families have used “Window Visits” to see and talk to each other… with family outside, and our residents inside, both with big smiles!

Giving Care Packages

Everyone loves to get little surprises, especially now. Items from families such as gifts, word of encouragement, homemade food, etc. can be brought and left at our front doors. Our staff will deliver the item to your loved one.

“Together forever and never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart.”

The staff at Twin Town Villa is doing everything they can to make this challenging time as comfortable as possible for residents and their families. Watch the Twin Town Villa Facebook page for photos and updates from your loved ones.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. If you are looking for an assisted living community for your loved one, please reach out to Twin Town Villa at (218) 643-9542 for more information.