Alzheimer’s Awareness Programming

September marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and at Homestead Village, we are dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and its significant impact on families within our community.

To better serve those residents who may already be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, our Thrive Team (comprised of nursing professionals, our social work team, chaplain, and others) recently attended an insightful seminar organized by Dementia Friendly Lancaster, featuring specialist Teepa Snow and the Positive Approach to Care (PAC). They learned valuable information on understanding dementia-related changes and how to support those living in the Homestead memory care households in a positive and supportive manner using techniques such as the validation method.

Another exciting initiative being championed by our President, Douglas Motter, is a new program to provide the tools and education that have been shown to potentially slow and even reverse the damage caused by Alzheimer’s for some individuals. Excitingly, this protocol isn’t just beneficial for those already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; it can also reduce the risk of developing the disease. By making certain lifestyle changes, studies show that you can strengthen your brain and lower the likelihood of cognitive decline. Notably, prevention is far more straightforward than trying to halt or reverse the disease once it has established itself.

However, it is important to note that the traditional medical community has not fully embraced some of the more holistic approaches to Alzheimer’s prevention. Since it is not widely recognized as a preferred medicinal treatment, many healthcare professionals may be unaware of it or even skeptical of its efficacy. Unfortunately, lack of emphasis on disease prevention is common in the field of healthcare; where traditional and often costly treatments (prescription of medications) often overshadow healthy-lifestyle and alternative therapies.

Faced with this challenge, the leadership at Homestead Village chose to study and share some of the healthy-lifestyle related programs with our community in the hopes that it will help those who choose to give it a try. Developed by Alzheimer’s expert and author Dr. Bredesen and others, this protocol is non-harmful and promotes overall health. It offers a proactive way to enhance wellness and provides hope, compelling us to share it with you.

With the help of a recently formed task force comprised of staff members, residents, and local physician Dr. Chris Turnpaugh, this initiative will include fact sheets, educational resources, book recommendations, meal plans, and more! A kickoff program was held on Monday, September 16, 2024 with over 135 residents in attendance.