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A Well-lived Joan Mehaffey and her son, Rick, enjoy bird-watching at Evergreen Place’s indoor aviary.
Evelyn Woods was grieving her father’s death when a dismaying realization deepened her sorrow. “After my dad died, we discovered my mother couldn’t live on her own,” Evelyn says, explaining that Martin Erdozain’s devoted care of his wife, Julia, had masked from the rest of the family the progression of her dementia. “He had been covering up for her … we hadn’t realized the extent of her decline.” Once widowed, it became obvious, for medical and security reasons, “she needed someone with her Here, Martha Ripple peruses the around-the-clock.” dresses in a vintage clothing store.
‘Memory care neighborhood’ fosters well-lived life for Alzheimer’s patients Julia gets that – and so much more – at Evergreen Place. Specifically designed for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, this “memory care neighborhood” provides long-term residential as well as short-term respite and rehabilitative services. Safely nestled within Rolling Green Village, is part of a continuum of care for seniors. Rolling Green Village’s 175acre campus also comprises a variety of independent living residences,
assisted living and skilled nursing services. “The Evergreen staff is very caring,” says Evelyn of the interdisciplinary team committed to providing her mother a dignified, meaningful life. “I’m pleased with the way they care for her, take notes, and come up with ways to keep her active and viable. They give her the freedom to do the things that still make her happy. They understand what makes my mom who she is.”
Unique by Design Memory disorders are complex, sensoryoriented conditions that create specific safety and communication challenges. Everyone who works at Evergreen Place – from the medical personnel, to the activity coordinators, to the on-site beautician – has the expertise to handle such challenges with sensitivity and compassion. A registered nurse is on site seven days a week, and the high staff-toresident ratio allows for customized care plans along
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(ABOVE, LEFT) A giant crossword puzzle and other interactive games generate interest amongst residents like Toby Tobia. (ABOVE, RIGHT) Marjorie Gause gets a breath of fresh air in the enclosed courtyard with her son, Wayne. with a remarkable level of personalized attention, thus setting Evergreen Place apart from most other dementia-care settings. The community itself is uniquely designed to provide a safe yet stimulating environment. The Evergreen Place neighborhood is located on the interior Main Street, complete with a village café,
post office, theater, vintage clothing store, hat shop and other areas of interest. It is all designed to be reminiscent of the residents youth, to spark interest and interaction. There are four living areas off Main Street, where residents enjoy cozy, private apartments, decorated with their personal belongings, as well
as communal spaces such as a family room, living room, meditation nook and kitchen. Enclosed courtyards provide access to the open air within a safe, secure environment. “One of the things that attracted us to Evergreen Place is that my mom can enjoy a feeling of freedom within a limited space,” says Julia’s
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Evergreen Place has an
– and they have it for a reason. They
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in this disease and they know how best to
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A high staff-to-resident ratio fosters plenty of personalized attention, thus setting Evergreen Place apart from other memory care assisted living facilities. Here, Robert Wilson chats with Community Relations Coordinator Amy Robinson.
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True CARE A better respite choice for busy families
Caretakers need to take care of themselves, too. Everyone wants a break once in awhile – especially those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. That’s why Evergreen Place offers True CARE, the most trusted respite choice in the The interior Main Street provides a safe yet stimulating environment. Residents are free to wander the shops – without the fear of wandering off.
Care-Oriented Services It can be a hard decision – moving a loved one into an assisted living community – but Evergreen Place makes it easier. “You don’t want to,” says Wayne Gause, whose mother, Marjorie, moved here last August, “but it can be too much of a strain to take care of someone (with a memory disorder) yourself and still have a life of your own.” When the doctor said it was no longer safe for Marjorie to live by herself, Wayne began researching options. He liked Evergreen Place’s care-oriented philosophy, convenient location and reasonable cost. “We looked at a number of communities,” he explains, “and for the same services, this was a better price.” Evergreen Place creates customized memory care plans for each resident based on personal preferences as well as physician’s advice. Individual independence is emphasized as much as possible, with specialized services including:
Compassionate, Attentive, Reassuring
• Assistance, as needed, for bathing, dressing, exercising and other daily activities
and Expert care is at the heart of everything
• Three well-balanced meals per day, plus snacks
take time off – whether to catch up on rest,
• Medication administration
take a vacation or tend to work obligations,
• 24-hour monitoring by a certified nursing assistant
errands or family matters – the Evergreen
• Services of a licensed practical nurse and physician • In-room emergency call system to ensure immediate help any time, day or night • Weekly laundry services • Weekly housekeeping services along with daily tidying Wayne also appreciates the long list of activities available to residents: gardening, exercise classes, group games, arts, crafts, music and more to stimulate mind and body. “They have activities available throughout the day to keep their interest,” he says. Wayne visits his mother frequently, and likes what he sees while there. “I see the care they’re giving her—they are so attentive, so on top of things,” he says. “They continued on page 4 monitor her needs very
that happens at Evergreen Place. While you
staff takes over, providing specialized services including: a customized memory care plan; assistance as needed, for eating, bathing, dressing and other daily activities, nutritious meals, around-the-clock staffing including an on-site nurse seven days a week, 24/7 emergency call service, a variety of stimulating activities and more. True CARE at Evergreen Place offers a safe, secure environment for your loved one – and much-needed respite for you. A five-day minimum is required. For details, contact Evergreen Place at (864) 987-4617
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or visit www.RollingGreenVillage.com.
My mom can enjoy a feeling of
within a confined space. She can walk around, but I don’t have to worry about her wandering off.
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daughter, Evelyn. “She can walk around, but I don’t have to worry about her wandering off, and that’s a huge relief. I find it very comforting knowing she’s in a safe place.”
Upstate.
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(ABOVE, LEFT) Evergreen Place creates customized memory care plans for each resident, like Ilease Sain, based on personal preferences as well as physician’s advice. Individual independence is emphasized as much as possible. (ABOVE, RIGHT) Edith Johnson gets a laugh out of trying on different styles in the hat shop.
She’s been at Evergreen Place for only three months, but Edith Johnson already calls it home. Edith’s daughter, Dianna Satterfield says “We like it here because it feels like family.” Before moving to Evergreen Place, Edith lived alone while signs of dementia became more frequent. “The doctors told us she needed 24/7 care,” Dianna explains. “We couldn’t provide around-the-clock care … but the staff at Evergreen Place can, and does.” As Edith settles into her new surroundings, she enjoys almost daily visits from various family members. “We are in and out of there at all hours of the day,” says Dianna, “so we see how well the staff interacts with the residents. We have been very pleased. … It means a lot to us that she is so comfortable and already refers to it as home.” What’s more, Edith is showing definite signs of improvement as she benefits from Evergreen’s tailored
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care … but the staff at Evergreen Place
therapeutic and recreational activities. The communities medical director is a local physician who specializes in gero-psychiatry. Under his lead, the interdisciplinary staff provides a structured, ability-enhancing program for each resident that builds upon strengths and promotes a sense of self-worth. “I can see quite a bit more independence,” Dianna says. “The therapy is working.”
Established Reputation, Proven Results George and Joan Mehaffey just moved to Rolling Green Village—he
to an independent apartment, she to Evergreen Place – and although the couple had hoped to keep living together, this arrangement is already proving beneficial, according to their son, Rick. “My mother is getting the care she needs,” Rick says, “and my father has the luxury of visiting her any time he wants to without the burden of being a full-time caretaker.” Rick has spent many hours researching his mother’s illness, and he’s impressed with how well the staff understands memory disorders. “Evergreen Place has an established reputation – and they have it for a reason,” Rick says. “They specialize in this disease and they know how best to help patients. There are ways to handle Alzheimer’s and ways you don’t; it can be a workable disease if you have proper, specialized care.” This specialized care – from nutrition to medication to therapeutic activity – has vastly improved Joan’s condition in just a short time. Indeed, the dementia-specific
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Feels Like Home
We couldn’t provide
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well and she’s getting a lot better care than we could give her at home.”
They monitor her needs very well; she’s getting than we could give her at home.
Evergreen Place at Rolling Green Village 1 Hoke Smith Blvd., Greenville, SC 29615 864.987.4618 | EvergreenPlaceAssistedLiving.com
program at Evergreen Place yields myriad positive changes in many residents, including: • Increased smiling, eye contact and overall alertness • Increased talking • Increased self-esteem • Improved orientation • Improved appetite through dietary management • Improved personal hygiene • Improved sleep patterns • Decreased periods of agitation • Decreased depression • A happy, relaxed appearance “What we feel so fortunate about is that we didn’t wait until it was too late,” says Rick. “We’ve gained a few more years with my mom.” _