Left: Residential hallways have themes to help people orient themselves at Quail Park Memory Care communities in West Seattle and Lynnwood. Photo courtesy of Living Care Lifestyles. Right: Myriam Marquez advises people to look for the right place to live before they are ready to move. Photo by Teri Thomson Randall.
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When you tour a place, advises Haack, trust your instinct. Are residents being treated with dignity and respect? A key point is how a potential resident is recognized when accompanied by a family member. Staff should communicate in the same manner with both people; always take note how they address a potential resident. Myriam is starting to consider her next move. She plans to ask one of her daughters to help manage her finances, and she’s researching senior communities that offer both assisted living and memory care. She advises people to look for the right place before they’re ready to move, to be sure there’s an opening when they need it. Many senior living communities provide multiple levels of care, including secure memory care. In the Seattle suburb of Shoreline, the Courtyard at Cristwood includes three sections called neighborhoods: general assisted living, light memory care, and secure care. Residents in all levels interact daily, sharing common spaces, activities, and events. “We make a conscious effort not to segregate populations,” says administrator Debra Hawkins. “They do activities together, and friendships are formed.” Those friendships help smooth the stress of moving between levels of care. Residents in t he lighter memor y care neighborhood come and go as they please, while secure care has its own outdoor space so residents
3rd Act magazine | fall 2018
“Anyone with progressive memory loss will need to eventually make a choice about housing—or their family members will.” can use it without wandering away. In both areas, the focus is on individual needs. “We believe people still have their purpose when they come here,” says Hawkins. “Our personfocused programs honor a person’s past and what they want to continue to do.” Expense is an important factor when choosing your next home. Rates vary depending on things like location, amenities, and staffing. It’s best to determine what you can afford before you start your search, then ask about costs upfront when you call to arrange a tour. There are many options, many questions to ask, and the search might feel overwhelming at first. But here’s the thing: Our generation is getting older with technology. We have the Internet to help us search. And we have people like Myriam leading the way. “I am planning for the future,” she says. “I’ve been in charge of my disease since I came to that fourway stop.” And that’s the way to do it. Priscilla Charlie Hinckley has been a writer and producer in Seattle television and video for 35 years, with a primary interest in stories covering health and medicine, women’s and children’s issues, social justice, and education. She enjoys taking a light-hearted approach to serious topics.
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