Page 96 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING providing care SAFE&COMFORTABLE
New local facilities for Alzheimer’s patients
A story by Lynn Lofton photos by James Edward Bates and courtesy of Bay Cove
lzheimer’s Disease to the house,” says Director Beth or night.
— it’s in the news Joachim. “I feel so blessed to have mom at more and more. The Green House concept is designed Seashore Highlands’ Green House That’s because it’s to de-institutionalize nursing home home,” says Gulfport resident Vicky now the sixth leading life and provide an environment Heath. “It offers the best of care with cause of death in where elders engage in meaningful top-notch, well-trained staff, and
the U.S. and more than five million life activities, eliminating loneliness, plenty of interaction and activities for
Americans are living with it. Every
66 seconds someone in this country develops the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association website. In 2015, caregivers provided an estimated 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care. With the rise in the number of Alzheimer’s patients, more facilities are opening to provide skilled care.
One such facility is in Gulfport through Methodist Senior Services
at Seashore Highlands which
offers Memory Care along with its Independent Living duplex homes and Assisted Living. “Seashore Highlands has the Gulf Coast’s first Green House home for memory care designed to embrace the meaning, depth and emotional richness each elder brings
helplessness and boredom. “Life revolves around the elders who live there,” Joachim said. “This home accommodates 10 elders in private rooms with private bathrooms surrounding a large living area called ‘the Hearth’ complete with a fireplace and open kitchen with a breakfast bar.”
A large family-style dining table invites residents to linger over a cup of coffee and visit with their housemates. Gone are the meals prepared somewhere else and shipped in on carts and trays. In the Green House meals are prepared from scratch using favorite recipes. The aroma of home- cooked meals fills the air, and there’s always a snack close by any time, day
my mom to keep her involved in living her life to the fullest.”
Heath’s mother, 84-year-old Lucille Gilreath, transitioned from Assisted Living to Memory Care and now to the Green House. “It’s an amazing, beautiful facility,” Heath said.
The Memory Care Unit offers 21 suites. The care is designed to create a safe and comfortable environment for residents needing assistance with daily living due to a dementia diagnosis. The Assisted Living Memory Care
uses innovative methods to create an individualized care plan for every resident that includes family support, a routine schedule and activities that inspire reminiscing and allowing residents to remain engaged and
96 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2016
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