The Gardenview Program is a separate neighborhood of 16 apartments that has been specially designed for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of memory loss.
The traffic patterns are circular in nature, the environment is filled with light, and doors are personalized to help residents reconnect with “their place.”
The Converse Home embraces the “Best Friends” approach as a care model for our Gardenview program. The Best Friends program believes that a strong relationship exists between good friendships and the finest Alzheimer’s care.
Because these diseases are often progressive, we teach families how to adjust to change as a loved one’s condition changes. For example, a person may no longer be recognized as a daughter or spouse, and names may be forgotten. In these cases, “re-casting” the relationship to a best friend can be very effective.
Our Gardenview staff is knowledgeable about Alzheimer’s and other memory loss, dedicated to preserving dignity, and have a sense of optimism, fun, and joy.
A major feature of the program is a therapeutic enclosed garden that allows residents the freedom to move outdoors and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. The garden was designed by Robert Hoover, a nationally recognized landscape architect who specializes in the design of therapeutic gardens. The gardens include strolling paths, plantings, bird feeders, special shading, and benches for sitting. Residents have the opportunity to garden using tools from the shed.
The Converse Home also uses music programs to stimulate memory and confidence. A meaningful connection is made when the sounds of familiar music are in the air, and visual stimulation often brings heightened awareness of the world’s beauty all around us.