Page 11 - Valley Life & Health

THE MORNING CALL SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2019 11
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Memory care services
give purpose and meaning to seniors with dementia Retirement

oel Kroft, executive director of Memory support co-workers deal with living that’s
Memory Support Services, is the human issues of dignity, self-worth
Jcelebrating 15 years of service and purpose. a little
with Country Meadows Retirement You wrote a book for children
Communities. about dementia that has received
unexpectednexpe
How did you get involved in the a national award within the senior
field of memory care for seniors? living industry. What prompted u
I got very interested in the aging you to write The Unforgettable
process, especially the challenges of Adventures of Grandma’s Cape?
dementia, while in college, so I decided We have to change how people see
I wanted to work with older adults. My those with dementia, and starting with
studies in college and graduate school kids makes sense. Kids are open and will We keep couples together when different
helped me realize how dementia can rob listen and understand, even if it’s scary
people of memories and the ability to live and painful for them. The book helps levels of care might separate them at other
their life as they want in their senior years. them understand that Grandma doesn’t communities. We offer a special couple’s rate,
What has kept you working in love them less—she just sees the world
an area that some people might differently now. With dementia, family so Mom and Dad can stay together as long
consider discouraging at times? relationships are about more than words as possible. We also have chef-prepared
I like working in a mission-driven making sense—these connections are
environment with people in need of deeper than that. Reaction to the book meals including regional favorites, trips to
support each day. That springs, in part, has been rewarding—it has led to a great the theater and even residents’ dogs that
from my personal experience. My outreach to schools, counselors and
grandmother had dementia, and I saw others who work with kids. We offer it at do tricks. We offer a full range of lifestyles
her life unraveling. Dementia robs people no cost to anyone who requests it.
of their ability to live a full life long before What else would you like people from independent living to personal care and
they die. People with dementia have not to know about Connections memory care. We’re even family owned and
always been treated well, and I like being Memory Support Services?
nvolved. But we also do a
part of a successful program that meets Some people have negative in
ot of things a little differently.
their daily needs on many levels. We have stereotypes of secure memory care lo
to include them in our lives and help them neighborhoods. Those misconceptions
to live as fully as they can. are mostly out of date. People with It’s all part of what makes life
What should people know about dementia are still living, engaged in here a little better.
Connections Memory Support relationships and enjoying aspects of life.
Services at Country Meadows? We invite people to visit Connections
We focus on each individual resident. Memory Support Services at any of our 10
Our primary job is to care for people campuses to see first-hand that they’re
who are unable to care for themselves. not places of sadness but rather places of unexpected
ways we make
But even more, we want to give them love and life. Learn 10 ways our retirement living better
a reason to get up in the morning. They About Country Meadows: retirement communities
still have lives to be lived and relationships Country Meadows has been are a little different #8 couples
We keep
to enjoy. The heart of what we do for offering quality retirement living in the together.
residents with memory loss here at Lehigh Valley for over 30 years on their (and a little better).
Country Meadows is to instill their days Allentown and Bethlehem campuses
with purpose and meaning. and their newest location in Forks Download today at
What qualifications do your Township of Easton. Their lifestyle options
co-workers have to work in include Independent Living, Assisted CountryMeadows.com/
memory care? Living/Personal Care, Memory Care Unexpected.
Our Connections staff cares for residents with early- to late-stage
exclusively for seniors with dementia. memory loss and Restorative Care to
Some are LPNs, CNAs (certified nursing support those recovering from an injury
assistants) and medical assistants, all or living with a chronic condition, plus 24-
trained to understand and meet the hour Skilled Nursing and Rehab services 410 N. Krocks Road, Allentown
needs of individuals with memory loss. to serve the greater Lehigh Valley. (minutes from Rte 22 & I-78) | 610-395-7160
Some co-workers are just coming into Visit www.CountryMeadows.com or 4035 Green Pond, Bethlehem
our field, drawn by their interest in schedule an in-person visit for any day of (close to Routes 22 & 33) | 610-865-5580
helping and caring for others. And some the week. 175 Newlins Road West, Easton
of our dementia care staff are individuals (in Forks Township) | 484-544-3880
who changed careers because they were LOCATIONS:
looking for more meaning in their work. 410 N. Krocks Road, Allentown, 610-395-7160 Independent Living | Assisted Living & Personal Care*
There’s a lot more to dementia care 4035 Green Pond, Bethlehem, 610-865-5580 Memory Care | Restorative Care* | Skilled Nursing**
services than clinical care. Listening to 175 Newlins Road West, Easton (in Forks
people’s life experiences is human care. Township), 484-544-3880 *Forks campus offers Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care.
**Nursing & Rehabilitation Center serves Greater Lehigh Valley.