Since June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Twin Town Villa wants to help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other dementias. Being an assisted living community that serves the elderly community and their families, we see first-hand how Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss affects people and their loved ones.  We also have some tips and resources on caring for a loved one with memory issues.

Facts about Alzheimer’s Disease

• Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. “Dementia” is any brain disease related to memory loss and diminished cognitive skills.
• Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. About 1 in 3 seniors die of dementia.
• Nearly twice as many women have Alzheimer’s than men, according to the US Dept. of Health & Human Services.
• Heart disease can increase your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
• Keeping your brain active in old age (and the more education you have) can lower your odds of getting AD, according to the National Institute on Aging.
• Watch the video below to learn more factor about AD. For more information about Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, visit Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s and Memory Care at Twin Town Villa

At Twin Town Villa, our staff is experienced and passionate about helping people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our memory care community is a special residence is designed to care exclusively for residents with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of memory impairments.  Learn more about our Memory Care community and amenities for your loved one.

Tour Twin Town Villa Alzheimer’s Care Community

If you are looking for Alzheimer’s Care for your parent or loved one, please reach out to us at Twin Town Villa. You can contact us online or call 218.643.9542 to request a tour.  We look forward to showing you our community that is home to so many wonderful people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss.

 

 

Over the last 15 months, our residents and families have gone through a challenging time of separation.  Through the window visits, Facetime calls, and care package drop-offs, we have seen so many people make the best of the situation.

Now, we are beyond thrilled to open our doors to visitors. We welcome you with open arms!

 

Come Visit your Loved One

Window visits and care packages were fun, but everyone loves in-person visits above all. Family and friends are now welcomed to visit their loved one for some quality time together at Twin Town Villa. Enjoy an outdoor visit on our patio or join your loved one in their room. We just ask that two people visit per room at this time.  Surgical masks need to be worn in the hallways but can be removed in the room if visitors are fully vaccinated. When you arrive, there will just be a quick check-in and assessment.

Schedule an In-Person Tour

If you are looking for a place to call home for a family member, consider Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge. Now is a wonderful time to schedule an in-person tour with us. We have rooms available and can give you a full tour without restrictions. We offer Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Care Suites to match the needs of each resident. If you have questions about Senior Living options for your loved one or would like an in-person tour of our community, please contact us online or call 218.643.9542.

We look forward to seeing the joyful expressions on our residents’ faces as they see visitors again!  We hope to see you soon!

 

Arthritis can cause a lot of pain and lead to immobility and disability. Falls are also more common and more serious for people who have arthritis. Since May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, we want to offer some tips for managing arthritis pain for yourself or your loved ones.

10 Ways Manage Arthritis Pain

1. Keep Moving. It is important to keep your joints moving by doing gentle stretches, walking, or even just standing more often.
2. Maintain Good Posture. Whether you are sitting, standing, or lying in bed, pay attention to your posture. Good posture will put less pressure on joints, decreasing wear and pain.
3. Learn & Ask Questions. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or family about arthritis and helping you with the pain. Learn all you can about arthritis management.
4. Consider Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy. Talk to an OT or PT to see if there are specific exercises for strengthening your muscles around problematic joints.
5. Avoid Repetitive Motion. Activities that may be high impact and repetitive can make arthritis worse.
6. Try Heat or Cold. Sometimes a heating pad or a hot bath may ease achy joints.  Moist heat can help muscles to relax. For others, an ice pack on sore muscles will help reduce inflammation.
7. Find Healthy Ways to Relax. Keep your mood positive with activities such as gentle yoga, listening to music, mediation, doing a puzzle, or reading. Relaxing and keeping your mind off the pain is good for your body and mind. Learn more about reducing stress.
8. Get a Good Night’s Sleep. Pain can disrupt sleep and a lack of sleep can make the pain worse. Learn more about how to get a good night’s sleep with arthritis pain.
9. Eat Healthy Meals. Fresh, unprocessed foods and fermented foods like yogurt may help to reduce pain. Learn more about healthy eating for seniors.
10. Take a B-12 Vitamin. A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can play a role in nerve pain. A daily B12 supplement may help.

Questions about arthritis management at Twin Town Villa?

At Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, MN, we offer Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Care Suites to match the needs of each resident, and their specific needs.  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.

 

Quality time is the best time spent with our elderly parents.  As we grow older, we realize how our roles shift, and now our parents need our attention more than ever (despite our busy schedules). The special people in our lives who once were our caretakers, now need us for help, companionship, and most of all, quality time.  Our presence is the best gift that we can give to our aging parents and grandparents.  Here are some ideas for making the most of the time you have with your parents and nurturing your relationship.

Activities to Do with your Elderly Parents

Reading Together

Find a book or article that they would have an interest in and read to them or take turns reading. This helps provide an activity whenever you visit. It will also give them something to look forward to that you can discuss together. Reading is especially helpful if your parent has memory loss or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Finding Shared Interests

When you have shared interests with your parent or grandparent, it opens the door to conversations, activity ideas, and bonding. Whether it is a love for the Minnesota Twins, knitting, or puzzles, finding some common ground to keep your bond strong. If you are still looking for things to do together, there are a ton of fun activity ideas to do with your grandparent or aging parent on the Legacy Project website.

Cherishing Memories

It is fun to tell stories, hear their memories, and look at old photos. Ask them questions and have them tell you about when they were young.  They will love reminiscing about the people and experiences of their past. A fun activity could even be working on a family scrapbook or family tree project together.

Listen to their Favorite Music Together

Music can also help spark special memories. With technology today, it is easy to find music and artists from every era.  Bring back different periods of their life and nostalgia by listening to their favorite tunes with them.

Helping them with Self-Care or Errands

When you visit with your parents, see if they need help with any self-care or errands. If they are living on their own, are they still able to independently cook, clean, and maintain their house? Make sure they are safe and eating healthy.  It is also a good time to address any issues that will help with fall prevention.

When it’s Time to Consider Assisted Living for your Parents, Twin Town Villa is here to Answer your Questions.

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 for your loved one or would like a virtual tour of our community, please contact us online or call 218.643.9542.

Twin Town Villa is excited to be able to welcome public visitors back into our building! Mary Wolfgram, Executive Director at Twin Town Villa recently announced, “We are open for visitors and tours, but we still have some rules to follow. We want to thank all of our families for their patience as guidelines continue to change and we navigate through this together.”

A Few Simple Rules for our Visitors:

• A surgical mask must be worn (please bring your own)
• Social distancing guidelines will be followed
• Up to 10 Visitors will be allowed in the building at a time
• Only 2 visitors will be allowed per room

No Appointment Needed

At this time, you can just stop by, no sign-up or appointment is needed. Every visitor will need to check-in using our ELDR screening tool. We will also have a whiteboard with the current visitor’s names and when they arrived to make sure all visitors can get adequate visiting time in.

Leaving the Twin Town Villa Building

Residents who are fully vaccinated can now leave Twin Town Villa for doctors appointments, go out to eat, go to church, etc. without quarantining when they return.

COVID-19 Vaccination for Residents & Staff

Currently, the majority of residents and some of our staff have had COVID their vaccines. We will continue to do all we can to protect our residents and staff through vaccinations and safety precautions.

Check Back for Updates Often

Our policies and procedures for visitors could change week-to-week depending on the guidance we get from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and how our community’s COVID numbers change. We are looking forward to new guidance from MDH and will share it with you as soon as possible. For the latest updates, check our Facebook page or call us at 218.643.9542.

Twin Town Villa is Open for Tours

We are pleased to also offer tours at Twin Town Villa again! 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. We currently have openings and would welcome new residents to join us!