Connecting Realities, our memory support programming at The Ohio Masonic Communities, is an approach that bridges the gap between our reality and the reality of those with cognitive challenges like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Our intention is to meet residents where they are presently, not where we think they should be. Through our person-centered approach, we connect with someone’s world through empathy and understanding. Residents experience a world shaped by emotions and past experiences that feel very real to them.
The way dementia progresses differs for each person. Therefore, our programming centers on how a person processes and experiences the world around them. Connecting Realities encompasses the entirety of care through therapy, research, and more for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning (thinking, remembering, and reasoning) and behavioral abilities to an extent that it interferes with daily life and activities. To truly understand how a person with dementia experiences reality, we must understand how it progressively affects the brain and cognition.
Memory
With dementia, short-term and recent memories tend to fade first. Meanwhile, older, core memories and experiences are more likely to feel like the current reality.
Perception
Sensory information is interpreted differently through the lens of dementia. Impaired visual and auditory distortions, understanding of time, and the ability to recognize things or people is most common.
Communication
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out even the simplest tasks. While dementia serves as the overarching term for cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s represents a specific type of dementia characterized by memory loss and declining cognitive function.
Pathways Memory Support Neighborhoods
The Pathways Memory Support Neighborhood is intentionally designed for residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. With secured entrances for resident safety, our neighborhoods are intentionally designed like a circle, with access to courtyards and bright, window-filled apartments. Like our assisted living options, amenities such as dining, housekeeping, and laundry services are included. Additionally, with 24/7 onsite nursing staff, we assist residents with a variety of activities of daily living based on their needs in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Each neighborhood features a dedicated nurse’s station, kitchen and dining room, beauty salon, private courtyard, and more. Using dementia research in our design approach, we intentionally select paint colors, lighting levels, and patterns that promote a thriving environment.
Neighborhoods feature a variety of purposefully designed community spaces, each with its own focus on a specific activity like music, games, and movies. Our staff actively work with each resident, tailoring the daily routines, activities, and events to their likes and interests. Furthermore, another unique design element are memory boxes outside of each apartment, used to help residents recognize which space is theirs.
Additionally, for our residents who are experiencing sensory overstimulation, we have a calming room with interactive wall art, sensory items such as fiber optic lamps and bubble tubes, and relaxing music.
Pathways Memory Support Neighborhood is the perfect combination of nursing, amenities, and activities to create a welcoming environment paired with compassionate care.
Staff Training
One of our most impactful pillars of Connecting Realities is the training our staff receives while caring for residents with dementia. We use a variety of training methods with our teams, including online and hands-on. Required trainings include dementia workshops, routine skills checks, and immersive experiences.
Embodied Labs
One of the most impactful trainings we offer is Embodied Labs. Embodied Labs is an immersive virtual reality technology used for staff training to experience what dementia is like firsthand. Staff experience a “first-person” perspective of what someone with cognitive challenges can experience through vision, sound, and physical feel.
Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) Training
Second Wind Dreams
We also offer another virtual training—the Virtual Dementia Tour from Second Wind Dreams. This is an evidence-based training to help build a greater understanding and empathy towards what living with dementia is like. The immersive experience allows staff to understand why residents may become stressed or fearful and to approach care through a lens of empathy. Moreover, it reinforces compassionate, resident-centered care practices.
Validation Approach
Our trainings promote a validation approach with our residents versus a corrections approach. Corrections may cause stress, grief, and disorientation to a resident. Connecting through a validation approach meets the person in their reality and helps with gentle redirection. This approach reduces distress, helps connection emotionally, and helps care members adapt with empathy.
Engagement
The core of Connecting Realities is engagement. Our neighborhoods integrate a wide range of technologies and therapies that help residents feel at home and thrive. Our goal is to develop personalized memory support to each person that promotes peace, connection, and relaxation.
Music Therapy
Music therapy plays a central role in our Connecting Realities programming. It combines music with clinical, evidence-based therapeutic practices to accomplish a range of meaningful goals. Our residents participate in one-on-one and group sessions with our licensed music therapists to promote connection, engagement, and expression.
Music therapy is beneficial for mood, verbal and nonverbal communication, sleep, and memory. An individual sitting in their chair can move in rhythm to the beat. People who have trouble finding the right words in conversation can find it easier to recall lyrics to a song. For example, an important tool we utilize in music therapy is The Crdl. The Crdl is used to create comforting sounds to help residents connect and share meaningful experiences. For those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, music enhances memory connections, evokes meaningful memories, and improves quality of life.
“I entered the room of a Pathways Memory Support Neighborhood resident for an individual music therapy session. The resident greeted me with a smile and kind words, and I sat beside him as he reminisced. He shared stories about his family and notable accomplishments throughout his life. I played the guitar to provide musical support throughout our discussion, and as our music therapy session progressed, he continued to be present, relaxed, and engaged. He turned to me and said with a smile, “you’re very good at making people feel love”. We continued our session and at the end, he expressed his gratitude and excitement for future sessions.” — Liz Stamm, Director of Connecting Realities and Licensed Music Therapist
Life Stations
iN2L
iN2L (It’s Never 2 Late) is an interactive engagement tool residents use for listening to music, guided exercise, and virtually exploring the world. Designed for different cognitive levels, iN2L is a multi-sensory experience, combining touch, motion, and tailored programming. This allows residents to engage with their environment and personal histories. Residents enjoy things like painting, singing along with their favorite pastime music, exploring places they’ve travelled, and so much more!
Cara’s Kennel
Animals play a huge role in senior living communities. From therapy animals to our pet-friendly campuses, engaging with animals has numerous health benefits. However, when caring for a pet is no longer safe due to cognitive challenges, that’s when Cara’s Kennel enters. Cara’s Kennel connects our memory support residents with robotic pets to provide comfort and companionship. These life-like companions help reduce anxiety and feelings of isolation while promoting a sense of purpose.
Lucynt Table
Known as the “Dementia Magic Table”, Lucynt Tables use innovative projector systems to create an interactive table with a variety of games and activities for residents. These accessible, cutting-edge tables project changing, interactive landscapes onto surfaces and allow residents to interact with different things. These help improve hand-eye coordination, provide physical and mental stimulation, evoke memories, and encourage resident socialization.
“One of my favorite stories is about a resident in our Pathways Memory Support Neighborhood who was a retired police office. He did not regularly engage or participate with other residents and activities. We had recently received grant funding for a Lucynt Table and his interest was sparked when he saw us setting it up for the first time. We involved him in setting up the table, and as a result, he started to share his experience being a police officer. I was able to find a driving game on the table that had different vehicles. Then, the gentleman sat with us for over an hour, explaining each car model, how fast they went, and which ones he gave the most tickets to! The Lucynt Table helped us engage with him and where he was in his reality.” — Cara Schuster, Chief Clinical Officer and Corporate Compliance Officer
Part Research, Part Relationship
Connecting Realities goes beyond programming—it’s defines our entire approach to memory care for our residents. Our clinical research develops and broadens our programming for engagement, training, and care methodology.
Are you ready to learn more about memory support? Whether you’re starting the journey with a loved one or ready to make an informed decision, we’re your number one resource. At The Ohio Masonic Communities, our senior living communities help you thrive as a resident and confidently age in place. We offer maintenance-free homes, engaging amenities, and a welcoming community across our three campuses—Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio.
We are your number one stop for senior living resources. Wherever you are in your journey, we’re here to help. Give us a call at (877) 881-1623 or contact us here.