The Memory Support Unit at Evergreen Health Care Center
Advanced Care for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

n the months ahead, Evergreen Health Care Center will open its doors to a 30-bed, 14,000-square-foot Memory Support Unit for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. The new unit will provide a safe, stimulating environment, where those in the early stages of dementia can continue to enjoy their independence and freedom of movement.

Creating a Safe, Nurturing Environment
An enormous amount of time and research have gone into planning the new Memory Support Unit. Many special features will be implemented in an effort to provide maximum stimulation, while also overcoming the spatial/visual challenges characteristically experienced by Alzheimer’s patients. The comfortable and attractive décor will make residents feel at home. 
     The Memory Support Unit’s floor plan will consist of an easy-to-navigate, oval corridor, with resident rooms on one side of the unit, and common areas on the other. A centrally located nursing station will ensure visibility of the entire locked unit at all times.
     Residents will enjoy the freedom of walking unencumbered around the unit at their leisure. A unique and inviting gazebo lounge and country porch, accentuated by a wall of windows overlooking an enclosed outdoor courtyard, will provide stimulation, a sense of transition and an opportunity for socialization. Residents will also be encouraged to spend time outside in the courtyard in the company of family and staff members.
     Many other features and services will be implemented as a means to meet residents’ needs, including a fully stocked kitchen, where staff members can prepare healthy snacks and “finger foods” as needed. Although they will be offered the same high-quality, chef-prepared menu items as served to long-term-care residents, many Alzheimer’s patients are unlikely to sit for three square meals a day. Providing foods that can be eaten “on the go” is an effective means of ensuring proper nutrition.

     Nonporous wood floors in the rooms and hallways will add to the Memory Support Unit's homelike atmosphere, while also helping to maintain the highest level of sanitation and cleanliness. Whereas Alzheimer’s patients have been shown to respond well to color, particularly pastels, door frames and other items will be painted for easier identification. Encased “memory boxes,” located outside each room, will be filled with photos and other meaningful mementos in an effort to promote recollection.
     The Memory Support Unit will be staffed by experienced nurses and other professionals trained in the latest advances in Alzheimer’s care. Staff members will participate in a program certified by the National Alzheimer’s Association.

For More Information
If you believe that the Memory Support Unit is an appropriate match for you or a loved one, or if you would like more information about available services, please call Evergreen's Director of Admissions at (860) 684-8710.

•	Private/Isolation	•	Nursing Station
•	2-Bed Room (15)	•	Gazebo Lounge
•	Activity Room	•	Porch
•	Dining Room	•	Waiting Area
•	Rehabilitation Center

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