Aruga Home Care

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from all of us at Aruga Home Care!

We hope this season brings warmth, joy, and special moments with the people who matter most. Whether it’s laughter around the table, familiar traditions, or quiet time shared together, may your holidays be filled with connection and comfort.

To the seniors and families we are honoured to support, and to our wonderful care team, thank you for being part of the Aruga community. Your care, compassion, and dedication help make every day brighter.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a holiday season full of peace, kindness, and heartfelt moments.

12/23/2025

The holiday season brings joy, nostalgia, and connection. For families caring for aging loved ones, especially those living with dementia, it can also feel overwhelming.

Busy schedules, loud gatherings, and long-held traditions may not always support the comfort and routine older adults need most.

What if this season focused less on perfection and more on presence?

We explore meaningful ways to spend the holidays with your aging loved one in our blog, sharing gentle activities and sensory moments that support calm, connection, and emotional wellbeing. Often, the simplest moments are the ones that matter most.

If you are navigating caregiving this holiday season, know that your care, patience, and presence make a difference.

Read the full post here:
👉 https://www.arugahomecare.ca/post/meaningful-ways-to-spend-the-holidays-with-your-aging-loved-one

The holiday season can feel different when you are caring for an aging loved one. This guide shares gentle, meaningful ways to create connection, comfort, and calm during the holidays, especially for families supporting older adults or those living with dementia.

12/22/2025

Last weekend, we had the privilege of celebrating a truly remarkable milestone. At 101 years old, Anne Puckridge is a centenarian whose life reflects resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to advocacy and community.

A defining part of Anne’s life has been her advocacy for fairness in pension policy, particularly on behalf of veterans and older adults affected by frozen overseas pensions. She has spoken publicly and persistently about the importance of equity, using her own experiences to raise awareness and stand up for others whose voices are too often overlooked. This work is a source of deep pride for Anne and remains central to how she sees her life’s impact.

Today, Anne continues to thrive at home, surrounded by the love of her family and supported by a dedicated Aruga care team. Together, they help her live each day with comfort, independence, and meaningful connection.

We are honoured to walk alongside Anne and to celebrate not just her 101 years, but the strength, compassion, and impact she continues to bring to the world.

12/19/2025

As the the holidays begin, we’ve been taking time to reflect on what this past year has meant for Aruga Home Care.

We’re deeply grateful to the families who trusted us to care for their loved ones, and to the caregivers who bring compassion, patience, and presence into homes every day. Supporting older adults with dignity, creativity, and connection continues to guide everything we do.

This season is a reminder of how meaningful it is to slow down, spend time together, and care for one another. We hope the holidays offer moments of rest, warmth, and connection for you and your loved ones.

Thank you for being part of our community this year. We look forward to continuing this work together in the year ahead.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a gentle start to the new year.

12/18/2025

We’re proud to partner with Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center on a new research study exploring visual art engagement in home-based dementia care.

Building on nearly two decades of research from Opening Minds through Art (OMA), this collaboration brings the OMA At-Home program into clients’ homes through Aruga’s care model. The study explores how guided visual art experiences, offered during regular home care visits, can support connection, engagement, and well-being for individuals living with dementia and their care partners.

Together, Aruga and Miami University are contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting person-centred, creative engagement in care at home.

12/16/2025

At Aruga, care goes beyond routines.
We thoughtfully weave music, visual arts, storytelling, and gentle movement into daily support, creating moments of expression, connection, and dignity for those living with dementia.

Creativity offers another way to be seen, heard, and understood, even as language changes. 💜

Learn more at arugahomecare.ca

12/12/2025

🧠 What the Research Says About Creativity and Brain Health

A growing body of research from Canada, the United States, and Europe shows that creative engagement plays an important role in supporting cognitive health as we age.

Large-scale studies published in Nature Communications by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and University College London have found that activities like visual arts, music, movement, and interactive learning are linked to stronger brain connectivity and markers of slower brain aging.

Closer to home, applied research and clinical programs from organizations such as Baycrest Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada’s National Ballet School, Harvard Medical School, and the U.S. National Institute on Aging continue to show improvements in memory, emotional wellbeing, social connection, and overall quality of life for older adults, including those living with dementia.

This research directly informs how we approach care at Aruga.

Our founder, Ali Cada, conducted graduate-level research exploring the impact of creative arts on people living with dementia, as well as on family caregivers and care workers. His work examines quality of life through a positive psychology lens and highlights how visual art participation can support caregiver wellbeing.

At Aruga, creative engagement is evidence-informed, intentionally designed, and thoughtfully integrated into care to support the whole person.

Learn more about Ali’s research and our approach here:
👉 https://www.arugahomecare.ca/about-us

12/10/2025

We’re honoured to be part of the On Aging 2026 conference hosted by .

This year’s theme, The Power of Belonging: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Justice, Accelerating Connection, reflects values that sit at the heart of our work at Aruga.

We’re proud to share that our founder, Ali Cada, will be presenting alongside the team from Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center, joining leaders, advocates, and change-makers committed to creating communities where every older adult is seen, valued, and supported.

Learn more about the conference: asaging.org/on-aging/

12/08/2025

💜 Strengthening Creative Engagement at Aruga 💃

We’re excited to welcome Brittney Anderson, an accomplished professional dancer and educator, who is joining Aruga as a consultant to support and enhance our Creative Engagement programming.

With 18+ years of experience in Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, and Tap, Britney brings a warm, accessible approach to movement for older adults, including those living with dementia. She will work closely with Aruga staff as we introduce more meaningful, movement-based experiences into our client programs.

Aruga proudly sponsored Britney’s participation in the Sharing Dance Older Adults Dance Teacher Training Course, a collaboration between Baycrest and Canada’s National Ballet School. Baycrest is internationally recognized for its research in aging and creative arts, including dance. This training equips instructors to deliver engaging and accessible dance experiences for older adults with physical or cognitive challenges.

This partnership reinforces Aruga’s commitment to innovative, person-centred care rooted in creativity, connection, and community education.

Welcome to the Aruga community, Brittney!

12/05/2025

The holidays are approaching and moments of joy matter more than ever.

This time of year invites music, connection, and small sparks of joy that brighten the day. At Aruga, we see how singing, creativity, and shared moments help seniors feel grounded, supported, and uplifted.

Creative engagement sits at the centre of our care. A song, a story, a simple activity can open the door to comfort, self-expression, and meaningful connection.

As the season begins, we’re embracing the moments that bring people together and make each day feel a little lighter.

12/01/2025

Did you know that creative engagement can improve the well-being of seniors, especially those living with early-stage dementia? Research shows that art, music, and storytelling are more than just activities, they are powerful tools for memory recall, emotional stability, and connection.

📌 Alzheimer’s Association: Seniors engaged in social and creative activities show higher levels of happiness and connection, which can reduce loneliness and isolation, key factors in mental health decline.

💜 At Aruga Home Care, we integrate evidence-based creative therapies into our care plans to help seniors thrive in the comfort of home. From painting and storytelling to music therapy and movement, we believe aging should be filled with moments of joy, creativity, and connection.

🔗 Learn more about our creative care approach: Arugahomecare.ca

11/25/2025

Dementia changes certain things, but many strengths remain beautifully present. With understanding, daily life can still hold joy, connection, and purpose.

We just published a new article that shares positive insights families often find reassuring. It highlights how emotions stay strong even when words feel harder, how creativity opens new paths for communication, and how small changes at home can make each day calmer and more meaningful.

If you support a loved one living with dementia, or work alongside families who do, we hope this brings comfort and clarity.

Read the full post here: https://www.arugahomecare.ca/post/understanding-dementia

Understanding dementia can bring more clarity, comfort, and connection to daily life. Many strengths remain beautifully present, and small changes can create meaningful moments. This gentle guide shares positive insights to help families support their loved ones with confidence and care.