We are the best center for rehabilitation Somerset County has to offer as we specialize in helping our senior citizens maintain their abilities to a 100%, our compromise for three decades has been to provide the best service to our senior in order for them to keep a fulfilled life. 

Aging unfortunately is unstoppable and we all wish there was a way to put a stop to the clock in you and enjoy longer lives with all the abilities you have when in your prime, with the passing of time there are certain things that remain untouched such as your sense of humor, your taste for music and many other things that you came to develop as part of you with time yet your senses to fully enjoy all of these start a process of decay after you reach a certain age, how soon you reach that point depends on what level of care you take of yourself in your early years, however this decay will reach all of us at some point and with the loss of sharpness in all of our senses comes a lower level of proficiency in activities that we regularly take for granted and we use in our everyday lives such as driving.

Driving Is Essential Driving is one of the activities that apart from living by themselves senior citizens tend to associate with the feeling of freedom as they can take their car and go anywhere they want and spend as long as they want in the place of their choice, yet there is a point in everyone’s life that driving is no longer a good idea to carry on with as time has done its job in slowing down everything in the senior citizen and unfortunately this cannot be avoided, senior citizens want to ignore the suggestion of not driving on their own everywhere but with time is something that has to be done for their own safety and those who are around them while they drive.

Senior citizens regularly are very focused as they never really developed the negative habit of texting and driving or using any electronic while they perform the task of driving unfortunately senior citizens are limited by their physical abilities, senior citizens show a decay in several very important aspects that must be considered.

Possible LimitationsSlower reflexes: response time is slower as the senses are no longer as sharp as they were before, the connection between eyes, ears and motion are slower therefore the amount of time the senior will take to move from harm is longer.

Vision issues: sight is affected as the cornea is no longer as sensitive as it was, it process light slower therefore the reaction of the brain to send the impulse for a reaction is slower.

Taking medications: medications for senior citizens may affect their senses, it can also make the patient feel sleepy.
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For more information about the life of a senior citizen has or for details on how we help our seniors please contact us at https://www.bshcare.com/.
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Bridgeway Senior Healthcare
395 Amwell Rd 
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 281-4400

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Needless to say, it’s heartbreaking to witness let alone care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease. And, as time goes on, the disease progresses, making it harder and harder for the patient to connect with the outside world. Often times, the best and only practical solution for care is to send the person you love to a facility that accommodates patients with severe memory loss. Your loved one has been slipping away mentally for quite some time. Now, you’re facing the physical separation as well.

However, amidst the sadness, there is perhaps some good news. Many studies have shown that the parts of the brain responsible for remembering music are either not affected at all or aren’t nearly as affected as other parts of the brain in patients with Alzheimer’s. So, what does this mean for a visit to try to connect positively with your loved one? 

It means to turn on the tunes, but not just any tunes. Instead, try to find music that the patient prefers. In fact, according to neuroscientist and author Daniel J. Levitin in his book This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession, due to certain aspects of the brain’s hardwiring, most people prefer music that was popular during their teenage years. So, do the math if necessary and look up what people were listening to when your family member or friend was, say, age 16.

Many people, too, whether or not it was popular in their teens, prefer certain musical styles like jazz, classical, opera, heavy metal, reggae or musical theater. So, you may do well simply sticking with a favorite genre. Does your loved one enjoy singing? Then sing! In any case, music may very well create a lot fun and light in the midst of what could otherwise be a grave situation.
Whether this all sounds too good to be true or not, here are some stories of success with favorite music for people who’ve lost much of their memory:

• In February, 2019, NBC News released a special report on a growing movement of treatments for Alzheimer’s patients: singing in choirs. In the report, a former magazine editor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s spoke about how music, specifically singing, helped her connect and understand what was happening to her and what was going on around her. 
• A now-famous You Tube video from April, 2012 shows a man named Henry in a long-term care facility who’d lost so much memory he was mostly unresponsive and couldn’t recognize his daughter, lit up like a firefly while listening, singing and moving to music of his youth that was played on headphones. After the headphones were removed, a clinician asked Henry all sorts of questions about the music Henry loved. Henry answered in intelligent words and in song.
• Alzheimer’s patient Brian LeBlanc, diagnosed 5 years prior to a May, 2019 article on musicandmemory.org stated that music “lifts the fog.” He had made his own playlist of 500 songs he loves and sets specific times throughout the day to listen to songs from his list. He said that the music brings a sense of calm and that he can easily sing along with the lyrics of each and every song on his list. In fact, he says that the song lyrics visually scroll through his mind as he is singing. LeBlanc recommended that everyone, memory loss or not, devise their own playlists for their own peace of mind.
• A 2014 documentary called “Alive Inside” shows many examples of how music therapy has helped Alzheimer’s victims and their families. Dan Cohen of Music and Memory places headphones on several different patients documented in the film. The Alzheimer’s patients all become expressive in response to the music.
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So, the next time you’re going to visit a loved one with memory loss, consider the potential in music. Try playing favorite songs or genres. Consider hiring a music therapist if the facility doesn’t already have a program in place. Or, speak to the activities director about employing a music therapist. If the stories above are any indication, there’s a good chance of a very uplifting visit and more.  Call us today to learn more about Alzheimer's treatment and assisted living care. 

Bridgeway Senior Care and Rehabilitation
395 Amwell Rd.
Hillsborough, NJ 08444
(908) 281-4400

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Witnessing your mom or dad’s physical or mental health decline due to age is never easy. If you are their caregiver, you may no longer be able to handle the level of care they need and also maintain your own health, sanity, family and financial responsibilities. Professional home care may be a good solution for some, if they can afford it, and if their residence is adequate to accommodate aides and therapists going in and out. However, an assisted living or long-term care facility may truly be the best and safest solution for others. 
Here are some tips on how to have the uncomfortable conversation in a way that your parent might best receive it:

Be objective and cite outside sources for information whenever possible: For example, according to an article on health.usnews.com there are four signs that someone might need to go into long term care: 1) They can’t get organized 2) They’re letting hygiene slip 3) They’re declining physically 4) You don’t have the bandwidth.
And, Dr Sidney Katz in the 1960’s developed a chart that measures how well the person can do activities of daily living or ADL’s for short. There are 6 basic ADL’s: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. How many of these functions a person can perform independently can determine the level of care in a facility that’s required.

Let them know how this transition will benefit THEM. In a competent, professional and reputable assisted living or long-term care facility, there is access to medical professionals 24/7, activities, different therapies, camaraderie, and physically safe spaces for the level of care your parent would require. Of course, you would need to vet the facility yourself and be excited about your own research prior to trying to convince your mom or dad about all these benefits. We suggest talking to other children of the residents at any facility you’re considering as part of your search for the best facilities.

Find a place close to home and rally friends and family members One of the scariest things about moving out of your familiar setting into an eldercare facility is the thought that you’ll rarely if ever see your friends and family members. However, if the facility is relatively close to home and you actually reach out for help from as many friends and family members as possible, you might be surprised at the amount of love and support that comes through as your parent is making their housing transition and beyond. So, make sure that after you reassure your parent that they’ll still get to see friends and family regularly, that you actually reach out to them for help in this regard.

Deal with your own guilt and anxiety prior to having the conversation You may be convinced that a nursing home is indeed the best (and maybe ONLY) logical solution for your parent. However, if you’re like most people, you’ll have feelings of anxiety and guilt around the thought of admitting your mom or dad into a facility. You’re going to need your inner strength to have the best possible chance of the conversation going well. And, if the first conversation doesn’t go well, you’ll need resilience to insist on the right thing to do in subsequent conversations. 

Delegate the conversation to their minister, social worker, best friend, doctor or therapist This is a judgment call. Sometimes, certain conversations are just too difficult from child to parent and this may be one of them. In some cases, another person may be more suited to deliver the information in a way your parent can best hear it. Then, there’s a chance your mom or dad would tell you what the other person said. You might be able to follow up agreeing with what your parent was told by one or more of these other people.

We wish you the best of success with this difficult and uncomfortable conversation and please know in your heart that you are trying to do what’s best for your parent, yourself, and for your own immediate family.

Call us today to discuss assisted living and rehabilitation care - we are here to help. 

Bridgeway Care and Rehabilitation at Hillsborough
395 Amwell Rd
Hillsborough, NJ. 08844
(908) 281-4400
bridgeway senior care
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If you’re new to the world of assisted living, rehabilitation, and long or short-term care facilities, navigating your way around the different types of care can be daunting. What’s the best program for your loved one and what level or type of care do they really need? To get you started with some clarity, here is a list of the different program types out there, and what these programs do:

Respite Care:
Dictionary definition: “temporary institutional care of a sick, elderly, or disabled person, providing relief for their usual caregiver.”
Respite care is great for necessary breaks for the caregiver at home to take good care of themselves. Caregivers at home must keep their own mental, physical, and spiritual health in top shape in order to be the best they can be for their loved-one that needs care. Caregiving is one of the hardest jobs there is, so finding a great, trustworthy program and facility that will provide respite care could be “just what the doctor ordered” for the weary caregiver.
Quality respite programs offer licensed nursing services at all times, onsite rehabilitation services, and assistance with activities of daily living as needed.

Long Term Care 
Definition from Wikipedia: “a variety of services which help meet the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods…Long term care can be provided in home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes.”
According to an article on health.usnews.com there are four signs that someone might need to go into long term care: 1) They can’t get organized 2) They’re letting hygiene slip 3) They’re declining physically 4) You don’t have the bandwidth.
Long term care as well as assisted living programs normally include specialized care like: cardiac rehabilitation, stroke rehabilitation, various therapy programs including physical, occupational, and speech, orthopedic recovery and more.
Long term care programs generally have skilled nurses on site 24/7 and are often covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Skilled Nursing Care (often used synonymously with Long Term Care)
Definition from verywellhealth.com: “Skilled nursing is a term that refers to a patient’s need for care or treatment that can only be done by licensed nurses.” 

Assisted Living
​Dictionary definition from Merriam-Webster: “a system of housing and limited care that is designed for senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities but do not require care in a nursing home”
Something to know is that assisted living is often not covered by Medicare or Medicaid and is usually paid for out of pocket in all or part. 
To determine if someone belongs in assisted living vs. long term care, there is a chart that was developed by Dr Sidney Katz in the 1960’s. It measures how well the person can do activities of daily living or ADL’s for short. There are 6 basic ADL’s: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. How many of these functions a person can perform independently can determine the level of care in a facility that’s required.

Independent Living
Definition from Independent Living Institute: “Independent living means the ability to examine alternatives and make informed decisions and direct one’s own life. This ability requires the availability of information, financial resources and peer group support systems. Independent living is a dynamic process. It can never be stagnant.”
Some facilities offer separate independent living communities and/or spaces, but more often seniors who are active and able, will choose to live in 55+ developments of small homes, townhomes or apartments. These communities have activities, amenities and services available as needed or wanted. 

Please call us or take a tour to find out about  assisted living facilities in New Jersey. 

Bridgeway Care and Rehabilitation
​395 Amwell Rd. 
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
www.bshcare.com
(908) 281-4400
bridgeway senior care 

The terms assisted living and personal care are used interchangeably most of the time despite the fact that they mean different things. In 2011, there was legislation that was passed which separated the care industry into two main categories. You might be familiar with assisted living if you’re looking for a nursing home in Somerset County. This is because the term has been in existence for a long time. People might not be familiar with the term personal care as it sounds like a generic description rather than an act. Which begs the question, what is the difference between assisted living and personal living community?
Differences In Assisted Living and Personal Care Communities The main difference is that for personal care living community, one will need to have to look for a health center should they require the services of a healthcare professional. For assisted living communities, the auxiliary health services are brought to the facility and are in existence for as long as possible.
Concept Assisted living allows for the residents to age in place. This means that their healthcare requirements will be taken care of as the needs increase. They will not have to move to another facility in order to get treatment as they grow older. This is not the case for personal care facilities.
ConstructionAssisted Living facilities are required to provide a room for the residents. The room should have a lockable door and a private bathroom and a decent kitchen. Most personal care homes do not offer such amenities and are not required to do so.
Level of care Assisted living homes ensures that the residents get skilled nursing services should their level of care surpass the services that are offered by the assisted living facility.
Staffing Levels The staffing levels will differ when comparing personal care and an assisted living facility. It is a requirement for an ALR to have a nurse on duty at all times of the day. There should also be a registered dietician who is under staff or contracted to provide service. Those under direct care should remain vigilant and awake while on duty even if it is the middle of the night. With regards to training, those that work in assisted living must undergo up to 18 hours of supervised training before they can be left on their own. There is also a need for dementia training and the annual recommended time is 12 hours.
Assisted Living and Personal Care SimilaritiesDespite the differences, the two types of facilities do have their similarities. They both provide food, housing, and the daily care you’d expect from such facilities. The most important thing should be personal care. There are facilities that will offer both personal care and assisted living facilities. What you go for will depend on your needs and level of care that is needed. The facility should also be affordable so that there is no strain on your finances. You can check out https://www.bshcare.com/ for more information.

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Bridgeway Senior Healthcare
395 Amwell Rd
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 281-4400

Find Us On Social Media:
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https://followus.com/bshcare.com