Creating Moments That Matter: A Personalized Approach to Memory Care
At North Woods Village at Edison Lakes, memory care begins with a simple but important belief: every resident has a story worth knowing.
Recently, North Woods Village President Deejra Lee and Life Enrichment Director Ashley Alford joined WSBT’s HomeTown Living to discuss how our team helps residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia remain engaged, connected and involved in meaningful daily life.
Watch the complete WSBT HomeTown Living interview.
Memory Care Designed Around the Individual
No two people experience dementia in exactly the same way. Each resident also arrives at North Woods Village with a lifetime of experiences, relationships, accomplishments, interests and traditions.
That is why our approach goes beyond learning what assistance a resident needs. We take time to understand who that person has always been.
What type of work did they do? What hobbies did they enjoy? What family traditions are important to them? Did they enjoy cooking, gardening, caring for a home, listening to music or helping others?
These details allow our team to create experiences that feel familiar and personally meaningful.
This individualized philosophy is central to “New Directions”®, our signature approach to memory care. “New Directions”® brings together purposeful design, customized care, wellness, family participation and meaningful engagement to support the physical, emotional and social needs of each resident.
What Are “Moments That Matter”?
During the interview, Lee and Alford shared how the community’s “Moments That Matter” initiative helps turn a resident’s personal history into opportunities for purposeful living.
Our team learns about each resident’s life story, including their interests, routines, abilities, likes and dislikes. We then use that knowledge to offer experiences with personal meaning.
For one resident, a moment that matters might be preparing a treasured family cookie recipe. The aroma, familiar steps and memories associated with that recipe can make the experience more meaningful than a traditional baking activity.
For another resident, it may mean placing their hands in the soil, watering plants or tending a garden—activities that connect them with something they have enjoyed throughout their life.
These moments do not need to be elaborate. Their importance comes from the personal connection behind them.
Restoring a Familiar Sense of Purpose
One of the most touching examples shared during the interview involved a resident who had previously cared for several acres of property.
Gardening and working outdoors had been an important part of his life. To help him continue that familiar role, the North Woods Village team created raised garden beds where he could grow tomatoes and peppers.
Watering, weeding and checking the plants became an important part of his daily routine. The garden gave him something familiar to care for and something he could proudly share with others.
This is the heart of purposeful engagement. It is not about keeping someone occupied. It is about recognizing what has always mattered to that person and finding ways for it to remain part of their life.
Familiarity Builds Trust and Connection
Knowing a resident’s history also helps caregivers form more meaningful relationships.
When team members understand a resident’s interests and preferred routines, they have more natural ways to begin conversations, offer reassurance and invite participation. Over time, familiar faces, consistent routines and trusting relationships can help a resident feel more comfortable within the community.
At North Woods Village, residents are not simply people receiving care. They become part of our extended family.
Families Remain an Important Part of the Journey
Family participation is an essential part of our approach. Loved ones often hold valuable pieces of a resident’s story—the recipes they prepared, the songs they loved, the work they took pride in and the traditions that made their family unique.
We encourage families to share those stories and remain involved in community life. Families are welcome to attend activities, enjoy meals, participate in special events and spend meaningful time with their loved ones.
This involvement helps our team better understand each resident while allowing family members to move away from the demands of full-time caregiving and return to being a spouse, daughter, son, grandchild or friend.
Experience North Woods Village
Choosing memory care is a significant decision, and families deserve the opportunity to understand how a community feels before making that choice.
We invite prospective residents and their families to visit North Woods Village, meet our team, participate in an activity and enjoy a meal with us. Experiencing the community firsthand can help families determine whether it feels like the right fit for their loved one.
At North Woods Village, memory care is all we do. Through “New Directions”® and our commitment to creating Moments That Matter, we honor each resident’s history, recognize their abilities and create opportunities for purpose, belonging and joy.
To learn more or schedule a personal visit to North Woods Village contact us online.
