Category: News

The following material was provided by Brigitta Sharpe, attorney with the law firm of Guzman Kallheim Sharpe, PA, specializing in legal services to persons with disabilities, seniors and their families. Planning Ahead At some point, most seniors will need assistance making personal decisions, including managing finances and property. Some plan ahead for their possible incapacity,…

As anyone who has ever cared for another individual knows, caregiving can be a full-time job. When caring for someone with memory loss, the duties can be constant, from assisting with daily hygiene, providing meals and medications to transporting an individual to scheduled appointments, your life’s work can become the care of your loved one. …

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…

At times we all forget little details like where we placed our keys or we forget to buy an item on our grocery list. This is normal. Regardless of age, when we are stressed or fatigued it is not uncommon to forget the details. As a result many of us develop techniques that we use…

Are you worried about a loved one who may have a condition like Alzheimer’s? What kind of issues should be cause for concern? Experts in the field say that when people age, they typically need more time to learn and retain new information. There are times, however, when people experience memory loss that is not…

Recently, we gathered data on the use of psychotropic and other anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medications in programs like ours. The data shows the use of these medications is lower at Emerald Crest. We believe this is indicative of Emerald Crest’s philosophy, designed purposefully to create success and stability for residents. Combining a serene, easy-to-navigate environment, specialized daily…