Blog

We took a bus trip to an Ice Cream Shop to celebrate Father’s Day. A good celebration always includes Chocolate and Vanilla!

Everyone loves celebrating birthdays and enjoying the special culinary treats.

Observing National Donut (Doughnut) Day may become a yearly tradition. We enjoyed freshly baked donuts and took a donut personality test. Many of the residents chose to eat a Glazed Cake Donut which is described as “A plain cake with a little extra, this doughnut appeals to the traditionalist with an edge.”

The word Snoezelen might sound funny, but it describes something as uniquely comforting as its name. The term is a contraction formed from a blend of the Dutch word snuffelen (“to snuffle,” “sniff”) and doezelen (“doze,” “snooze”), which is a perfect way to describe the multisensory, non-directive therapy. Developed in the Netherlands in the 1970s, Snoezelen rooms ( snoezelroom) are a controlled, multisensory environment that functions as a therapy space for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, dementia, or brain injury. A Snoezelen room is simultaneously a soothing and stimulating environment that uses lighting effects, color, sounds, music, scents, and more to allow the client, not the therapist, to create a unique experience that allows them to feel comfort and joy. There is no formal expectation of an outcome; rather, it simply allows each client to enjoy a period of time where they can relax, reduce anxiety, and feel engagement on their own terms. While the client is accompanied by an aide or therapist to ensure safety, the latter acts more as a silent observer or helper and typically does not offer any direction, making this a fully “client-centered” approach. Snoezelen rooms are also called multisensory rooms, and they are growing in popularity in assisted living. It’s easy to create a simplified version of these therapeutic rooms to allow clients to relax with the inclusion of aromatherapy diffusers; a starry-night projector or other soft, color-changing lights; tactile seating such as bean bag chairs or a snuggle swing; or even a tactile wall that clients can touch or play with by attaching various textiles or materials, such as pipe cleaners, fuzzy balls, Astroturf, sandpaper, or sponges. Alternatively, filling a tactile box with items such as bulk beans or slime can serve the same purpose. These rooms are meant to calm and bring focus to those who might otherwise be anxious due to overstimulation by allowing a person to choose their own activities. One benefit of having a calming multisensory room is alleviating frustration, which allows a person to be calmer, more organized, and better at communication. More Information Check out some examples of Snoezelen rooms. Mobile Snoezelen carts and individual products for a DIY room are available here.

Springtime = traveling bees, planting flowers, crafting flowers, and enjoying the sunshine!

We had quite the surprise one morning when it was discovered that there were 11 baby ducks stuck in the courtyard storm drain! Thank you to Lower Paxton Township for rescuing the ducks and letting us have a peek at these adorable duckies.

Mothers are the G-O-A-T (Greatest of All Times)! We celebrated Mother's Day with Batz Farm baby goats and shared our favorite Mom G-O-A-T stories as we snuggled the baby goats. We even had Citrus Goat Soap Flowers from Rock Hill Heritage Farm for all of our residents and guests.

We celebrated being open for 1 year on April 26th! We are continuing to grow and welcome new residents. Watch our new TV commercial on WHP21, featuring our own staff and residents, to see why our residents love living at Columbia Cottage Linglestown.

Taking care of a loved one who has dementia requires patience and the ability to set up a comfortable environment that helps create a routine that will make everyone feel safe. Today, many smart-home products help allow loved ones to live safely in their home with great success. Some of these great tech toys would be useful for anyone, but for those struggling with dementia, they can be total game changers. These gadgets can also make life easier for a caregiver by automating some of their daily chores, giving them more respite and time to spend with their loved ones. Transformative Smart-Home Tech Check the front door with a smart-camera doorbell to see who is coming and going. No more lost keys or getting locked out when you have a smartphone and smart-house lock. The smart lock can also prevent wandering. Combine with a camera doorbell, and you can let caregivers or housekeepers into the house even if you are away. Set the lights at the perfect level for the time of day or to accommodate sensory issues. Add motion-detecting lights to reduce fall hazards and lower electric bills. Reduce wandering and ensure your loved one never gets lost by tracking where they walk with a smartwatch, GPS tracker, and shared maps. Play movies for a loved one from afar over smart TVs and shared accounts. Make laundry a breeze with scheduled cycles in smart washers and dryers. Set up home monitoring indoors and out with smart cameras. A smartphone can also be made simple by using photos and extra-large buttons to make dialing friends, family, and caregivers easier. A smart device like Siri or Alexa helps answer the questions that might be asked repeatedly throughout the day, like the time, temperature, and weather. Now your loved one can ask whenever they would like without exhausting a caregiver. In addition, they can use this tech to add items to a shared grocery list, make phone calls, and even play favorite songs, TV shows, or films. Smart voice assistants can also be programmed to set reminders for medication, doctor appointments, and TV shows.

Beginning on March 5 th, Pastor Dale Miller, Jr. (Pastor of the Mt. Laurel Church of God) will be offering a Non-denominational Worship Service at 3pm each Sunday in the multi-purpose room. Please join us in welcoming him to our community.

Fly Eagles Fly! The Residents practiced the Eagles fight song every morning for a week so that we could sing along and cheer the Eagles to victory during the Super Bowl. E- A- G- L- E- S! We may have lost but are already looking forward to the next season.

“Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted 6 more weeks of winter, but his ex-wife, Phyllis, who now lives in Florida says that Phil is a compulsive liar”! We are hoping for an early spring as we enjoy these delicious Groundhog Day treats prepared by our culinary team.