Memory Care Residences

“Touchmark on South Hill gave us the information and guidance we needed to make a loving decision.”

A caring world for people with memory loss

In Touchmark communities that are appropriately designed and licensed to provide a living environment for individuals who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementing illnesses, the memory support programs are called “Devonshire.”

... The physical environment in the Devonshire memory support program is specifically designed to provide appropriate levels of stimulation and support in an area that is secured for exit and entry to residents. Guided choices are encouraged through person-centered programming provided by especially trained staff, who work with the residents throughout the day, evening, and night.

Memory Care—Description of Touchmark Devonshire Program

Living styles and features

Memory Care residences range from 325 to 562 square feet. Many features help ensure your loved one a respectful, enriched life:

• 24-hour health care staff
• Three meals daily plus snacks
• Daily basic housekeeping
• Bedding and towel laundry (one load/week)
• Personal laundry (one load/week)
• Daily bed making
• Basic cable TV
• All utilities (except personal telephone)
• Daily wake-up service
• Choose and lay out clothing
• Morning and evening dressing assistance
• Grooming assistance
• Escort to and from dining
• Event reminders
• Life Enrichment/Wellness opportunities
• Day and night safety check
• Secured apartment windows
• 24-hour emergency call system
• Weight monitoring, monthly
• Enclosed outdoor courtyard
• Family rooms
• Notary service
• Regularly scheduled bus outings
• Weekly participation in the Health & Fitness Center

Personal care and health services

Licensed nurses provide an in-depth initial assessment to determine residents’ negotiated service plans based on their needs. Recurring assessments and scheduled care conferences keep the service plan current and specific to the changing needs of each resident. This thorough review process ensures that a resident is charged only for the services provided.

Services available at an additional cost include bathing assistance more than twice weekly, continence care assistance, additional personal laundry and housekeeping, medication administration, medication ordering, coordinating medical services, vital sign monitoring, licensed nursing services, emergency call pendant, medical, social, therapeutic needs referral assistance, companion service, and beauty/barber appointment.

Growing Together Gardens™ grow enjoyment

All Touchmark communities offering memory care include a program component titled “Growing Together,” which is the portion of the Life Enrichment/Wellness program that emphasizes the importance of individuals having ongoing contact with living things—both plants and animals.

One of the many aspects of “Growing Together” is the gardening program and courtyard design for most Touchmark memory care neighborhoods. These thoughtfully designed gardens and courtyards include the following features:

• No toxic plants. The seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and blossoms of all plants must be nontoxic to humans, pets, and birds.
• Accessible gardening spaces. Residents who use wheelchairs, walkers, and canes need to be able to access the garden. Touchmark uses raised garden beds and makes sure there is pavement/cement on the excursion path so no one gets “stuck” in the grass or bark dust.
• Seasonal plantings that provide year-round color.
• Edible plants. Residents grow herbs and vegetables, which are used in the cooking program.
• Flowers and other plants that attract butterflies and songbirds. Bird feeders and the correct kind of birdseed are used to attract songbirds rather than pest birds.
• Alzheimer’s-friendly lighting. Outdoor lighting is at least five feet in the air to avoid tripping and falling over fixtures.
• Recessed irrigation. This practice keeps these away from traffic pathways to avoid trips and falls.
• Shade. Trees, awnings, and/or other coverings are important for the warm summer months.
• 24-hour access. The importance of being outdoors most days is very well-documented in the research. Some states include regulations that require residents have access to a courtyard. In general, Touchmark courtyards extend the walls of the building and offer a pleasant, secure outdoor environment.

Memory Care

Description of Touchmark Devonshire Program

In Touchmark communities that are appropriately designed and licensed to provide a living environment for individuals who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other related dementing illnesses, the memory support programs are called “Devonshire.”

Sometimes the term “age-related dementia” is used. A dementia resulting from a stroke, head injury, or any other illness or condition would be considered “age-related dementia,” as long as the person is 55 or older. There are any number of dementing illnesses—some that come with aging, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and some that stem from other events, such as a stroke, auto accident, etc. The main reason that Touchmark uses the term “age-related” is to make clear that we do not serve younger adults who have dementing illnesses.

Characteristics of clients appropriate for services provided in the Devonshire memory support programs:

• An accurate and current diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other age-related dementing illness. This diagnosis is provided in the doctor's orders that are required for a resident to move into the Devonshire program.
• Cognitive challenges that put the individual at risk for his/her personal safety and/or the individuals around him/her. These losses often include memory loss, impaired judgment, disregard for personal safety, and inability to be independent in some activities of daily living.
• A need for oversight in medication administration, dietary intake, functional and leisure activities, and other decision-making tasks that occur in the course of a 24-hour day.
• Require a secured environment to be safe and comfortable.

Devonshire environment

The physical environment in the Devonshire memory support program is specifically designed to provide appropriate levels of stimulation and support in an area that is secured for exit and entry to residents. Guided choices are encouraged through person-centered programming provided by especially trained staff, who work with the residents throughout the day, evening, and night. Guided choices means that we give residents choices for which we can provide staff and/or other support, as needed. For example, a resident from the Devonshire may choose to go on a bus trip scheduled for the Devonshire residents; it wouldn't be a good idea to ask, "Would you like to go on a bus trip?" and have the resident think he/she can join the residents from another part of the building on a bus trip that doesn't provide the staffing or environment appropriate for a Devonshire resident. Our staff are trained to offer choices that we can provide and that are reasonably safe for the resident.

Staff training for everyone working in the Devonshire environment is based on the Touchmark person-centered care model, which is a best practice and exceeds state requirements for training in all states and Canada. Ratios of staff to residents are determined by the scheduled and unscheduled needs of the residents and meet or exceed state requirements for staffing. All residents are provided opportunities to be outside in a secured courtyard area and also may participate in activities and field trips that occur outside of the Devonshire program area. A smaller, more intimate dining area is provided for residents within the Devonshire, and residents may go to bed and awake on their individual schedules.

Here are some key words and definitions that are used in Touchmark programs supporting individuals with memory loss:

Person—The real self of a human being; an individual personality with a unique life story.

Person-centered—This is a term used to describe the philosophy of honoring the "self" of each person by respecting self-esteem issues and personal values in every encounter, interaction, and activity.

Person-centered activity—An activity, event, or interaction that is planned and conducted around a person's life history, interests, needs, strengths, and skills. The individual engaging or inviting the person to participate in the activity has a personal and positive relationship with him/her.

Person-centered care—A culture in which a positive relationship is established that respects a person's life history and preferences; honors the person's identity; engages in meaningful activity; encourages an overall sense of well-being; and provides a positive and unconditional regard for the person.

Dawn Brooker, a professor at the University of Bradford Dementia Group in England, offers four features in her article "What is Person-Centered Care in Dementia?" They are:

• Valuing people with dementia and those who care for them;
• Treating people as individuals;
• Looking at the world from the perspective of the person with dementia;
• Providing a positive social environment in which the person living with dementia can experience relative well-being.

Although no one would choose to have a disease that causes brain cell death, confusion, and fear, there are many persons living with this reality. Touchmark believes that person-centered care recognizes that the essential person is still present, despite the Alzheimer's disease or dementia. It is our challenge and obligation to meet people where they are and work with them to have a day—and a life—that are meaningful. It is our commitment to them, their families, and our staff.

The following memory loss services are provided as part of the basic rate at each Touchmark community, with no additional charge. There is some variation at each community, depending on a building's staffing, services, and/or state regulations.

Services provided at no additional charge in Touchmark Devonshire programs:

Services provided by a licensed nurse

• Licensed nursing assessment (initial, first 30 days, quarterly, and per condition change, as needed)
• Licensed nurses on staff
• Review and follow-up of staff observation reports

[A quarterly medication assessment/review is available for a minimal charge]

Health Monitoring

• Staff provide basic health referral information
• Monthly weighing of resident
• Monthly vitals: blood pressure, pulse, respiration
• Daily health monitoring, including changes in condition, temporary illness
• Transportation for scheduled medical appointments twice per week (available through transportation schedule; see department for restrictions; Devonshire residents require supervisory attendance)
• Care conference with residents, families, staff, legal representative, if appropriate (first 30 days, quarterly, and as needed)
• Resident education on appropriate health and wellness choices
• Emergency response/evacuation assistance 24 hours a day
• 24-hour care-giving staff available

Housekeeping and Laundry

• Basic housekeeping service once per week; includes linen service and basic cleaning
• One load of personal laundry per week [Additional laundry support is available for an appropriate charge]
• Daily apartment tidying and garbage removal
• Daily bed making, if needed

Life Enrichment/Wellness

• Initial interview with Life Enrichment/Wellness staff within first 30 days of residency
• Verbal reminders to participate in events/activities of choice
• Escorts to dining and activities within the Devonshire program area, if needed or requested
• Scheduled transportation and/or outings to shopping, sightseeing, and local events (see Devonshire Life Enrichment/Wellness calendar)
• Monthly birthday dinners, entertainment, and other celebration events
• Supervised fitness classes in the Touchmark on South Hill Fitness Studio
• Participation in selected program classes, activities, and events
• Person-centered care programming, including Life Story work, reminiscing, exercise, and other program components provided by direct-care staff, volunteers, family members, and Life Enrichment/Wellness staff

Dining Services

• Three meals a day and nutritional snacks using the 24-hour Nutritional Clock
• Therapeutic and texture modifications to food as ordered by doctor (e.g., puree/mechanical soft textures, low salt, or diabetic diets, cutting food prior to serving, assistance with eating, cueing, etc.)

Activities of daily living

• Assistance with grooming, toileting, dressing
• Assistance with bathing twice per week with one caregiver [Additional bathing services are available at an additional charge]
• Assistance with cleaning glasses, reminding or assisting with hearing aids, reminding or assisting with dentures
• Redirection and reminders up to four times per eight-hour shift [Additional redirection and reminder services are available at an additional charge]

[Depending on frequency, there may be an additional charge for continence care]

It is important to remember that the regulations regarding provision of services to individuals with progressive memory loss diseases vary from state to state and in Canada. These differences are reflected within the Devonshire memory support programs in each locale.

For additional details, please Contact Us today.

Back to top