Dementia is a general term describing a series of symptoms, often found in elderly adults, that inhibit the quality of daily life. These symptoms include forgetfulness, confusion, wandering, repetitive speech and more, and at a certain stage begin to tax the ability of person’s loved ones to care for them. When that time comes, a memory care facility can offer a caring, comfortable alternative with services to arrest the progress of the symptoms.

There are roughly six million Americans living with dementia, and yet most of us are unclear about what dementia is and how a memory care facility can aid those struggling with it.

Here are six myths and facts about dementia:

1. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the Same Thing

Dementia is an umbrella term to describe all symptoms of impaired thinking and memory that’s severe enough to inhibit daily life. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease – degenerative and incurable – which affects parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. Alzheimer’s comprises 50-70% of dementia cases.

2. If Your Parents Have Dementia, You Will Too

There is a genetic component to Alzheimer’s, but like all inherited traits, it doesn’t guarantee you share the propensity. Dementia, because the causes often are not known, is generally not thought to be inherited. In short, no one really knows whether they will suffer from dementia as they age until they do.

3. Losing Your Memory is Part of Aging

Dementia is not a natural part of aging, though it is not uncommon. Eating nutritious foods, avoiding processed foods, exercising regularly, keeping mentally engaged and generally maintaining good health are helpful to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. In short, a healthy heart and brain help keep dementia away.

4. Dementia is Caused by Concussions, Drug Abuse or Aluminum

Repeated concussions or long-term drug abuse may increase the risk of dementia, but research on this is not conclusive. The connection between aluminum cookware and dementia is a myth based on flawed science in the 1980s that was quickly debunked.

5. Gingko Biloba and Red Wine Prevent Dementia

If only that were true. There is no scientific evidence connecting gingko to dementia prevention. There is some evidence that resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine, may offer some protective qualities, but you would have to consume your body weight in wine every week to see any positive impact, a solution with disastrous side effects.

6. Dementia is Always Incurable

Remember, dementia is merely a description of symptoms. Depending on its cause, it can be arrested or even reversed. More often, because it is a progressive condition, there are steps caregivers can take to slow its advancement and compensate for lost cognitive abilities, especially in early stages. Professional caregivers at a memory care facility are experts in treatments that slow the onset of dementia, like brain fitness exercises and memory games. These and other activities help give residents satisfaction and a sense of purpose.

Nye Health Services offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call 402.753.1400 to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit nyehealthservices.com for more information.

All our adult lives we purchased the largest homes we could afford. We asked these homes to shelter us and raise our families and keep us comfy in the summer heat and winter cold. Every month we made that mortgage payment so we could stay.

But when we reach a certain age, oftentimes that home no longer meets our needs. Where we were once a family of four or five, now we’re a couple, or even an individual clanking around in all the empty spaces. Where once our pay grew steadily, now we’re on a fixed income and hoping our money sustains us through the years.

It may be time to downsize. Here are 7 benefits:

1. Get a Return on Your Investment

When seniors think about moving, they generally have paid off all or most of the house they’re leaving. Depending on whether you buy a smaller place or rent, you can take all or some of the value of your old home and live off it. How valuable this is to you is a matter of how the numbers work for your particular situation.

2. Lower Maintenance Costs

It’s not just a smaller mortgage payment that downsizing can bring, it’s lower utility costs, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance, repairs and taxes. The difference can easily add up to hundreds of dollars each month that can fund your retirement.

3. Ease of Access

Unless you lived in a sprawling ranch, your old home likely had more than one floor. Moving into a smaller place all on one floor eliminates stair climbing, a concern as we age. That might not be an issue today, but may become more relevant over time.

4. Less Maintenance Required

Downsizing to an apartment, condo or senior community eliminates the need to shovel snow, cut grass, clean gutters and so on. For aging adults who are active, this allows the freedom to travel and explore new opportunities. For those who are experiencing increased physical limitations, it’s even more valuable.

5. Live Near People Your Age

The entire neighborhood might have been your age when you moved into your single-family home, back when the kids were small and you were a younger parent. If your neighborhood is still filled with young families, this is an opportunity to move into a retirement village with other people your age who share your interests. These communities often offer housing that allows residents to remain in their homes as they age and require more services.

6. A More Convenient Location

As we age and our children move away, our needs change. If you purchased your home 20 or 40 years ago because of its proximity to work and good schools, you might today care more about being near cultural happenings, or around the grandchildren.

7. Better Amenities

People who move from a big house made for children built decades ago into an apartment, condo or townhouse often find they get the modern appliances and other amenities they’ve been missing for years. Moreover, they are the amenities suited to a senior lifestyle.

Nye Health Services offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call 402.753.1400 to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit nyehealthservices.com for more information.

Seniors have to relinquish so much – their youth, their eyesight, physical activities they enjoyed when younger and even dear friends and spouses. Often, they want to hold on to the treasures that remind them of the good times passed by.

But clutter has its price. It can interfere with basic tasks like cooking and cleaning, and often contributes to an environment more prone to falls. It can make it difficult to find needed items among all the memorabilia. It can cause mold and mildew, or simply collect dust. And, of course, it takes up space. So, it’s important for seniors to declutter.

Helping your loved one pare down their belongings requires diplomacy and a plan. If they are highly attached to their things, and the memories they represent, you’ll need to provide empathy and support.

Here are six considerations when helping an elder declutter:

1. Take Stock

Stuff has the exact value we assign to it. If something is very important to your loved one, it may be worth keeping even if it has no value to anyone else. At the same time, you won’t get any decluttering done if they deem everything important. Take a look at everything they have to get a sense of how much and what kind of items you’re dealing with.

2. Start One Room at a Time

Confucius said that even a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step. You may not be able to tackle it all, so start with one room and consider cleaning it up an accomplishment.

3. Use the Four Bucket Method

You can help your loved one part with things by adding value to their departure. Get four boxes and label them Keep, Friends, Donate and Trash. Divide their belongings into those four categories – things they cannot part with; things they want to give as gifts to friends and family; things that are no longer of use to them but might be of value to strangers; and things whose only value is sentimental but are otherwise junk. Encourage your elder to consider carefully in which box each item should go and offer guidance if they are inclined to dump junk onto friends, or avoid throwing anything away.

4. Give Them Time

Because some of the materials you encounter will have stories attached, give your loved one space to tell the stories and engage with the memories. It may not mean much to you, but it will to them.

5. Focus on Your Loved One

It’s critical that you monitor the physical and emotional toll the process is taking on them. If they are running out of gas, take a break or stop for the day. Even if they’re physically fine, keep a close eye on their emotional state. Don’t let it get to the point of overwhelming them.

6. See It Through with Them

Once you have everything categorized, follow through. Organize items from the Keep box to minimize the remaining clutter. Go with your loved one to give away the items to friends and family. Take them on the trip to Goodwill or the Salvation Army so they can see the donation completed. It will provide closure on those items and help them feel good about relinquishing things of value.

Nye Health Services offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call 402.753.1400 to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit NyeHealthServices.com for more information.