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QUARTER 1, 2026
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Stronger Together Professional Event Advances Dementia-Care Knowledge
As a respected advisor to corporate America once said, “Knowledge seeks community.”
The Hogeweyk model is regarded by many as the gold standard in memory care. People with dementia move freely about these facilities, interacting with staff and other residents. The model prioritizes favorable surroundings, an appealing lifestyle, social inclusion, and freedom of movement, enabling residents to take pleasure and meaning from life. Experts from Van Dyck Law also spoke at the Dementia Academy event, including Fiona Van Dyck, managing attorney of the firm; Amanjit Heir, estate and elder-law attorney; and Sheli Monacchio, executive director and dementia concierge. The gathering, a fundraiser, raised $2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey. We are grateful to our generous sponsors who made this event possible, including Laurel Circle, Marquis Health Consulting Services, Brandywine Living by Monarch, Generations Home Care, and Nightingale, New Jersey. An additional list of table vendor sponsors is available on our website and Facebook page. Stay tuned for information about our next gathering of the Family Dementia Academy in the Spring! We look forward to accelerating the momentum we have gained in bringing our professional community together. -Fiona Van Dyck
PHOTO CREDIT: Van Dyck Law Group
That maxim was proven true when more than 100 dementia-care professionals attended a recent Professional Dementia Academy event featuring Eloy van Hal, founder of The Hogeweyk, a world-renowned dementia care village in the Netherlands. Several other expert speakers also shared insights on elder- law and dementia-care issues. Dozens of enthusiastic reviews poured in after the event from attendees who said they appreciated gaining fresh perspectives and new information about cutting-edge developments in dementia care. The Professional Dementia Academy hosts educational events dedicated to advancing elder-care practices and fostering collaboration among professionals. In a keynote address, van Hal described groundbreaking insights into person-centered dementia care and innovative community models that prioritize dignity and quality of life. The Dementia Village approach, also called the Hogeweyk Care Concept after the village where it is located, was founded in 2009 and has been hailed as a groundbreaking model for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It offers shared housing, some medical care, and psychosocial support in a small-scale community setting. The concept marks a radical change in direction, emphasizing autonomy and community engagement for dementia patients over separation and confinement.
Van Hal managed the former nursing home, Hogeweyk, for several years before its transformation in 2008 into the neighborhood, The Hogeweyk. He was heavily involved in all stages of development, from design and construction to implementation. The Dementia Village has inspired elder-care facilities throughout Europe and Australia that have replicated its model of humanizing care. At least two programs in the United States are also drawing on the Hogeweyk model. Milton Village, a nonprofit adult day services program in South Bend, Indiana, was the first U.S.-based program founded on the Hogeweyk model. And Serenbe, a wellness-driven planned community in Chatahoochee Hills, Georgia, is planning to open a dementia-care community modeled on the Hogeweyk approach. Left to right: Sheli Monacchio, Executive Director; Regina Taylor, Life Care Resources Director; Julianne Bell, Life Care Resource Liaison, Renee Dunn, Paralegal; Amanjit Heir, Attorney; Karen Michail, Bookkeeper; Eloy van Hal, Founder of The Hogeweyk; and Fiona Van Dyck, Managing Attorney.
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3 Daily Habits That Will Transform Your 2026
As we enter another new year, there’s no better time to adjust your daily habits to help you become the healthiest version of yourself mentally and physically. Here are three strategies you can incorporate into your New Year’s expectations and resolutions that will help ensure 2026 is your healthiest year yet! START EVERY DAY STRONG. Many Americans fall into the same routines year after year, and most are dangerous for their overall well-being. They stay up too late, wake up to an alarm a few hours later, scramble to get ready, and jump in the car as soon as possible to get to work. Your morning routine sets the tone for your day. If you’re in a hurry every morning, you will feel rushed and exhausted. Give yourself ample time in the morning to take care of yourself
and some simple chores. Make your bed, have a glass of water, take good care of your hygiene, eat something, and incorporate some movement into your mornings. It will be hard initially, but you’ll feel the benefits within a few weeks. DIET AND EXERCISE MATTER. This is probably not news to you, but we can’t downplay the importance of diet and exercise. Listen to your body; it will tell you what it needs. Many people fall into the trap of overeating without realizing it or starving themselves when they want to lose weight, but this won’t make them feel good. Eat when your body tells you to, stick to a healthy diet, and find time for exercise. You need to find ways to motivate yourself, especially when you want to stay in bed and stick to comfort foods. Your body will thank you.
DRINK MORE WATER. How much water do you drink each day? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that men should drink about 15.5 cups of fluids daily and women should drink 11.5 cups. If you aren’t hitting these numbers, it’s time to adjust. Start and finish each day with a glass of water. Walk around with a refillable bottle. Staying hydrated will help your body function much better.
How Humor Brings Comfort to Families Dealing With Dementia
LAUGHTER THAT HEALS
What is the value of a good laugh? For dementia patients and their caregivers, it can be priceless.
the isolation experienced by many patients and caregivers. It also can restore a sense of meaning and dignity to life, shoring up patients’ self-worth. EASES AGITATION A hearty belly laugh reduces bloodstream levels of the stress hormone cortisol by more than 30%, according to a 2023 review of eight studies in PLOS One. Laughter therapy also has been shown to work as well as anti-anxiety medications in calming restlessness, but without the side effects. In addition, it boosts the oxygen levels in the blood and activates T-cells, strengthening the immune system, according to an Atlantic Health System seminar titled Chuckles, Chortles, and Giggles: The Benefits of Laughter for Seniors. TAKE ACTION If your life has felt humorless, take heart: It is possible through conscious effort to bring more laughter into your life. Watch comedy films on TV or listen to funny podcasts. Put up some humorous wall posters, cultivate friends who have a good sense of humor, and share some silly videos or memes. Before long, you may be laughing more without thinking about it … and sharing the health benefits with your loved ones as well!
Caring for a loved one with dementia can seem like anything but a laughing matter. But Jan. 24 is Global Belly Laugh Day, making this a good time to reflect on the abundant mental, physical, and social benefits of laughter. A look at recent research offers some insights. IMPROVES MOOD Global Belly Laugh Day originated in 2005 at the urging of a laughter yoga therapist, based on research showing an appreciation for humor fosters joy and hope. Laughter releases chemicals in your body called endorphins that can ease anxiety and support temporary improvements in cognitive function. In research, interventions that encourage laughter in patients with limited mobility have led to significant improvements in their mood. STRENGTHENS BONDS It has been said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people, and that is never more true when a dementia patient can enjoy a shared laugh with another person. Humor can bridge communication gaps more quickly than other methods, easing
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Looking for Education or Support? MarkYour Calendar for These Events!
THE DEMENTIA CENTER AT VAN DYCK LAW GROUP Please see our upcoming events for the First Quarter of 2026. Korean Ground Beef Stir Fry • 2 tbsp avocado oil
DEMENTIA CENTER AT VAN DYCK LAW GROUP We are pleased to announce the return of the Dementia Center at Van Dyck Law Group!
Please see our upcoming events for the First Quarter of 2026.
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS
When: 2 p.m. Feb. 18 and March 18 (The third Wednesday of each month) Where: The Dementia Center at Van Dyck Law- Princeton
For registration or more information, please call 609-580-1044 or email dementiacenter@vandyckfirm.com.
THE GIFT OF EDUCATION I. Become a Certified Dementia Practitioner! Presented by Fiona Van Dyck, Esq., Managing Attorney What: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar, offering 8 Credits for Social Workers, CALA, LNHA, and Nurses. Where: The Dementia Center at Van Dyck Law- Bridgewater When: Jan. 20 Fee: $200 (or $150 for attendees who take both the CDP and CMDCP)
INGREDIENTS Sauce • 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce • 1 tbsp honey, or a liquid sugar-free sweetener • 1 tsp cornstarch • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 lb lean ground beef, 85/15 • 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced • 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, minced Finishing Touches • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil • 1/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced
For registration or more information, please call 609-580-1044 or email dementiacenter@vandyckfirm.com.
II. Become a Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional! Presented by Fiona Van Dyck, Esq., Managing Attorney. What: Montessori Concepts in Dementia Care Where: The Dementia Center at Van Dyck Law- Bridgewater When: Jan. 27 Fee: $200 (or $150 if you take both the CDP and the CMDCP)
DIRECTIONS 1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Set aside. 2. In a large skillet, heat avocado oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles as you cook, about 5 minutes. 3. Drain the beef and return it to the skillet. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 4. Stir sauce into the beef, then cook for 2 more minutes, until heated through and the sauce thickens. 5. Off heat, drizzle the dish with sesame oil, sprinkle with sliced green onions, and serve over white rice (if desired).
For registration or more information, please call 609-580-1044 or email dementiacenter@vandyckfirm.com.
Inspired by HealthyRecipesBlogs.com
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Inside 1 A Professional Dementia Academy Fundraiser Builds the Buzz 2 Make 2026 Your Healthiest Year Yet Humor Is a Powerful Tool in Dementia Care 3 Pay Us a Visit Take a Break 707 State Road, Suite 102 | Princeton, NJ 08540 750 US 202 S, Suite 120 | Bridgewater, NJ 08807 VANDYCKFIRM.COM | 609-580-1044
Mark Your Calendar for These Upcoming Events!
4 Daily Gratitude Benefits Mind and Body
Science Shows Gratitude Is a Path to Better Health THE GRATITUDE EFFECT
As our thoughts turn to improving our lives in the New Year, one of the most often recommended resolutions is to practice gratitude. The power of gratitude is so widely recognized that the United Nations has even declared a global day to celebrate it, World Gratitude Day. The value of gratitude is more than symbolic, however. A growing body of research links practicing gratitude in one’s daily life with improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and better cardiovascular health. In a four-year study of almost 50,000 nurses published in JAMA Psychiatry, participants who ranked in the highest one-third for maintaining a grateful attitude also had a 9% lower risk of mortality over the ensuing four years, compared with those in the bottom one- third. The nurses’ gratitude rating was based on responses to a six-item questionnaire with such queries as, “I have so much in life to be thankful for.” The lower mortality rate held firm even after researchers controlled for the effects of physical health and economic circumstances, suggesting that gratitude has protective power against declining health. One possible factor is that grateful people tend to sleep better. In a 2020 review of eight clinical studies, people who practiced gratitude report deeper, sounder sleep than those who didn’t. Keeping a gratitude journal
also reduces diastolic blood pressure, a key marker of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, evoking feelings of gratitude activates reward regions of the brain, increasing feelings of contentment and well-being, research shows. That helps explain why gratitude can allay anxiety: It helps counteract an anxious person’s tendency to focus on the negative and expect the worst. GETTING STARTED Making a habit of practicing gratitude can start with just a few simple steps. In a journal, write down just one thing each day for which you’re grateful. When you notice you are feeling negative or frustrated, pause for a moment and deliberately shift your thoughts to something positive. Another helpful habit is to share your gratitude with someone else. Write a note daily or weekly expressing your gratitude to someone who helped you, or make a habit at every evening meal of sharing one or two things you’re grateful for. None of these practices will take more than a few minutes a day. But based on the research, they could make a major difference over time in your sleep, mood, and health!
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