Blog & Articles
Knowledge and understanding are powerful tools. We strive to be a trusted resource in our local communities for people impacted by dementia while being a guiding voice in the senior living industry through thought leadership and education.
11-01-2022
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Bella Groves
What the Media Gets Wrong: Understanding Dementia Through Film
According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people worldwide live with dementia. However, dementia still retains a stigma that draws from the unknown aspects of the condition. It’s difficult to trace the origins of this stigma. Perhaps it stems from a fear of uncertainty since there is no known cure or progressive form…
10-15-2022
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Bella Groves
How Coping with a Dementia Diagnosis Can Feel Like Grief
In 1969, Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross released her best-selling book, “On Death and Dying.” Although many medical strides had been made, and treatments had become commonplace, doctors during the 1960s were adamant about finding ways to stall death and disease diagnoses. They were rarely honest regarding bad news, often failing to tell patients that treatments…
10-01-2022
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Bella Groves
Dementia and Sensory Changes
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, many questions can arise regarding the changes one can expect in personality, behavior, and even physically. Mostly, the effects of dementia tend to be associated with cognitive function – memory, judgment, communication, etc. While dementia does affect the entire brain over time, it’s essential to understand that as…
09-15-2022
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Bella Groves
Dealing with Dementia: How To Handle Changes to Your Relationships
When someone you love is living with dementia, it can impact the dynamics of your family relationships. Conflicts can arise as your family faces changes to their roles and responsibilities, and navigating through these challenges can be difficult. One of the most significant changes may be your relationship with the person living with dementia. For…
09-01-2022
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Bella Groves
Explore the Positive Impact Music Can Have in Dementia Care
Music is a powerful thing. It can make us happy, provide us comfort, motivate us, or help us relax and sleep. It can transport us back in time, clear our minds, and boost our mood. There is a song for every emotion and occasion. And these benefits can impact anyone, including a person living with…
08-15-2022
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Bella Groves
How to Discuss a Major Life Event with a Person Living from Dementia
For some reason, people have an instinctual response to lie to a person living with dementia. People don’t want to upset a person with dementia, confuse them, or, in some cases, simply take the time to discuss difficult topics with them, so they instead tell little white lies or “therapeutic lies.” Too often, people focus…
08-01-2022
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Bella Groves
How Bella Groves Engages Residents to Promote Dignity & Joy
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we are motivated by five basic needs. These needs are often displayed as a pyramid, starting with basic needs at the bottom and fundamental needs at the top. Physiological Needs: shelter, food, air, water Safety Needs: sense of security and safety Love and Belonging: feeling wanted by others and…
07-15-2022
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Bella Groves
Creating Meaningful Activities for a Person Living with Dementia
When caring for someone living with dementia, a common question is how to offer them engagement that is appropriate and meaningful. People living with dementia are not children, and they should not be treated as such. They are parents, spouses, siblings, and friends who have lived full lives, and they need opportunities that allow them…
07-01-2022
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Bella Groves
How to Talk About Driving with a Person Living with Dementia
Driving is a complex operation that requires many different skills. For a person living with dementia, continuing to drive may pose serious health and safety risks for themselves and other people on the road. For this reason, it is important to have a transparent and compassionate discussion with your family member about retiring from driving.…
06-15-2022
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Bella Groves
5 Questions to Ask Your Dementia Care Community
Finding the right dementia care community for your family is one of the most important decisions you will make. We know there are a lot of factors to consider, and some families may not know where to start. We’ve created a list of questions to ask a dementia care community to ensure it is the…