Page 22 - Healthcare News Mar/Apr 2021

MEMORY CARE
Peace of Mind
Kimball Farms Promotes Dignity, BLife Enrichment in Memory Care
By MARK MORRIS a philosophy know as habilitation, which increasingly emphasizes a person’s remaining skills instead of the skills they have lost.
etween now and 2030, 10,000 Americans each day, on For example, if a sandwich is placed in front of a person with de- average, will reach age 65. That type of growth affects mentia, they may not be able to process what to do with it. “However, all the industries that serve the senior population — if someone sits across from “
and, not surprisingly, senior living is one industry them with a sandwich, picks it
paying close attention to this trend. up, and takes a bite, that is the Kimball Farms Life Care provides independent and assisted living only queuing they need to un-
as well as dedicated memory-care services. In 2020, the Lenox facility derstand what to do,” Corn- received more inquiries about its residential offering than in any year well said, adding that they can
We celebrate
the good days, bolster self- esteem, and we treat them with the utmost dignity and respect.”
prior. Heidi Cornwell, marketing and sales director for Kimball Farms, said potential residents are doing more online research to educate themselves about senior community living.
“Many people are ‘shopping around’ earlier because they saw their own parents ill-prepared for this part of their life journey,” Cornwell said. She also noted that, as people live longer, they are moving into senior communities at a later age.
As a continuing-care retirement community (CCRC), Kimball Farms offers increasing levels of care for those who need it. Residents can easily move from independent living to assisted living, giving the individual and their families greater peace of mind.
For residents who develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Kimball Farms offers memory-care services through its Life Enrichment Pro- gram (LEP). Cornwell explained that the program is centered around
then enjoy their lunch without any further assistance.
Singing is another good
example of emphasizing a re-
maining skill. “The individual
may not sing along to a song
by themselves, but if an activi-
ties person or nurse sings with
them, they can sing with pride and remember every word.”
The LEP puts its focus on maximizing quality of life for each resi- dent. Regular routines and programs built around the interests of the individual keep them busy all day and into the evening. As a result,
the residents thrive, Cornwell said, noting that the stimulation helps residents with dementia maintain the abilities they still have for as long
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