Last week we celebrated the birthday of one of our residents, Florence Bearse, who turned 100 on Thursday. Her story has since gone viral.

Learn how to avoid illness when grilling with friends and family.

A brain training computer game developed by British neuroscientists has been shown to improve the memory of patients in the very earliest stages of dementia.

Survey finds three-quarters think appearance is ‘very important,’ yet only 31 percent work out regularly.

Seniors are one of the most at-risk groups for heat-related illnesses. The first major heat wave has already taken over New England, and these high temperatures won’t end anytime soon.

Imagine having the clear, supple, healthy blood vessels of a 20-year-old in your 70s. It’s possible, but “challenging,” a new study suggests.

A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Their Families.

Information about Veterans Benefits Available to Senior Veterans and Their Surviving Spouses

Are you following food safety procedures? Find out what mistakes can be made every day and how to prevent them.

If you have questions or concerns about the Shingles vaccine, here is a helpful article with more information.

Small changes every day can add up to make big differences! Check out this health article and find what health tips work for you!

Obamacare continues to be the main source for healthcare. Find out the facts about Obamacare.

Questions about cholesterol? This article can help.

When are you planning to get old? According to a recent study, you’d better move the date back. “Contrary to common belief, many people can live well into their 90s without becoming cognitively impaired, study findings indicate.” But statistics are statistics.

Recently a television health expert was discussing the topic, “How to Stay Young Looking” for the post-50 set. It was pretty much the standard ‘take good care of your skin, eat right and exercise’ list until the last item. He stated, “Take your drugs every day. One of the best ways to look younger is to stay healthy.” Wait a minute! When did the use of prescription drugs become a mainstay of a healthy lifestyle in this country?

Getting enough sleep is important for everyone, but it’s especially vital for seniors. Follow these steps to a better night’s rest.

National Health Care Associates released a list of their centers who were recognized by the independent auditor of customer service for the 40-center nursing home group. Thirteen National centers were honored with the 2017 Pinnacle Quality Insight Customer Experience Award. This award is given to centers who score in the top 15% of more than 2300 providers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. These centers were rated “Best in Class” out of more than 1,100 skilled nursing centers in the United States, in one or more customer service areas. Those centers received the prestigious “Customer Experience Awards” form Pinnacle Quality Insight.

Westgate Center for Rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s Care, is proud to announce that they are the recipient of Pinnacle Quality Insig ht 2017 Customer Experience AwardTM. Qualifying for the award in the categories of nursing care, individual needs, laundry service, communication from facility, responses to problems, the admission process, safety and security, referrals, dignity and respect, combined average and overall satisfaction, which displays a continued dedication to providing Best in Class senior healthcare services.

Becoming older is not always so bad. Retirement doesn’t have to be your one-way ticket to a sedentary life. Learn about senior programs and services that can help you stay vital and stimulated.

From baby boomers to senior boomers: 10 tips to keep you healthy and fit

Click above to see the news story from WABI Channel 5: “…There were games, refreshments and fun for all. Staff work all year long to bring this event to the residents at Westgate…”

You should always be protecting and taking care of your skin, it is extremely important after all, and there is no better time to learn the dangers if you don’t than now. Now that summer, and the beach season, is approaching, learning how to protect yourself from those potentially harmful UV rays from the sun is extremely import. The link above offers great tips that everybody should know to protect their skin during the hot, summer months.

With warm weather already here and summer approaching, it is very important to stay hydrated and know the dangers/symptoms of dehydration, especially among senior citizens. According to the University of Chicago Medical Center, over 40% of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. were among people over the age of 65. For more information on the importance of staying hydrated, causes of elderly dehydration, and possible prevention, click on the link above.

Touch a life and become a volunteer at our center! Whether you are looking to gain some experience in a rehabilitation center or nursing home, looking for somewhere for your child to spend their time during the summer, or just want to help make a difference, volunteering can do a lot to put a smile on our residents’ face.

Westgate Center for Rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s Care hosted a sweet competition Friday. “Cupcake Battles to End Alzheimer’s” brought folks together at the Bangor location.

What is “Respite Care” For your own peace of mind and well-being, it’s important to allow yourself time off without worry. That is why we offer Short-Term Respite Care.

National Health Care Associates released a list of their centers who were recognized by the independent auditor of customer service for the 40-center nursing home group. Seventeen of their centers rated “Best in Class” out of more than 1,100 skilled nursing centers in the United States, receiving the prestigious “Customer Experience Awards” form Pinnacle Quality Insight.

These four people have Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s what they want you to know.

Kristie Miner, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Westgate Center for Rehabilitation & Alzheimer’s Care, was in for this week’s Senior Watch to talk about the Aging and Disability Resource Center. Click above to see the interview…

Part 2…

Westgate proudly participated in interviews and footage for this important story. Thank you to the Langleys for sharing theirs! Click above for the link to the news story…

Memory problems can be isolating, and speaking with your family and primary provider is important.

Connections between different parts of the brain weaken with age, but new research suggests that being physically fit can boost long-term brain function…

To avoid ‘caregiver dementia,’ it’s important to find joy amid the devastation and frustration…

Protect yourself from flu, pneumonia, shingles and more.

To download an “Application for Admission” to our center, simply click on the “Provider Details” tab on our website and scroll to the link to download the PDF file. Fill-out the application and return in-person during a tour or mail-in to our Admissions Department.

From healthy fats to fiber, aging bodies need certain foods to promote good health. Get tips for eating well and adapting your diet as you get older.

Westgate Center for Rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s Care in Bangor hosted a country fair Thursday. Westgate specializes in treating patients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Today’s fair had games, music, antique cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles too.

The brain is our number one use-it-or-lose-it organ. Here, an hour-by-hour guide to improve cognition, regardless of your age.

Some great tips from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health….

Don’t forget about our “Respite Care Program” Caring for someone in need of medical and emotional support requires tremendous energy. For those times when a caregiver needs some relief, whether…

Exercise can prevent Alzheimer’s disease, and now research shows it works as a great therapy, as well. Vigorous exercise not only makes Alzheimer’s patients feel better, but it makes changes in the brain that could indicate improvements, researchers told the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Thursday. “Regular aerobic exercise could be a fountain of youth for the brain,” said Laura Baker of the Wake Forest School of Medicine, who led one of the studies.

A batch of new drugs that aim to clear the gunk out of the brains of Alzheimer’s patients are providing the best hope yet that it might be possible to slow the disease.

A test detecting Alzheimer’s disease early may become easily available thanks to one plentiful bodily substance: saliva, a recently released study shows.

Eating right and staying fit are important no matter what your age. As we get older our bodies have different needs, so certain nutrients become especially important for good health.

We’ve all heard the age old adage, “You are what you eat.” But could what we eat also affect how we think?

A big cupcake battle in Bangor. Some familiar faces tasted sweet treats at Westgate Center For Rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s care, a facility that specializes in working with people with memory impairment. Westgate staff, Eastern Maine Community College culinary students and others submitted the colorful cupcakes. There were about 30 entries.

Marcia Young, Registered Nurse from the Westgate Center was in the studio Wednesday for this week’s Senior Spotlight. Marcia was speaking to Joy about the warm temperatures that are (at least supposed to be) on their way, and the cleaning projects that tend to come with them. Marcia wanted to highlight that it is important to stay safe as you start to get more and more active, and begin tackling those big spring clean-up projects.

Kristie Miner from Westgate Center for Rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s Care, was in to talk about the center winning a national award. The center one the 2015 Customer Experience Award from Pinnacle Quality Insight.

Pinnacle Quality Initiative Announces Customer Experience Awards – 2015 March 4, 2015 – National HealthCare Associates released a list of their centers who were recognized by the independent auditor of customer service for the 40-center nursing home group. Sixteen of their centers rated “Best in Class” out of more than 1,100 skilled nursing centers in the United States, in one or more customer service areas. Those centers received the prestigious “Customer Experience Awards” form Pinnacle Quality Insight.

(CNN) Go ahead lie about your age. It may be the very thing that helps you live a longer life. If those fibbers truly believe that they are younger than what it says on their birth certificate, a new study shows they are among a group of people who have a lower death rate. That’s compared with those who felt their age or who even feel older than their years.

A drug which boosts the brain’s immune response may prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease, scientists believe

Millions of Medicare recipients could be hit with rising prescription drug premium costs in 2015. Nearly 10 million people now enrolled in six of the 10 largest Part D drug plans face premium increases ranging from 11 to 52 percent if they don’t switch to a different plan. Three other large plans, with nearly 3.5 million members, will drop their premiums by 13 to 31 percent.

Did you get your flu vaccination yet? Our staff have been receiving them since the beginning of October in preparation for flu season…

For an interactive seminar: “Preparing for Long-Term Care Needs”

A stroke is a very scary thing: A vessel carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked or bursts, leaving the brain deprived of the essential oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. In the minutes following a stroke, brain cells begin to die.

The 7th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day will be observed on September 23, 2014—the first day of fall. This year’s theme, Strong Today, Falls Free® Tomorrow, seeks to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults. Click here for some great information on preventing falls for you or a loved one… Since Falls Prevention Awareness Day was first observed in 2008, we have grown participation in the event from 11 states to 47 states and the District of Columbia. This year, we hope to expand our reach even further!

Are you or a loved on at risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Click on this link below to take a risk assessment test from the American Diabetes Association…

Kristie Miner was in the studio with Wayne for this Wednesday’s Senior Spotlight. This time, she spoke to Wayne about the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s event coming up Saturday, September 13th. Check-in for the walk begins at 8:00 AM, and the walk does not start until 10:00 AM. Kristie wanted to make it clear that even if you are unable to walk for the event, it is still a great opportunity to come out and learn about Alzheimer’s, as well as meet other people trying to fight the disease, and see some the research that is being done to combat it.

Half of the 20 most commonly prescribed medications taken by older adults may raise the risk of falls, according to new research. Painkillers and antidepressants were most strongly tied to a greater likelihood of being injured in a fall, the study of 64,000 Swedes over age 65 found. Severe injuries were significantly more common with 11 out of the 20 medications studied.

Westgate’s own Kristie Miner was in the WABI studio on Wednesday for this week’s Senior Spotlight on GPS and seniors – click for more info….

Tammy Leland, a local contributor to the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias was in to tell us a little bit about the new book and about an upcoming book signing. The book signing will be taking place on Saturday, June 7th from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Barnes and Noble in Augusta. The store is located at 9 Marketplace Dr. The Alzheimer’s Association will also be at the book signing event giving out information to anyone interested. All royalties from this addition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul will be going to the Alzheimer’s Association.

BANGOR, ME, – June 1, 2014 – National HealthCare Associates, Inc. announced the acquisition of Westgate Center for Rehabilitation & Alzheimer’s Care into its portfolio of 40 nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living programs and centers. All centers are located within the Northeast.

(CNN) — In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have developed a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease that predicts with astonishing accuracy whether a healthy person will develop the disease.

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor My 87-year-old Dad, who has dementia, had nine visitors recently: his grandchildren, who ranged in age from 4 to 17. Four of my own kids and my six nieces and nephews made a lively parade as they threaded through the halls of the care facility where he’s doing stroke rehab. Their chattering and bouncing reminded me that although visiting a nursing care facility can feel unnatural if you’re not used to it, in some ways nothing could be more natural than what sometimes happens when life at either end of the spectrum connects.

Go4Life, an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, is designed to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life. Motivating older adults to become physically active for the first time, return to exercise after a break in their routines, or build more exercise and physical activity into weekly routines are the essential elements of Go4Life. Go4Life offers exercises, motivational tips, and free resources to help you get ready, start exercising, and keep going. The Go4Life campaign includes an evidence-based exercise guide in both English and Spanish, an exercise video, an interactive website, and a national outreach campaign.

Patients who took a certain type of blood pressure medication got measurable relief from worsening Alzheimer’s symptoms, too, researchers reported on Thursday.