Unique Alzheimer's Program Improves Quality Of Life And Provides Purpose
Innovative Alzheimer's care program, Bridge to Rediscovery, helps individuals with dementia-related illnesses interact again with the world and people around them.
Newton, MA (PRWEB) April 8, 2010
Five Star Senior Living's award-winning Alzheimer's disease (http://www. fivestarseniorliving. com/retirement-options-alzheimers-care. asp? SubnavID=17) care program, Bridge to Rediscovery, is helping individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses to once again engage with the world around them and rediscover the joy in everyday life.
Five Star Senior Living (http://www. fivestarseniorliving. com) and National Medical Report have recently teamed up to produce a video featuring family members whose loved ones have benefitted from Bridge to Rediscovery.
For the more than 5 million Americans who have Alzheimer's -- and for the people who love them -- the disease can be devastating. Alzheimer's causes memory loss and other cognitive deficiencies including loss of language. It also can result in behavioral symptoms such as irritability and aggression.
Because there is no cure for Alzheimer's, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms of the disease. At Five Star Senior Living communities throughout the United States, Bridge to Rediscovery (http://www. fivestarseniorliving. com/retirement-options-alzheimers-care. asp? SubnavID=17) addresses these symptoms with an innovative approach that helps the individual with Alzheimer's find purpose again by striving for and celebrating small successes each day. The program encourages family members to become directly involved with their loved one's treatment by participating in personalized activities designed to engage the individual at his or her level and interest.
"Our philosophy is for staff to know who the residents truly are -- the special things just about them and their lives that make them who they are," says Bridge to Rediscovery Clinical Program Manager Robert Brennan. "Once we know these important facts, dreams and wishes, we can engage with them every day in a way that's meaningful just for them."
Staff and family members of individuals in the Bridge to Rediscovery program believe it helps those with Alzheimer's feel more connected and understood. At the senior living communities that utilize the program, anecdotal evidence has shown decreases in behavioral symptoms such as pacing and wandering, and in a few cases, the restoration of some lost functioning.
The philosophy and daily living activities of Bridge to Rediscovery were inspired by the Montessori-style approach to education used throughout the world to help children succeed. In the Montessori tradition, Bridge to Rediscovery focuses on the individual and helps them learn through meaningful, hands-on activities. All Bridge to Rediscovery staff members are trained by a credentialed trainer in Montessori-based dementia programming.
In addition to other activities of daily living, Bridge to Rediscovery has a unique dining program for individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia-related disorders. It features a restaurant-like setting, with butler-service and family style dining. For many of today's seniors, this is comfortably reminiscent of how they used to experience mealtime, and in spite of Alzheimer's disease it encourages them to interact with both the servers and each another.
With Bridge to Rediscovery programs at more than 82 senior living communities in 27 states, Five Star Senior Living is helping make a difference for those with Alzheimer's disease and their loved ones. The program is designed for seniors with early, middle and late stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Five Star Quality Care, Inc. is a senior living and healthcare services company. Five Star Quality Care, Inc. owns or leases and operates 217 Five Star Senior Living communities with 22,905 living units located in 30 states. These communities include independent senior living, assisted living (http://www. fivestarseniorliving. com/assisted-living-retirement-communties. asp? SubnavID=15) and skilled nursing home (http://www. fivestarseniorliving. com/nursing-senior-rehabilitation. asp? SubnavID=16) care communities. Five Star also operates five institutional pharmacies and two rehabilitation hospitals. Five Star is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts.
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