Episcopal Church Home - Louisville

The weather is warming up, which means summer vacation will be here before we know it. Whether you plan on hitting the road or flying the friendly skies, traveling with a parent or spouse who has Alzheimer’s or dementia can pose unique challenges. That doesn’t mean your traveling days are over, though. Taking trips can be a healthy way for your loved one to stay engaged and connected with the world around them.

Every month, Episcopal Church Home boasts a full calendar of activities for seniors. There’s always something going on—whether it’s a creative writing class or a round of BingocizeⓇ. Often, the line-up includes some form of intergenerational programming. And for a good reason: The therapeutic benefits of connecting older adults with young people are widely known. There’s no better example than our recent Girl Scout Tea Party.

Here’s a closer look at the event, along with how intergenerational programming supports the overall health and wellness of our community members.

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia provides many advantages, including access to treatment, the opportunity to participate in clinical trials and the chance to make healthy lifestyle changes that preserve cognitive function. There are also abundant social and emotional benefits—both for people with the disease and their loved ones. The takeaway? Being aware of early warning signs of memory loss can ensure that seniors’ unique needs are met.

According to researchers, though, one symptom is often overlooked: poor money management. Here’s a closer look into the issue, courtesy of a recent report from WKRC Local 12.

If you or an aging loved one was at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure or another major health concern, you’d probably urge the doctor to run a few tests, right? While most would agree, the same can’t always be said for dementia screenings. According to a special report from the Alzheimer’s Association, cognitive testing is routinely left out of senior checkups, resulting in significant medical, social, emotional, and financial consequences. Here’s a closer look at why this issue matters and what you can do about it.

Today’s personal care options for seniors are very different than those of 50, 25 or even 10 years ago. A perfect example of the beautiful new face of senior living? The impeccably updated Memory Care Center of Excellence at Louisville, Kentucky’s Episcopal Church Home. Residents moved into this new community in September upon completion of Phase I of the comprehensive renovation project, and have been enjoying the many benefits of living there over the past few months.

Here’s a closer look at what makes ECH’s Memory Care Center of Excellence a shining standout among person-centered care communities.

Many older adults voice a strong desire to “age in place.” However, while it’s sometimes possible to accommodate this preference through measures ranging from adaptive home remodels to in-home care services, the reality is that the time may come when it’s simply not safe for your aging loved one to continue to live alone. Wondering how you'll know when that time is imminent? Here’s a closer look at the issue.

All long-term care communities aren’t created equal. Which begs the question: How do you find the best fit for your loved one? Read on for a roundup of eight things to ask when choosing long-term care for your parent.

Aging.com recently declared senior living to be “the first priority every senior should have.” This advice isn't just relevant to seniors, though. It's also applicable to the adult children who love them. Indeed, personal care should be something you’re thinking about for your parents, likely sooner than you might realize. Here’s what you need to know about getting your aging loved one on a waitlist for senior care.

When residents gather at the Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshops® at Episcopal Church Home retirement community in Louisville, you can rest assured they will have questions. Their stories are filled with endless questions about what they have heard and seen, and the history they have witnessed over a lifetime. They have a story to share and feel they are the only ones who can write it.

Very often their stories prompt curiosity and even more questions amongst the group, though the class etiquette states that questions wait until the end. Many times, the ones that spring to mind are answered once the full story is revealed.

There are some days that I can’t get the motivation to call Mom on the phone. I never know how she will be. Will she be too tired, will she be confused, will she feel bad, will she be in pain? Some days it’s too stressful for me to make the call. Then comes the guilt...again. Feeling selfish.

She is so afraid. She is so afraid of forgetting...everything, everyone, herself. Afraid of the indignity that comes in the late stages of the disease.