Alzheimer's Care

Mount Carmel Assisted Living Philosophy of Care Mount Carmel is dedicated to the care of individuals who because of age, physical or mental concerns are not able to live alone or do not choose to live alone, yet do not require the medical services provided in a nursing home. Our goal at Mount Carmel is to provide a caring home where senior adults can gracefully live with dignity, comfort and the assurance that help is always available. Our Program includes a behavioral management program, a secure low-stress homelike environment and structured daily activities.


	Care by Understanding Twenty-five years of experience in Alzheimer’s and memory impairment care and the implementation of an Alzheimer’s Behavioral Management Program distinguishes Mount Carmel from other assisted living facilities. Our Program is based on the understanding that many aggressive behaviors of Alzheimer’s sufferers are symptoms of unmet needs. We understand that every Alzheimer’s patient is different and most have challenging behaviors. That is why our Behavioral Management Team meets regularly with residents’ physicians to discuss the physical and emotional needs of each resident in order to create an effective and up to date care plan. In all cases, a resident’s family is kept informed and is welcome to participate in team meetings. At Mount Carmel a caregiver’s task is to view the world through the resident’s eyes in order to uncover their needs, rather than attempting to reason or orient the resident to reality. Understanding why a resident is behaving aggressively or combatively is of the importance. In many instances, many aggressive behaviors are triggered by confrontational approaches to alter the resident’s behavior. Alzheimer’s and Dementia sufferers experience a progressive inability to remember, reason, solve problems, interpret their environment and communicate. Therefore, sufferers have many reasons to be frustrated. In many instances the only way the resident is able to communicate is by shouting, pushing or slapping. We believe that a staff that understands the psychology of Alzheimer’s and Dementia and is trained to redirect the patient’s anger or frustration can curb restlessness and aggression. Sometimes the patient is acting out their hallucinations and delusions. This is one of the rare symptoms that can be helped with medications. Instead of redirecting the patient to reality we believe we must recognize the resident’s own sense of reality and trained staff should help them feel more comfortable wherever they are. Understanding why a resident is behaving in a particular manner is essential to helping them recover a feeling of well-being. Most often, the resident is trying to say something or express their fears or frustrations. Occasionally, agitation or aggressive behaviors could be an indication that a resident is ill or in pain. A professionally trained staff is essential in helping the resident feel more comfortable with their current environment.

	Care by Design At Mount Carmel, caring for our residents with Alzheimer’s or other memory impairments is not only a matter of managing negative behaviors. It is also caring by design. We believe that individuals with such impairments have unique needs that require a secure low-stress environment. Mount Carmel is a secured facility so that even the most agitated resident can be managed safely within a homelike environment. Interior Space: Much attention has been given to the interior design of our facility in order to reflect safety, security and comfort without compromising the residential and homelike atmosphere. The homelike setting maintains spatial use of traditional housing forms to which residents are accustomed. At Mount Carmel we use traditional furniture to create a living space that is familiar, homelike, promises privacy and encourages socialization and family involvement. While maintaining a homelike atmosphere, our environment addresses the unique cognitive and physical needs of the Alzheimer’s and dementia patient. Studies have shown various colors can evoke specific moods or emotional response. Therefore, wall colors and carpeting have been carefully selected in order to create a relaxing effect and encourage a positive sensual perception of space. Further, because Sundown Syndrome can be a problem for Alzheimer’s patients, large windows and skylights allow maximum natural light to come in. Large windows provide visual stimulation and enhance the resident’s perception of the exterior environment. This detail serves to maintain biological rhythms, increase visual acuity and reduce residents’ day/night confusion. Floor Plan: Because wandering is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia that is difficult to treat medically, we at Mount Carmel have found that the best way to manage wandering is to give residents a place to wander safely. The floor plan of our facility and its outdoor areas have been designed with this purpose in mind. By designing a floor plan with wide circular hallways that lead to different sitting areas residents have a place to go, something to do, somewhere to look and established a therapeutic goal by creating achievable destinations. Further in order to reduce confusion, we have placed restrooms and sitting areas in commonsense locations. Outdoor Space: Our outdoor gardens and courtyard are an integral part of the living space and our philosophy of care. Having an outdoor space helps the resident feel connected to the world around them. Walking outdoors helps reduce anxiety and agitation that is characteristic of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. We offer two safe outdoor spaces for use by residents: a courtyard with a sitting area and a fenced in garden with paved walkways.

	Care Through Structured Daily Activities One of the most effective ways of relating to an individual with Alzheimer’s or Dementia is through meaningful structured daily activities. An effective activities program is nor just about scheduling activities or games to comply with state regulations. When there is a lack of appropriate stimulation, or too much inappropriate stimulation, the resident will respond in a negative manner such as becoming agitated or having an angry outburst. For this reason, our planned activities are simple and limited. At Mount Carmel we believe that caregivers should be aware of a resident’s life story and social background in order to help them create a reminiscent environment for the resident. Everyone lives life to his or her own rhythm of life. Some are alert in the mornings while others function best in the afternoon. Caregivers must know a resident’s rhythm in order to interact with them effectively. By recognizing a resident’s individual needs, we aim to create a positive living environment. Some of our structured activities include religious or popular sing-a-longs as well as activities similar to those at a children’s day care center. At Mount Carmel we believe activities must involve one on one interaction with a resident in every aspect of an individual’s day. Meaningful activities can be as simple as making eye contact, gentling touching a resident on the shoulder, calling a resident by his or her name or making a joke. Other examples of meaningful activities include: Personal care time, nail care, make-up sessions, eating, walking, and even simply looking out a window into the garden. The most important thing is to acknowledge the resident’s existence by allowing them to participate in life.

	Pet Therapy Pets can be extremely therapeutic by reducing stress levels, which can lead to an overall improvement to one’s health. Our Residents at Mount Carmel enjoy the company of Toby the cat, and our dog, a Labrador named Sandy. Although Sandy is the dog’s official name, he responds to any name that a resident may choose to give him. Sandy is a very friendly and has successfully completed an obedience course and stays in the front yard at all times.