“Our company serves people with memory impairment.”
“We offer memory care for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
“We provide specialized care for clients with dementia.”
Do these sentences look familiar? They certainly do to us.
These phrases are usually followed by stock photos of smiling older adults being assisted by smiling younger adults. There is frequently some vague language about an “excellent dining program” and “round-the-clock care” provided by “staff trained in dementia care.”
We see the same language and same stock photos on just about every senior care company’s website. For us, it’s an immediate indication that the company who designed the website doesn’t actually have a specific dementia care program.
Here are our red flags:
- “Memory impairment” doesn’t even remotely cover the symptoms and causes of dementia.
- Alzheimer’s IS the most common cause of dementia, so saying, “Alzheimer’s and dementia” is a misnomer.
- “We offer memory care” tells us that there isn’t a branded, named dementia care program—if there was, the company certainly would’ve said that.
- What does “specialized care” mean?
- There’s no mention of what happens for the company’s clients or residents that really makes it different from any other type of care.
THAT is what we build a plan around.
BLOOM was chosen as the name of their dementia care program because many of their communities have the word “garden” in their names. Additionally, as a faith-based organization, it was agreed that gardening is a very prayerful activity, and that it encourages spirituality through engagement with the earth. Thus, BLOOM was born, and gardening became foundational to the dementia care program and the resident’s day-to-day life.
This stellar execution was possible because meeting attendance was off-the-charts with this leadership team.
They were totally united and invested in revolutionizing their dementia care, and this was ultimately reflected in the outcome at each building upon rollout.
- Make it clear to your team that dementia care is something worth taking seriously.
- Make it easier to hire the right people for the right roles.
- Show families that you understand their needs.
- Are better able to provide care for your residents or clients.
- Are better able to provide programming and activities for residents or clients.
- Stand out against competitors in the industry and the area.
