Oaks Senior Living

Oaks Senior Living is at the vanguard of senior living services, facilitating compassionate and innovative care for individuals navigating dementia and cognitive challenges. It goes beyond traditional care, focusing on creating ‘magical moments’—a philosophy of making senior living happy and fulfilling, which shapes interactions with the people it serves.

A person-centered approach is applied in assisted living and memory care neighborhoods, considering a significant percentage of those in assisted living may have cognitive impairments.

Beth Cayce, chief clinical officer, articulates the culture of Oaks Senior Living, which revolves around building positive relationships that honor each resident’s life history and preferences. “The focus is on respecting their identity and providing meaningful engagement. We align our care strategies with assessments from the Alzheimer’s Association, collaborating with healthcare partners to construct a comprehensive resident profile that incorporates medical history and behavioral uniqueness.”

A Tailored Approach to Senior Care

Oaks Senior Living diverges from the traditional senior care approach by considering residents’ life stories, interests, and cognitive status. Small interest groups are formed based on shared hobbies, allowing for personalized schedules. Staff members are trained to act as ‘best friends,’ sharing insights to enhance individualized care.

Environmental factors, including lighting, are carefully considered, recognizing how cognitive impairment influences perception. The community prioritizes ambient lighting to support residents throughout the day, particularly during evening activities.

Oaks Senior Living actively involves families in transition planning and collaborates with hospice providers to ensure holistic end-of-life care. The overarching goal is to understand each resident’s unique life signature, embrace their identity, and provide care as trusted friends. Through love and care, the organization strives to see the world through the residents’ eyes, cherishing and understanding who they are.

Innovative Solutions for Supporting Residents

Innovative solutions for supporting residents involve addressing the challenges of a dementia-friendly environment within the community. Misunderstandings about living in memory care neighborhoods or confusion about certain behaviors are tackled to nurture an atmosphere where residents understand and support each other.

Oaks Senior Living’s strategic solution aligns with the Alzheimer’s Association’s core principles. Close collaboration with healthcare professionals allows for the construction of detailed resident profiles, encompassing medical histories, unique behavioral needs, and activities of daily living requirements, including restorative care.
Creating a welcoming environment has proven effective in engaging residents who initially showed little interest. For instance, one gentleman who typically stayed in his room became drawn to a thoughtfully designed library space. Leather chairs, a book rack, ambient music, and appealing visuals enticed him to participate. Similarly, initially reserved, another resident found a connection through themed vignettes during meals, such as a Parisian cafe or an outdoor garden event. These personalized touches prompted her to share her experiences and offer gardening advice to others in the community. Tailoring the environment to meet individual preferences has greatly encouraged participation among initially disengaged residents.

Addressing Staff Shortage and Education

The staff development and training programs undertaken by Oaks Senior Living help address the shortage of healthcare professionals exacerbated by an aging population. Training immerses staff in understanding residents’ perceptions, emphasizing effective interaction, and seamlessly integrating knowledge into daily care routines.

Staff training provides experiential learning and the dissemination of knowledge among team members. Daily stand-up meetings serve as educational platforms, fostering continual micro-learning opportunities that staff can readily implement in their care practices. By prioritizing bite-sized learning and immediate application, this method aligns effectively with modern work styles, moving from traditional hour-long lectures to more practical, daily applicable strategies.

Staff education emphasizes competencies in prompting and cueing residents, providing collaboration rather than completing tasks for them. This approach enables a sense of pride and purpose in residents’ daily activities.

Paving the Way for Better Living through Family and Faith

Oaks Senior Living is deeply rooted in family and faith, highlighting community building. It actively engages with the larger community in Smyrna, Georgia, or Hampton, Georgia. It integrates residents into the broader neighborhood through intergenerational programming, visits to farms, and outings to local restaurants. This commitment reflects its belief in fostering a sense of belonging, mirroring the strong family values that define the community.

The personalized environments crafted by Oaks Senior Living are designed to inspire resident engagement, creating a harmonious and supportive community for those navigating dementia and cognitive challenges.