Protecting Your Brain: Lifestyle Changes That May Prevent Dementia
Discover 12 proven strategies to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, from exercise and sleep to social connection and mental health.
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At Aegis Living, one of the main goals is to improve the quality of life for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. The core of each memory care community is the Life’s Neighborhood program, which was designed to increase enjoyment and enhance general mental, physical and emotional well-being for people with dementia by creating an environment of comfort and familiarity for minimal stress and anxiety. One of the features of Life’s Neighborhood is the Snoezelen – pronounced “snoozlin” – room called “Life’s Haven.”
Aegis Living community’s Snoezelen room takes on its own design and feel. When a senior is feeling overwhelmed or anxious, whether its due to sundowning or another issue, they can visit the Life’s Haven room to calm their nerves and find tranquility. Every detail is taken into account to give the resident a chance to clear their minds and enjoy a relaxing experience. The room is kept at a cool temperature, the lights are comfortably dim and the gentle colors encourage a sense of ease. These innovative techniques have been proven by the medical world to instill a sense of comfort and serenity.
Stepping into the Life’s Haven space is like entering your own private garden where you can take a seat on a charming bench while reflecting on the events of the day. It’s an effective non-medicinal approach to soothe agitated or pre-agitated residents to a place of calm.
Life’s Havens can reflect the elements of nature to enhance the calming effect. The walls may be painted with warming images of delicate birds, leaves, fruits dangling from branches and delightful white flowers coming into bloom. Meanwhile, calming music and light aromas stimulate the senses in an amiable, subtle way.
Another Life’s Haven is designed to resemble the quaint porch of a cabin. Features such as pine cones, a fishing net, a paddle, barrels and a gently lit faux lantern add to the soothing, multi-sensory effect of the Snoezelen room. A guitar (for auditory stimulation) rests against the wall, which is painted to depict a delightful outdoor scenery filled with fruit trees and other lush greenery. There’s also a chess game laid out for seniors to play and interact with each other in a little friendly competition.
The Snoezelen room is not a new concept. It was developed in the late 1970s by a pair of Dutch therapists, Ad Verheul and Jan Hulsegge, during their time working at Holland’s De Hartenberg Institute, a center for people suffering from intellectual disabilities. Their goal was to provide a safe, non-threatening environment for people with disabilities that enhance therapy, learning and relaxation.
At an annual fair that summer, the duo erected an experimental space aimed at providing a controlled multi-sensory environment that utilized light, texture, aroma, music and color. Features included simple effects such as a blowing fan, calming images projected onto a screen, scented bottles and soaps, musical instruments and tactile objects. It proved to be a huge success, and the pair of therapists went on to develop and perfect the design. They named the multi-sensory experience “Snoezelen” – a combination of the Dutch words “doezelen” (to relax) and “snuffelen” (to seek out or explore).
While the Snoezelen room was used only in Europe for nearly two decades, it grew into a global movement in the 1990s. There are thousands of these spaces in more than 30 countries, reaching the U.S. in 1992 with the installation of a Snoezelen in New York City. The momentum continues to grow as people understand the positive responses brought upon by these multi-sensory spaces among people with dementia and other cognitive disorders.
Not all assisted living communities utilize the Snoezelen concept, but Aegis Living, with its dedication to improve quality of life for seniors with Alzheimer’s, takes every step possible to make residents feel at ease and at home. This is just one of the many ways that Aegis Living makes every day more enjoyable for residents through Life’s Neighborhood. Combined with Life’s Haven, the program improves life quality through aromatherapy techniques that relax the body, memory boxes stationed outside apartments that let residents share photos and other mementos with each other and Life Skills stations located throughout the community that allow seniors to engage in work, hobbies and other activities.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.