The holistic pillar of the Optima Living Memory Care Program is framed by our Optima Living Brain Health Program which helps us understand you: your needs, story, feelings, and what makes you happy. Research suggests that by making the right lifestyle changes, the progression of memory loss can be managed. Let us show you how your quality of life can be improved through a program tailored to the needs of your mind, body, and spirit.
Mind
Sleep
Everyone requires a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep each night to foster optimal brain function and support our quality of life. A lack of sleep may contribute to feelings of confusion and disorganization which results in poor memory, concentration, and thinking. Lower quality of sleep also contributes to higher risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s, causing daytime sleepiness, confusion, and changes in mood or personality.
That is why here at Aster Gardens we will help you maintain a healthy sleep schedule and ensure you get the rest you need.
Meaningful Activities
Meaningful activities have a strong connection with our brain, unlocking words, emotions, and excitement within individuals. By engaging in activities that are meaningful to you, based on your needs, abilities, and interests, we strive to improve your brain health and challenge your brain to create and strengthen connections, increase attention, and enhance executive function and memory skills.
Some examples of these activities include:
• Arts and crafts
• Chair yoga
• Music classes
• Pet therapy
• Mind Triggers (brain health application)
Stress Management
In small doses, stress can act as a driving force to complete tasks, take initiative, and achieve goals. However, if stress is not managed correctly, it can cause damage to our brains and body, influencing mood, sleep, and digestion. Relaxing activities can help reduce stress and they are therefore an essential component of our Optima Living Memory Care Program. In addition, ensuring you feel heard, valued, and respected are key strategies our care partners are trained to prioritize, minimizing your stress and maximizing your happiness.
Body
Nutrition
Nutrition affects our physical and mental health including mood, thoughts, and energy. Adequate nutrition can help our body fight diseases, repair damaged cells, and manage some symptoms of memory impairment. Therefore, our Optima Living Memory Care Program will ensure that you are provided with a balanced diet that meets your likes, preferences, needs, and dietary restrictions. This will ensure your brain receives all that it needs to function optimally and maintain your health and well-being.
Physical Exercise
Our bodies are designed to move, regardless of age or ability. At Aster Gardens, we try to incorporate physical exercise into everyday activities for all individuals.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, physical exercise improves balance, reduces falls and injuries, helps individuals remain independent for longer, and helps prevent various medical concerns such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, cancer, and more. They recommend that all adults, including seniors, should participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity each week, so we will work with you to help you achieve your goals.
We understand that each individual has their own strengths, abilities, and capacity, so we will create an exercise program catered to you with achievable and measurable goals.
Health and Medicine
Qualified care partners including licensed nurses and care companions are on site 24 hours a day to provide care and support to everyone. A holistic and thorough conversation with you, your loved ones, and care partners will take place to gather information that captures what level of care is best suited for your needs, what your preferences are, what your strengths and abilities are, and what you need to achieve the quality of life you desire. Each of these components will help us produce an individualized daily living plan that suits your needs while keeping you safe and healthy at all times of the day.
Spirit
Meditation
Meditation can help foster spiritual connections and it is an important coping strategy for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, other related dementias, and other memory concerns. Meditation helps one explore the connections to one’s self, nature, the universe, or something greater. A spiritual discussion to better understand your connections and beliefs will be included in your individual daily living plan according to your desires. Meditation will also be incorporated into recreational activities through practices such as yoga and one-on-one support services when desired.
Religious Activities
Individuals living at Aster Gardens are welcome and encouraged to practice any faith they choose. Our team will support you in any way possible, whether it be through the facilitation of meetings with spiritual practitioners, organizing visits, or incorporating special celebrations and daily rituals into your daily living plans. We also value the relationships we have with our neighbouring religious centres, including the Park Pentecostal Church and Our Lady of Perpetual Health Roman Catholic Church to support those who choose to utilize their services.
The Optima Living Brain Health Program
Brain health is focused on lifestyle practices that improve brain function, including thinking, remembering, and planning, in order to reduce the risk of memory problems. To foster brain health, we developed the Optima Living Brain Health Program, informed by your mind, body and spirit, and tailored to your unique needs and desires.
This program will focus on five key areas known to influence your brain health:
• Sleep: Promote healthy sleeping patterns through monitoring and the control of factors that may contribute to poor sleep.
• Meaningful Activities: Provide individualized activities, carefully designed to match the skills, abilities, and interests of each individual.
• Stress Management: Help reduce stress through brain health exercises, discussion groups, meditation, and sensory stimulation exercises.
• Nutrition: Promote eating whole foods and a balanced diet.
• Physical Exercise: Promote an active lifestyle through activities that maximize movement.