Watching a loved one experience any form of memory loss can be profoundly difficult. The progressive nature of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia often forces families into the complex and often painful role of full-time caregivers. As the challenges mount, so too does the emotional toll, frequently leading to intense feelings of guilt and grief. Making the ultimate decision to transition a cherished family member into a memory care facility is fraught with these emotions. However, what many families discover is a powerful truth: choosing specialized memory care is not a failure of love, but an act of profound commitment; it is the choice that allows the loved one to live their highest quality of life and experience what Retirement Perfected™ truly means.
At Bonaventure Senior Living, the approach to memory care is rooted in the understanding that no one should have to walk through that journey alone. The compassionate caregivers are committed to providing personalized care and support for both the loved one and the family at every step along the way.
The Weight of the Decision: Acknowledging Emotional Grief and Guilt
The guilt that burdens caregivers often stems from the feeling that they should be able to manage the increasing demands of care at home. As the needs of the loved one begin to exceed the scope of safe in-home care, perhaps due to mobility concerns, increased confusion, or the need for constant supervision, the family confronts the reality that specialized professional support is essential.
When In-Home Care is No Longer Enough
The retirement years are supposed to be a time to enjoy favorite pastimes, explore new hobbies, and spend time with family. Yet, relentless caregiving transforms this period into a cycle of stress, worry, and exhaustion. The loved one requires a secure environment and personal care that goes above and beyond what a standard assisted living facility can offer. They need specific support tailored to their physical, mental, and emotional health. Recognizing that a specialized memory care community is the only environment that can offer this comprehensive support is the first step toward reclaiming independence, for both the resident and the family.
Emotional Transparency: Bonaventure’s Commitment to Support
Bonaventure believes that the transition to memory care should be conducted with honor and professionalism. The team’s commitment begins with transparency and support, understanding that making the decision to transition a loved one can come with many emotions.
The compassionate staff’s mission is to offer personalized care and support. To ensure the best memory care possible, the handpicked personnel receive ongoing education in order to better support those who suffer from memory loss, as well as their loved ones. This specialized team is dedicated to proving that life-affirming experiences can still be pursued in the comfort of Bonaventure’s senior living communities.
Reclaiming the Family Relationship: The Dignified Bonaventure Support Approach
Bonaventure’s memory care is rooted in a highly personalized and modern approach, recognizing that each person is different and deserves the latest and greatest techniques and practices to ensure their comfort and happiness. This focus allows families to shift their relationship from one defined by caregiving duties to one defined by love and companionship.
Celebrating the Past to Create a Vibrant Present
The core philosophy of memory care at Bonaventure is “celebrating the past to create a vibrant present”. The staff takes time to learn the residents’ histories and become familiar with what is truly important to them. It is then the staff’s mission to incorporate cherished memories and valued tokens into the residents’ daily lives.
This commitment involves creating a dignified environment that celebrates the amazing things that the loved one has accomplished, things that absolutely shouldn’t be forgotten. Reflecting on these key moments is not only therapeutic for the residents but for their families too, helping to bridge the gap between who the loved one was and who they are now. This focus on the individual’s history ensures that life at Bonaventure is lived to the fullest.
The Highly Personalized Care Plan
The goal of the Bonaventure team is to understand the loved one’s personal circumstances, including all aspects of their physical, mental, and emotional health. By connecting closely with family members, the team can create an honorable and professional service plan to meet those needs.
Bonaventure offers opulent and individualized options for independent living, assisted living, and memory care programs. The memory care services are specifically designed to support the needs of residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory loss. Furthermore, if a family has a preferred practitioner, the staff would be happy to cooperate in any way they can.
Security and Environment: Creating a True Support Home for Your Loved One’s
One of the most immediate reliefs for families facing memory loss is the knowledge that their loved one is in a secure, comforting, and purpose-built environment. The communities at Bonaventure are thoughtfully designed to promote days filled with purpose and laughter.
Thoughtfully Designed Spaces for Comfort and Safety
Bonaventure understands how important it is that the loved one feels secure in their home. Special memory care units are specifically designed for the needs of these residents. The communities combine warm ambiance and charming décor.
The caregiving environment itself is built for stimulation care and security:
- Open courtyards energize the spirit and are ideal for visiting with family and friends. The communities are surrounded by inviting, well-maintained landscaping and gardens.
- Private suites make residents feel supported and secure. Many communities offer both private and shared memory care suites, with several square footage options to choose from.
- The suites are bright senior living spaces with rooms filled with natural light. Every suite includes a full kitchen or kitchenette and an individually controlled thermostat.
- For safety, a wireless emergency call system is installed in every living space.
Encouraging Familiarity and Connection
Bonaventure strives to make the memory care communities welcoming, comfortable, and just like home, allowing residents to make the most of each and every day. To ease the transition, family members are encouraged to help residents decorate their new space with familiar surroundings.
While the immediate environment is secure, the memory care community is still integrated with the general amenities, ensuring access to life-enriching activities and convenient services that help residents feel comfortable, supported, and engaged.
Nourishing Mind and Body: Specialized Care Therapies and Activities
Beyond basic care, Bonaventure’s memory care is distinguished by a variety of structured activities and services designed to bring both health and entertainment. These unique daily activities go above and beyond what is standard, incorporating the latest techniques and practices.
Healing Through Memory and Creativity
The goal of these specialized activities is to engage cognitive function and encourage positive emotional responses:
- Reminiscing Therapy: This is a key service provided at Bonaventure. It is a great way to help reduce the stress and pressure that some guests with dementia can begin feeling. When daily tasks are difficult, reminiscing therapy gives them the chance to relax and simply enjoy looking through photographs and mementos that can stir up positive emotions regarding the life they’ve lived. Looking through these items might even be able to spark their memory of special moments.
- Art Therapy: This gives memory care guests the opportunity to express themselves through creative coloring, beading, paper crafts, and jigsaw puzzles. These activities help those with dementia feel accomplished and stimulated. Art therapy has also shown to improve multiple cognitive functions, like triggering memories and encouraging conversation.
- Cognitive and Physical Activities: The community offers exercises with cognitive and physical activities, demonstrating that health-improving steps forward can be taken regardless of physical ability.
Sensory Connection and Engagement
Bonaventure also utilizes specialized therapies that focus on sensory input to calm the mind and reduce stress.
- Aromatherapy for Dementia: This powerful technique has positive effects on managing the side effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s. From reducing anxiety to relieving depression, aromatherapy is one of the services provided to help bring feelings of relaxation and rejuvenation.
- Animal Therapy: For seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, animal therapy provides a significant boost in mood and stress reduction. This service allows guests to interact with animals, adding an element to the facilities that feels a little more like home.
- Special Entertainment and Performances: Residents enjoy entertaining performances from singers, piano players, school choirs and bands, and more. Bonaventure believes making sure residents get to go out and enjoy new activities and experiences as often as possible is important to both the residents and the staff.
The New Freedom: Focusing on Your Loved One’s Connection, Not Caretaking
Choosing memory care is an act of love because it frees the caregiver from the unsustainable burden of ensuring security and constant physical support, allowing them to fully enjoy the company of their loved one. The focus shifts entirely back to the cherished relationship.
Daily Life, Simplified and Supported
With the loved one in a secure, professional environment, the family gains back the time and energy that was previously consumed by the endless cycle of demands. The Bonaventure community provides the senior care essentials necessary for a simplified life:
- Dining: Delicious meals are served every day, plus snacks.
- Housekeeping: Weekly housekeeping and linen service is provided.
- Staff: 24-hour staff is present to provide support.
- Amenities: Residents can enjoy a vast range of amenities, including the library, the computer center, the movie theater, and the on-site beauty/barber shop.
- Transportation: Scheduled transportation is available for doctor’s appointments or other outside errands and excursions. Every community has regular weekly trips to the grocery store. Bonaventure will take residents where they need to go. Transportation services are also available when available to bring residents to places like the airport or wherever they want to go, or the staff can assist in scheduling transportation.
The Bonaventure Memory Care Promise: Quality and Value
Bonaventure, born in the Northwest, is a family-owned venture with a small business spirit and a big heart. The mission is to deliver quality and value in a place where life can be lived to its fullest. They take great pride in serving seniors and truly care about each person who calls the community home.
By moving to Bonaventure Memory Care, the loved one gains a secure, dignified, and stimulating environment tailored to their unique needs. They are free from the pressure of daily failure and are instead given tools to feel accomplished and stimulated. The family, in turn, is relieved of the guilt associated with providing insufficient care and gains the peace of mind that comes from knowing their loved one is in compassionate hands. The family is free to return to the heart of the relationship, writing a new chapter that is as fulfilling as the last.
