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Deciding on a gift for someone living with dementia can be a bit of a challenge. You want to give your loved one something they will enjoy, but it can be difficult to think of things that are appropriate for changing abilities.

This guide from Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago will give you gift ideas for those in the early, middle, and late stages of dementia.

What to Know When Choosing Gifts for a Loved One with Dementia

No matter the stage or type of dementia your loved one is experiencing, you want to choose a gift that will bring joy while supporting their quality of life. These gifting guidelines should help make shopping for the right gift easier.

• Be respectful: Select gifts that are age-appropriate. Someone diagnosed with dementia would most likely be offended if given something geared toward a child. An easy-to-care-for plant or a blanket.

• Consider lifelong interests: Think about the hobbies, careers, or specific interests your loved one had prior to the onset of dementia. Someone who enjoyed going to football games would be thrilled to receive a signed ball.

• Focus on engagement: Gifts that prompt interaction provide your loved one with an activity and have therapeutic value. Sensory stimulation in the form of a visual, tactile, or auditory experience may help activate memory or improve cognition for some who have Alzheimer's disease. A music player with headphones, puzzles, or a digital photo frame are good gift ideas to consider.

Before shopping, check with other family members or caregivers to learn more about current interests. This will help ensure that your gift is well received.

Gift Ideas Depending on the Stage of Dementia

At any stage of dementia, a gift that brings your loved one enjoyment is the goal. A stage-appropriate gift will be safe and easy to use. 

Early-stage dementia

In early-stage dementia, cognitive impairment is usually mild. At this point, gifts can be similar to what they were given in the past. Consider asking your loved one for a suggestion, because it's not too late to get feedback on passions they have right now. A scrapbook or memory book that you put together yourself can bring hours of enjoyment and a connection to fun times as the memory begins to fade.

Middle-stage dementia

As symptoms become more pronounced, gifts should begin to focus on safety, navigating living space, and minimizing disruption. An easy-to-see clock with time, date, and day of the week is helpful, as is a talking alarm clock that can remind your loved one to take medication. Motion-detecting night lights can help with orientation and avoiding falls.

Late-stage dementia

As dementia becomes advanced, gift selection can be more difficult. Gifts that provide sensory stimulation, such as adult coloring books, robotic pets, and fidget toys, can offer hours of entertainment and comfort. 

Time spent with your loved one is a gift that will be appreciated at any stage. Watching a movie together or sitting outdoors in nature can be excellent for both of you. 

The Gift of Security

Keeping your loved one safe and secure during the changing stages of dementia is one of the best gifts you can give.

With four levels of care, Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago provides a social and stress-free environment for adults who require some level of assistance.

We can offer you or your family member a lifestyle of dignity, focusing on safety, mobility, and happiness.

Contact us today for more information or to schedule a tour.

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Chicago is filled with fun things to do for people of all ages. Museums, tours, music, shows, and great restaurants are what the city is known for.

To keep your grandchildren entertained in the Windy City, you have a variety of options. Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago here to show you some of the best Chicago has to offer.

Museums to Visit

Chicago has some of the most interesting museums in the world. When you live here, you can take your grandkids to several of them to learn about art, animals, the ocean, the history of the city, and a whole lot more.

Chicago Children's Museum

Interactive exhibits such as Treehouse Trails, WaterWays, and Dinosaur Expedition let children crawl, stretch out, and use all five senses at the Chicago Children's Museum. Located on Chicago's scenic lakefront, it is a goldmine of family-friendly things to do and see.

Shedd Aquarium

Kids can explore underwater worlds from across the globe at Shedd Aquarium. Behind-the-scenes tours and extraordinary animal encounters are just part of the fun.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

With exhibits that are sure to thrill young visitors and grown-ups alike, the Peggy Notebaert Museum features native animals, nature-inspired art, toddler-friendly play spaces, and an exotic butterfly house. Located on the grounds of Lincoln Park, kids can run and play among shady trees, blossoming flowers, and wildlife.

Lincoln Park Zoo

One of the nation's oldest zoos, Lincoln Park Zoo, is free to the public. Kids can enjoy an old-school carousel, locomotive rides, and the Farm in the Zoo next door. Here children have the chance to pet goats, ponies, and cows to experience a little country life in the city.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, houses a real-life U-boat, spinning tornadoes, plains, trains, and much, much more. Screenings take place in the five-story, wrap-around Giant Dome Theater.

Activities to Participate In

Chicago offers numerous indoor and outdoor activities that you can participate in with your grandkids.

Urban Adventure Quest

Urban Adventure Quest is a family-friendly scavenger hunt. The competition involves solving clues and completing challenges while learning about Chicago's local history.

Skydeck Chicago

At Skydeck Chicago, you can walk on air. Located in one of the tallest buildings in the world, Willis Tower, it features glass boxes that extend approximately four feet from the skyscraper's facade, over 1,300 feet above ground level.

Maggie Daley Park

Situated in the heart of downtown, Maggie Daley Park is one of Chicago's newest spectacular green spaces. This magical place is home to a Skating Ribbon, a mini golf course, a climbing wall, and a three-acre Play Garden created in the spirit of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland.

Indoor Skydiving

For teen and tween grandchildren, IFLY is the ultimate indoor body-lift experience. It's like skydiving without the sky.

Having a Family Meal in Chicago

Chicago has many family-friendly dining experiences that cater to little ones. Little Goat Diner serves a crowd-pleasing menu of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and shareable snacks, plus a separate kids' menu with mini-dogs, waffles, and more. Gino's East is a deep-dish pizzeria that lets kids write and draw on the graffiti wall to keep them busy before the food arrives. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba is a classic Chicago tapas restaurant offering the opportunity to expand youngsters' palates with easy-to-eat Spanish cuisine.

Experience the Neighborhood

When you live in Hyde Park, your grandchildren will love coming over for a visit. With all the things to do and see in Chicago, you'll always have fun places to visit with them.

Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago offers lakefront senior living with numerous amenities in an enviable neighborhood.

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The decision to transition to assisted living is a tough one. You or your loved one may want to maintain independence, but help is needed with daily tasks like preparing meals, shopping, and managing medication.

Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago is here to go over how assisted living can help increase the quality of life for older adults who need some level of personal assistance. Let's explore the key benefits.

A Supportive and Caring Community Environment

The goal of assisted living is to nurture. Residents of Montgomery Place receive the support required to get on with the business of living while enjoying a caring environment. The community aspect can be compared to a warm embrace complete with friendly faces, conversation, and a helping hand that is always nearby when needed.

Montgomery Place is not just a home where residents are looked after; it's a community where older adults are treated with dignity and respect and encouraged to enjoy life.

Social Opportunities and Activities

It is essential to remain active beyond retirement. Loneliness and isolation can take a toll on physical, mental, and cognitive health, thus leading to early decline.

One of the best things about assisted living at Montgomery Place is the opportunity it offers to socialize and stay active. Residents can join clubs, take classes, hear concerts, and attend lectures all within the community. No more boredom or being overwhelmed by too much free time. Older adults get to pursue passions, pick up new hobbies, and make new friends.

Relief for Family Caregivers

Caring for an older family member is a huge responsibility that can be both physically and emotionally demanding. At some point, family caregivers may not be able to continue to provide the level of support needed. Assisted living at Montgomery Place offers relief for family caregivers while ensuring the loved one's safety and well-being. By taking on some of the responsibilities, stress is reduced so that caregivers can maintain healthy relationships with their loved ones.

Enhanced Quality of Life for Residents

Montgomery Place fosters independence, social connection, and well-being. This ultimately leads to a richer, more fulfilling life for older adults.

Quality of life enhancements for residents include:

Amenities

To keep residents engaged, amenities such as an indoor swimming pool, a fitness area, a library, and an art studio are located on the grounds of Montgomery Place. Seniors can stay fit, learn new things, and have fun without having to leave the property.

Reduced Stress and Burden

Montgomery Place offers different levels of care. Daily chores like cooking and cleaning are attended to, with additional services being provided as needed. This takes the stress off residents while easing the worry of being a burden to others.

Enhanced Safety and Security

Montgomery Place provides staff presence and emergency call systems 24/7. A well-maintained environment minimizes the risk of falls and accidents and makes it easier for residents to be mobile. This provides peace of mind for seniors and their families.

Assisted Living in Chicago, IL

Located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago is one of the city's preeminent assisted living communities. We offer several levels of care options tailored to the individual to provide the highest quality of life for our residents.

Take a drone-guided virtual tour to experience both the community and the surrounding neighborhood, or contact us for an in-person visit.

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As we become older, staying active becomes even more important for maintaining independence and good health. A fitness tracker can help seniors stay motivated to keep moving in order to boost their well-being.

Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago is here to help you look at the benefits related to seniors tracking their fitness, along with a few suggestions for exercise.

Why Fitness Tracking Matters

Physical activity and regular exercise offers:

• Increased energy levels

• Reduced joint pain

• Better quality of sleep

• Increased brain health and cognitive function

• Stronger bones and muscles

• Reduced risk of chronic disease

• Improved mood, mental health, and quality of life

By tracking fitness daily, seniors can ensure that they are getting the correct amount of activity based on age, fitness level, and goals. A fitness tracker can be a powerful tool for helping seniors stay active and independent.

Fitness trackers not only measure exercise frequency and intensity, but they can also track steps, sleep, and heart rate. They play a substantial role in helping seniors age well by providing:

Personal Accountability

Personal fitness trackers monitor levels of progress based on preset goals or on what happened yesterday. Using notifications, they encourage users to move more than they did previously, walk another mile, or increase their calorie goals. Increasing fitness goals gradually can help seniors stay healthy and remain independent longer.

Goal Setting

No matter how basic or advanced personal fitness goals are, fitness trackers will meet seniors where they are. This aids in individually tailoring goals and monitoring success for the best results.

Sleep Monitoring

Adequate sleep is an important part of fitness, playing a crucial role in physical and mental health. Fitness trackers not only monitor when you fall asleep and when you wake up during the night, they let you know the amount of time spent in deep sleep. By gently reminding you to go to bed or waking you up, they give consistency to the sleep routine.

Encouragement

Most fitness trackers have a group dynamic where they let owners of the same brand of tracker compete against each other for the number of steps or time spent exercising. They help seniors stick to their fitness routines by letting them know someone is watching and encouraging competition.

Improved Heart Health

Fitness trackers provide information and give seniors an indication of their activity levels. Setting daily exercise levels is a great motivator to get out and move for better heart health.

Tips for Using Your Fitness Tracker

A quality fitness tracker doesn't have to cost much money. Once a good match is found, the following tips can aid in achieving health and wellness goals.

1. Set realistic goals. While most trackers recommend 10,000 steps daily, that number is only ideal for some. Set your own goals based on where you are currently, and increase it as you can.

2. Be consistent. For best results, a tracker should be worn every day. Set aside time when sedentary to charge it.

3. Socialize with other trackers. When friends and family members who have trackers set goals together, it creates a healthy spirit of competition and makes getting enough exercise fun.

4. Share successes. It's a good idea to check progress daily and share numbers with family members and health professionals. This serves as a visual reminder of how far you've come.

Your fitness tracker is an important part of your healthy lifestyle.

Ways to Stay Healthy

The best exercises for seniors promote specific aspects of well-being. Strength training, like bodyweight exercises and functional fitness routines such as calf raises, wall pushups, and small repetitive movements, help to improve balance.

Low-impact activities such as swimming, yoga, or cycling build the body and the bones without the risk of injury or joint pain. Water aerobics, swimming, and short walks are low-impact ways to improve cardiovascular health. Mobility exercises like neck stretches, shoulder rolls, knee extensions, and ankle rolls can help with retaining flexibility and agility to make everyday tasks more enjoyable and manageable.

Stay Healthy in Independent Living

To stay healthy in independent living in Chicago, Illinois, consider assisted living at Montgomery Place: Senior Living Community in Chicago. We offer several levels of care options to meet your or your loved one's needs.

Contact us today to schedule a tour.

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Older adults can get lonely. Family is far away, and you may be starting to outlive your friends. It can be tempting to stay in the house and hide. Acquiring a dog is one way to guarantee companionship and get you out and about. Dogs are one of the best pets for seniors because they encourage light exercise.

Not all dogs are good for seniors, though. We welcome dogs at Montgomery Place, and we are in the dog-friendly neighborhood of Hyde Park in Chicago - right on the lake and steps away from attractive parks. There are plenty of places for you and your dog to go, but what kind of dog should you get? Find out the best dog for seniors today.

The Best Dog Breeds for Seniors

You should choose a dog that is small and low maintenance. Larger dogs may be challenging for older adults to walk unless they are very well trained, which often requires an investment in both time and money.

Some of the best low-maintenance dogs for seniors include:

• Bichon Frise - moderate energy and grooming needs, but doesn't shed much.

• Boston Terrier - higher energy but very easy to groom...and love to cuddle.

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - these little dogs were bred to sit on ladies' feet to keep them warm on long carriage rides. They're affectionate, easy to train, and happy to sit on your lap forever.

• French Bulldog - quiet, doesn't need a lot of exercise, but is fashionable right now and can be expensive.

• Pomeranian - don't need too much exercise because of their size, but they do need a fair bit of grooming and can be noisy.

• Pug - affectionate, playful, and typically quiet, but can be stubborn.

• Yorkshire Terrier - tiny, barely shed, doesn't need much exercise or grooming.

There are lots of other breeds to consider, and, of course, you can also carefully select a mixed breed. Overall, you want low-maintenance pets that like to cuddle.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog Breed for Seniors

One factor is size. For the most part, seniors should choose a small dog breed that is not going to be capable of dragging them around on the leash.

If you are still fit and healthy, by all means, choose a dog that has energy and needs exercise, such as a Boston Terrier or a small poodle. If you are starting to have mobility issues, pick a dog that doesn't need a lot of exercise, such as a Yorkshire terrier or pug.

Grooming can also start to get difficult. For some seniors, it's best to pick a dog with a short or otherwise easily-maintained coat. Poodles require regular trimming, which costs money unless you can do it yourself or get help from a family member.

Lastly, consider the cost. French Bulldogs can be ridiculously expensive right now. You may pay less for a purebred puppy of a less fashionable breed. You can also adopt. If adopting a mutt, look for the same traits in the individual animal...check energy levels, coat type, size, etc.

One great option for seniors is to adopt an older dog mellowing and losing energy levels with age. As small dogs can live over a decade, it's also worth considering an older dog to reduce the chances of the dog outliving you. Breeders sometimes have adult dogs retiring from showing or breeding available, and this can be a fantastic way to get an older dog with a known personality who is already fully trained.

Worst Dog Breeds For Seniors

There's no such thing as a bad dog, but there are some breeds seniors are best off avoiding. These include:

• Labrador Retriever. Everyone loves a lab. But they are a large, high-energy breed that needs a lot of exercise.

• Border Collie. Border collies are dogs that need a job and often require expert training, or they will become destructive.

• Pitbull. Avoid any of the bully breeds. Many are very nice dogs, but they are hard to insure and often not accepted in complexes.

• Australian Shepherd. Similar to border collies. In general, avoid herding breeds, as they are smart, high energy, and get bored easily.

• Cocker Spaniel. Lots of energy, lots of training, and lots of grooming. They're also very prone to ear infections.

• Rottweiler. Another large dog, and often over-protective.

• Dalmatian. They shed all year and are generally high maintenance. Also, all AKC-registered Dalmatians have a genetic flaw that makes them prone to kidney stones.

Avoid large, high-energy breeds that are "smarter than you."

Interested in Montgomery Place?

Montgomery Place offers fabulous senior living that is also completely pet-friendly throughout the community. We provide long-term independent living for you and your dog and other pets for the elderly. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our community.

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Gardening is fun and has many health benefits, including for older adults. Gardening can alleviate stress, improve mood, and even help reduce blood pressure.

At our Chicago retirement community at Montgomery Place, we provide plenty of opportunities for older adults to "putter around in the garden" and enjoy the numerous benefits of gardening for seniors.

Seniors Gardening Helps Keep Them Active

As we get older, it becomes even more important to stay active. When seniors garden, it encourages them to get outside and do something physical without putting excessive strain on them. Even people with significant mobility issues can still garden with the right tools. Gardening for seniors helps preserve physical activity and, thus, overall health.

Gardening sessions should be kept short; seniors should stretch before gardening and stretch their backs and arms while working. But overall, gardening is a great way to maintain low, steady physical activity that supports health without straining an older adult's joints. It's a great way to work towards the recommended 30 minutes of exercise daily, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke and rebuilding strength and mobility.

It also "tricks" you into getting more exercise because you are focused on looking after the plants instead of "working out." This can help those who aren't particularly motivated to exercise.

Benefits of Gardening for Seniors

In addition to encouraging physical activity, gardening has several benefits for the elderly. Seniors gardening experience a variety of physical and mental health benefits, which include:

• Reduced stress. Gardening lowers levels of cortisol, which also affects blood pressure. Gardening is even better for reducing stress than curling up with a good book!

• Reduced depression. Gardening also increases levels of serotonin, a mood-improving chemical in the brain. Gardening is being used as therapy for people with mental illness.

• Increased levels of vitamin D. Spending time outside increases vitamin D levels. However, you should wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Increased vitamin D reduces the risk of heart disease, improves mood, and lowers the risk of calcium deficiency, which can cause depleted bone strength and increase the danger of a fall.

• Reduction in the risk of dementia. Studies have found regular gardening can reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 36%. Gardening can also help seniors with dementia experience an improved quality of life. We don't know why gardening reduces the risk of dementia, but it seems to work, and it probably has to do with improving dexterity, problem-solving, and sensory awareness.

• Potentially reduces isolation. In our community, seniors can work in community gardens, encouraging them to spend time with others.

• Improved bond with nature. Caring for plants helps people stay in touch with nature and the physical world. It also gives a sense of responsibility that can improve the mental health of older adults who may feel they have outlived their sense of purpose.

On top of these, there's also the benefit of getting out in the fresh air in general, which always improves mood and reduces agitation. Seniors in our community get access to private gardens and our greenhouses (allowing gardening even in Chicago's harsh winters).

Interested in the Montgomery Place Community? Contact Us Today to Schedule a Tour

Our community has beautiful grounds, including our private gardens and greenhouses, where seniors can benefit from gardening. If you are looking for a long-term home (we provide levels of care from independent living through skilled nursing and memory care), contact us today to schedule a tour of our community and amenities.

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