OUR SERVICESA Special Environment
The Saul Alzheimer’s Community has been nationally acclaimed for its extraordinary approach to caring for those with Alzheimer’s. They require a space that is secure, comforting and nonthreatening—that constantly offers a familiar frame of reference, lessens confusion and offers freedom to move in an unrestricted space.
Environment, programs and specially trained staff at Jewish Home Lifecare (JHL) provide the basis for the humane care and treatment of Alzheimer’s patients. Staff at all our Alzheimer’s Communities have been carefully selected and highly trained. They create specific programs that promote each patient’s capabilities to the fullest extent, and minimize those stresses that can aggravate the symptoms of the disease.
Since the Community’s inception in 1993, experience has proved Jewish Home Lifecare’s original concept: that environment is one of the most significant factors affecting the behavior and functional abilities of dementia patients. 
Bernard Kropsky, M.D., former medical director of the Bronx Division explains, “When we first opened the Community, there were a lot of assumptions about the disease that were accepted as fact. Within three years, our findings at the Community, and reported to the American Geriatrics Society, were a revelation:
- The staff found markedly reduced agitation, aggression, and verbal abuse among residents, rather than [the predicted] increase in those symptoms over time.
- Though loss of appetite and weight loss were expected in this population, we observed an increase in weight—suggesting not only decreased agitation, but a greater ability to focus during mealtime.
- Residents in the Community exhibited improved socialization. One of the means of accomplishing this is through programs like the Horticulture Club, a group activity that engages and involves participants using plants, shrubs and flowers. Family members often attend this program as well.
- Use of psychotropic medication is low at JHL. The need for medication was decreased by more than half for such patients in the Community, and lower doses were required.”
Kropsksy adds of these remarkable results, “That was 11 years ago, and those findings have held up.”
He notes, “With the ever increasing elder population and the increasing incidence of Alzheimer’s and related dementia, such care is essential until a cure is found. It has been 14 years since the Community’s inception, and in all that time the search has gone on for a cure—to no avail.”
Communities of Caring
A Rich Variety of Programs
Welcoming Family Members
Communities of Caring
The pioneering work at the Bronx Division provides the basis for the dementia care communities at JHL’s other two Divisions.
At the Sarah Neuman Center for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, visitors immediately note the communities’ striking visual design – life-size, hand-painted murals depict familiar scenes of yesteryear or idyllic memories.
“The entire second floor of the main building is designated as a Special Care Village in keeping with our ongoing development of communities of caring,” explains Barbara Mullins, RN and community coordinator.
One of the great innovations is a kitchen in the Village where hot foods are prepared and served by staff who can handle last minute changes and serve them immediately. “It’s like having your own kitchen or restaurant,” says Mullins. “The residents love it.”
Mullins points out that there is a fierce loyalty and dedication by the staff. “There’s hardly any turnover on this staff. That’s because they chose to be here in the first place and this is their life’s work. Many of the staff have been here from day one.
Essentially, you have two communities with four neighborhoods, each serving different levels of dementia. We’re very proud of the special programs we have here.”
A Rich Variety of Programs
We have so many programs to stimulate and involve our residents,” says Mullins. “A popular one is a cooking class in which the residents prepare and cook all the ingredients of an old-fashioned meal. It makes them feel connected and useful.
She continues, “We also like to do a lot of one-on-one—things like hand massages and manicures, music and art therapy.” Personal attention and one-on-one activities are encouraged at every JHL Alzheimer’s care community.
Explains Mullin, “We try to make it a full day, so we’ve initiated after-dinner programs that include outside professionals coming in to conduct musicals and clay works classes, for example.
And it’s important to keep our residents physically active, so we have a full range of exercise, stretch and movement programs.”
Of special note is the Wellness Group, a program that offers group therapy sessions to promote wellness and decrease behavioral disturbances among the residents. The Wellness Group utilizes music, visual imagery, exercise and other techniques to stimulate the residents’ senses and to decrease anxiety, tension and depression. This nationally acclaimed program has created a positive sense of empowerment among the Alzheimer’s and dementia residents.
Discussion groups, too, encourage a feeling of empowerment among community residents.
Welcoming Family Members
In all of JHL’s dementia programs, family members are encouraged to participate and take advantage of family support groups.
Sonia D’Andrea, the supervising therapeutic recreation specialist at the Saul Community, says, “We encourage family visitation as much as possible and make every effort to include family members in activities with their loved ones.”
Former Bronx Division medical director Bernard Kropsky, M.D., says, “Alzheimer’s has been referred to as the family disease because of the toll it takes on close family members, both emotionally and financially. We like to think that when we take on a resident, we also take on a family. Our entire staff, especially our social work staff, work closely with family members to help ease their burden. Of special merit are our Alzheimer’s family support groups, which bring families together to mutually understand that they are not alone and that there are others who care.”
Social work staff at the communities also encourage family members to be free with their comments. Mullins explains, “If family members see changes in character, health or behavior, we want them to report it. Because of their closeness to the resident and knowledge of his or her history, they may often spot a problem, even before we do. We want them to know that they’re part of the team.”
Sarah Neuman Center also hosts the annual Stein Lecture series on Alzheimer’s disease. Every fall a distinguished expert in the field is invited to lecture on the latest developments and advances in Alzheimer’s. The related lecture and seminar attracts healthcare professionals as well as JHL staff.