Finding the right memory care community for a loved one is about much more than choosing a safe place to live. Families want to know that their loved one will be understood, supported, engaged, and treated like an individual.
During a recent episode of Care Across America, Valerie VanBooven, RN BSN, spoke with Juliet Wilson, Nurse Manager and Director of the Memory Care Unit at Knollwood Retirement Community, about what makes memory care at Knollwood unique.
Known as Memory Lane, Knollwood’s memory care neighborhood focuses on person-centered routines, familiar caregivers, meaningful activities, specialized dementia training, and helping residents maintain as much independence as possible.
What Is a Memory Care Unit?
Wilson describes memory care as a safe environment for people experiencing cognitive challenges such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or cognitive changes following a stroke.
At Knollwood, Memory Lane is connected to the assisted and supported living areas of the community. This connection can make an important difference for residents who previously lived elsewhere at Knollwood and eventually need a higher level of support.
Rather than having to leave the community entirely, some residents are able to transition into memory care while remaining in a familiar environment near people and staff members they already know.
Safety is an important part of that environment. The memory care neighborhood uses delayed-egress doors rather than functioning as a completely locked unit. If a resident pushes on one of these doors for approximately 15 seconds, an alarm sounds before the door opens, alerting staff while still allowing an exit when necessary.
A Daily Routine Built Around the Individual
One of the themes Wilson emphasizes throughout the conversation is that no two residents are exactly alike.
“Everybody has their own routine,” she explains, with care tailored specifically to the individual resident.
A typical day may include breakfast followed by movement activities such as chair exercises, yoga, or Tai Chi. Residents might enjoy coffee while watching the news, participate in a group conversation, play games, eat lunch, spend time relaxing on the patio, listen to music, enjoy snacks, and wind down after dinner.
The goal is not to force every resident into the same schedule. Instead, activities and routines can be adjusted according to a resident’s preferences, needs, abilities, and stage of dementia.
Special events and regular programs also bring variety to the community. Residents may participate in holiday celebrations, music therapy, pet therapy, yoga, and Tai Chi.
Why Familiar Caregivers Matter in Dementia Care
Consistency can be especially meaningful for someone living with dementia.
Wilson shares that Memory Lane has maintained a consistent caregiving team since the unit opened. Staff members learn each resident’s routines, triggers, preferences, habits, and individual needs.
Knollwood also does not use agency nursing or CNA staff in Memory Lane, according to Wilson. This means residents are regularly supported by staff members who know them and have had an opportunity to build relationships with them.
For families, that familiarity can be reassuring. For residents, seeing recognizable faces can help support trust and continuity from one day to the next.
Looking Beyond “Challenging Behaviors”
Dementia can sometimes lead to changes in mood, communication, or behavior.
Instead of viewing a challenging behavior as simply something that needs to be stopped, the Knollwood team tries to understand what the resident may be communicating.
Wilson explains that staff may redirect the resident while also asking what need has not been met.
Is the person hungry?
Do they need to use the bathroom?
Are they looking for a family member?
Do they feel unsafe?
Would they like different clothing?
The team tries to identify the reason behind the behavior so they can respond to the resident’s actual need.
Knowing residents well makes this approach easier because caregivers become familiar with the individual’s typical routine, preferences, and triggers.
Music Can Create Meaningful Connections
Music is an important part of life in Memory Lane.
Knollwood works with a music therapist who sings with residents and brings instruments such as guitars and tambourines. Sessions can be held as group activities or individually for residents who would rather stay in their apartments.
Residents are also encouraged to choose music that is meaningful to them.
This can be particularly powerful in dementia care. Someone may have difficulty recalling what happened earlier in the day yet still recognize a song they loved decades ago.
As Wilson and VanBooven discuss, familiar music can sometimes reach people in ways ordinary conversation cannot.
Supporting Residents Through Familiar Roles and Activities
Person-centered memory care also means recognizing that what seems unusual to someone else may be deeply meaningful to the resident.
Wilson shared an example of a former resident who benefited from baby doll therapy. Some days the resident wanted to care for the doll, while on other days she would ask someone else to “babysit” because she was going to work.
Rather than correcting the resident or arguing about whether the situation was real, staff could enter her world and support an activity that brought her comfort and purpose.
It is a small example of a much larger philosophy: dementia care works best when caregivers get to know the individual rather than expecting the individual to fit into a predetermined routine.
The Montessori Approach to Dementia Care
Wilson is certified through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and is a certified Montessori dementia professional, trained trainer, and certified dementia practitioner. She uses this training to help staff provide more individualized, hands-on care.
The Montessori approach to dementia care focuses on a resident’s remaining strengths.
Instead of concentrating only on what someone can no longer do, caregivers ask:
What can this person still do?
Then they look for ways to build on those abilities.
Wilson recalled caring for a woman with dementia who was nonverbal and could not easily communicate her needs. But she could still play the piano.
When she played, her happiness was obvious.
Experiences like this show why individualized memory care can be so meaningful. A diagnosis does not erase a person’s talents, interests, preferences, or identity.
Meaningful Play With the Tovertafel
Another feature available to residents is the Tovertafel, an interactive system offering games designed for people living with dementia.
The activities can be used individually or with groups and offer different levels of engagement depending on a resident’s abilities.
Some games emphasize observation and attention, while others involve memory, reasoning, planning, and decision-making.
Because the activities can be adjusted to different levels of cognitive ability, residents at different stages of dementia can participate in ways that are appropriate for them.
And, not surprisingly, Wilson says the music games are especially popular.
Families Are Part of the Community
Knollwood encourages family involvement and views the community as the residents’ home.
Wilson even makes a point of referring to residents’ living spaces as their apartments, not simply their rooms.
There are no designated visiting hours. Families can visit when they choose, although Wilson notes that visiting during a resident’s normal waking hours is usually more practical. Some residents enjoy family visits more during the daytime, while others respond better in the evening.
Once again, the approach depends on the individual.
Helping Residents Continue Everyday Routines
Memory care includes much more than activities and medical support. Everyday routines still matter.
Knollwood has a shower schedule, but residents are not forced to follow a rigid timetable. If someone does not want a shower on Tuesday, for example, staff can try again Wednesday.
Residents can also have their hair done by an onsite beautician who provides services such as cuts, perms, and coloring.
Healthcare providers also visit the community. According to Wilson, a nurse practitioner sees residents every three months and as needed and is regularly present in the facility. A podiatrist also visits quarterly.
These services can help residents continue familiar personal-care routines without every need requiring a trip outside the community.
Memory Care That Focuses on the Person
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the conversation is that effective dementia care is never one-size-fits-all.
A resident may enjoy yoga.
Another may prefer staying in their apartment listening to a favorite song.
One person may find meaning in caring for a baby doll.
Another may rediscover joy while sitting at a piano.
Knollwood’s Memory Lane focuses on identifying those strengths, preferences, and meaningful moments while providing the safety and support residents need.
For families exploring memory care, looking beyond the building itself can help. Ask how caregivers are trained. Ask whether staffing is consistent. Ask how behaviors are handled. Ask how activities are adapted to different stages of dementia.
Most importantly, ask how the community will get to know the person you love.
Learn More About Knollwood Retirement Community
Knollwood Retirement Community
921 Knollwood Village Rd.
Caseyville, Illinois 62232
Phone: (618) 394-0569
Visit Knollwood Retirement Community online at knollwoodstclair.com to learn more about Memory Lane and the services available at the community.
Offering seniors age 65 and older a wealth of amenities to retain as much independence as they are able, with support, in a home-like environment in our supportive living community.
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