When Are Memory Problems Serious?

We all forget things occasionally, but when do lapses in memory signify something more serious?

Basically, a memory problem is serious if it affects your daily living. Also, normal memory loss doesn’t get worse over time. Memory loss caused by disease, such as Alzheimer’s, gets progressively worse over months or years.

Alzheimer’s disease starts by changing recent memory and progresses to the point where it affects all memory as well as the ability to learn and communicate.

Following are the ten common signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

1. Recent memory loss. People with dementia may repeatedly ask the same question, forgetting not only the answer, but the fact that they’ve already asked the question.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble doing something they’ve done all their life-like preparing a meal.
3. Problems with language. Someone with Alzheimer’s may forget words or substitute inappropriate words, making them difficult to understand.
4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s can become lost on their own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get back home. They may not know or understand what day of the week it is.
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Someone with Alzheimer’s shows decreased judgment such as wearing a heavy, winter coat on a summer day or going out in cold weather in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt.
6. Difficulty with abstract thinking. Alzheimer’s makes it difficult for people to perform tasks such as balancing their checkbook or doing simple math problems.
7. Misplacing things. Alzheimer’s patients not only misplace things, they put things in inappropriate places such as their wallet in the refrigerator or their car keys in the sugar bowl.
8. Changes in mood. Alzheimer’s can cause rapid and wide swings in mood-going from smiles to tears and back again for no apparent reason.
9. Personality changes. Alzheimer’s can cause dramatic changes in personality making a person withdraw, suspicious, fearful or irritable.
10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s may become very passive, refusing to do even the things they used to enjoy.

Fulton Manor offers immediate admissions to its memory care centers. Call 616-643-2639 for assistance or more information.

March 27th, 2009 | Posted in Fulton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter

Entrance Fees Slashed! Save up to $45,000 with Spring Fling Savings.

Launched in late February, Holland Home has reduced the entrance fees of Breton Terrace (apartment suites) and Breton Homes (cottages) by an average of 18%!

“Real estate analysts report that home values in our area have decreased between 15-20%,” said Chris Nicely, vice president of marketing. “Our discounts make it possible for seniors to decrease the values of their homes to meet current market conditions, hence, an even financial transaction for them.”

Spring Fling Savings reductions range between $15,900 up to $45,000. These one-of-a-kind discounts are on a first come, first served basis and are only for a limited time.

For eligibility, residents must pay the entrance fee in full by June 1, 2009. To that end, Holland Home partners with Huntington Bank for bridge loan options for seniors, making it unnecessary to sell their current homes right away.

For more information, contact our Sales & Information Centre at 616-643-2730.

March 16th, 2009 | Posted in Breton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter

Home Buy-Out Program Update

To date, approximately 60 residents have benefited from Holland Home’s exclusive Home Buy-Out Program.

“Given the current economic times, retirement communities must be innovative and take risks in order to truly meet the needs of seniors in 2009,” said Chris Nicely, vice president of marketing. “We’ve been serving for over 116 years and haven’t gotten this far by sitting on our heels.”

The Home Buy-Out Program uses Greenridge Realty to aggressively market an existing home, pricing it competitively based on objective data, and monitors the home’s progress. If the home does not sell within six months, Holland Home will buy the property for 91% of the final appraised value.

The Home Buy-Out Program can only be used for new sales at Breton Ridge.

For more information, contact our Sales & Information Centre at 616-643-2730.

March 16th, 2009 | Posted in Breton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter

Wellness Series

You are invited to join us for an informative talk by Marilyn Schutter, RNC on “The Aging of Your Brain–Keeping a Sense of Self.”

As life spans continue to increase, individuals can use the latest research to remain healthy and keen in the business of living.

Light refreshments to follow.

Raybrook Manor - Friendship Room – 2121 Raybrook Street, SE  – RSVP: 616-235-5112

March 10th, 2009 | Posted in General | Share this on Facebook or Twitter

Spring Open Houses on Fridays!

With spring in the air, we’re flinging open our doors on our Breton Woods campus this April and May with a series of Friday Open Houses. You are welcome to join us for a tour of our new building, Breton Ridge, and some light refreshments, anytime from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The dates are April 3, 20, 17, 24 and May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Breton Ridge is located on our Breton Woods campus (north of 44th Street off Breton) at 2772 Pfeiffer Woods Drive. For more information, please call 616-643-2730.

March 5th, 2009 | Posted in Breton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter

Taste of Tuscany

Please join us for a delicious Italian lunch on Friday, March 27 at 11:30 p.m. Tours of our new building, Breton Ridge, will follow.

Breton Ridge – Il Ristorante
2772 Pfeiffer Woods Drive
Grand Rapids 49512
(Our Breton Woods campus is located north of 44th Street, off Breton)
RSVP by March 20 to 616-643-2730

March 5th, 2009 | Posted in Breton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter