A Closer Look at Methuen Village » Memory Support Neighborhoods http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog A Senior Living Residences Community Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:03:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Passing down the wisdom… http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2011/03/15/passing-down-the-wisdom/ http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2011/03/15/passing-down-the-wisdom/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:25:02 +0000 Kathleen Corey-Rahme http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/?p=361 Ms Irene Fink is a Methuen Village resident.  Born in 1913, here she shares her talent of playing the harmonica with current harmonica student 15 year old Madeline Corey-Rahme!

Watch Irene Fink playing harmonica

Irene Fink and harmonica student Madeline.

]]> http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2011/03/15/passing-down-the-wisdom/feed/ 0 Introducing… the Compass Memory Support Neighborhood® Brand http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/12/07/introducing%e2%80%a6-the-compass-memory-support-neighborhood%c2%ae-brand/ http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/12/07/introducing%e2%80%a6-the-compass-memory-support-neighborhood%c2%ae-brand/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:30:58 +0000 Kathleen Corey-Rahme http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/?p=324 Senior Living Residences is proud to announce the launch of its new assisted living based Alzheimer’s care and treatment brand, “Compass Memory Support Neighborhoods”®.

Undergoing internal development for the past three years, SLR has worked with leading clinicians and researchers, including staff from the Boston University School of Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, to create an array of cutting edge research-based programming designed to treat the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the residential-style assisted living setting. Compass Memory Support widens the traditional “Alzheimer’s Care” customer base by treating individuals with varying levels of memory loss and diagnoses, and emphasizes addressing the needs of those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

The Compass Memory Support Neighborhood® research-based non-pharmacological programming encompasses discrete disciplines that work together as a whole to treat the symptoms and potentially slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

These programs include:

  1. Reconnections, a curriculum-based adult learning program developed by SLR that is backed by research that cognitive stimulation may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
  2. Memory Preservation Nutrition® Program, based on research that shows a diet of “brain healthy foods” can actually reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. SLR is the first assisted living company in the nation to offer residents this innovative nutrition program, developed by internationally recognized expert Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD, one of the co-founders of the Alzheimer’s Association.
  3. State-of-the-art post-hospital Rehabilitation Respite Stay program for seniors with memory loss.
  4. Clinical “rounds” with a Boston University Medical School clinician and comprehensive medication assessments with a geriatric-specialized pharmacist in an effort to avoid hospitalizations.
  5. Lifetime Achievement Award program designed by SLR to combat the isolation and anonymity experienced by seniors with memory loss.
  6. Exercise program based on research that shows aerobic and strength training exercise is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Additionally, SLR’s strategic affiliation with the Boston University School of Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center offers residents top notch clinical consultation and opportunities to participate in clinical research studies, including trials of new treatments.
]]> http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/12/07/introducing%e2%80%a6-the-compass-memory-support-neighborhood%c2%ae-brand/feed/ 0 How to Outsmart Alzheimer’s – Read all about it! http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/03/30/how-to-outsmart-alzheimers-read-all-about-it/ http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/03/30/how-to-outsmart-alzheimers-read-all-about-it/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:49:40 +0000 Kathleen Corey-Rahme http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/?p=216

Very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal today.  It seems more and more academic institutions are researching ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

SLR has been focused on prevention for a long time, and our innovations in memory support affect what we do not only in our Memory Support Neighborhoods but also in our traditional assisted livings.  Following the advice of top experts, like Dr. Kenneth S. Kosik in this article, can only bring positive benefits!  The article mentions modifications in diet.

At Methuen Village we follow a Memory Preservation Nutrition Program, which consists of using brain-healthy ingredients in all of our recipes.  In our Memory Support Neighborhood our residents participate in a weekly learning curriculum, called Reconnections – which incorporates different ways for them to engage with their peers and our Program Director, while stimulating their mind.

As far as physical exercise, we are always looking for ways to improve our exercise program and add variety (we now have a regularly scheduled yoga class for example).  We will soon be offering to our residents the opportunity to participate in a research study through Tufts University, examining the effects of exercise and nutrition on physical and mental wellbeing.  Stay tuned for more details on that!

]]> http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/03/30/how-to-outsmart-alzheimers-read-all-about-it/feed/ 0 The Dementia Epidemic in our Oldest Adults http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/02/25/the-dementia-epidemic-in-our-oldest-adults/ http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/2010/02/25/the-dementia-epidemic-in-our-oldest-adults/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:07:21 +0000 Kathleen Corey-Rahme http://www.methuenvillage.com/blog/?p=209 Today an interesting article popped up in the Scientific News. I’m not sure if you all use Google Reader, but it’s the greatest. It alerts me to articles that pertain to a list of keywords I’ve entered… one of which is “Alzheimer’s.” The article was just a reminder of this epidemic we are seeing with Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia. Did you know that the incidence increases significantly with your age? This study was just performed on a 90yo plus cohort. Rates increased with age from 12.7% per year in the 90-94 age group, to 21.2% per year in the 95-99 age group, to 40.7% per year in the 100+ age group! Now sitting here as a young professional in my 30s, the 90s seem far away, but the truth is that our generations are more likely to live into our 90s than those that came before us. This means that not only will there be a larger number of elders living in our society with the Baby Boomers cohort aging, an alarming number of them will be afflicted by dementia of some type.

I’m proud to work for Senior Living Residences, where we are taking gigantic steps in creating a social and residential treatment model for those living with Alzheimer’s. In our Memory Support Neighorhoods, our residents are stimulated throughout the day with an adult learning program, that allows them to KEEP LEARNING! Imagine that.

We provide a brain-healthy diet, and through our affiliation with the BU Alzheimer’s Disease Center, our professional program directors are able to offer our residents and their families valuable advice and assistance as they journey through the disease process. We truly are on the cutting edge, and we hope that others are as committed to meeting the needs of the many individuals that will be impacted by Alzheimer’s in the future.

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