Memory Care
Sweet MemoriesTM
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Chesterfield, VA
Do you have a loved one with memory loss? We’re here to help.
At Commonwealth Senior Living at Chesterfield, we offer Sweet MemoriesTM, our award-winning memory care program that meets the present and changing needs of residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Sweet Memories™ delivers memory care with personal care and attention. At the heart of our program is our team of dedicated caregivers. Certified in Virtual Dementia Tour® training, our team has a very personal and thorough understanding of the challenges presented by Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. As a result of this specialized training, they are empowered to provide compassionate, understanding and respectful care.
Sweet MemoriesTM
Sweet Memories™ delivers exceptional care and a vibrant lifestyle to our residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Every aspect of our program has been carefully chosen to deliver the best memory care experience possible. Residents feel right at home in our cozy, comfortable memory care neighborhoods. Our specialized memory care programming elevates the joy, connection and comfort our residences feel every day. Our experienced management team brings expertise in the delivery of memory care.
Understanding that each person in our care is at his or her own place on this journey, Sweet Memories™ takes a personalized approach to care. By developing individualized care plans, we provide support that not only meets our residents where they are today, but are also able to evolve with them as their needs and abilities change.
Program Components
Sweet MemoriesTM consists of three primary components:
Move-in: From physical to emotional needs, we guide our residents through every step of the transition to our community, whether our resident is moving from home or from the hospital.
Evaluation through life history: We learn each resident’s life story so we can develop genuine relationships. We start by conducting a comprehensive interview with family members. We talk. We ask questions. We listen. We get to know our residents as people. We learn about their medical, mental, emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs, as well as their habits and preferences.
Resident-centered care plan: Once we have obtained the resident’s life story and assess his or her needs and abilities, our leadership team creates a customized plan to deliver the most appropriate care and support.
Signature Programs • Signature Experience
So unique and effective, our signature Sweet MemoriesTM programs make a tremendous difference in the lives of our residents and their families.
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 Memories™ programming
- Community newsletter
