Alicia Seaver is the Vice President of Memory Care Operations for EPOCH Senior Living and a Certified Memory Impairment Specialist. Every month, she addresses a specific issue related to memory and memory care. If you’re interested in hearing about a particular topic, please send a note to [email protected].
Q: Our family is beginning to look for memory care communities for our mother, as her dementia has progressed to the point that it’s becoming difficult to care for her at home. Can you tell me what makes the Bridges® approach different?
A: When it comes time to choose a memory care community for a loved one, there are a lot of factors to consider. Of course, you want to make sure your mother receives the very best care possible. But perhaps more importantly, you want to find a home where she will be loved, treated with dignity and given opportunities to live a fulfilled life.
All of us at Bridges® by EPOCH understand these desires. In fact, many of us have gone through the very same experience as you’re going through now with our own loved ones. We’ve built our communities to be a place where those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia feel comfortable, familiar, safe … and right at home. That’s why everything in our community – from the purposeful design to the exceptional care to our team of remarkable people – is focused on the ultimate goal of providing residents everything they need to thrive and live a life with purpose.
Our mission and philosophy – to creatively build bridges to cross the gaps that have been left by memory impairments – have led us to create unique communities and experiences that care for the whole person individually – physically, mentally and emotionally.
Here are a few ways that Bridges® by EPOCH is special:
Individual, homelike households.
Each of our communities offer several residential-style households where a small group of residents live together. These households are purposefully designed to offer easy visibility, which allows our team members to see the entire household at a glance without being intrusive. Households are designed with an abundance of natural light, soft colors, directional cues and aromatherapy to provide a warm atmosphere where our residents feel safe, calm and comfortable.
Our professional and caring team.
All of us understand that you want your loved one to be in the best hands possible – hands that offer experience, strength and hope. Every one of our team members have been chosen for their professional excellence and their caring hearts. Our devoted team members embrace our residents as an extension of their family and love them wholeheartedly. We also look at the challenges of memory loss as opportunities to understand our residents individually, learn about who they are as people, and provide them with the dignity and honor they deserve.
A personalized approach to care.
We work closely with families to gain necessary insight and deeper understanding into the lives of our residents upon admission. With this initial information, along with what our exceptional team members learn about our residents each and every day, we create highly individualized programming for each resident. For example, if a resident loves animals, we invite pet “therapists” to visit with them; if someone likes evening walks, we make sure they enjoy them safely; and if, for example, they made their living as a carpenter or engineer, we can provide appropriate building projects that hold their interest and strengthen their skills.
A singular focus on memory care.
Bridges® by EPOCH communities, unlike many senior living communities, focus solely on providing care to those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Every inch of space within our memory care assisted living communities was designed to benefit those with memory loss, providing everything residents need to enjoy security, comfort and happiness. Each individual household features a cozy living room with privacy panels and comfortable furniture. A peaceful library offers a great place for reading or quiet games. Dining areas feature restaurant-style dining in a family atmosphere, as well as an open homestyle kitchen where residents can assist with cooking and baking. Residents also have controlled access to the outdoors thanks to enclosed courtyard areas with walking paths, comfortable seating, raised planter beds, bird houses and more.
Support and guidance for families.
Dementia is not just something your loved one is living. It affects your entire family, so Bridges® by EPOCH provides support, guidance and peace of mind for family members, friends and everyone else touched by your loved one’s dementia journey. We offer community outreach programs and services, complimentary caregiver education seminars and support groups, and we serve as a resource to answer questions, connect you with needed providers and be there to help make your family’s journey with dementia easier.
Moving your loved one into a memory care assisted living community is never easy. But with a community like Bridges® by EPOCH, you and your loved one can take the step together to build a more meaningful, fulfilling life for them … and peace of mind for you.
Enhancing Quality of Life
Bridges® by EPOCH communities have been developed from the ground up to anticipate, meet and exceed the needs of our residents and their families. Our team of remarkable people, the exceptional care and services we offer and the purposeful design of our buildings all combine to create the most rewarding, secure and nurturing lifestyle possible for our residents.
We understand the concern families feel about ensuring quality of life for loved ones. That’s why, at Bridges® by EPOCH, we offer a wellness-centered lifestyle that focuses on reinforcing individual strength, so residents enjoy heightened confidence and self-esteem. Ultimately, we provide everything residents need to thrive and rediscover a life with purpose.
Inspiration for Success
At our Bridges® by EPOCH communities, we work closely with families to gain necessary insight and deeper understanding into the lives of our residents upon admission. With this initial information, along with what our exceptional team members learn about our residents each and every day, we are best prepared to provide highly individualized programming for our residents.
Bridges® by EPOCH is New England’s largest stand-alone memory care assisted living provider.