Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Community Healthcare - (Page 8)

mEmory Keepers by ElisE sims Special care for loved ones dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia E veryone has memory lapses—forgetting someone’s name or where a wallet was put down—but if the lapses become routine and interfere with your or your loved one’s daily activities, it may be time to seek help. Hartsfield Village Memory Support Residence in Munster may offer the solution that many seniors and their families seek when facing the challenges of dementia and dementia-related illness. Experiencing trouble with recent memories or getting confused easily can be a warning sign of dementia, whether it is Alzheimer’s disease or a related cognitive disorder. Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects a person’s brain and memory— how someone thinks and behaves. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and 34,000 of them live in Northern Indiana. “With a growing population of seniors in need, there are a lot more choices in care than there used to be,” explains Suzanne Gillette, residential care administrator, Hartsfield Village. “But we may be the preferred choice because we offer all levels of care so that we essentially have a plan in place as our residents age.” For more than 15 years, Hartsfield Village Senior Living Community has enjoyed a reputation as the premier Continuing Care Retirement Community in Northwest Indiana, meaning that residents live as independently as possible, but with increased services available as their needs 8 change. The memory support residence opened almost six years ago as an addition to the independent living, assisted living and nursing care levels of service originally provided at Hartsfield. According to Gillette, Hartsfield Village offers Memory Support residents dementia-specific programming to meet their daily needs as well as to stimulate brain activity. Staff share a collective dedication to assisting residents and their families with daily challenges. Residents enjoy amenities designed to enrich daily life including spacious private rooms, 24-hour nursing staff and recreational activities. Each resident has a care team that includes the nursing staff, a program specialist, a dining room steward and a housekeeper. continued on page 49 Fa l l 2 013 lower left photo by thinkstock Tailored To The residenTs each resident in the Memory care residence of hartsfield Village has a care team that includes nursing staff, a program specialist, a dining room steward and a housekeeper. (standing, from left) kathryn wood, co-director; and brenda obinger, co-director and activities director; and (seated) kathryn helfen, certified nursing assistant, welcome residents and their families to the Memory support residence.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
Dream Team
Spreading the Health
Memory Keepers
Step It Up
Your Mightiest Muscle
Well, Well, Well
Are You Doing More Harm Than Good?
Is Your Shut-Eye Serving You Well?
On the Cover
Anatomy of an ER Visit
Next-Gen Surgery
Attack from Within
Virtual Health
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical Center
SPOTLIGHT ON: Community Hospital
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Catherine Hospital
In Good Hands

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Community Healthcare