10 Heartfelt Requests from Someone Living with Dementia

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Grand Living Florida

For more information about the author, click to view their website: Grand Living

Posted on

Jul 24, 2024

Book/Edition

Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties

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Dementia is a challenging journey that affects millions of people worldwide, with a range of symptoms that interfere with daily life and activities. At Grand Living, we understand the profound impact dementia has on both individuals and their loved ones. That’s why we have developed our LUMINATIONS® program, designed to support seniors living with memory loss. Our approach embraces and builds upon each resident’s unique life story, ensuring that they maintain a sense of self and individuality.

Grand Living Memory Care resident participating in pet therapy.

Embracing Individuality: The LUMINATIONS® Program at Grand Living

The foundation of our LUMINATIONS® program is our hospitality-focused care as part of our STERLING TOUCH® signature service. We believe that the relationships we build with our residents and their families are essential in understanding and meeting their personal needs. Our program is not just about managing symptoms; it’s about enriching lives and preserving dignity.

Lavender Lane is a women-only neighborhood and is a part of our LUMINATIONS® Memory Care program.

Special Requests: Voices of Those with Dementia

Karen Powers, Grand Living’s National Director of Training and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), integrates these crucial key requests from people living with dementia into her training sessions. These profound insights, gathered from numerous discussions on dementia and attributed to no single author, offer a powerful understanding that aids us in better supporting our loved ones with dementia.

Grand Living resident enjoys our Luminations Memory Care garden.
  1. Please be patient with me. Remember, I have a disease for which I have no control.
  2. Talk to ME. Even though I cannot always answer you, I can hear your voice and still understand your words.
  3. Be kind to me. Each day of my life is now a struggle. Your kindness may be the most special event of my day.
  4. Treat me with dignity and respect as I would have gladly treated you.
  5. Consider my feelings for they are still very much alive within me.
  6. Remember my past for I was once a healthy, vibrant person full of life, love, and laughter with abilities and intelligence.
  7. Remember my present feelings. I miss my family and my home very much.
  8. Remember my future. Though it may seem bleak to you, I am always filled with hope for the next moment.
  9. Remember your presence may do more for me than any activity or task.
  10. I still like hugs and handshakes. I am still the person you know and love.

These poignant requests remind us of the humanity and spirit that remain vibrant within our residents, despite the challenges they face. At Grand Living, we strive to honor these requests every day, ensuring our residents feel valued and understood.

Grand Living Luminations Memory Care residents engage in chair exercises.

The LUMINATIONS® Experience

At Grand Living, our Luminations residents are cherished members of our family. They enjoy chef-prepared meals and have access to a variety of activities and events tailored to their needs and interests. Our thoughtful approach extends to our two distinct living environments: Monarch Lane and Lavender Lane. Monarch Lane offers a neighborhood for both men and women, while Lavender Lane provides a women-only venue, allowing families to choose the environment that best suits their loved one’s comfort and preferences.

The exterior hallways at Grand Living’s Luminations residences are designed to help personalize each entrance for ease of finding an individual’s home.

Our Luminations neighborhoods are meticulously designed to minimize distractions and focus attention on each resident. The exterior hallways feature personalized apartment entrances with painted window scenes to assist residents in finding their homes, creating a unique and supportive way-finding experience.At Grand Living, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care and a nurturing environment for our residents with dementia. Through our LUMINATIONS® program, we honor their past, present, and future, ensuring they feel loved and respected every step of the way.

Find out more about our LUMINATIONS® Memory Care program here.

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