Home at Hearthstone Offer Memory Care Units for Our Residents

_{The entryway to the memory care unit at Hearthstone.}

Nov. 14, 2018
We would like to welcome family members and potential residents to tour our specialized memory care units. Since most dementia residents have a limited exposure to touch, smell, and sound we have created units which focus on these areas and allow for an environment rich with customized sensory engagement. We hope this information is helpful in describing our customized units.


_{Memory walls are decorated throughout the unit.}

Through the unit, you will see a different wreath hanging on each resident room door which assists in remembering their room. Handrails and toilet seats are contrasting colors from the surrounding surfaces to assist with the visual location to prevent falls. Other visual adaptations include nature murals and flower boxes. This helps to bring nature indoors by adding real textured objects and scents which can assist residents with reminiscing of walks, hikes, and fun memories they engaged in prior to the onset of dementia.


<sub>The unit is outfitted to give residents the best experience possible.


Laundry stations provide familiarity through resident's senses.</sub>

Laundry stations allow the resident to engage in a dynamic standing or sitting task while using their procedural memory to recall and follow steps for doing laundry as well as for folding socks and towels. The sound and smell of the laundry will allow the resident to feel like they are in a home environment. Memory boards, chalkboards, and various wall games are used to assist residents with retrieving treasured memories and can be used to play board games such as Pictionary and Hangman - as well as bring back school age memories. Interaction with these can provide an active range of motion and tactile stimulation.


<sub>Spaces like these help bring the outdoors inside.


Feelings of the outdoors provide opportunities for reminiscing and comfort.</sub>

We have simulated front porch areas which are designed to mimic the feeling of enjoying the outdoors of home. Placing reminiscing magazines on the table allows residents to relax on the porch while browsing through a fun read. Fidgets located throughout the unit allows residents to engage in tactile fidgets throughout the day as needed. These include tabletop gel mazes, stress balls, fidgets, and visual activities. Often times it can be difficult for residents with memory loss to maintain their interest in eating. You will find many stimulating items placed in our dining rooms to assist in this area. Citrus scents, food decals, and other reminiscing decals are purposefully placed to stimulate the resident and increase their appetite.

_{Calming rooms are available for our residents.}

We also provide a Calming Area which is typically dim with lighted equipment, a bubble machine, and weighted dolls, stuffed animals, and lap blankets which all have a calming effect for residents who may be agitated. Our TV fish tank and underwater murals also serve as a calming element for our residents.