What is Ridgeline Memory Care?

Our mission is simple: creating environments where moments of joy, independence, and wellness are the focus each and every day.

Our fully secured Memory Care neighborhoods with knowledgeable staff enrich the lives of memory-impaired seniors every day. Elders with Alzheimer's and other age-related dementias are the most important customer we have. We understand each senior's needs are just as individual as their personalities and we strive to meet and exceed both theirs and their family's expectations.

Ridgeline is currently practicing and training staff in the use of Naomi Feil's Validation Therapy techniques. Naomi Feil's extensive research has proven to minimize aggressive behaviors and encourage those suffering with Alzheimer's or other dementias to safely express their feelings as well as providing an atmosphere of trust between resident and caregiver.

Person-Centered Care Approach

Our person-centered services and memory loss programming are designed to improve the senior's independence, ability to function, health and quality of life.

We are able to achieve these optimal living conditions through a service plan built around each individual's life history, current abilities, and unique interests. These specialized programs, designed and implemented by our staff, include development of each elder's 'Life Story;' creative assistance techniques; methods of interventions that significantly reduce problem behaviors (based on Naomi Feil's Validation Therapy); a special physical environment that promotes optimum functioning (including both indoor and outdoor spaces); and meaningful 'moment's of joy."

We understand how important it is for seniors with memory loss to experience success in their daily lives. Residents are afforded an environment where they may find a sense of belonging, patience, companionship, and self-esteem.

Programming

Eden Alternative was founded in 1991 by Dr. William Thomas, a Harvard-educated physician and board-certified geriatrician. The Eden Alternative shows how companionship, the opportunity to give meaningful care to other living things, and the variety and spontaneity that mark an enlivened environment can succeed where pills and therapies often fail. Places that have adopted the Eden Alternative typically are filled with plants, animals and are regularly visited by children. The Eden Alternative is also about changing the culture of long-term care organizations.

The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's care was developed in the mid-1990's by Virginia Bell and David Troxel. Simply put, the model suggests that what a person with dementia needs most of all is a friend, a "Best Friend." This can be a family member, friend, or staff member who empathizes with their situation, remains loving and positive, and dedicated to helping the person feel safe, secure, and valued. The model teaches caregivers how to have "knack." Caregiving knack is defined as "the art of doing difficult things with ease."

Naomi Feil's Validation Breakthrough approach has been field-tested for 30 years. Validation is a practical way of working that helps reduce stress, enhance dignity and increase happiness. Validation is built on an empathetic attitude and a holistic view of individuals. Validation practitioners are caring, non-judgmental and open to the feelings that are expressed.