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Ten Tips for Talking to Loved Ones with Dementia

• Recognize that they have a disease. Remember that your loved one is not intentionally trying to make your interaction with them difficult.

• Avoid distractions. Find a quiet place to talk with your loved one. You can also attend a program together. This is helpful, if you are struggling to maintain a conversation.

• Speak slowly, clearly, in a calm voice. Use short sentences and provide your loved one time to absorb the information. Sometimes information has to repeated several times for them to understand it.

Looking at Life from Both Sides

Some of the lyrics from Joni Mitchell’s song, Both Sides Now, describe my feelings about having my Mother living at our assisted living community, Toby Weinman Assisted Living Residence:

“I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all”

Learning Never Gets Old

Last year, Menorah Manor introduced a brand new program for our residents called Menorah Manor YOUniversity. Dubbed as offering “higher education with YOU in mind,” the goal of YOUniversity is to fulfill the Jewish mitzvah of lifelong learning by bringing scholars from throughout the Bay Area to teach college- level subjects in “bite-sized pieces” to our residents.

Both Sides of the Coin

Today is my father’s birthday. Well, it would have been his 94th birthday. He passed away in 2014 at the Samson Nursing Center. I am one of the people that has experience on both sides of the coin at a skilled nursing facility. I just celebrated my 10th anniversary working here, and I have had both my parents live here. That gives me an interesting perspective. I have been a family member and have experienced the joys and sorrows of having my mom and dad in an institutional setting.

What is your Mitzvah Report?

I think of my Father, of blessed memory, every day, but I especially think about him when Shabbos is approaching. My family, including my children and my sister’s children, always had Shabbos dinner together while the kids were growing up. When we finished lighting the candles and saying the Shabbos prayers, my Father would go around the table and ask each of his five grandsons to give a “mitzvah report,” an accounting of any good deeds they had performed the prior week.

A Note From Donna Perryman, Our Chief Financial Officer

We were introduced to a lovely couple at last year’s Hanukah dinner. They had been residents for a couple of years living in our assisted living. After our dinner, I made sure to say “hello” whenever I was in the building and enjoyed our chats. I was fortunate enough to have photos shared with me recently from their wedding some 70 years ago. She was a war bride and he a young soldier. The photos were amazing. What they went through was amazing.

Weinman Residents Learn about Technology with Tablets

Residents at The Toby Weinman Assisted Living Residence have been learning about technology from Mr. Art Kupperman, of My Senior Portal, for two months.

Tablets were purchased for residents who wanted to participate and Mr. Kupperman is teaching them the necessary skills.

Now residents are able to chat with their families online from the comfort of their rooms, play games on their tablets to increase their cognitive function, read e-books, read the latest news headlines and more!

Special Friendship Made at The Samson Nursing Center

Meet Anna and Arlette, residents of The Bernard L. Samson Nursing Center. Anna, born in Massachusetts, moved to The Samson Nursing Center in October 2013 to be closer to her daughter. Arlette, born in Minnesota, came to The Samson Nursing Center in November 2014 after having several falls.

After spending time together, Anna and Arlette learned that they share the same birthday. This, along with their respect for each other, sparked a friendship. They started gravitating toward each other in daily activities and now help and encourage each other daily.

A Reminder…

It is hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching the end of this secular year and that Thanksgiving is almost upon us. As we approach a very busy holiday season, we would just like to offer a few “gentle” reminders when bringing or sending in food items for your family members and friends who are residents in one of the Menorah Manor Communities.

In keeping with our kosher dietary laws, only foods in closed, wrapped boxes/containers, clearly showing one of the Certified Kosher symbols are permitted into our buildings. Below are a few of the most common symbols.

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