What's a Quiet Room?

Are you hosting any holiday gatherings where you have invited elderly relatives who have health conditions? You have probably already thought about accessibility accommodations such as helping them into your home and ensuring they have access to a bathroom. Those elements are very important and should not be overlooked. 

 

Another element that should not be overlooked is how to make the overall

environment more manageable for your elderly loved ones, especially when there are health conditions to consider.

  • If someone has a chronic illness such as CHF or COPD, they may fatigue very quickly and need an opportunity to rest. 
  • If someone has edema in their feet or legs (swelling) they may need a chance to sit with their legs elevated. 
  • A stroke survivor may find the environment overstimulating and may need relief.
  • Someone with dementia may need some peace and quiet and a break from the noisy environment. 
  • Hearing aids may blur the sounds into a din so that individual voices are difficult to discern, and someone with hearing loss may need an auditory break.

To help facilitate these needs and more, you can create a Quiet Zone for your holiday gathering.

 

 

Part of the beauty of a Quiet Zone is that it can meet the needs of so many different health conditions. It is one solution that actually meets numerous needs simultaneously. It may even be appealing to younger family members too!

 

A Quiet Zone is a space dedicated to quieter interaction and less stimulation.  Ideally, the Quiet Zone would be a separate room, but if that’s not possible, then a nook or area can be allocated as the Quiet Zone.

 

The Quiet Zone should be less stimulating than the environment of the main event.  If there are Christmas carols blasting on repeat in the dining room, the Quiet Zone does not have any music. If the Christmas tree in the living room has blinking lights and a miniature train set zooming past, the Quiet Room has steady, ambient lighting that isn’t distracting.

 

While the main event likely includes loud chatter, many people speaking at once, laughing, and loud voices to be heard over the din, the Quiet Zone is where people can have one-on-one conversations that can be more easily heard and understood.  For relatives of any age, the chance to step away from the noise and engage in a more in-depth one-on-one conversation might be a welcome relief. 

 

Someone who tires easily in a crowded room of people might appreciate the relief of settling into the Quiet Room.  Other guests can then take turns, one at a time, visiting within the Quiet Room.  This way, everyone is supported to be part of the family gathering, but they can participate in a way that matches their individual needs. Having a space to retreat may allow people to reserve their physical and mental energy to join the group for dinner. 

 

The Quiet Room makes it possible to have a quick cat-nap if needed.  Giving the brain an extra boost of sleep can make the difference between enjoying the rest of the event, and just feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. Family members who are stroke survivors or who have dementia will particularly appreciate the opportunity to have a power nap. 

 

When the brain has been impacted by stroke or dementia, part of the brain may not be working the way it once did. The remaining parts of the brain are functioning on overdrive to compensate for the losses. Those over-active brain areas tire easily and benefit enormously from rest. A Quiet Room creates the space and permission to invite such guests to rest their brains when they need it most.

 

This holiday season, consider creating a Quiet Room for large family gatherings.  The Quiet Room will be a retreat space to ensure that all your guests find the event manageable and can enjoy it fully.

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April is Parkinson's Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about Parkinson's disease and show support for people living with the condition, their families, and caregivers.

 

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects the movement of the body. While Parkinson's disease primarily affects movement, it can also lead to cognitive changes and even dementia in some cases. The exact mechanism by which Parkinson's disease causes dementia is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to the spread of Lewy bodies in the brain.

 

 

What are Lewy Bodies?

Lewy bodies are abnormal protein deposits that accumulate in the brain cells of people with Parkinson's disease. They are also found in the brains of people with other types of dementia, including dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

 

The spread of Lewy bodies in the brain can lead to damage in multiple areas, including the areas responsible for memory, attention, and language. This can result in cognitive changes such as memory loss, difficulty with planning and organizing, and changes in mood and behavior.

 

How WE support people living with Parkinson’s

It is important for people with Parkinson's disease to monitor their cognitive function and work closely with their healthcare team to manage their symptoms and prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

 

Exercise

Regular exercise can help improve mobility, balance, and flexibility in people with Parkinson's disease. It can also improve mood and overall wellbeing! It’s easy to regularly exercise when there’s an encouraging person and that’s what Warm Embrace caregivers do. Learn more about our services.


Healthy diet

A balanced and healthy diet can help manage Parkinson's disease symptoms. Meal prepping and cooking are exhausting tasks and after a long week, it’s nice to have an extra set of hands to help. We have incredible caregivers at Warm Embrace who will coordinate meals for the week.


Respite care

Caring for a loved one is exhausting and can lead to burn out. Respite is an important part of self-care! Prevent burn out by contacting Warm Embrace to learn more about our Respite Care services.  

 

In honour of Parkinson’s Disease Awareness month, take the time to learn more about Parkinson’s and raise awareness online to your family and friends. If you or know of someone who has Parkinson’s and need support, you are not alone! At Warm Embrace our mission is to empower the elderly to experience fulfillment through dignified care. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

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