Memory care communities propel programs forward
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that by 2025, the senior population in Texas with dementia will reach half a million. In accordance with these numbers, senior living communities are expanding their facilities and are continuously improving their memory care programs.
Brazos Towers at Bayou Manor, 4141 S. Braeswood Blvd., has eight rooms in a new wing created solely for dementia residents. Less than 5 miles away, Belmont Village’s West University community, 2929 W. Holcombe Blvd., has expanded its memory care section from 23 to 36 rooms.
Dementia is a broad term for a brain disorder commonly associated with memory loss. About 60 to 70 percent of those with dementia have Alzheimer’s, an irreversible degenerative disorder that affects speech and thought patterns.
Brazos Towers director Steven Moore said he’s seen an increased need for memory care services over the years, and he believes the new program will be wellreceived in the community.
The memory care wing in Brazos Towers will have its own dining and living room areas, as well as an enclosed mezzanine courtyard. There will be staff dedicated to lifestyle activities, and medical care will be available 24 hours a day.
The new memory care wing is scheduled for completion by March 2016.
Belmont Village’s West University expansion included a new dining room and two activity rooms for its residents with dementia.
Belmont Village also has three different memory care programs available to residents according to their individual needs.
The mind-body-awareness or MBA club is for those who want to stay mentally active despite no signs of dementia. In this program, residents assess their current mental abilities and track their learning goals.
For those experiencing early stage memory loss, the Circle of Friends program offers a structured schedule of group activities that helps improve both mental and physical fitness. While fun and engaging, these activities are research-proven to maintain one’s mental capacity.
Residents with mid to late Alzheimer’s qualify for Person-Centered Living. In this program, residents will also have a daily schedule, although activities will be tailored according to their specific needs and abilities. For example, residents may play poker or bridge with their cards face up, along with a staff member to help facilitate the game.
Beverly Sanborn, Belmont’s vice president of Program Development, has more than 20 years of experience with dementia research. With activities dedicated to stimulate a person’s mind, Sanborn said she saw dramatic changes.
“When I first started, (dementia patients) would sit and stare all day long,” she said. “In this program, they come to life. They’re laughing. Now people can’t believe they have dementia.”
Dementia, she said, can be a debilitating disease. A person may forget how to get home from the grocery store even though they’ve lived in the same house for years. People may also not recognize their own reflection, or forget to shower for days.
However, Sanborn said it is important for relatives and caretakers to understand that dementia doesn’t take away a person’s identity.
“It’s the brain that has the dementia, but the spirit of the person is still there,” she said. “If the person is stimulated, they can still have an immensely wonderful life.”