Memory Care Neighborhood

Our approach to memory care for our residents with dementia is rooted in deep respect. We see challenges in a more creative way and understand our residents’ desire to reconnect with their former interests and environments – especially home, family, and work. We believe that validating these wishes is the best method for providing high-quality, compassionate care.

The look and feel in our Dementia Unit was carefully and purposefully designed. Lounges and community areas are meant to be re-envisioned as a neighborhood of familiar spaces that provide real-world experiences and conjure warm feelings for everyone.

The Nursery provides a home space to satisfy the desire to nurture and love. We have lifelike, animated stuffed animals – dogs and cats – to cuddle and hug. Our porch lounge, with four season panels that change with the time of year, provides an outdoor ambiance.

Hand-In-Hand

We believe in our residents’ memories and aspire to provide them programming that brings them a sense of pleasure, peace, and purpose. We train our Hand-In-Hand staff with a unique approach to connecting with residents. In a calm and serene environment, our residents are able to return to past interests such as painting, sorting, flower arranging, and community service.

Music and Memory

Our Certified Music and Memory Program allows residents to enjoy a personalized playlist of music to tap into deep memories. MP3 players bring the music to life for our residents while allowing them to remain mobile and helping to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain to improve quality of life.

Behavior-Based Ergonomics Therapies (BBET)

The Living Center is proud to be the first Skilled Nursing facility in New York State to offer the BBET program for residents of our Memory Care Neighborhood with Alzheimer’s / Dementia.

The BBET Program

This award-winning program consists of four therapies that are customized to each individual’s interests and capabilities. The therapies are:

• Music Therapy
• Video Therapy
• Stimulating Therapy
• Memory Prop Therapy

Benefits of the Program

• Therapies provide both comfort and appropriate cognitive exercise
• A non-pharmacological option for managing behaviors and engaging individuals
• Improves the individual’s quality of life and the quality of his/her interactions with family/friends

The BBET Program has been clinically proven to reduce the incidences of falls, improve the individual’s mood and behavior, and reduce the need for certain medications. Individuals are calm for hours following therapy and often sleep better. The activities of daily living are more smooth and efficient.

Personal tours of the Memory Care Neighborhood, including the BBET Resource Center, are happily given upon request. Please contact the Admissions Department at (585) 641-6261 to schedule your tour.