Memory Care
Sweet MemoriesTM
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Kilmarnock, VA
If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia, we are here to help.
At Commonwealth Senior Living at Kilmarnock, we offer an award-winning memory care program – Sweet MemoriesTM – that provides the care, support and lifestyle you want for your loved one and the peace of mind you need and deserve.
Our people – and our training – make the difference. At the heart of Sweet MemoriesTM is a group of compassionate caregivers. Certified in Virtual Dementia Tour® training, our memory care team has a very personal, insightful and practical understanding of the challenges presented by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Their unique perspective enables them to deliver exceptional care.
Sweet MemoriesTM
Innovative and thoughtful, Sweet Memories™ provides the most exceptional memory care and lifestyle available in the area.
Every detail of this program has been carefully created to provide the very best memory care experience possible. From cozy, comfortable memory care neighborhoods that feel like home and specialized programming developed specifically for those with memory challenges, to our experienced management team that bring experience and expertise to our program, our residents are in good, loving and capable hands.
At Commonwealth Senior Living at Kilmarnock, we understand that each person in our care is at his or her own place on this journey; no two of our residents will have the same needs or abilities.
To meet those individual needs and abilities, the Sweet Memories™ program embraces a personalized approach to care. By developing an individualized care plan, we can provide the most appropriate support, care, guidance and understanding.
Program Components
Sweet MemoriesTM consists of three components to work together to deliver the best possible experience for our residents and their families.
Move-in: Whether moving to Commonwealth Senior Living at Kilmarnock from their home or from a hospital, we guide our residents through every step of this journey, meeting every need, from physical to emotional.
Evaluation through life history: To deliver the most personalized care possible, we start by learning each resident’s life story. We conduct a comprehensive interview with family members. We talk. We ask questions. We listen. We get to know our residents on a personal level. We learn about their medical, mental, emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs, as well as their habits and preferences.
Resident-centered care plan: With this very personal knowledge, our leadership team creates a customized care plan to meet the specific needs and promote the retained abilities of the resident.
Signature Programs • Signature Experience
Our signature Sweet MemoriesTM programs make a tremendous difference in the lives of our residents and their families. You’ll only find them here. They’re that special.
One Sweet Memory: Winner of the Best Practice Award from the Virginia Assisted Living Association (VALA), for going above and beyond the standards of care. Our team members regularly capture highlights of each resident’s day in photographs that are shared regularly with family members.
Expressions: When verbal skills begin to fail, art can become a means of self-expression for residents. Conversational prompting stimulates memories which residents can interpret using a variety of mediums, including painting.
Special Touch: Designed specifically for those with late-stage memory loss, this program provides “special touches” that make a difference in care. In the morning, before breakfast, residents enjoy citrus scented towels to awaken taste buds; before dinner, lavender scented towels help to relax, reinforce the natural circadian rhythm and encourage residents to enjoy their meals.
Sweet Melodies: For those with late-stage dementia who have lost verbal skills, Sweet Melodies stirs memories by using nostalgic music selected by family members.
SMILE™ Technology: Through SMILE™, we can remain connected to your loved one every day. This computer program enables us to keep you updated on your loved one’s participation in and enjoyment of our programming, sharing photos and stories with you on a daily basis.
Memory Care Life Stations: Thoughtful spaces invite your loved one to reconnect and engage with past hobbies, professions and passions.
Sweet Memories™ Services & Amenities:
- Healthy, family-style dining options that meet dining skill levels and nutritional needs
- Regularly scheduled activities that stimulate the mind and body, as well as customized socialization programs designed to fit the cognitive, social and mental skills of the resident
- Open and secure outdoor spaces such as courtyards and gardens
- Monthly support group meetings for families
- Private or companion suites with private baths
- Personal care services
- Medication management
- Weekly housekeeping/linens
- 24-hour staffing
- Open-door policy that encourages 24-hour visitation
- Monthly family night dinners
- Sweet MemoriesTM programming
- Community newsletter
