According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people throughout the world are living with dementia. Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease include dementia as a symptom, causing an individual to lose their memory and cognitive function. Data from the WHO suggests dementia costs families $1.3 trillion per year.
Here at Pacifica Senior Living, we are always excited to introduce new communities joining our family and with that announcing new program offerings. Today, it’s our pleasure to share a great new addition to two of our Florida communities. Commencing this spring, Pacifica Senior Living Ocala and The Meridian at Lantana will be offering our award-winning Memory Care program to help Florida’s seniors navigate their memory care journey with comfort and dignity.
Crafting is something that many of us enjoy, regardless of age. Old and young alike, there is something wonderfully calming and nostalgic about sitting down with needles and yarn, paint and a brush, a little bit of clay, or even just some fabric remnants and letting your creative side take over. As we age, our mobility can become limited, so crafting also becomes one of the few activities in which seniors can actively participate as fully as younger folks, and it comes with a variety of health benefits that make it a meaningful way to spend an afternoon.
It also brings the added benefit of providing another outlet for reducing stress and lowering blood pressure in seniors. As a low-impact activity that requires focus and patience, it is cognitively challenging and a great option for those looking to help maintain or boost their memory during. While crafting may not often be on a doctor’s list of prescribed medicines, it’s a surefire way to help boost the health of seniors, and can also provide benefits to the well-being of both caregivers and seniors alike because it is an activity that can be enjoyed together.
A few specific craft related activities that promote wellness include the following:
Painting
The beautiful thing about painting is that there are many mediums to choose from—oils and acrylics to paint-by-numbers or even finger-painting if you’re not afraid of a little mess, seniors can paint the way they want to and paint the images they want. Deciding what you want to paint and how to paint it is also a big part of the fun and appeal of the activity. Perhaps most importantly, painting is a fantastic stress reducer, and according to doctors, repetitive movements help release serotonin, helping to boost mood and can even reduce symptoms of depression.
Knitting
Many seniors may already know how to knit or crochet, but if not, it’s easy to learn while still being a great example of the kind of relaxing entertainment we’re talking about. Plus, this is an activity where it’s easy to start small and expand to a bigger project as your skills develop. This means that whether you are crocheting a potholder or a full-size quilt, you will get the same kind of benefits in connection with dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and focus skills, no matter what size project you’re working on.
A quick visit to the Alzheimer’s Association page reveals a startling fact: 1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer's or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. It is no doubt one of the most devastating diseases we face today. This statistic doesn’t even account for the other types of dementia such as Lewy body, vascular, and frontotemporal. We desperately need to make some progress in our ongoing research for a cure.
Therefore, when a $1.4 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill that was passed and signed December 27th, 2020, it was cause for celebration. A portion of this bill endows a stunning $3.1 Billion to Alzheimer’s and dementia research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) just for the year 2021 alone. Not only does this represent an extra $300 Million when compared to the previous year, it also stands for a great leap forward in memory-loss research in how the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement are going to use these additional funds.
Regarding the additional omnibus funds, The Alzheimer’s Association said, “We are grateful to the bill’s cosponsors and congressional leaders for prioritizing provider education which will lead to better health outcomes for people living with dementia and their caregivers…We are grateful to our longtime congressional champions for their steadfast commitment on behalf of the millions of Americans living with this devastating and fatal disease.” This speaks volumes about the kind of impact that this increased funding will have and what kind of progress this kind of NIH money can represent when being put to such a good use.
As perhaps the most well-known Alzheimer’s and dementia organization, The Alzheimer’s Association funds a wide variety of research into Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, including research projects aimed to identify the disease's origins, preventative measures, and with ongoing perseverance, someday a cure. In aggressive pursuit of their vision of a world without Alzheimer’s, the Association made its largest-ever research investment in 2019 with more than 162 unique scientific investigations being funded by them. They also continue to hold their Walk to End Alzheimer’s events year after year, and have raised millions alone through this annual offering that draws so many loved ones to come out in support of this cause.
At Pacifica Senior Living, we, like you, look forward to a world without Alzheimer’s and dementia, a world where our award-winning LegaciesTM Memory Care program can be a thing of the past. We look forward to opportunities to share good news with you on this research front whenever it becomes available. However, as long as memory-loss conditions are a reality that we must continue to grapple with, we will continue to provide the high-quality care that your loved ones need in an environment that promotes wellness and engagement.
We invite you to call or send us an email today for more information about our LegaciesTM Memory Care or other care programs at Pacifica Senior Living communities across the country.
We’d love to welcome you to our family.
The LegaciesTM Memory Care program at Pacifica Senior Living Riverside is here to serve the Inland Empire by providing a warm and inviting environment for seniors coping with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions, and to provide peace of mind to their families. Our six stand-alone cottage style homes, each come with its own kitchen, dining, and living room, and of course, with secure front and back yards where residents can enjoy the outdoors.