How a memory support program is enriching the lives of seniors

This article was written for our sponsor, Liberty Senior Living.

For families with a loved one who is experiencing dementia, it can be difficult to see their once-vibrant grandmother or father decline in mental faculties. It may be even more challenging to find a senior living community that specializes in supporting a person with dementia.

The term dementia encompasses a number of diseases where someone loses memory and thinking abilities, including language skills and problem-solving, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which can be equated to a type of brain failure.

While there is no cure for the disease, there are ways to care for an individual with dementia that will support them so they can be as independent as possible and continue to enjoy as high a quality of life as possible.

In 2021, Liberty Senior Living introduced its own Dementia Care Program: GEMMS. GEMMS stands for Genuine, Engaging and Meaningful Memory Support. This program is now present in all 11 of its memory support and memory care communities.

According to Holly Hines, dementia care coordinator at Liberty Senior Living, this program focuses on a positive approach to working with residents with dementia.

“The program is focused not just on the skills that are lost but the skills that remain and supporting them so the residents can be engaged in activities of daily living,” said Hines. “We can support them in a manner where they can be as independent as possible. It’s going to increase their quality of life.”

Liberty Senior Living communities that offer GEMMS provide activities and support for residents' daily needs in ways that help them do as much as possible on their own. It also provides an environment that is both structured and flexible. The routine is beneficial for residents, but it can be altered or adjusted according to their individual needs.

“We’re engaging residents not just with activities but with all parts of the day,” said Hines. “If it’s birdwatching, we’re going out on the patio, swinging on the swing, talking about what kinds of birds we’d like to see, looking at a book of birds. We’re not just out there with everybody sitting quietly. What are we doing to promote their well-being at all times?”

While people with dementia may lose the memory of others’ names or identities, they are more likely to remember how they feel around someone.

“We do have, for example, memory boxes or cubbies that have letters, pictures and mementos that we can use to engage the residents,” said Hines. “They may not remember the context of the conversation or anything like that, but they do remember how we make them feel — and they will recognize and know whether or not they want to be with a particular person based on that.”

That aspect of memory is why Liberty is training staff on particular skills and a positive approach to care.

“The training they’re going to have is not just in the positive approach, but it’s also engaging the staff in understanding vision changes, brain changes and recognizing where our residents are in this particular journey and meeting them where they are,” said Hines.

The GEMMS program comes down to a simple philosophy: staff acts as care partners, not caregivers.

Partnering with families, not just their loved ones who have dementia, is a crucial part of the care plan.

“It’s not just about the residents,” said Hines. “It’s about the families and supporting them. It’s a holistic approach.”

One way Liberty helps families is by offering support groups where they can be around others who are going on the same journey. Overall, the program gives families peace of mind because they know their loved ones are being well cared for.

“They don’t have to worry about whether their loved ones are being cared for,” said Hines. “They’re really able to enjoy their time with their loved one and know that they are being supported by staff who are caring, trained and competent. We want to make sure that they have that peace of mind.”

This article was written for our sponsor, Liberty Senior Living.