Assisted Living Memory Care
friendship Towers memory care community
Assisted Living Memory Care is Coming to Friendship Towers April 2021!
We have identified the need for Assisted Living Memory Care at Friendship Towers and we have experienced an increase in inquiries for this level of service from the community.
We are now going to be able to provide safe, secure and resident-centered programming that is structured around the needs of individuals with dementia or memory impairment at Friendship Towers!
We are excited to announce that we will be utilizing the Best Friends Approach, a specialized life enrichment program for residents with dementia or memory impairment.
The Best Friends Approach was developed in Lexington, KY by Virginia Bell and David Troxel at the University of Kentucky’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Our Assisted Living Memory Care Community will employ a team of designated individuals who will receive specialized training by a Certified Dementia Care Trainer about working with individuals with dementia or memory impairment.
The Best Friends Approach is based on seven basic principles:
- Recognizing the basic rights of a person with dementia
- Understanding what it is like to have dementia
- Knowing and Using the person’s Life Story
- Knowing just what to say when Communication is breaking down
- Developing the ‘Knack’ of great dementia care
- Experiencing meaningful engagement throughout the day
- Recasting the relationship and your language from staff to Best Friend.
Studies have shown that individuals suffering from dementia benefit from a specialized memory care program, such as the Best Friends Approach. It decreases isolation, depression, and gives them an overall better quality of life.
Benefits of memory care
Our new Assisted Living Memory Care community will be located on the third floor at Friendship Towers. We will be transforming the third floor to include:
- a new secure entrance and exit,
- a common dining area for family-style meals and
- new common spaces, all of which will be suitable for residents with dementia or memory impairment.
Our interior design team has selected furnishings that are appropriate for Assisted Living Memory Care and that will be as beautiful as they are comfortable.
Of course, residents who reside in the Assisted Living Memory Care Community will also still enjoy the newly expanded common areas at Friendship Towers.
For example, there will be ample opportunities for residents to utilize the new restaurant-style dining room, café and enjoy the new fireside lounges and great room.
There will also be a focus on providing opportunities for residents to enjoy our beautiful new outdoor courtyards. Residents of our Assisted Living Memory Care Community will truly have the best of both worlds!
At Friendship Towers, memory impairment doesn't mean that you need further downsize.
We have found that by having spacious apartments for our Assisted Living Memory Care residents, they are able to retain their dignity by continuing to have a full kitchen (without the stove/oven), bathroom, living room and bedroom.
Their current furniture from their previous apartment all fits and helps the transition process.
There is room for their treasured mementos and knickknacks to surround them in full size apartments, as opposed to 'rooms' at most other communities.
We have 1- and 2-bedroom apartment options available. The 2-bedroom apartments are ideal for married couples as they age in place together.
1 Bedroom Virtual Tour
*Stove/Ovens have been removed & flat continuous countertop stretches across with storage space below.
*Stove/Ovens have been removed & flat continuous countertop stretches across with storage space below.
Click image below to expand Apartment Layout Views.
Assisted Living Services
Optional discreet assistance with activities of daily living and medication management are available and included for all Assisted Living Memory Care residents.
Complete care with housekeeping, personal laundry services, maintenance, and transportation is also available for residents.
- Certified assisted living facilities may not provide health services such as medication administration or nursing services.
- To be eligible to reside in Assisted Living the resident must be ambulatory or mobile non-ambulatory (move about with an assistive device, but without help from another person) and not be a danger (to oneself or others.
Maintenance-Free Lifestyle
All utilities are included, aside from phone, so that residents truly can enjoy the programming, activities and events without the worry or stress of maintaining their home.
Residents Meals Included
Of course, residents have three delicious and healthy meals per day in their own spacious dining room or delivered to their apartments.
Dining plays a large part in the comfort of residents as they age and that's no different in our Assisted Living Memory Care Community.
The culinary team creates chef-driven meals that are both familiar and delicious for residents.
Residents don't have the distraction of additional stimuli that you might have in other parts of the campus and residents can relax and focus on dining and fellowship over meals with their best friends.
BRAIN FOOD
Super foods, fresh vegetables and proteins rich in Omega-3s are on the menu, as well as comforting and familiar dishes.
Food experiences are a highlight of life for memory impaired residents and often lead to reminiscing.
Sayre Christian Village employs a full-time Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to ensure that chef-prepared meals are not only tasty, they are healthy for the residents.
Most all specialty diets can be accommodated. The dining team strives to be the best part of someone's day!
life enrichment
Specialized life enrichment programs can also prevent individuals with dementia or memory impairment from having to seek a higher level of care as early.
This approach helps to keep residents more involved in their activities of daily living while creating feelings of happiness and success.
Providing meaningful engagement throughout the day is therapeutic by keeping the individual physically fit and also by enhancing socialization.
Residents are offered an array of programming throughout the day that is tailored to their needs.
Activities are performed both 1:1 and in small groups, in short bursts to maintain engagement.
Art Therapy
- Inspires Memory: art communicates through emotions and evokes personal memories.
- Increases Brain Stimulation
- Allows a form of Self-Expression and Non-Verbal Communication
- Leads to Social Interactions
- Can rekindle feelings
- Creates a sense of achievement & purpose
- Enhances mood & general well-being
- Boost physical strength and dexterity
- Practicing art stimulates the parietal lobe which is responsible for fine motor functions
- Art makes fun moments.
Art Therapy Techniques
- Sculpting with clay
- Painting still objects, scenes and memories
- Crafts
- Drawing
- Journaling
- Jewelry Making
- Writing Letters/Postcards
- Coloring
Music Therapy
- Helps activate the section of the brain responsible for memory retention. Which can help people trigger happy memories of past experiences.
- Mood-by telling the brain to produce hormones that stabilize mood and can help reduce anxiety and depression.
- Movement- encourages movement as it evokes a physical response from the body.
- Communication & Connections- music offers a way to communicate feelings without needing to speak. It can also help residents connect to a loved one.
- Memory – resident can be triggered to remember certain emotions from music that is linked to past memories. It can also help them remember connections to loved ones.
Music Therapy Techniques
- Singing and improvising with songs and music
- Drumming and playing other musical instruments
- Musical led relaxation
- Musical led exercise
- Music programs
- 1:1 music time
We are fortunate to have a full-time Chaplain on campus.
Chaplain Tyler Green is a familiar and friendly face to all, regardless of spiritual affiliation.
He is a trusted link with families, home churches and a listening ear.
He leads Sunday Services at Friendship Towers and residents love to sing the old Hymns they know and love with him.
Resident Fitness
Our Life Enrichment Program takes into account the whole body, mind, spirit and soul!
While residents can choose exercise classes, they will also always have wellness activities sprinkled into programing and achieve wellness goals without getting discouraged by structured classes.
Sayre Christian Village employs a full-time Registered Nutrition Dietician to ensure that chef-prepared meals are not only tasty, they are healthy for the residents.
How is a life plan community an advantage?
If you're searching for a community, chances are you or your loved one are looking for peace of mind in addition to all the bells and whistles.
Sayre Christian Village is proud to offer peace of mind though our multiple levels of care on one campus.
As Fayette County's only nonprofit continuing care retirement community, we're proud to offer multiple levels of care that can be taken advantage of, should they ever be needed.
Families love life plan communities
They know that there is less likely to be a disruptive move in the future if another level of care is needed.
Most other communities do not offer as many levels of care or have CCRC beds that are certified for those that have lived at Friendship Towers for more than 90 days.
Couples stay close
In addition, couples feel very comforted here because they know that they can move into Friendship Towers independently. Should a partner suffer a setback, injury or have a decline in health, they may pick up assisted living services with no disruption to home life.
If one should need therapy for a short while or come to need skilled nursing long term, they are not separated long distance.
They are merely a stones throw away and can visit as often as they like, with complimentary on campus transportation.
At Sayre Christian Village, we offer Independent Living, Assisted, Assisted Living Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Skilled Memory Care, Therapy and Palliative Care all available on the same campus. We've been offering hope, housing and healthcare to our residents for over 35 years.