Homewatch CareGivers Expands Pathways to Memory(TM) Program
Dual-Approach Program Helps Support Dementia Patients and Their Loved Ones
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- An estimated 35.6 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia, including 5.3 million with Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. According to a report from Alzheimer's Disease International, these numbers are projected to nearly double by 2030. To help dementia patients and their families, Homewatch CareGivers (www.homewatchcaregivers.com), the largest, most experienced international provider of full-service home care, has expanded its Pathways to Memory program, a ground-breaking program first introduced in 2005 that offers a set of activities delivered in a nurturing, failure-free environment that stimulates cognitive function for dementia patients. The newly expanded program provides a dual approach, including Specialized Dementia Care and Focused Memory Training.
"We recognize the importance of providing dementia care support to families and proactive intervention tools for their loved ones with memory loss," said Leann Reynolds, president of Homewatch CareGivers. "With our experience in the practical application of cognitive-enhancing programs, we've seen the positive effects first hand. Our expanded Pathways to Memory program is a more comprehensive approach, providing both personalized care and memory coaching that together help improve self esteem and life functions of our clients."
How Does Pathways to Memory™ Work?
Pathways to Memory services feature a dual approach: Specialized Dementia Care, the all-important day-to-day personal care for dementia patients; and Focused Memory Training, one-on-one activities conducted by a specially trained and tested caregiver. By design, these two services are provided by two different, specifically trained caregivers.
Specialized Dementia Care focuses on the daily needs of the client, providing the specialized personal care and quality companionship required by those individuals who are living with memory impairment. Through this specialized care, the objective is to elevate the quality of life and provide a more positive, interactive experience for clients – everyday.
Focused Memory Training provides one-on-one memory coaching and instruction. This aspect of the program is designed to meet the unique challenges of each individual client. Specific goals are established based on the client's memory difficulties. Following a series of baseline assessments, each program is customized to the client, focusing on six cognitive areas. Each client works through the customized program in two-hour sessions, three times per week, in 12-week intervals. In a failure-free environment, a Pathways to Memory caregiver nurtures a trusted partnership, one the entire family can rally around by learning new coping behaviors and helpful activities within the structure of the Pathways to Memory program.
A variety of studies over the last decade have shown that a consistent cognitive stimulation regime can preserve implicit memory and allow individuals higher levels of independence and self-esteem. Key findings support Pathways to Memory's systematic and integrative approach:
- Some patients with cognitive impairment can preserve or improve cognitive and functional abilities.
- Consistent stimulation of the memory and other cognitive skills, including language and attention activities, can be useful in slowing cognitive decline associated with aging and dementia-related diseases.
At its core, the Pathways to Memory program is both specialized personal care and a proactive intervention tool aimed at caring for the client's individual needs and conducting activities designed to exercise implicit memory—memory expressed through performance, rather than conscious recall. The program results can mean greater self-esteem, extended independence by prolonging an individual's ability to perform activities of daily living, diminished behavior issues, and postponing or preventing the need for residential placement. Further, the compassionate but neutral third party role of the caregivers often presents a stabilizing force between the client and their loved ones.
Pathways to Memory services are provided at home or within a facility, allowing clients to remain in the living environment of their choice.
About Homewatch CareGivers
Founded in 1980, Homewatch CareGivers is the largest, most experienced international provider of full-service in-home care for people of all ages. Caregivers are triple-screened and continually trained and supervised by healthcare professionals to provide reliable, compassionate, and highly skilled services in companion, personal and comprehensive care. In-home care services are personalized for each client and customized care plans are administered through an international network of 111 franchise owners with 181 territories, including 10 international owners with 19 international territories. Each office is locally owned and dedicated to ensuring quality of life for clients and peace of mind for their loved ones.
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