Prestige Care Resident Appears in 'Good Morning America' Segment on Alzheimer's

HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Prestige Care announced today that Mira Loma resident Lillian "Ginnie" Oheim was featured in a "Good Morning America" segment this week that focused on the affects of Alzheimer's disease.

Oheim, 91, spent most of her life in Maryland and moved to the Henderson area in 2006 to be closer to her family. She has lived at Prestige Senior Living at Mira Loma since July 2008. Like millions of Americans today, Oheim is living with Alzheimer's. First diagnosed in September 2008, Oheim joined Prestige's Expressions memory care program in November 2008.

The "Good Morning America" segment aired on Oct. 19 and told the stories of several men and women who act as primary caregivers to those with Alzheimer's. Oheim's primary caregiver is her daughter, Jinny Oheim, who was forced to quit her job to take care of her mother full time.

"The staff at Prestige is made up of wonderful people who are always willing to go the extra mile," said Jinny Oheim. "They do a fantastic job of making sure my mother is comfortable and remains active and fulfilled."

The "Good Morning America" segment is part of a week-long series hosted by Maria Shriver that examines Alzheimer's effect on women as caregivers, advocates and people living with the disease. Shriver's report chronicles several primary caregivers' stories of devotion and sacrifice and notes the importance of seeking help in providing care to loved ones with the condition.

"It's important for husbands, wives, daughters and sons and grandchildren to know that they are not alone in their efforts to give those they care about the care they need," said Karen Hede, sales specialist at Prestige Senior Living at Mira Loma. "Our Expressions memory care program recognizes the challenges of providing care for a loved one, and we work with our residents and their families to become part of an extended care-giving family."

Expressions was established in collaboration with Dr. David Troxel, MPH, a nationally recognized expert on Alzheimer's disease care and community training and development. The Expressions program focuses on the use of innovative care techniques and life enrichment programming that seeks to turn daily activities into meaningful events.

Expressions' multi-layered approach encompasses several facets of everyday living – exercise, diet, creative and educational activities and spiritual life.  

"Our Expressions program is rooted in the philosophy that memory care activities should mirror the same planned or spontaneous, simple or elaborate activities of everyday life," Hede said.

Based on that philosophy, Prestige's Expressions communities offer a program that nurtures body, heart, soul and mind through key activities.  

Healthy Expressions. Research shows that people who exercise regularly develop Alzheimer's later in life and regular exercise actually slows the effects of the disease. Prestige's "Healthy Expressions" activities focus on regular physical exercise.

Tasty Expressions. Prestige's "Tasty Expressions" activities celebrate the joy and pleasure that come from food. In addition to providing nutrition, food provides an opportunity to stimulate the senses on a variety of levels. Sharing meals provides an opportunity for socialization and gives Prestige residents the chance to reminisce about their favorite foods and recipes.

Artistic Expressions. In addition to exercise and diet, the Expressions program taps into residents' creative spirit. Research shows that those with Alzheimer's often experience a spike in creativity. "Artistic Expressions" celebrate and encourage imagination involving the arts, poetry and music.

Educational Expressions. Prestige's "Educational Expressions" focus on the value and benefit of life-long learning. Many with the condition still can do so. Research also shows that even those who are profoundly forgetful still enjoy the experience of learning and benefit from intellectual stimulation.

Spiritual Expressions. Prestige celebrates that spirituality holds different meaning for everyone.  "Spiritual Expressions" activities enable each person to develop inner peace through their own spiritual journey.  

To learn more about Prestige's Expressions communities, visit www.prestigecare.com/expressions.

About Prestige Senior Living

Prestige Senior Living is a family of senior living communities operated through a philosophy of caring. With 46 communities located throughout the U.S., Prestige Senior Living is based on a core value system of respect, integrity, commitment and trust that serves as the bedrock of every Prestige Care and Prestige Senior Living community. For more information on Prestige Senior Living, visit www.prestigecare.com.

SOURCE Prestige Care