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How to Coordinate a Quality Caregiving Team

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

It takes a village to raise a child, so they say, and it takes a large group to care for someone with dementia. It’s definitely not something that you as a family caregiver can do alone – and you shouldn’t have to, says Barbara Harrison, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood, a memory care assisted living community in Westwood, MA.

“In order to get the support you need to provide the best care for your loved one and yourself, you’ll need to have a quality caregiving team who is there to take the lead on different tasks and provide support as needed,” she says. “Your care team will become more and more involved as your loved one progresses through their dementia journey, so it’s important to choose individuals who understand the process, understand best practices and can help you work through the physical, mental and emotional aspects dementia has on individuals, family members and friends.”

Barbara says that a caregiving team is made up of several layers of support, with your loved one at the center – at the heart of the caregiving, so to speak. “Every member of your caregiving team will play a part in fulfilling a very specific purpose: the care and well-being of your senior loved one with dementia,” she says. “Your team may include family members, friends and neighbors, medical professionals, financial and legal professionals, as well as a variety of individuals or organizations for support.”

 

Why Coordinated Caregiving Teams Are Essential

If you’ve had any experience at all dealing with people or coordinating a task (and let’s face it, we all have), you know that communication is essential in order to be successful. This is especially true when it comes to caregiving for a serious, lengthy and life-changing disease like dementia. There are many moving parts to consider, not the least of which is medical care and treatment. However, there are also emotional needs, nutritional needs, social needs and a variety of other factors that must be taken into account to keep your loved one engaged and fulfilled.

In order to make sure total wellness is attained, all members of the caregiving team need to understand the full picture of a care regime – or, more colloquially, “the right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing.” By coordinating all facets of care, the individual with dementia benefits from a structured and successful care plan.

“As a dedicated memory care assisted living community, the staff at Bridges by EPOCH at Westwood are uniquely trained in order to become a seamlessly integrated part of you and your loved one’s caregiving team,” says Barbara. “Memory care is all we do, and we have extensive experience coordinating with medical professionals, family members and other members of caregiving teams in order to provide the best life possible for our residents.”

 

How Coordinated Care Benefits Residents

As a resident at Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood, seniors with memory loss have a dedicated care team assigned to them, providing both familiar faces and a deep understanding of each individuals’ needs and desires. This care team includes licensed nurses on site, who are there to ensure all physical and medical needs are met.

Personalized care plans are developed upon admission of a resident, and they are revisited regularly in order to ensure that everything is still working to provide an encouraging lifestyle for the individual with memory loss. Coordinating the caregiving approach provides a lifestyle where residents enjoy independence, wellness, comfort, and fulfillment, no matter what stage of memory loss they may be in.

The care team extends beyond wellness, nurses and care staff – into every aspect of life at Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood. Our life enrichment team focuses on developing innovative activities and events that are meaningful, spark joy and provide a full life experience through engagement. This engages memory care residents physically, emotionally and mentally. Our team gets to know each resident personally in order to customize their care plan even further with activities that meet their interests, history, life achievements, hobbies and more. If they like to paint, sing or play games, that’s what we do. If they have a favorite local entertainer, we invite them to come perform for us. If they want to see the ocean, we even take them to the beach.

Our dining team is yet another facet of our incredibly coordinated caregiving team. Not only is the food nutritionally balanced and developed for the specific health needs and preferences of each resident, but the meals that are prepared are incredibly delicious. We use only the freshest ingredients, sourced from local farms and markets, and have an ever-changing array of dishes that please the palate, engage the senses and encourage good nutrition.

Finally, our maintenance team provides a worry-free lifestyle for residents (which is soothing for family members). Every aspect of maintenance is taken care of, including housekeeping and laundry, so that your loved one never has to deal with burnt-out light bulbs, dirty clothes or a dirty environment. Instead, everything is just as you would want it – and provided by a staff who cares deeply for each and every resident they serve.

 

Exceptional Care & Fulfilling Lifestyle

Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood provides memory care assisted living that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, our community offers a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and individual preferences. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – enriching the lives of our residents every day.

 

Inspiring Programs for All Stages

No matter what level of care or service is needed, residents and families can rest assured that our care and life enrichment programs address the various stages of memory decline, allowing residents the opportunity to age in place.

 

Dedicated Memory Care

At Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood, our services are designed to recognize and adapt to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident, while ensuring comfort and safety. We believe in a full-service approach to care and provide a high level of personalized attention for residents in various stages of memory loss.

 

Contact us today to learn more.

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