The transition to assisted living or dementia care can be challenging. The right senior living community can be life-changing, offering more activities, better support, and safety and care for seniors with serious health issues. Yet many families are conflicted about the move. Some worry that seniors won’t be happy in a new home, while others fear making the leap too early. Our Bridges neighborhood is designed for seniors with dementia who aren’t quite ready for dementia care. In this innovative, supportive environment, we support people with cognitive impairments in their efforts to live lives of dignity, master new skills, and build resilience in the face of a scary diagnosis.
Bridges Neighborhood: Bridging Care Gaps
Dementia is an unpredictable illness. Some seniors consistently have memory and cognitive impairments. Others decline very slowly, or remain independent for many years following their diagnosis. That doesn’t mean they’re unaffected by dementia. Bridges is a neighborhood for seniors who can’t find a good fit with other senior living options. They may have more needs than assisted living can manage, but be too independent for traditional dementia care. Or they may be in exceptional health but need a bit of extra cognitive support — just not the intensive help they might get in dementia care.
Bridges is the Goldilocks of care for seniors with dementia. Not too much support, not too little, and all the scaffolding a senior needs to remain as independent and healthy as possible. It’s a happy medium that’s just right for the early to middle stages of dementia.
How Bridges Promotes Healthy Living
The research on dementia and healthy aging is clear. Loneliness can be deadly, damaging minds and bodies. Inactivity may increase the risk of dementia, while exercise can slow its progression. Healthy eating promotes a healthy heart, reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, reduces the risk of dementia-related health problems, and can even support an aging brain.
Supporting a senior’s mind and body, promoting healthy eating, nurturing friendships, and maintaining a continual roster of meaningful activities is difficult at home. Caregivers may face stress and burnout, while seniors worry about overwhelming their family support. The Bridges community eases caregiver stress, comforts seniors about their safety and their future, and meets residents where they are, devising custom solutions for each resident’s needs. Some of the amenities you can expect include:
- A safe and gorgeous home that you don’t have to worry about maintaining
- Help with activities of daily living, but enough independence to continue spending your time as you see fit
- Gourmet dining that includes meals adapted to your unique nutritional needs and health goals
- Dementia-friendly activities that are fun, engaging, and never patronizing
- A chance to cultivate meaningful relationships with your loved ones, free from the challenges of caregiving relationships
Is Bridges Right for Our Family?
Considering a move? Here are some signs that Bridges could be a good fit:
- You’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, but want to remain as independent as possible.
- You feel angry, depressed, or afraid about your dementia diagnosis.
- You don’t want to depend on family for care.
- You need more support, but you want to continue pursuing new hobbies and meaningful friendships.
- You want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- Homeownership is increasingly stressful or isolating.
- You no longer drive and often feel alone.
Americans fear developing dementia more than any other disease. Part of that fear is because of the uncertain course of the disease. The unknown can be scary, but dementia doesn’t have to interrupt a joyous, meaningful life. Seniors can and do live well with dementia. You can build new relationships, plan for the future, and find the strength to face this. To learn more, check out our free guide, “Living Well with Dementia.”
