COMMUNIT Y RESOURCE FOR THOSE CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER’S

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

1HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF KALAMAZOO

When a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, the whole family is living with dementia. Husbands, wives, daughters, sons, best friends– all

step in to care for the individual. But dementia doesn’t follow a predictable path. There is no road map, no instruction book; caregivers must simply

“find their way.” They are tired, frustrated and left wondering, “What can I do now to help my mother,

my father, my spouse, my best friend…?”

The Heritage Community of Kalamazoo commitment to seniors began more than 70

years ago when Mayor Sutherland appealed to the community to create a system of secure, comfortable living for all seniors regardless of

their ability to pay. Today, Heritage Community serves nearly 400 seniors on a single campus

that provides a continuum of independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and

rehabilitation options.

THE HERITAGE COMMITMENT

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Since our establishment, Heritage Community has provided seniors who are living in West Michigan with exemplary personalized care. Now our community is ready to meet the next challenge in senior care: the significant rise in the senior population and the accompanying rise in Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases. The impact of Alzheimer’s – the only leading cause of death in the U.S. that cannot be prevented or cured – cannot be underestimated. It’s felt by both the individual and family and friends who provide care, often with no compensation and little formal training.

With no cure in sight, an improved quality of life is the best option for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Studies of best practices in dementia care and training are widespread and have been conducted at Heritage for many years. They confirm the effectiveness of specific strategies to improve the day-to-day quality of life for people living with dementia and the quality of life of their caregivers, but these strategies are not readily available to the community. While this is true for seniors at all income levels, it is especially true for low-to-moderate income households.

Today, we have a tremendous opportunity to better integrate proven memory care best practices with accessible education and outreach so that paid and unpaid caregivers can provide the most effective assistance for those living with dementia.

Staying true to the vision and innovation of our founders, Heritage Community will create a Memory Care Learning Center to meet this challenge by studying dementia care, promoting best practices internally, analyzing and reporting results and sharing successes and lessons learned with the broad community of caregivers.

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THE SITUATION

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10,000“Baby Boomers” will turn 65 each

day through 2029.

5.3 MILLIONAdults are currently diagnosed with

Alzheimer’s disease.

IMPACTOf dementia is felt by the individual, and their

family and friends who care for them.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASEThe impact of Alzheimer’s cannot be underestimated - it is the only

leading cause of death in the U.S. that cannot be prevented or cured.

87%Of older adults are “aging in place” -

remaining in their home and community while they age.

7 MILLIONAdults will be diagnosed with

Alzheimer’s by 2029.

16.1 MILLIONcaregivers provided more than 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $232 billion

in 2017.

THE SITUATION

AMERICANS ARE LIVING LONGER AND THE RATES OF

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA ARE RISING DRAMATICALLY.

The Memory Care Learning Center (“MCLC”) will answer the question of care for loved ones with dementia again and again. It will support our loved ones who are living with dementia as well as their caregivers – not through the provision of day services or medical services but as a source for how best to care for their loved one. While the cure for Alzheimer’s is years away, the MCLC will be open for collaborating with clinicians who are developing, and implementing, new ideas about the best way to care for someone living with dementia. This practical approach will include consideration of environmental design, technology, specific communication strategies and art or music therapies in order to provide answers now about the best ways to help a parent, spouse or friend living with dementia. Together, these ideas and programs will improve the quality of loved ones’ day-to-day life and create mutually beneficial interactions. The MCLC will provide a way to test and prove these ideas, and a way to broadly share proven strategies with the community.

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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THE MCLC WILL:

• Allow clinicians to integrate their best ideas intothe daily routines of Heritage, most likely in theform of added programming, and test the benefitsof environmental design, music and art therapyas well as technology and other non-medicaltreatments for adults living with dementia.

• Host and facilitate free programming forcaregivers as well as fee-based educationalprograms for professional caregivers in thebroader Kalamazoo County community.

• Create a space that fosters communicationand acts as a clearinghouse for dementia carelearning and best practices.

• Renovate current 4,800 square feet of multi-use space that was opened in 2001 and add anadditional 2,500 square feet of work areas thatwill be used by current staff as well as partners.

• Facilitate up to 3-4 study projects per year.

• Be a sustainable center through educationprogramming and other funding.See addendum.

ULTIMATELY THE MCLC WILL BENEFIT ALL SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY:

• Heritage Community residents will experiencean increased quality of life with interactionsuniquely tailored to their needs.

• Professional staff will receive higher leveltraining and be exposed to the newest strategiesand techniques for care.

• Individuals in the greater Kalamazoo area will beable to attend educational, training and supportprograms to improve their care for loved onesliving at home.

GOALSTHE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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The MCLC will be located on Heritage’s campus within Amber Way, in ground floor space that is currently undeveloped. The main entrance will provide both accessibility and visibility for the MCLC and the interior space will be renovated to enhance a current auditorium for professional and community education sessions in addition to ongoing program and staff use, a conference room for family and individual meetings and space and technology to facilitate remote partnerships and collaborations. The renovations will not decrease the use of current spaces by Heritage staff and residents.

The Learning Center will operate under the leadership of the current Director of Memory Care who will be responsible for creating and managing the partnerships with universities and hospitals studying dementia, and working collaboratively with other organizations providing dementia services, education and advocacy. Under the director’s leadership, and in collaboration with other agencies, it is anticipated that ongoing operational costs will be sustainable through the combination of gifts, grants and sponsorships. Collaborative agreements with a variety of agencies including service providers and universities will be designed to distribute the costs of program development, technology, data collection and analysis as well as communications and outreach.

LOCATION

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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ALZHEIMER’S COGNITIVE STUDIES FROM AT RISK, MILD AND ADVANCED IMPAIRMENT

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine

IMPLEMENTING BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS AND INTERVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES

Western Michigan University

IMPROVING MEMORY CARE GROUP PROGRAMMING FOR THOSE WITH HEARING LOSS

Western Michigan University Occupational Therapy Program

THE IMPACT OF A MULTISENSORY STIMULATION ENVIRONMENT (MSSE) IN MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING WITHOUT A ONE-TO-ONE CAREGIVER

WMU College of Health and Human Services Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

WAYFINDING TECHNOLOGY STUDY

Grand Valley State University

POTENTIAL STUDIES

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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SENIOR SERVICES, KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Education Resources Volunteers Advocates

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, HOMER STRYKER M.D. SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Study PartnersContractual

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Advocates

Education/Training

PARTNERS

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, MICHIGAN GREAT LAKES CHAPTER

Education Resources

Volunteers Advocates

SENIOR CARE PARTNERS-P.A.C.E.

Advocates Service Partner

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

Education Resources Education/Training

LEADING AGE MICHIGAN

Advocates

HOSPICE CARE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Education Resources Education/Training

ESTIMATED COSTS

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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CAMPAIGN PROJECT BUDGET

$2,466,199TOTAL CAMPAIGN GOAL

CONSTRUCTION / CAMPAIGN COSTS*

$1,551,064

CAMPAIGN COSTS * NOT TO EXCEED 8% OF CAMPAIGN GOAL

DESIGN / FURNISHINGS / TECHNOLOGY

$665,135

ANN M. RICHARDS, RN, ENDOWMENT

$250,000

Our vision for both Heritage Community and the greater Alzheimer’s and dementia community is rooted in our longstanding commitment to providing exceptional and accessible care for seniors. The MCLC, when completed, will have a lasting impact on both. We welcome your generous support of this initiative and are ready to discuss giving and recognition opportunities with you. Gifts of any size may be made using a variety of instruments, from cash gifts to qualified retirement plan assets and planned giving vehicles.

To learn more about how you can help Heritage Community, please contact Kim Loftus, Vice President of Fund Development/Executive Director at 269.276.4046 or kloftus@heritagecommunity.com.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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WHAT YOU CAN DO

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“When the time came ‘to live near the children,’ my wife, Dee, and I asked our Michigan children to check out senior retirement communities in Southwest Michigan. Their number one choice was Heritage Community of Kalamazoo. We concurred, and it has proven to be the best choice for us. Today, Dee lives with Alzheimer’s in Memory Care and I live down the hall in Independent Living. Our care is so good, and this center will give Heritage even better tools and techniques.”CAREGIVERHoward BarkleyWyndham resident & Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Foundation board member

THE QUESTION:

Would music therapy increase the level engagement in dementia care patients during the sessions?

THE ANSWER:

Yes! A certified music therapist from Western Michigan University provided weekly music therapy sessions in our three different memory care communities and carefully measured the engagement levels of the attendees. Over time they found that not only did residents demonstrate higher engagement levels during the sessions, the Heritage staff reported higher engagement levels during the rest of the day.

THE RESULT:

Heritage has committed to including music therapy as a regular activity for the dementia care residents. Additionally, CEO Jay Prince has used the findings to encourage other aging service leaders to invest in these types of therapies for their organizations.

IN ACTION – MUSIC THERAPY

THE MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER

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The majority of families in the U.S. will make many sacrifices to personally care for their loved ones at home. I routinely hear from the adult children that they are physically and emotionally broke taking care of an aging parent or spouse. They share feelings of failure, guilt, anger and extreme sadness watching the most important person in their life forget every special moment they have shared. With no professional education, practical training or support, this journey becomes unbearably difficult.”JAY PRINCECEO, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo

What happens when Heritage Community memory care residents attend weekly music therapy sessions? They begin to reminisce about summer nights, cool lake air, star gazing, a sisterly bond and other fond and distant memories.

When Heritage Community staff contracted with a music therapist, they noticed memory care residents engaged more than usual and interacted with others during the programming. They also noticed the memory care residents were more engaged throughout the day following the music therapy session.

Motivated by the demonstrated effect of the program, Heritage Community leadership committed to providing regular and ongoing music therapy programming at all of Heritage’s memory care communities. Other benefits of the consistent programming include mood elevation, enhanced memories, lowered stress and improved cognitive function.

The measurable and proven benefits of the program were enough to persuade Heritage Community to make an ongoing investment. Additionally, Heritage leadership has shared these results with other aging services leaders, ensuring they have data to drive their decisions around memory care programming within their organizations.

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“The center proposed by Heritage would provide a hub not only for Heritage residents, but for local researchers and other community partners like us to meet, plan and offer quality education. The need for this type of center has never been greater.”COMMUNITY PARTNERJennifer HowardExecutive Director, Alzheimer’s Association

HONOR, DIGNIT Y, & LOVE

LEARN MORE AT HERITAGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TODAY.

www.heritagecommunityfoundation.com