Alzheimer’s Care

Here at Safe Haven we understand dealing with a loved one that has Alzheimer’s can be a truly stressful and overwhelming job. Our goal is to assist and make that transition a little easier.

Our state of the art Alzheimer’s program is not just for our residents but their families also. We want our clients families to be involved that why we have an open door policy.  Our goal at Safe Haven is to keep our residents happy and active as long as possible with out overwhelming them.

We have found that in dealing with Alzheimer’s/Dementia residents, you need to try to find out what your residents like and their individual needs, read their history, talk to their families, and ask them about the life they lead up until the were diagnosed . We want to know their likes and dislikes so that we may customize their day to day activities to best fit their needs. We have found that different activities will works best on some days and times and will have other effects on other days and times. The best thing to remember is that the residents are not babies and should be treated with respect at all times. We want to have fun with our residents and keep them busy, we know that once the sunset’s residents may experience restless behavior towards the late afternoon hours; this is where our customized schedule might come in. Getting to know a resident is getting to know what they enjoy doing, when a resident becomes restless during this time it allows us to use a “redirecting system”, giving the resident an activity to focus on  rather than what is happening around them or the time of day it is.  We try to keep them on a consistent program at all times, which is another way that helps residents stay on a steady pace.

Further, we believe our clients deserve to have their special and specific needs met in a sheltered low stress environment.  Our home is a secure facility so that even the very agitated patient is protected and cared for safely within the home boundaries.  Some of our safety features include the following: To protect our clients who are prone to wandering, we use an electronic security system that alerts staff of unauthorized exit.  We use state of the art listening devices to monitor the sound in all bedrooms during sleeping hours and all common areas are video monitored for added safety and quick response. In addition, we have 24 hour awake-staff instead of live-in caregivers.

At Safe Haven we belief that aggressive-combative behavior of patients with Alzheimer’s are often a symptom of unmet needs.  The task of the caregiver is to view the world through the resident’s eyes and uncover that need, rather than trying to force the resident to see reason or to orient them to reality.  We understand that every Alzheimer’s patient is different, and every patient will have  challenging days or moods.  Many behaviors are triggered by confrontational approaches of the caregiver.  We believe having a staff that understands the psychology of dementia and is trained to redirect the patient’s anger or frustration will minimize restlessness and aggression.

Dementia sufferers experience an increasing inability to remember, reason, solve problems, interpret the environment, and communicate.  It is not uncommon that the only way the patient can figure out how to communicate is by shouting, pushing, or slapping. Understanding why a patient is behaving in a particular manner is essential to helping them recover a feeling of well-being.  Typically, the resident is frustrated over being unable trying to say something or express his fears or anxieties, although he or she may also be experiencing constipation, is unable to locate the restroom, or is in pain.

Our ultimate aim is to ensure that our residents are safe, clean, content, comfortable, well-nourished and stress free.

Care By Design

At Safe Haven, caring for a resident with Alzheimer’s is not only a matter of defusing crisis, it is also care by intentional design.  A lot of focus and attention was put into devising an interior space that reflects safety, security, and comfort without compromising the residential impression.  Our home setting creates a warm, recognizable familiarity, promises privacy, and encourages socialization and family involvement.

While maintaining a home-like atmosphere, our environment addresses the unique cognitive and physical needs of the dementia population. The light colored walls have a soothing effect on the mood while large windows can be selectively used to give residents external stimulation from the natural environment.

Experiencing and enjoying the outdoor environment is an integral part our philosophy of care. Outdoor space helps the resident feel connected to the world around them. Walking out doors also helps reduce anxiety and agitation. Two safe outdoor spaces are available for activities: a courtyard with sitting area and a 25 acre section of Lenox Park with 2 lakes.   If they prefer it, residents also have the choice of sitting on the front porch and watching the world pass by.