Continuum of Care

Leader & Trendsetter

Alzheimer's & Eldercare

Philosophy of Care

State-of-the-Art Programs

A SOCIAL MODEL CONCEPT OF CARE designed for Alzheimer's and Elder care.

Family Health West is recognized as a Leader & Trendsetter in Alzheimer's and Elder Care.  The key to our success and recognition is our Philosophy of Care and the creative, innovative state-of-the-art programs that we have designed and implemented.  All of these programs for resident care are delivered from a standpoint of Human Caring - with Love, Compassion and Concern for meeting our residents' individual needs by using a Social Model approach.  These programs have significantly improved our residents' Quality of Life.

Our Social Model, "The Main Street Experience," is a new concept in Alzheimer's and Elder Care designed to stimulate the long-term memories of Alzheimer's patients in a positive and pleasant manner, and to increase the Fun part of the day.  This unique approach has made a wonderful difference in the lives of our residents.  The Social Model offers an Expanded Family Environment designed to enhance the Quality of Life of our residents.  The environment is complete with simulated Main Street shops such as a general store and flower shop; additional homelike areas with fireplace, kitchen, or family dining room; architectural enhancements incorporating large windows and raised ceilings; and an outdoor courtyard where residents can feel the breeze and enjoy the blue sky and sunshine.  Cottage fronts adorn our resident rooms, giving the hallway a "Neighborhood" look.  Each resident room is receiving a cottage front complete with window, porch light, mailbox, and window box with flowers.  Residents can identify their "Home" by its unique siding, color and style.  These additions are vital to the well-being of our residents and have helped to enhance their functioning. 

Our Social Model is designed to enable our residents to function at their highest possible level on a daily basis, ultimately providing a Higher Quality of Life, Dignity and Self-Esteem.  Our Social Model Concept of Care is based on the positives, focusing on wellness, enhancing the Family Environment to assist each resident to maintain or improve and prevent unnecessary declines.

This unique Social Model of Care uses the foundation of a Functional Maintenance Concept of Care. Functional maintenance means providing care that helps to prevent unnecessary declines and assists the resident to reverse declines if possible, and to improve or maintain their highest level of functioning and independence.

Through using the Social Model Approach, we have found that a simple hug or pat on the hand, soaking the feet in warm water followed by a foot massage, a nice walk, music therapy, aromatherapy, pet visits, children's visits, entertainment or one-to-one attention is the Human Approach that our residents really need.  It's about providing Connections and Love.  The focus is on the residents' day-to-day individual needs.  Staff provide individualized attention to meet these needs through one-on-one interactions with residents. Our staff Validates and Respects our residents - preserving their dignity throughout the day.  This is done in a pleasant, fun environment in which our residents feel Loved, Accepted and Safe.  Our intent is to provide Enhanced Social Activities.  We try calming interventions such as massaging the hands with soothing lotion, music, or redirecting to various fun, pleasant activities or conversation instead of immediately giving medications for behavioral problems.  A gentle "Best Friends" approach is used. Staff members use validation, which means we step into the residents' reality rather than trying to bring them into present day reality - thus providing an environment of acceptance. Through the use of these concepts of care, we have in many cases improved our residents' Functioning and Quality of Life, and Redirected the frustrations so often evident with aging and Alzheimer's disease.

This Special Resident Care is provided in an Expanded Family Environment that offers Alternatives to Loneliness with Meaningful Activities and Pleasant Family Surroundings where Stimulation, Wellness, and Fun are the focal points - thus adding "Life" to their Autumn Years.

Special, Personal Attention Offered With

Caring, Compassion & Peace of Mind

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