Pretty River Residence, a recently opened memory care facility, provides a compassionate and individualized approach to dementia and Alzheimer's care in a comfortable and safe environment.
Opened this past November, Pretty River Residence's dementia care program uses the Montessori approach, a compassionate and individualized practice honouring people's humanity through personalized activities, community, respect, and dignity.
Catherine Elliott and Don Barron, the marketing managers for the residence, explain that upon admission, there's a discovery process done with the resident's memory care manager and family members to uncover what residents previously enjoyed doing. Then, with the support of staff, they engage in those activities throughout the day, which may include gardening, music, art, pet therapy, church services, and activities of daily living; a craft kitchen is also available for residents to do some baking and cooking with staff.
The building has been designed to resemble a home-like space. It uses gray-white tones with splashes of green and blue to help with mood. Dining spaces are family-style, with colours and natural lighting from large windows that encourage nutrition. Meals and snacks are freshly prepared by their in-house food service staff and accommodate therapeutic and specialized diets.
"Families are always welcome to come and visit and enjoy meals," Elliott says, adding that they can eat in the main dining area or book a private dining room.
"There are also common areas that families can visit if they need quiet spaces outside of the residents' suites and from the large common areas."
Private single- and double-occupancy suites are available, all with their own private bathroom and housekeeping, which includes weekly bed making, dusting, vacuuming, a daily room tidy-up, and laundry of personal items and linens.
The residents have access to secure outdoor areas with gardens and pathways, and there is a personal support worker for every six residents, allowing the staff to provide more care and attention to a smaller group.
Additionally, Pretty River Residence is only two minutes from the hospital and has two doctors associated with it. It also provides nursing care, which includes bathing, feeding, dressing, escorting to and from activities within the home, continence care and administering medications and other substances.
To learn more about Pretty River Residence visit their website here.