NORTH MANCHESTER, IN – The Peabody Retirement Community, which has a Presbyterian Church heritage, is located 35 minutes west of Fort Wayne, IN, is a regional leader in providing care and services for people with dementia. Dementia is a debilitating disease process that causes people to have difficulty with memory and decision-making. Many also suffer from personality changes. There are many causes of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. As the disease progresses over time, individuals lose the ability to independently care for even their most basic needs.

According to Alzheimer’s Association statistics, over five million Americans are afflicted with memory loss. As the nation’s baby boomers age, this number is expected to dramatically increase.

Peabody is regionally and nationally recognized for its dementia care facilities, dementia care programs, and dementia education. In 2004, Peabody opened the 48 bed Frank and Laura Smock Memory Enhancement Center. The building layout and living spaces were developed in consultation with Lorraine G. Hiatt, Ph.D., President of Innovage, Inc. of New York City, NY, a national leader in designing for the elderly.

The Smock Memory Enhancement Center is divided into two communities of 24 residents. Each community has two neighborhoods and a spacious dining area. A neighborhood is composed of 3,315 square feet of common living space that is surrounded by twelve; 290 square foot private resident rooms. Each private resident room includes a full bath. Residents are encouraged to bring and use their own personal and familiar furnishings and items to their new home.

Commonly, a person with dementia experiences a change in appetite, which can lead to a potentially unhealthy weight loss. Because Peabody knows that nutritional health, freedom of choice and quality of life contribute to overall wellness, the dining services team works with a registered dietician to develop a “Menu of Choice”. At every meal, residents are offered several choices of menu items designed for their personal and medical needs.

The common spaces are designed to limit environmental noise and enhance natural lighting in addition to supporting activities to keep residents engaged in life. In addition to a “family room” area with a fireplace, there is a homemaking area, a laundry room and smaller areas for conversation. The spaces are used by the residents to participate in activities like baking under the supervision of a staff member or assisting in laundering of their own clothes.

In addition to large, open indoor spaces, there are two 10,800 square foot secured outdoor courtyards. These courtyards offer comfortable shaded seating areas in addition to opportunities for a variety of activities. While the courtyards are cared for and maintained by the staff, some residents enjoy assisting the staff in the ongoing maintenance of the flower gardens during the summer and appropriate snow shoveling in the winter.

Dr. Ann M. Moore, Peabody’s full-time geriatrician (a physician who has completed additional training in the care of older adults) has been at Peabody for over seven years and has cared for many of the residents currently residing in the Memory Enhancement Center complex prior to 2004. Dr. Moore commented, “For many of my patients, moving from a traditional model of nursing home care into this unique care model has reversed some of the losses they suffered from their dementia.”

In addition to daily opportunities for meaningful engagement in living, Dr. Moore credits the use of Montessori techniques in the success of the Memory Enhancement Center. The care team receives special training in the use of objects to support and enhance the healthy parts of resident’s memory and abilities. The common spaces are decorated with objects and antiques specifically chosen to stimulate and support conversation success in activities.

Peabody knows that making a decision to move to any facility is difficult. When a person experiences dementia, any move can be even more upsetting because the ability to understand and adjust to changes is impaired. Sharon Bone, Memory Enhancement Center Program Director, commented that one resident who struggled with leaving her home to move to Peabody recently stated “I love it here because you can just be yourself”.”

Not only is a move difficult for the person with dementia, it is challenging for their caregivers. Ms. Bone feels that family participation is very important in the success of the neighborhood. She says, “Dementia can be very devastating. It is a disease that steals your loved ones from you without actually taking them.” She and many of the care team feel that even when a resident may not always recognize or remember a visitor, they do seem to remember the feeling and the warmth of the visit.

While there are a number of different ways to judge the success of Peabody’s memory care, family and caregiver recognition of positive changes are one of the more meaningful to the staff. Recent comments made by some family members include: “I cannot believe this is the same person I once had at home”; “She is a whole different person here; this is her world and she visits with everyone here and is so happy”; and “She only does what she wants and feels safe and happy at Peabody.”

In addition to developing their own programs, Peabody has been chosen as an upper-Mid-west test site for (M) Power Cognitive Fitness System by Dakim. This is a computer touch-screen based software program designed to “exercise” the brain. This program is very easy to use and adjusts to allow for many levels of ability from normal to significantly impaired. Most residents, even those with significant impairment are able to use it without assistance.

Fully licensed and accredited, Peabody is located on 30 developed acres. In addition to the Memory Enhancement Center, Peabody also offers 144 long-term care beds, 124 assisted living apartments, and 57 cottage homes.

For additional information, please call 1.800.545.6220 or visit www.peabodyrc.org

# # #