Although many assume that anyone who has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s is at an end point and cannot continue to have a purpose in life, HomePlace in Oak Harbor is helping to let people know there are some options still available to help someone with this diagnosis still have a purpose in life.
HomePlace specializes in providing nursing, cleaning and activities for people who have suffered a decline in cognitive abilities. The faculty at HomePlace helps people who have experienced some cognitive decline continue to do productive activities with their lives. Currently, those living at this memory care community are encouraged to do gardening, woodworking, or other meaningful activities.
Some residents are currently making personal care products, including soaps, candles and Epsom salts that are sold with the proceeds going to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
The memory care community in Oak Harbor was opened 13 years ago. It is part of a national program called “Spark” that focuses on helping people continue to feel they have a purpose in life even if they have a mental or physical disability.
The Spark Program includes:
- Special roles, where individuals are encouraged to fulfill meaningful roles in their communities;
- Focusing on improving remaining skills based upon information from the Center for Applied Research on Dementia;
- Progression and setting goals;
- Montessori-inspired approaches to living well with dementia that focus on engagement, social lifestyle and inclusion within the community at large;
- Focuses on supporting peoples’ ideas, choices and independence.
The Spark Program is operated by Frontier Management, which has senior living communities based on the Spark Program that are throughout the United States.
HomePlace in Oak Harbor is building awareness that there are ways that people can become involved to help those who are dealing with dementia, as well as their families. They are offering training for those who want to become a volunteer and become more involved helping the individuals and their families deal with the issues of dementia.
To learn about the Spark Program, and to learn more about HomePlace and what kinds of volunteer positions are needed, call Kayla Wood, Marketing Director or Mykel Husk, Executive Director at (360) 279-2555. You can check out their website HERE
