Anthem Senior Gardens

Good dental hygiene and oral care habits are important at any age, but as we get older dental hygiene becomes even more critical as there are many problems that become more pressing in older adults, such as older adults are more likely to experience trouble with lost teeth, denture care, discoloration, and periodontal disease ( infections of the structures around the teeth, including the gums, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone). Sometimes elderly persons can overlook oral hygiene due to a lack of affordable insurance, mobility issues, etc. or practicing good oral care habits isn’t as easy as it once was due to arthritis and other conditions that make it harder to brush and floss the way one should. People often use these reasons as an excuse to let their oral hygiene fall to the wayside, which can lead to some potentially serious health problems besides oral health issues (such as heart disease- the bad oral bacteria can get into the bloodstream and make their way to your tic...

Though cognitive function of someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia may be declining, they still have abilities. The key to remaining active and maintaining skills longer is encouraging them to continue to do as much as they can at their current ability level. One doesn’t require a great memory to have fun, there are many things that offer us with pleasure and purpose. Meaningful activities- those that engage the person’s attention and connect with their interests- are very important for those living with dementia because of the fact that the condition can cause people to withdraw from activities and enjoyable interaction with family and friends. It is essential to maintain these relationships and interests to help them lead a better life. There are so many ways you can plan and provide appropriate activities for people with dementia, but make sure the activities play a role in boosting self-esteem, make up for lost abilities, maintain residual skills, offer an opportunity for enj...

It’s common for adult children to worry about the safety of their elderly parents’ driving, rightfully so, since it’s normal for driving abilities to change as we get older. Getting older doesn’t automatically mean that one shouldn’t be behind the wheel. An important part of maintaining senior health is by regularly monitoring their driving abilities because there comes a point for nearly everyone when driving on the road is no longer safe, particularly true for people who have age-related health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Loss of mobility, unfortunately, is one of the harshest realities associated with aging, which can be very difficult to assess or address. The biggest hurdle is to convince a loved one that it is time to surrender their driver’s license. There are no two ways about the fact that it is a sensitive topic, especially for seniors who fear losing their independence or being seen as incapable. But, the question is how to know when your paren...

Things tend to get weaker with age, and the immune system- your body’s defense system- is no exception. For older adults, having a strong immune system is important as they tend to get sick easier and take longer to recover from illnesses. No matter how old you are, there are steps people can take throughout their lives to keep their immune system going strong as they age with the most important step being leading a healthy lifestyle from eating right to exercising regularly to sleeping well, which can reap immense benefits for the immune system. Doctors are still trying to figure out exactly how and why the immunity decreases with age, what researchers do know is that most older adults are more likely to get sick, don’t respond as well to vaccines, and recover from injuries, infection, and illnesses more slowly. However, there’s no fixed age when immunity decreases, it varies for every individual. It highlights the importance of visiting your doctor regularly and get medical ...