A patient with memory impairment might not remember the number of the room he or she lives in, but familiar photos let them know they've reached the right door. Work with what you've got. Dementia is tricky. A woman might not remember how to follow a recipe but she can still stir a bowl of cake batter. A man might not be able to build a wooden birdhouse, but he can sand or paint it.
Every action helps preserve the patient's memory and ability.
Families like the Smiths and the Colberts are like millions of others who have to decide which options are the best for their loved ones. Arden Courts, one in Kenwoood and another opening Thursday in Anderson Township, are among the Tristate's newest Alzheimer's facilities. Resources have grown rapidly in recent years because there are more older people, says Ms. Von Hoene. Nationally, about 1.5 million Americans lived in nursing homes in 1997, and the Alzheimer's Association estimates half of them have the disease. But not every facility with a dementia unit offers the right care for every situation, says Mary Whittle, manager of the ombudsman for Pro Seniors Inc., which serves senior citizens in Hamilton, Warren, Clermont, Clinton and Butler counties.