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One step at a time, the 82-year-old man journeys down the corridor. The end is in site-it has been for some time. After several minutes, he finally reaches it, turns around, and starts to retrace his steps. “I’m looking for Buck,” he mumbled. Buck, his 10-year-old Labrador, died four years ago. “He must be down here.”
Just across the way is a lively old lady, probably in her late 70s. She softly sings what appear to be church hymns. But in an instant she stops in her tracks. Holding back tears, she whispers, “My husband passed away this morning.” “I’m sorry to hear that,” comforts a friend. Moments later I was told that her husband had passed away several years ago.
Difficulty remembering names, finishing thoughts, and trouble finding words are some of the firs noticeable signs. But eventually, and sometimes rather quickly, a progressive memory loss, disorientation, distorted sense of time, changes in personality, loss of language skills, poor judgment, poor planning, depression, frustration and a loss of interest in previous hobbies all may become components of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The course of dementia averages eight years from the time the symptoms first appear; however, people have lived as long as 25 years with Alzheimer’s.
So what can you do for your loved one who has developed Alzheimer’s?
Placing someone in a nursing home is never an easy decision. It is common for relatives to put it off until a crisis leaves them with no other alternative. And once placed, guilt is commonly on your mind-and frustration, anger and depression seem to take a toll on them.
In the early 1990’s, assisted living was still relatively new. Those diagnosed in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s did not have an environment suitable to their needs. Nursing homes provided medical needs but catered to the frail elderly population that needed daily assistance.
So, what do you do with those with a social nature and no apparent infirmities besides a mind that confuses the past with the present, and a body that likes to roam?
Loren Shook, former president of a worldwide company specializing in psychiatric centers, knew the industry could be serving Alzheimer’s patients better. After assembling a team comprised of the industry’s best, Shook went to work and co-founded Silverado Senior Living, a resort-style Alzheimer’s and dementia assisted living community.
Alzheimer’s and dementia patients like the sense of independence, and that is exactly what they find at Silverado communities. Aspen Park, the newest of seven communities, and the first in Utah, provides residents with an environment of freedom.
Practicing the Eden Alternative Philosophy to dementia care, Silverado does not use locked units, nor do they have short, dead-end hallways. The community doesn’t have a hospital-like atmosphere, nor does the staff dress in scrubs. Rather, Silverado offers plenty of space to roam. With some of their residents seemingly walking miles a day. Aspen Park is uniquely designed so their resident can keep going and going.
Capable of housing 102 residents, Aspen Park opened in September 1999. The fenced 8.7-acre property includes parks and pathways, providing the freedom to go outdoors anytime the weather is no inclement. By fall of this year, the community will be complete with gazebo, waterfalls, and gardening boxes set at different heights (wheelchair level and waist high) for resident to
use.
A typical day at Aspen Park includes several activities between meals. Residents are encouraged to work on different activities in the hobby shop, take current events courses, listen to mind soothing music, take a stroll on the paths around the garden, work on their moves in the dance studio or visit the hair salon for a haircut. Aspen Park brings outside organizations and groups to provide programs and shows for its residents.
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Every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. is the Men’s Group. Residents sit a t a table and have a board meeting. At the meeting, residents talk about different things. Sometimes they would give their input on how to market Aspen Park to the community. Other times, the staff would spread out the blueprints for the remodeling which is being done. Members of the board give their ideas on the construction plans. “The Men’s Group is a way for residents to hearken back to their career days,” said Mike
Sieber, community ambassador for Aspen Park. “Several residents have been CEO’s or vice presidents of companies for 45 years. The Men’s Group is a neat way for them to feel important. It gives them a voice.”
Another form of therapy is for residents to care for pets. Resident pets seem to fill a void that some people can’t understand. Residents can move into the community with their own pets, or they can care for one living at Aspen Park. The community is home to 30 tropical birds, four dogs (two of which were brought by residents), and one cat. Silverado claims story after story of pets turning around residents when people couldn’t.
Much of Silverado’s success also comes from placing an emphasis on helping its residents perform daily tasks. For example, caregivers don’t simply dress residents if they have the capabilities to dress themselves. But instead, nurses take the time to help their residents put on their clothing. Likewise, a resident who has trouble walking isn’t just wheeled up to her dining table. With assistance, the resident is walked from the wheelchair to the dining room chair, where she can sit proudly. Although these steps create extra work for the staff, it is an essential step toward recovery and independence for the resident.
Through its entire experience, corporate-wide, Silverado has seen more than 60 residents who were unable to feed themselves develop coordination and strength to eat independently. Eighty-six residents unable to walk when they moved to Silverado are now walking again, while 69 percent of residents are taking less psychotropic medications. And numbers are steadily increasing.
Along the hallways hang redirect ional devices-boards containing phones, locks, puzzles, bells zippers, lights or other gadgets designed to redirect a resident who may be agitated. Instead of restraining them, caregivers try to refocus residents’ attention on the different devices. By the time they have completed the task (of unlocking all of the locks, for example), they usually have forgotten about being upset. The therapeutic environment at Silverado heavily contributes to the decrease in psychotropic medication given at Aspen Park.
Outside of each room are memory boxes-glass-covered boxes containing memorabilia from the resident’s life. In some you may find old family photos and trophies, while in others-military awards or stuffed animals. Residents can better identify which room is theirs by locating their memory box and caregivers can also learn about a resident’s past by looking at his memory box.
Silverado also provides quality medical care for their residents. Registered nurses and social workers are onsite or on-call, 24-hours-a-day. With a direct care staff to resident ratio of 1 to 7, Aspen Park helps give life to those that other shave given up on.
Silverado’s Aspen Park is located at 1430 East 4500 South in Salt Lake City. For more information on Silverado communities, call 272-8000.
Aspen Park provides much freedom to its residents. Residents can find gazebos, waterfalls, walking paths, gardens at different heights and greenhouses throughout the different courtyards. They have access to wander through the courtyards whenever they want.
Many residents, like Elinor, find a sense of security caring for various pets around the community. Aspen Park is home to four dogs, one cat, 30 tropical birds and many fish.
When residents become agitated, care givers occupy them with redirect ional devices, such as a board with different locks and buckles mounted on it. By the time residents finish their task at the board, they have often forgotten about being upset.
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