Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Highlands Healthcare opens memory care unit
BELLA VISTA —Highlands Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Bella Vista opened a new memory care observation unit in the facility April 29. The unit, which has 23 beds for residents, offers a lower stimulation environment for residents in need.
Michelle Brock, administrator at the facility, said the unit is for residents with memory loss and cognitive issues.
“A memory care unit is a safe place for residents that have memory issues to be able to live and wander freely while keeping them safe,” she said. “We can take residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and any other kind of medical condition that would cause them to be overstimulated or have cognitive issues.”
Brock explained the memory care unit is the first of its kind in Bella Vista, helping cut down on the number of residents who may need to be sent to other facilities that offer a more low-stimulation environment targeting residents with cognitive issues.
“This is going to be great for Bella Vista,” she said. “The lack of memory care beds available is a big problem in Arkansas. So, a lot of our local people are having to go to outside towns to find beds for their loved ones. And Bella Vista is just a unique community and we want to be able to keep people here as long as possible.”
Brock said the unit offers an environment with less noise, and trained staff able to offer residents more oneon-one care.
“With a smaller group of people, we decrease the stimulation,” she said. “It gives them more one-on-one with the staff, and we’re able to have a lot of little activities all day long that are more catered to them specifically. We can customize it to what their needs are.”
Brock said the space offers additional safety and security measures such as keypads for staff to enter and exit the area, fencing surrounding an outside courtyard, and an additional monitoring system and nurse’s station. She added all staff working in the unit receive specialized training to aid the residents and address their unique needs.
Teresa Keck, activities director at the facility, said she works alongside the unit director to offer activities for residents in the memory care unit. She said the quieter, lower-anxiety environment is appealing.
“It’s awesome, fabulous,” Keck said with a smile on her face. “I just think that it will create a better environment for them. The noise will be cut down tremendously. It’s a great thing for them.”
She said the environment still allows for family members to visit their loved ones in the facility with no specific visiting hours set. She added families are always welcome to eat meals with their loved ones and to visit regularly.
Keck said she’s been at the Highlands Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for two decades, and is thrilled to finally have an area such as this one.
“It’s a fabulous place,” she said. “I’ve been here for 20 years and I just absolutely love that we are getting this memory care unit. It’s good for the outside, the families that can come in, and have a safe place for their family members.”
Brock stated the unit is much needed, referencing statistics from the CDC when explaining why she prioritized adding the unit to the facility.
“According to the CDC, about 5.8 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia,” Brock said. “If current trends continue, more than nine million Americans could have dementia by 2030 and nearly 12 million by 2040. Fifty-eight thousand of those with the diagnosis live in Arkansas.”