Celebrating the Holidays with Dementia: A Guide from Park’s Place Memory Care

Discover practical tips for celebrating the holidays with loved ones who have dementia. Learn from Park’s Place Memory Care how to make these moments joyful and comfortable.

Introduction

The holiday season is a time of joy, warmth, and family gatherings. However, for families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, it can also bring unique challenges. At Park’s Place Memory Care, we understand these challenges and are here to offer guidance and support to make your holiday celebrations as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Understanding the Needs of Individuals with Dementia During Holidays

Dementia can significantly impact how a person experiences the holidays. The hustle and bustle, while festive, can be overwhelming. It’s crucial to adjust your expectations and create a dementia-friendly environment. This includes keeping routines as regular as possible and minimizing overly stimulating activities.

Practical Tips for Visits and Outings

When planning visits or outings, consider the best time of day for your loved one. Smaller, quieter gatherings are often more enjoyable than large, noisy parties. Keep activities simple and familiar, like looking through old photo albums or listening to favorite music. Our team at Park’s Place Memory Care can offer personalized advice for your specific situation.

Recognizing Signs of Stress and Overload

It’s important to watch for signs of stress in your loved one, such as agitation or confusion. If these occur, provide a quiet space for them to relax. Remember, it’s okay to take a break and step away from festivities to ensure their comfort.

Engaging Activities for the Holiday Season

Engaging in simple activities can make the holidays special. Consider crafts that evoke memories, like decorating a family photo frame. Music is also a wonderful way to connect, as it can trigger happy memories and emotions. These activities align with the care approach at Park’s Place, where we focus on creating meaningful experiences for our residents.

The Role of Park’s Place Memory Care

At Park’s Place Memory Care, we specialize in providing compassionate, personalized care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our experienced staff are trained to understand the unique needs of our residents, making us an ideal partner in your caregiving journey. We invite you to contact us for more information or to schedule a visit to see how we can help make your holidays, and every day, better.

Conclusion

While the holidays can be challenging for those caring for loved ones with dementia, with understanding and patience, they can also be a time of joy and nostalgia. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Park’s Place Memory Care is here to support you every step of the way, ensuring that the holiday season is enjoyable for everyone.

Community Leaders Join Us for Lunch at Parks’ Place Memory Care

At Parks’ Place Memory Care, we believe in the power of community. We recently had the distinct honor of hosting a group of esteemed community leaders for a special luncheon at our facility. This event was about sharing a meal, opening our doors and fostering connections with the community we proudly serve.

Among the distinguished guests were the Plymouth Chief of Police, Eric Fadden, and the former Mayor, now a dedicated Met Council member, Judy Johnson. They, along with ten other influential business leaders, graced our dining hall, making the event truly memorable.

Our very own Chef Garrett outdid himself, preparing a lunch that was both delicious and visually appealing. The meal was a great example of the high standards and quality food we serve every day at Parks’ Place.  We take pride not just in our care but in every aspect of our residents’ experience.

The highlight of the luncheon was a heartfelt presentation by Karen Parks. She shared the mission and vision of Parks’ Place, providing our guests with a deeper understanding of our commitment to excellence in memory care. It was an opportunity for our guests to hear about our dedication to providing a nurturing environment for our residents and the passion that drives our team.

Our attendees didn’t just hear about our values; they witnessed them. They saw firsthand the love, care, and dedication our staff bring to Parks’ Place every single day. It was a vivid demonstration of our ethos in action, and we hope it left a lasting impression on our esteemed guests. It was a testament to our reputation as a leading memory care facility in Plymouth, Minnesota.

In conclusion, we are grateful for the opportunity to connect with community leaders and share the Parks’ Place story. We remain committed to being an integral part of the community, and we look forward to more such engagements in the future.

Celebrating Father’s Day at Parks Place Memory Care: A Heartwarming Event



Introduction:

At Parks Place Memory Care, we honor and celebrate the extraordinary men and fathers who have touched our lives. On June 16th, we hosted a special event, “Breakfast with the Guys,” to commemorate Father’s Day in a truly memorable way. Join us as we reflect on the heartwarming moments and explore how Parks Place consistently goes above and beyond to honor our residents and provide engaging activities.


Honoring Fathers and Men:

“Breakfast with the Guys” was a heartfelt tribute to our fathers and men, acknowledging their invaluable contributions and the love they bring to our lives. We believe in going the extra mile to make our residents feel cherished, and the event allowed us to express our deep appreciation for their presence in our community.

Providing Unique and Engaging Activities:

At Parks Place Memory Care, we strive to create a vibrant and engaging environment for our residents. “Breakfast with the Guys” was just one example of the many special activities we organize throughout the year. From themed parties and creative workshops to family carnivals and personalized experiences, we are dedicated to providing unique opportunities that bring joy and fulfillment to our residents’ lives.

The Power of Meaningful Connections:

“Breakfast with the Guys” showcased the power of connections and the strong sense of community at Parks Place. It was a moment for our residents, staff, and the Plymouth First Responders to come together and forge new bonds. Stories were shared, creating an atmosphere of warmth, gratitude, and togetherness.

Conclusion:

“Breakfast with the Guys” was a heartwarming event that celebrated the cherished fathers and men at Parks Place Memory Care. With a delicious spread of pancakes and bacon, we delighted in the simple joys of shared meals and meaningful conversations. This event exemplified our commitment to honoring our residents and providing engaging activities that enhance their overall well-being.

At Parks Place Memory Care, we continue to seek out opportunities to create unique experiences and foster connections among our residents and the wider community. Through our dedication and personalized approach to memory care, we strive to make each day special and meaningful.

Join us in celebrating fatherhood and the incredible men in our lives. To learn more about our personalized memory care services and the engaging activities we offer, please visit our website. Be a part of our community where love, respect, and cherished memories thrive.


Discover the exceptional care and engaging activities at Parks Place Memory Care. Visit our website today to learn more about our personalized memory care services and how we honor and celebrate the remarkable individuals in our community.

Celebrating the Summer Solstice with a Memorable Carnival at Parks Place Memory Care

The summer solstice carnival at Parks Place Memory Care was truly a night to remember! I had the pleasure of attending this wonderful event, and I have to say I was blown away by the joy and laughter that filled the air.

Delicious Treats: Our culinary team served up tasty treats, including corn dogs and various snacks and beverages. The blue raspberry snow cone was a crowd favorite, providing a refreshing and sweet dessert option.

Balloons, Caricatures, and Fun: A talented balloon artist delighted guests with their creative balloon twisting, making a variety of shapes such as flowers, puppies, and more. Our caricature artist captured the unique characteristics of each person in their drawings, providing a personalized keepsake. Due to popular demand, we plan to invite the artist back for future events.

Games, Prizes, and Rubber Duckies: Guests and residents enjoyed the friendly competition at our carnival games, including Plinko, flick the Chicken, and a rubber duckie matching game. Winners received exciting prizes, adding to the fun and excitement.

Temporary Tattoos and Expressive Art: Our dedicated volunteer offered a selection of temporary tattoos, allowing residents and guests to express themselves with colorful designs. From unicorns and dinosaurs to Marvel characters and flowers, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Melodies and Music: The duo Amy and Adams provided live music, creating a pleasant atmosphere and enhancing the overall enjoyment of the event.

A Night to Remember: The summer solstice carnival was a resounding success, thanks to the efforts of our dedicated staff and the enthusiastic participation of our residents, families, and friends. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who made this event truly special.

At Parks Place Memory Care, we continuously strive to create engaging and memorable experiences for our residents. Our goal is to bring joy, connection, and lasting memories to their lives. We invite you to join us for future events as we prioritize the well-being and happiness of our residents.

Thank you to all who contributed to the success of the summer solstice carnival. We look forward to creating more treasured moments together!

Discover the vibrant events at Parks Place Memory Care. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment to providing exceptional care and creating joyful experiences for our residents and their families.

Mother’s Day at Parks’ Place During a Pandemic

Mother’s Day was a tough but joyful day for our moms and their families.  It was a tough day as we were physically distant from our loved ones, but joyful as we found other ways to connect and show our love.

Feeling Loss

During this time, all of us are feeling loss.  Loss of birthday parties, sporting events, graduations, and loss of spending time with our mothers on Mother’s Day.  Each moment spent together is precious, even more so in memory care as dementia creates an unpredictable future. 

Bitter-sweet, but more sweet than bitter

We knew from the start that this would be a tough day for our residents and their families.  We decided to have a staff member totally dedicated to our moms on Mother’s Day.  Our families were informed that we would be able to facilitate virtual visits, flower and gift delivery, and anything else in-between for their moms on Mother’s Day.  Our virtual visit schedule filled quickly and families informed us of when they would be stopping by with gifts.

On Mother’s Day the virtual visits were bitter-sweet, but more sweet than bitter.  While it was tough for our moms and their families to not be with each other physically, technology like FaceTime and Zoom helped us to feel connected. 

The virtual visits were full of smiles, laughter, and happy tears.  Our staff was brought to tears frequently during the visits at the outpouring of love from the families to their moms.  Many of our mothers showed their loved ones the gift and flower deliveries they received.  But the gifts and flowers were mainly afterthoughts, our moms were really only interested in spending time with their families and seeing their smiling faces.  The time together was truly what brought the most joy to the day.

From Parks’ Place to our moms

Parks’ Place also wanted to show our moms how much we love them so we had a flower delivery for each of them with a card.  We also had a special Mother’s Day treat at lunchtime.  The final thing we did with each of our moms was actually more of a gift to their family.  We made a video of each mother saying what they loved best about being a mom and sent it to their family.  For our mothers whose dementia is a little more advanced we made simpler videos saying thank you for the gifts and cards.  Our families did not know we were making the videos and were so surprised when they received them.

A heartfelt day

Although this was not the Mother’s Day anyone would wish for, it turned out to be a pretty wholesome and heartfelt day.  Our moms were able to spend time with those who call them “mom” and felt their love and support even at a distance.

We are hoping that Mother’s Day 2021 we can welcome all of our families into our home and celebrate with them in-person!

Parks’ Place Memory Care is a privately owned assisted living home, specialized and specifically designed for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  Our home is for people of any stage of dementia so they are able to age-in-place in their home.  For tours, general information, or admission inquiry, please contact Kaitlin Kelly at 612-358-3725.

WCCO-TV Features Parks’ Place Memory Care

Parks’ Place: Memory Care Redefined was featured on WCCO recently, sharing the extraordinary journey of the Parks family, who built Parks’ Place after their husband and father received a diagnosis of Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s. Our care community can accommodate 36 residents and offers a meaningfully planned environment and programming that focuses on abilities rather than disabilities—along with staff members who are passionate about providing highly personalized care to the people they serve.