Resident Centered Village Green Memory Care

• We call their walking aids, “Cadillacs” or “safety buggies”.

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• We gently remind them to “Take your Cadillac or safety buggy so you will be safe.” We don’t say “Get your walker, I’m afraid you will fall.” The words “fall” and “afraid” are scary and negative.

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• We ask “How can we help you” instead of “What is wrong”. Their answer usually is “I don’t know”. We give them a hug and redirect. Hugs always work.

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• If they have incontinent issues, we don’t embarrass them. We say, “I think you sat in something, let me help you.” We don’t say, “Let’s go change you, you are wet.” Where is the dignity in that!

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• We promote freedom and choice at Village Green. For example, we encourage our residents to choose their own outfits in the morning. However, we don’t overwhelm them with too many selections causing them confusion.

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• We use red dishes for all meals. This allows the residents to see their food more clearly. If the dishes were white or light colored, residents could not plainly distinguish many of their food items from the dishes, therefore making it more difficult for them to eat.

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• We use fresh food and serve homemade meals each day.

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• We cut up their food for them back in the kitchen if needed. We don’t embarrass them by cutting it in front of everyone in the dining room.

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• We are a family at Village Green. Our care partners and team members eat with the residents during each meal. We sit at their tables with them and we enjoy getting to know them better.

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• We have routines we follow each day. Routines are very important to those with memory impairment. Everything we do at Village Green is designed to help our residents with their memory and routines are an integral part of that process.

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• We don’t think memory impaired seniors are like children. They are grown adults who have lost their memories, not their minds. They deserve to be treated as adults with the dignity and respect they have earned.