Author: shawneeprewett

Witnessing the change of seasons is one of the most beautiful aspects of living here in Minnesota. Every season has its stirring beauty, from the vibrant greens of spring, to the silvery hot sunny days of summer, to the fiery colors of cool autumn days. Even winter, the longest (and sometimes most dreaded) season in…

When Theresa Klein was in high school, her grandfather began showing signs of Alzheimer’s and moved in with her family. There was little understanding of Alzheimer’s then, and “it felt very isolating,” says Theresa. She later became an occupational therapist and helped create a new model for memory care at Augustana Care’s Emerald Crest. Theresa…

Emerald Crest’s Occupational therapy program offers direct care staff and families a better understanding of their loved ones cognitive capacity and needs to enable them to be successful at their highest level with day to day activity.  Here are a few important programming considerations when choosing a memory care community. Does the community have a…

Early diagnosis is key to crisis prevention and treatment planning. Knowing when to seek medical help or place a loved one in a senior living facility is one of the most difficult decisions an individual can make. For individuals without a serious medical condition, sometimes it is hard to tell when help is needed. What’s…

Those with significant memory loss may have a condition often referred to as dementia. Dementia is not a disease but a group of symptoms that include memory loss, confusion, and loss or decrease in cognitive skills such as judgment, problem-solving, decision-making. These symptoms must be consistent and severe enough to affect day-to-day functioning to be…

Cognitive Clinical Specialist Theresa Klein of Emerald Crest calls for an end to stereotypes about people who need memory care in her opinion piece in the Sun Sailor.

Emerald Crest by Augustana Care designed a sensory worship service specifically for people with conditions that result in memory loss (like Alzheimer’s). While it’s not uncommon for people with cognitive/memory loss to engage in singing a familiar hymn or praying a familiar prayer, a new sensory-based worship service is allowing people with memory loss to…