Start 2024 with the dementia support resources and information you and your family need!
The Kensington Redondo Beach and South Bay Dementia Education Consortium welcomes you to our “Dementia Education Resource Fair with Our Expert Community Partners,” an event dedicated to providing expert guidance for families affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Join us on January 11th from 2 – 3:30 pm PST for our in-person event of expert-led workshops, covering topics from in-home care options to advanced care strategies.
RSVP today to secure your spot and take the first step towards empowering yourself with knowledge for dementia support.
Our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
Understanding dementia: types, signs, and symptoms
Dementia isn’t just one condition—it encompasses several types of cognitive decline disorders.
The most common type is Alzheimer’s disease, which affects memory and cognition.
Another type, vascular dementia, often occurs after a stroke and impacts problem-solving and focus.
Other types of dementia include:
- Lewy body dementia: Characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain that cause hallucinations and movement disorders.
- Parkinson’s disease dementia: Develops in the later stages of Parkinson’s. Involves memory and concentration problems, along with tremors.
- Frontotemporal dementia: Affects a person’s personality, behavior, and language skills. Early symptoms include personality changes and diminished speaking and writing skills.
- Primary progressive aphasia: Affects the ability to communicate and creates “word blindness” where a person doesn’t recognize sounds as words.
Signs and symptoms of dementia
Each type of dementia has its own set of symptoms and progression rates.
Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia often show a gradual cognitive decline, while Lewy body and Parkinson’s dementia include more physical symptoms.
Frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia, which gained widespread attention after the diagnosis of actor Bruce Willis, affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, severely impacting language and communication.
Importance of early detection of dementia
Early diagnosis allows loved ones and their families to plan and manage the disease more effectively.
At The Kensington Redondo Beach, our on-site nursing, higher staffing ratios, and specialized programs offer a comprehensive approach to dementia care.
Here’s how early detection aligns with our specific dementia support services:
- Nursing care: With nurses on-site, early detection allows for immediate and continuous medical monitoring and care.
- Rehab programs: Custom physician rehabilitation programs are more effective when started early to focus on maintaining mobility, cognitive abilities, and overall wellness.
- Personalized memory care programs: Our two unique neighborhoods for dementia support, Connections and Haven, provide targeted support depending on the stage of dementia, from the earliest stages to advanced stages. Early detection allows residents to be placed in the appropriate level of care.
- Therapeutic and social activities: Engaging in social and physical activities early in the disease can maintain cognitive and physical abilities, such as engaging in yoga, tai chi, golf outings, and arts and music classes.
- Family support and education: By providing education workshops such as our “Dementia Education Resources Fair” we can help families understand the progression of the disease while learning how to effectively support a loved one with dementia from the beginning.
- Advanced planning: Early diagnosis allows families to work with The Kensington’s team to plan for the future, including financial planning, legal considerations, and long-term care options.
Community resources at The Kensington Redondo Beach
- Support groups and counseling services
- Educational workshops for families and caregivers
- A bi-monthly dementia support group led by Lisa Bricker, Eldercare Consultant and Founder of Gently Guided, LLC
- Local organizations offering various dementia-related services
Comprehensive care management and in-home care options
We understand that our residents and families have a lot on their plate when they come to us. The Kensington Redondo Beach focuses on making dementia support as straightforward and comprehensive as possible.
Here’s what to expect when you allow us to care for your loved one:
- We create a care plan just for you and your loved one that details their daily care, medical needs, and activities.
- We ensure everything works smoothly together, from doctor’s appointments to daily routines.
- We’ll monitor your loved one to make sure things are going well and make changes if needed for optimum comfort and care.
- We Promise to love and care for your family as we do our own.
In-home care choices for dementia
For caregivers who are supporting their loved one with dementia in their own home, there are a few different in-home care choices to choose from:
- Agency care: This involves hiring caregivers through a licensed agency. The agency handles everything, including background checks, training, and scheduling. Just call the agency and they’ll send a trained caregiver who will visit your loved one’s home to assist with daily activities and medical needs.
- Registry care: A registry is a service that helps you find a caregiver, like a matchmaking service for caregivers and families. Caregivers are independent workers not tied to any agency.
- Private care: This is when you hire a caregiver independently without an intermediary, such as a registry. Think of hiring family members, friends, and neighbors who have caregiving support to provide in-home support for your loved one.
Choosing the right care and when to consider a community setting
While in-home care can be suitable for early stages or those with specific care requirements, there will be a time when a community setting, such as assisted living or memory care will be necessary.
You’ll want to include your loved one in the decision as much as possible, so a discussion early in their condition is always recommended.
Many senior living communities, such as The Kensington Redondo Beach, offer different levels of care:
- Assisted living: for seniors who need some help with daily activities. Good for people in the earliest stages of dementia who are mostly independent.
- Memory care: our two neighborhoods, Connections and Haven, provide more specialized care for the early stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s, to the moderate and advanced stages. These environments are designed to be easier to navigate, reducing confusion and the risk of wandering (sundowning).
Palliative care and hospice care
Think of palliative care as long-term planning right after the dementia diagnosis. It focuses on providing relief and comfort, and is combined with other treatments to aim or regulate the disease.
Hospice is for people in the final stages of dementia, typically with six months or less to live. The focus is on comfort care, pain relief, and emotional support rather than continuing medical treatments. Some individuals can come off hospice and continue to be healthy though.
The Kensington Redondo Beach: your partner in dementia support
At The Kensington Redondo Beach, we’re deeply committed to providing exceptional care for those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Located in the heart of sunny Redondo Beach, our community offers a nurturing and supportive environment for those dealing with memory loss.
Let The Kensington Redondo Beach be your guide and partner in dementia care.