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Imagine an assisted living solution for
dementia patients that gives the family a
sense of actually giving back to their loved
one some of the quality of life that has
diminished.
Imagine no more—as a proven solution now
exists.
AlzCare was formed
in December of 1998 to provide
assisted living services to persons with
Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia.
Our purpose was clear from the beginning….to
restore some of the quality of life that has
been lost due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
and related dementias. AlzCare does this by
offering residences that provide safety,
security, dignity and independence in a
setting that is better than home. According
to Dr. Barry Reisburg, “The way we typically
care for patients may be
precisely the
opposite of what they need.” This is
especially true in traditional nursing and
assisted living facilities that place their
priorities in areas that do not have a
positive impact on the needs of residents
with Alzheimer’s.
AlzCare is
committed to its mission of
serving individuals and families affected by
Alzheimer’s disease in an intimate, home
setting; generously staffed by well trained,
compassionate and engaging caregivers. Each
facility is licensed for no more than 16 to
maintain a small, intimate setting in which
staff, resident and family alike have the
opportunity to form relationships that are a
part of the therapeutic milieu of AlzCare.
There are two keys
to the AlzCare therapeutic environment
that are specifically designed for persons
with Alzheimer’s disease.
First is the
physical environment, which is
designed to replicate a home setting
complete with open access living and family
areas; an open, accessible kitchen and
dining area; private and semi-private rooms
with specially designed built in closets and
drawers. All bathrooms are centrally located
to provide easy access and close
supervision. In addition to the interior
design, each facility includes porches,
outdoor walking paths and gardens designed
for resident, staff and family interaction
and participation.
The second key is
staff that is well trained, compassionate
and engaging. AlzCare staffs each
facility at twice the traditional assisted
living staffing ratio. The 1:5 staffing
ratio allows for maximum staff/resident
interaction which is the most effective
treatment for Alzheimer’s disease according
to Dr. Mark Burns, a Geriatric Psychiatrist
practicing in New Braunfels. In order to
make the most effective use of this generous
staffing ratio, AlzCare provides over 24
hours of training each year, which is twice
the state requirement for an Alzheimer’s
certified assisted living center. This
significant investment that AlzCare makes in
staffing and training leads to a reduced
turnover rate which, in turn enables longer
term relationships to develop between staff,
residents and family. |
