Columbia Assisted Living Christmas Card Featuring Dementia Resident Artwork

The winter scene in our Holiday card above was painted by an Agapé Senior resident at our Lexington community.

Art is an expression of us; it can depict our moods: our joy, our sadness, our excitement, our love. The Art without Boundaries program offered at Agapé Senior communities brings the restorative powers of art to our dementia residents, allowing them to communicate in ways that have been lost in their words, reasoning, and logic. The creation of anything beautiful has universal appeal, and for those with dementia, helps to bridge the gap between their world and ours.

For more information about Art without Boundaries and other Agapé Senior programs and services, please call 1-800-411-AGAPÉ (2427) or visit

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Columbia Assisted Living Trains Chefs to Enhance Resident Dining Experience

Seasoned pork tenderloin sizzles in an ironskillet; large pots over low flames emit exotic spice aromas as sauces simmer within, plus the sound of chopping vegetables and fruit all added to the rhythm of the preparation.

This was the scene recently at Agapé Senior—Kathwood as Michael Fusco, executive chef for Agapé Senior, hosted the first in a series of culinary trainings for Agapé sous-chefs from across the state. These chefs-in-training not only received valuable instruction from an experienced chef, but also actually assisted in preparing many Holiday favorites for a party being catered later that evening for over 250 guests.

Chef Michael’s goal that day was to provide the culinary staff with new menu options along with helping them improve their food presentation skills. All to reach the ultimate goal of enhancing the dining experience for the residents of all the Agapé communities.

It may not look like it, but there is precision and order amongst the chaos of a busy commercial kitchen. The crisp lines of the chefs’ uniforms, the shiny stainless steel appliances and prep tables, along with neatly stacked inventories of food are all a part of the atmosphere. Each sous-chef was concentrating on a different task as Chef Michael supervised and helped coordinate the timing, decoration, and completion of the party trays, which included stuffed mushrooms, hummus, pork tenderloin, and several Holiday sauces along with an array of delicious dessert selections. Each dish must meet Chef Michael’s high standards before it’s considered “ready.”

The chefs and culinary staff of Agapé Senior want every meal enjoyed by residents, friends, and family to be a memorable dining experience. “We want each meal to be healthy and nutritious,but also pleasurable where taste, smell, and presentation all play a part. With these trainings, we all can make that happen every day,” remarked Chef Michael.

The seven-month series will continue on January 3, 2012 and will feature how to prepare homemade soups, stews, and chili for the winter season. If you would like more information, you can e-mail Agapé Catering and Culinary at ACC@AgapeSenior.com.
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Columbia Alzheimer's Expert Gives Tips for Care During Holidays

As you get ready for the celebrations this weekend here are some ideas and tips for you and your loved one with Alzheimer's and like dementia. Involve the person with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) You may want to begin slowly, let the person help in small ways:

• Prepare food
• Wrap packages
• Hand you decorations
• Set the table
• Put stamps on letters

Avoid Using:

• Candies for decorations or putting out large boxes of candy
• Artificial fruit/vegetables or other decorations that look edible
• Real candles

Maintain as normal routine as possible. Holiday preparations can become disruptive and confusing.

• Build on past traditions and memories
• Sing familiar holiday songs
• Rent a classic movie
• Reminisce

Adapt gift giving. Encourage people to buy useful gifts for the person:

• Comfortable easy to remove clothing
• Tapes and CD's of favorite music
• Videos of family members
• Photo albums

Warning about unsafe gifts:

• Dangerous tools, instruments, utensils
• Challenging board games
• Complicated electronic equipment
• Pets

Take care of yourself, take time for you. Search for and use community recourses, services, patient and caregiver support groups. Develop a bulletin board for listing tasks and responsibilities so that if someone ever asks "What can I do to help?" Respond with specific idea. Let friends and family know what you would like for a gift:

• Certificate to restaurant
• Certificate for laundry or dry cleaner
• Maid service for day or week
• Sitting with your loved one
• Movie tickets
• Spa day

Let friends and family know:

• Celebrate over lunch or brunch rather than an evening meal
• Work around evening confusion
• Consider serving nonalcoholic drinks
• Have fun and allow AD person to have fun
• Keep the room bright during the day until evening about an hour before bedtime and then start dimming the lights. This will help keep sun-downing at a minimum

 Adelle Stanley 803-730-1220 Director of Dementia Programs Agape Senior Services

Of all the things in life that matter, Family, Friends and Faith are the most important. Treasure these and you will always be rich.

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Romans 12:6-10 ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. .

Rock Hill Assisted Living Resident is Featured Speaker at Alzheimer Walk

The Face of Alzheimer’s Vera Holder, a resident of Agape Senior assisted living in Rock Hill was the featured speaker at the Walk to End Alzheimer's held recently at the Winthrop Coliseum. Vera was chosen because she has Alzheimer's and knows what it is like to live with the disease on a daily basis. During a pause in Vera's speech several Agape staff that was participating in the event shouted "WE LOVE YOU VERA." Vera's daughter who also attended the event stated that "I am proud to have a mother who doesn’t mind talking about living with Alzheimer's. She has come to understand she did nothing to cause the disease and there is nothing she can currently do to stop it"

Vera Holder is the face of Alzheimer's. It is estimated that 5.4 million people in America are living with the disease. The Alzheimer's association wants people to be aware of this epidemic and has produced a short video that shows the impact of the disease on the caregivers and health care system.

Agape Senior is one of the leading providers of memory care in the state of South Carolina and has recently completed a basic training for every employee about the disease. Adelle Stanley, formerly with the Alzheimer Association, is now the Director of Dementia Programs. Adelle conducted the state wide employee training for Agape Senior as her first assignment after joining Agape.

Rock Hill South Carolina Assisted Living – Agape Senior Rock Hill Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000