“So much of creating purpose for individuals living with dementia
is being able to focus on their abilities and allowing them to do
the things they can,” she said. “By changing the way we think
about these individuals and the diagnosis itself, members from
the independent side of our community could see the life still
meant to be enjoyed by these members and their families.”
The cultural shift included presentations about the benefits of
expanded care options, and it was reinforced by striking negative
clinical terms surrounding the diagnosis – including demented,
suffering, and unit – from the vocabulary. Instead, the
community focused on the many positives a new neighborhood
home could bring to the lives of those living with dementia.
As hope for the future of dementia care began to spread
throughout the community, leadership weighed community
buy-in with a survey in 2013 about the types of care they wanted
to see in the future.
“There was an overwhelming response, and it was exactly the
response we wanted. Our community was aligned with the vision
of leadership,” said Syron.
Survey results show that 90 percent of the community felt it was
“important” or “very important” to provide members with a new
memory support neighborhood, with 76 percent interested in
learning more about dementia and cognitive care.
“The results showed that community members wanted specialty
services in memory support in a less restrictive setting, allowing
for greater quality of life,” said Garrett. “We were elated by the
response and possibility of what was to come.”
While some organizations provide memory
services at a skilled nursing level, Peconic
Landing believed the assisted living
level would allow for more freedom in
programming, benefiting the targeted
segment of residents living with
dementia, all the while providing cost
savings in care.
(Continued)
“The very first thing we did was create
a philosophy which emphasized living
instead of t he care.”
— Jennifer Ackroyd, assisted living administrator,
Peconic Landing
leadingageny.org
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