Introducing Our New Program for Residents
THRIVE with Parkinson’s
The Kensington White Plains is proud to introduce “THRIVE with Parkinson’s,” our program for new and current residents with movement disorders and their families. We are committed to improving the quality of life for our residents as well as those who care for them. So we are pleased to partner with leaders in the field of movement disorders to offer weekly on-site and virtual classes, support groups and educational events.
T – Therapeutic
H – Holistic
R – Revitalizing
I – Inspiring Independence
V – Vocally Vibrant
E – Empowering
Our workshops and services feature a focus on physical health, opportunities for emotional support, and activities that improve posture, balance, strength, circulation, muscle control and mobility. Our promise at The Kensington White Plains is “to love and care for your family as we do our own.“ And we do. We are skilled, prepared and ready to join our residents in every way on their wellness journey and to lend support to those who love them.
Our exclusive movement disorders program for current residents includes:
•Wellness classes at least 4x per week
•Body movement programs such as yoga, tai chi and dance
•Creative Journaling Expressive Arts
•Music therapy with a board-certified music therapist (drumming, vocal and movement exercises)
•Mindfulness and meditation
•Specialized movement and wellness equipment such as ALinker walking-bike
•Specially trained team members, including dedicated medical technician for timely delivery of medications
•Ongoing educational events, guest lectures and resources for residents and families
Theradynamics Rehabilitation offers the following physical, occupational and speech therapy programs, delivered by certified professionals:
- SPEAK OUT!® and LOUD Crowd!®
- APTA Neurologic Certified Specialists (NCS) on-site*
- LSVT BIG® (Lee Silverman Voice Technique)
- PWR!® (Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery)
- Vitality Fit™ technology for assessment and treatment of balance, coordination, reaction and response timing, cognition and more
Everything You Want to Know About Senior Living But Are Afraid to Ask
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Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. And as PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, thus leaving a person unable to control movement normally. The specific group of symptoms that an individual experiences varies from person to person. Primary motor signs of Parkinson’s disease include the following: tremors, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), dyskinesia, rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk, and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is chronic. It persists over time and symptoms get worse with time. Signs of advanced Parkinson’s include: great difficulty walking; person becomes wheelchair- or bed-bound, assistance needed with all daily activities (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.), difficulty swallowing, dementia and significant memory loss plus additional cognitive problems may be prominent including hallucinations and delusions. In essence, the person afflicted with advanced PD is unable to live alone without round the clock assistance.
The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) recommends exercise for those with Parkinson’s as a way to maximize health and independence. The Kensington provides our residents with a variety of exercise and wellness programs including Theradynamics Rehabilitation. Theradynamics is an on-site wellness program designed to fit all cognitive and fitness levels of our residents. Rehabilitation Programs are conducted at least four days per week. Through all these wellness programs, we are looking to alleviate some symptoms of PD – increase strength and mobility, relieve some stiffness, and increase balance and coordination.
Some experts believe regular exercise plus physical therapy is very important for good mobility and balance for those with PD while occupational therapy may provide strategies for maintaining independence. Through our on-site rehabilitation provided by Theradynamics, residents with Parkinson’s have access to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, Exercise Physiology, functional assessments, and falls and balance assessments.
Health Care providers in some senior living facilities may be unfamiliar with advanced PD’s unique symptoms or challenges. And, many of these communities cannot, or will not based on their organization’s senior living model, take care of residents with advanced Parkinson’s such as once a resident becomes bed-bound, has difficulty swallowing, or one who has late-stage dementia. But The Kensington is unique! The Kensington uses our enhanced assisted living license to the fullest extent allowing us to take care of seniors with no care needs to those who have extremely high care needs, allowing these residents to truly age in place. The Kensington care team can take care of residents who need a pureed diet or feeding tube due to swallowing difficulties, residents with early to end-stage dementia, and much more. Our staff receives specialized training, and with a higher caregiver to resident staffing ratio, we are able to provide the comprehensive assistance and support our PD residents require. Our goal at The Kensington is to provide a caring and supportive environment that allows residents a choice of personal services tailored to their specific needs and abilities.
If you have questions about the care our team at The Kensington White Plains can provide, please don’t wait to get in touch with us.
Caregiver Burnout
If you’re the primary caregiver for an individual with Parkinson’s Disease, “caregiver burnout” is a very real—and very common—problem. Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that occurs when someone is responsible for the long-term care of another person 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Caregivers often experience symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, stress and depression. They feel guilty when they take time out for themselves—or neglect their own physical and emotional needs altogether.
At The Kensington, we believe that caregivers shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden alone—we’re here to help and we are dedicated to the long-term care of people with movement disorders including PD, thus allowing the caregiver to go back to playing the role of daughter/son or well-spouse.