MEMORY CARE
Person-Centered Care Leads to ‘Moments of Purpose’ at Brightview
By Joanne Kaldy C
ole Smith of Brightview Senior Living is apologetic over his use of a buzzword — patient-centered
care — to describe the organization’s ap- proach to memory care. But, he says, it fits. “Our approach to caring for people
living with dementia is truly rooted in knowing who that person is,” said Smith, Brightview’s corporate director of demen- tia care. “We’re all tired of the buzzword ‘person-centered care,’ but we are actually putting it into action.”
Moments of Purpose Knowing the people placed in Brightview’s care, especially in dementia care, is an early priority that pays off for residents and their families. “We have to understand and acknowl-
edge the diagnosis, but we want to see the individual before we see the dementia di- agnosis. We want to know who the person was and who the person is,” explains Smith. Getting to know residents begins prior to
move-in. It includes the big things, like the resident’s occupation, hobbies, and inter- ests. But it also includes the simple things, like whether the resident uses bar soap or body wash. “Those little things are either going to cause frustrations or alleviate frus- tration for the person living with dementia,” observes Smith. At Brightview, Smith said this personal
knowledge is coupled with an effort to cre- ate an environment where limitations are minimized and possibilities, independence, and choice are maximized. It opens the door to offering residents what Smith calls “moments of purpose.” In one example, the daughter of a resident, a book author, organized and
40 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE MAY/JUNE 2023
helped lead a book club focusing on the resident’s novel. The club met weekly to read passages from the book and discuss it chapter-by-chapter. For another resident, an artist, Brightview
provided an easel with blank canvases. The resident regularly filled the canvases with beautiful paintings, continuing even after his vision became impaired. “His artwork, all the way until the very end, was beautiful,” recalls Smith.
Package Deal “It truly does take a village. We believe that everyone — residents, families, associates — all have a responsibility,” said Smith, “for contributing to the success of our residents living in Wellspring Village,” Brightview’s aptly named dementia care neighborhoods. The name, explains Smith, is reflective
of a shift — the biggest the organization has seen in dementia care. “We’re not just supporting the person living with dementia, but we're also supporting the people caring for them, their family members, their loved ones, their friends. It’s a package deal, and to be successful, we have to have their support.” That’s why Brightview is so deeply com-
mitted to the wide array of complimentary educational content and resources available on its website. “The more we can provide [family members] with education and re- sources and support to understand the di- agnosis, the more we can become caregivers and allow them to have their relationship with their loved one again,” Smith said. From a guide to senior living to an on-
line assessment tool and more, Brightview provides useful guidance and detailed information that can help families navi- gate the senior living landscape at crucial
decision points. Its active blog features in- sightful articles about dementia, provides practical advice to help caregivers and family members maintain a balanced life, and shares updates about residents and their experiences at Brightview communities. “Helping families understand the journey
allows them to stay engaged in meaningful ways for their loved one. They’re also griev- ing. Dementia, of course, is a progressive, terminal illness, so there's grief along that path,” adds Smith. Family support is essential for the person
living with dementia. In addition to written materials, Smith said he personally connects with family members to educate them about their loved one’s needs. He also facilitates a support group for the Alzheimer’s Association. “We believe in vibrancy all the way until
the end of life,” Smith comments. “[It is important to] help families understand that, although those relationships may shift and change, they can be just as meaningful.”
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