A World of Innovation in Memory Care Marks Progress for Residents, Caregivers


BY JOANNE KALDY S


omeone in the world develops dementia every 3 seconds. In the U.S. alone, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease; and by 2050 this number will grow to nearly 13 million. So, it’s not surprising that about 14% of assisted living communities have a dementia or memory care


unit, wing, or designated floor; and nearly 9% exclusively serve adults with dementia. Not only is memory care prevalent, but there is a growing array of programs, technol-


ogies, philosophies, and designs bringing innovations to the field. Increasingly, memory care looks like comfortable, aesthetically pleasing homes with all the amenities and activities residents need to find joy, express themselves, stay physically active, and have a sense of purpose.


Eliminating Isolation The COVID-19 pandemic brought a hard focus on how detrimental isolation and loneliness are, especially on mental health and cognitive function. Memory care stepped up to the plate with videoconferencing, virtual programming, FaceTime, and more to fill the bill as best as they could. For the most part, any fears or concerns about these efforts being out of reach for


residents were quickly dispelled. Angie Frantz, product manager for celebration and expressions at Prestige Senior Living in Vancouver, Wash., said, “During the pandemic, we used FaceTime and Zoom to enable residents to engage with family members and friends. I told them that it was like the communicator on Star Trek with Captain Kirk. That gave it an exciting spin and made it more fun for them.”


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