Schowalter Villa establishes high-functioning memory support neighborhood
Both of Bluestem Communities’ life plan communities – Schowalter Villa in Hesston and Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton – offer top quality dementia care programs for health care residents through the Comfort Matters program. Comfort Matters is “a dementia care education and research program dedicated to improving the quality of care and life for people with dementia.”
Over the last several months, Schowalter Villa has been working on creating a specialized neighborhood among the health care neighborhoods that is dedicated to offering “high- functioning memory support.” “High- functioning memory support” is focused on providing a safe, engaging environment for high-functioning individuals who need memory support. The new neighborhood is called Hess Plaza, and has received its Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) approval.
“As we have assessed the future of senior care needs, we have begun to see a need for a focus on memory care for individuals who are more physically capable of some of their own care,” said Jeff Ritcha, Schowalter Villa Executive Director. “Residents who qualify as ‘high-functioning’ are able to walk, dress, eat and do other daily activities independently, yet they also need a safe environment to live in due to their difficulty thinking. It’s similar to assisted living memory care. The new Hess Plaza neighborhood meets those needs, while our North Meadows neighborhood, which is our existing memory support neighborhood, will continue to serve residents who are not able to care for themselves independently.”
The Hess Plaza neighborhood provides a vibrant and active life for residents. A Life Enrichment staff member dedicated specifically to the neighborhood plans and facilitates daily activities to keep residents socially engaged, including regular outings away from campus.
“Residents who live in the Hess Plaza neighborhood are still physically capable of being very active and engaged, and we are committed to offering them those options for socialization and stimulation here,” said Ritcha.
The new neighborhood is located in the Villa Life Center’s 700 Hall, which was previously the neighborhood for Progressive Recovery Academy (PRA), a program that provides short- term care after hospitalization and rehabilitation services. The PRA program at Schowalter Villa still exists, it just no longer has its own dedicated neighborhood. Instead, PRA residents now stay in available rooms throughout any health care neighborhood.
“This neighborhood is very convenient for residents as they progress through the aging process,” said Ritcha. “It’s just down the hall from North Meadows, which offers higher-level memory care, so it’s a short move when they need to move to the next level. The neighborhoods also share the same nursing staff and social worker, and that kind of consistency is important in providing memory care.”
“With the neighborhood transitions underway, Hess Plaza rooms have also been receiving updates, including new paint, flooring and hardware. The neighborhood outdoor courtyard is also being enhanced to be more welcoming and comfortable.”
“We are excited about being able to offer this new service to residents and prospective residents,” said Ritcha. “It’s been a proactive decision that will continue to help us promote meaningful quality of life for residents.”