Orchard Heights Memory Care Wing

At Orchard Heights we offer a special wing dedicated to the needs of memory impaired patients. Individuals with memory impairment have many specialized needs. They thrive and feel safe and secure in a routine and structured environment.  Large spaces can be very overwhelming to them; therefore Orchard Heights structured our Unit to care for only 22 Residents. This allows the staff more time for one on one, providing specific care, redirection, and verbal cueing as needed.

The Memory Care Wing, consistent with the unique features found in the Assisted Living Community of Orchard Heights, features wider hallways, a secure patio, a country kitchen, a bright activity room, a whirlpool spa, and a fireplace.

Our caring, qualified staff is provided with continuing education and in-servicing which focuses on these individuals with specialized needs. Our Director of Personal Care and Unit Charge Nurse develop care plans for each Resident. Families are invited and encouraged to come in on a regular basis to provide additional input as well as review each Residents plan of care. It is our goal at Orchard Heights to make all aspects of life as full and complete as possible.

The activities and nursing staff take an active roll in helping residents be more aware of their surroundings with memory stimulation and cuing, focusing on what residents can do, not on what they can't do.

We know that memory impaired individuals maintain long term memories but lose the ability to remember short term thoughts. They can tell you all about their family life while growing up, but cannot recall what they just ate, or even where they currently live. To ease these losses, Orchard Heights has placed "memory boxes" outside of all Resident rooms. We ask families to place items and pictures from the past inside. This gives our Residents an added sense of security and a way to identify their rooms. Our memory boxes also reinforce the feeling that Orchard Heights is their home.