Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care facility at Atlantic Shores

Harbourway’s dedicated Memory Care Unit, which opened in February, 2008, features highly specialized care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. This 14-bed facility is attached to Seaside Health Center, a skilled nursing center at the Atlantic Shores senior community in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Custom-designed to provide for the medical, emotional and safety needs of its residents, this dedicated facility offers 24-hour monitoring of health and security, provided by attentive round-the-clock staff.

Memory Care Unit Services and Amenities

• 24-hour availability of trained staff
• Emergency call system in every room
• Close monitoring of resident whereabouts and condition, including daytime, evening and nighttime checks
• Secured entrances and exits to the unit
• Electronic monitoring available for residents who are at high risk for wandering
• Mobility assistance (hands-on support) to and from dining room or activities
• Supervision and physical assistance with showers, up to 3 times weekly
• Physical assistance with personal hygiene, dressing/undressing daily
• Management of chronic incontinence
• Support with transfers that usually require one staff person
• Three meals per day, plus snacks
• Assistance at meals as needed (e.g., cutting meats and using condiments)
• Medication administration and assistance
• Blood sugar monitoring and testing services
• Lounges and common areas along with secured garden & outdoor areas
• Planned social, recreational, therapy and educational experiences
• Housekeeping 3 times weekly
• Laundering of bed and bath linen as needed
• Daily trash collection
• Basic cable television

 

Therapeutic Recreational Programs

To provide the finest comprehensive care, Harbourway’s Memory Care unit features special equipment and activities designed to provide vital sensory stimulation for each resident.

Activities are personally gauged for each individual resident by Valerie Holden, a C.T.R.S. (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) with a special certification in dementia practice guidelines set by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. Certain activities, such as SuDuko and light exercise are offered for residents.  Mental stimulation and keeping residents as active in their leisure lifestyles are a priority for staff to maintain.  Other stimulation activities, such as aromatherapy, are offered to all.

Specialized equipment is also part of the ongoing therapy process. Programmable “bubble columns” create a customized sensory environment. Filled with water and colored balls, this sound-sensitive machine creates bubbles at a rate timed to music played nearby. A six foot-tall “waterfall” bubble column creates a waterfall effect that calms and soothes.

Activities are also designed to use “Tangle” equipment of various colors and sizes. Residents can increase their range of motion and fine motor skills with a regimen of twisting motions. Some have a ball inside, with the outer ball’s movements affecting the inner ball. Some are set like a maze with a series of 90-degree curves, with no beginning or end.

In the near future, a specially designed “tactile wall” will be installed in the Memory Care unit for further visual and motor skill maintenance.

To stay on the cutting edge of support and treatment options, Harbourway also offers an Alzheimer’s Support Group (through the local Alzheimer’s Association Tidewater Chapter), with resident family and staff co-facilitators, and a social worker that provides families of residents with the latest research and medical updates.

Optional Services which are available, but not included in the rent are:

• Beauty Parlor/Barber Shop services 
• Rehabilitation services (physical, occupational, and speech therapy)
• Physicians’ services 
• Podiatry, dental and ophthalmology consultation 
• Radiology services  
• Laboratory services
• Local  & long distance phone service
• Guest Meals
• Catering for special occasions
• Valet service to appointments
• Personal hygiene items
• Personal laundry service
• Special activity excursions
• Medications
• Medical and incontinence supplies 

 

Common Questions about Alzheimer’s Disease

 

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible dementia for which there is no known cause or cure. It is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that affects memory, judgment, language, personality, and behavior to the degree that it severely interferes with a person’s daily functioning.

Initially, a person experiences forgetfulness, and as the disease progresses, a decline in mental functioning, and then impairment in physical coordination and motor skills.

What are some of the “warning signs"?

• Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. They may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.
• Problems with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth.”
• Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
• Poor or decreased judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.
• Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.
• Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
• Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
• Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
• Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.

 

How prevalent is the disease?
Today, more than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. As the Baby Boomer
Generation ages however, the numbers will increase to 14 million Americans by the year 2050. In this country, every 72 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s.

What are some of the risk factors?
The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s is increasing AGE. Most people with the disease are 65 or older. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles about every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent.  

Another risk factor is family history. Research has shown that those who have a parent, brother or sister, or child with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness. When diseases tend to run in families, either heredity or environmental factors or both may play a role.  

Scientists know genes are involved in Alzheimer’s. There are two categories of genes that can play a role in determining whether a person develops a disease. Alzheimer genes have been found in both categories.

How long does the disease usually last?
The course of the disease varies from person to person, as does the rate of decline from onset to death. Alzheimer’s disease can last from 3 to 20 years, with an average length of around 7-8 years.

What are some of the common “myths” about Alzheimer’s?

• Alzheimer’s disease is a NORMAL part of the aging process: Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory. It is a disease that slowly and painfully takes away your identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find your way home.
• There ARE treatments available to stop progression of the disease: At this time, there is no treatment to cure, delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. FDA-approved drugs temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about 6 to 12 months, on average, for about half of the individuals who take them. The best treatment, currently, is comprehensive care, specifically designed for Alzheimer’s patients.

 

In what ways are families unable to cope with caring for a loved one with Alzheimers?
This disease really has the ability to tear families apart. A person with Alzheimer’s becomes totally dependent on others for his or her care. Family members who take over caregiving responsibilities are exhausted both physically and emotionally.  They receive no breaks, get no sleep, live in fear that something will happen to their loved one: they might get out -- get hurt -- get lost. They can only handle the stress for so long.

Psychologically, caregivers need their own support system in order to learn coping strategies and life balance.

For many, the best solution is to turn to a professional facility designed to meet the extensive medical,
Psychological and physical needs of their loved one.

What other situations make care decisions difficult?
Some family members face these challenges at a younger age, when their parents experience“Early Onset” Alzheimer’s -- with symptoms starting as early as age 50.

With this situation, their adult children may be at the point where they are raising young children,
and they realize they cannot also offer adequate care for their parent.

What advantages does living in a skilled nursing facility offer for Alzheimer’s patients and their families?
For the person with Alzheimer’s, they receive a customized care program with daily attention to their needs. For family members, there is peace of mind that their loved one is constantly attended by accredited medical professionals. With the pressure of daily care eliminated, we have seen the difference this has made in the lives of all families involved.

Since opening Seaside Health Center, our skilled nursing center at Atlantic Shores in 1997, we have had extensive experience offering complete health care, targeted to elderly patients with a variety of healthcare challenges.

Still, the resources offered by a skilled nursing facility are not enough to handle the complex needs of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. That’s why we created a special unit dedicated specifically to Memory Care.

So is there a need for specific “Memory Care” above and beyond the care a person would receive in skilled nursing facility?
Definitely! Alzheimer’s and dementia patients require an additional level of care in many areas, more than just assistance with medical, mobility and meals.

It is very important to create stable routines  -- a reliable environment which makes them feel safer. We get as much information from the family as possible, and create a consistent daily routine that relates to their background. For example if they played an instrument listen to a musical piece that was a favorite. Sensory stimulation -- reminiscing, scrap booking, looking at photographs are also important.

Because of these special needs, and the growing number of Alzheimer’s patients in our community, we custom-designed Harbourway’s new Memory Care Unit.

This specialized 14-bed unit, which just opened in February, provides for the medical, emotional and Safety needs of our residents, with 24-hour monitoring of health and security, provided by attentive round-the-clock staff.

How is the facility physically different from Seaside Health Center or your Harbourway Assisted Living facility?
Because these residents may have more of a tendency to become confused or wander, Harbourway’s Memory Care Unit has both secured entrances and exits. For residents at a high risk of wandering, safe electronic monitoring devices are also available.

There is also a special lounge and common areas specifically for these residents.

We are also creating a secured garden area, so residents can enjoy the outdoors.

What are some of the recent innovations in health care for Alzheimer’s patients that are used in the Harbourway Memory Care Unit?
To provide fully comprehensive care, in addition to full attention to our resident’s medical care, we also offer exercise options and targeted activities, designed to provide vital sensory stimulation for each resident.

Harbourway’s Memory Care unit features special therapy equipment and activities personally gauged for each individual resident by Valerie Holden, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with a special certification in dementia practice.

Equipment includes water columns that provide visual stimulation and calming. Filled with water and colored balls, they are programmable with colors and a create bubbles at a rate timed to music played nearby.

We also use specially-designed fitness toys to increase our residents’ range of motion and fine motor skills with a regimen of twisting motions. Some have a ball inside, with the outer ball’s movements affecting the inner ball. Some are set like a maze with a series of 90-degree curves, with no beginning or end.

In the near future, we will be installing a specially designed “tactile wall” for further visual and motor skill maintenance.

Mental stimulation and keeping residents as active in their leisure lifestyles are a priority for staff to maintain.  Activities such as light exercise, SuDuko, and aromatherapy are also offered, as well as planned social, recreational and educational activities.

What support do you offer for families of residents?
Even though we provide for all our resident’s daily needs, we realize that family members still need support and education to make ongoing care decisions for their loved ones.

Quarterly evaluations are done with family members, nurses, dietician, and physician to review each resident’s care plan, and how the family feels about the quality of care.

We also offer educational and emotional support, including an Alzheimer’s Support Group through the Alzheimer’s Association/Tidewater Chapter -- with resident family and staff co-facilitators, and a social worker that provides families with the latest research and medical updates.

What “success stories” have you already experienced with Memory Care patients and their families?
One of our first patients was a wonderful woman who had come to live at Atlantic Shores with her husband. Soon afterwards, she started hallucinating, and was evaluated by our staff, who recommended she move to Seaside. With a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, she moved into our newly completed Memory Care Unit. Her husband is still able to visit her every day, which is one of the benefits of living in a continuing care community like ours.

And her family has the peace of mind, knowing that her needs are attended to around the clock by an attentive, professional staff who know her personally.

Our staff has also, in a way, become part of their extended family - providing knowledge, support and care, but also laughing and crying with them during the inevitable ups and downs.

Does one need to already be a resident at Atlantic Shores, Harbourway Assisted Living or Seaside Health Center in order to live in your Memory Care Unit?
No, anyone with a desire to live at Harbourway’s Memory Care Unit is welcome to apply.

How can people learn more about the services offered at Harbourway’s Memory Care unit?

They can go to our website Harbourwayliving.com and click on “Memory Care” or call us at 757-716-2150 with questions, or to arrange a personally guided tour.

 

QUICK LINKS:

Take Virtual Tour
Meet Our Staff
Testimonials
Press
Media
Atlantic Shores Retirement Community