On Alzheimer's Care

When it comes to options for Alzheimer's, dementia, and memory care here in Grand Junction, Colorado, there are several ways to go. Certainly The Vineyards, which will accommodate up to 14 residents per building, is not the largest memory facility in the valley-but this is by design. We believe in an intimate, family atmosphere and will never sacrifice our ideal ratio of staff to residents simply to raise our census numbers. Unfortunately, there are some facilities that primarily focus on housing as many patients as possible while keeping staff at a minimum. This philosophy often leads to not just poor care for the residents, but a stressful, overworked care team as well. When choosing a care facility for your loved one, be aware of not only the size of the staff, but of the mood of the institution. Is the atmosphere dark and dreary, or is life celebrated with enthusiasm and brightness? We have found that the mood of the care team and the house in general directly affects the quality of life that we can give our residents. In summary, to properly care for a population, the memory care staff must be adequate in number and the ambiance of the facility should be positive and even fun. These are the factors which allow for the foundation of care that every human being has earned and deserves.