“What gives me hope, is the fact that when Marcia moved here, immediately people surrounded her and bonded with her,” reminisces Garry Wright, the husband of a memory care resident at Villa at Terracina in Naples, Florida. “When I actually went to leave, she didn’t say ‘Take me with you, where are you going?’ and that made me feel very good.”

Anti-gravity treadmills are changing the way clinics, rehabilitation and wellness centers are providing therapy to people with mobility issues, especially seniors.

Lorna Diola, a physical therapist at Westchester Gardens, says her patients feel secure and are able to walk longer without fear of falling. "It assists them in getting a good cardio workout that they would be unable to achieve walking with a rolling walker due to pain and shortness of breath," she says.

“When you are taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s, at some point in time, you know little things are going to start getting worse,” says Garry, the husband of a memory care resident at Villa at Terracina, a memory care community in Naples, Florida. “For me, one of those was the first time she wandered. So, I had to make that decision, the hardest decision of my life.”

Maintaining a sense of independence is significant for aging seniors. They want to drive themselves to doctor's appointments, church, the bank or grocery store. They often want to stay in the comfort of their own home, but challenges such as falling and forgetting to take medication can make that more difficult. So, what are some ways to help mom and dad stay home longer while ensuring their safety?

Animal and pet therapy has long been recognized as calming and soothing for seniors — especially those in dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Many senior living communities sponsor animal therapy programs, where residents can interact with animals periodically. While those programs are wonderful, they depend on the availability of the animals — which can be limiting. That’s where Companion Pets come in.

It’s no surprise that caregivers need care, too. That’s especially true for professional caregivers, as Katie Westberg, National Director of Life Enrichment for The Goodman Group points out. “In senior living and health care, there’s a high percentage of stress and burnout in the workplace," she says. "That can lead to higher turnover, and we don't want to see that. We want to take care of our team members.”

“Oh gosh, they are awesome – from the housekeeper to the nurses,” exclaims Wendy Wells, daughter of a resident at Terracina Grand, a senior living community in Naples, Florida. “They really embrace the residents and make them feel at home.”

As life spans continue to increase, more and more seniors are moving into senior living communities as couples — rather than individually. That, of course, is wonderful. At the same time, it can present some logistical questions. Especially for couples moving into assisted living. Some questions may be, “What happens if each person has different care needs?” This is a common occurrence, and there are solutions.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six in ten people with dementia will wander. It is a common occurrence. However, the term wandering isn’t always an accurate description of what’s really going on. Most people with dementia — just like those without dementia — have a purpose in mind when they set out on a walk. It just may be that their purpose gets waylaid.