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Our memory care neighborhood serves twenty-five people with memory impairments such as those caused by Alzheimer’s Disease and strokes. The residence is secured to prevent wandering and has specially trained staff and programming to optimize the life of those with memory problems. An assisted living community of twenty to twenty-five elders works best according to national research published in 1999. For the person with limited mobility and memory shortcomings, this size community allows for variety and stimulation without being overwhelming or too large to emotionally handle. It also ensures many daily interactions between our staff and residents. This allows us to be especially sensitive to residents needs or any gradual changes.
• 24 hour staff; high staff to resident ratio • Staff trained in the Habilitation Model of Alzheimer’s Care • Wonderful food at three meals and snacks. • Extensive activity program designed in accordance with Alzheimer’s Association guidelines. • Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. • Medication management • Housekeeping and laundry • Full family involvement • One comprehensive monthly fee.
Our staff is trained in the Habilitation Model of care • Specially trained staff – employs leading edge Alzheimer’s techniques to enhance quality of our residents’ lives and maintains self-esteem Whitcomb House staff is trained in the Habilitation Model of care, which stresses the positives of what residents still can do. It emphasizes the “yes” in each person’s daily life, maintaining self-esteem and feelings of self worth. Staff work had at providing the necessary support without making residents feel helpless and dependent. Whitcomb House, for staff training, uses "Care for People with Alzheimer's Disease - A Training Manual for Community Care Providers" authored by Joanne Koenig-Coste, M.Ed.. Ms. Koenig-Coste endorses the Habilitation model of care. Her manual states that, " The aim of Habilitation therapy is not to restore people with Alzheimer's disease to what they once were (rehabilitation), but to maximize their functional independence and morale. This approach requires minimizing or eliminating many difficult symptoms of the dementia in spite of the person's progressive physical, cognitive and emotional limitations. " Habilitation therapy promotes positive emotion, minimizes stress, optimizes function and is success- oriented.
Our personal care staff are universal workers Certified by the State of Massachusetts as Certified Nurse Assistants or Home Health Aides, our staff do everything at Whitcomb House that they would do in caring for their own families. They provide personal care and housekeeping, serve meals, and conduct activities. We think the result is great. We don't have any "that's not my job", our staff has a varied day that is more enjoyable and makes them happier, we don't have any language problems and we don't spend a lot of time communicating from personal care staff to housekeeping and then to food service.
Small works best
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 245 West Street • Milford, Massachusetts 01757 Tel. 508-634-2440 • Fax 508-473-6366 • Living@Whitcombhouse.com Copyright © 2004 Whitcomb House |