Rose Beck needed residential dementia care at a moment’s notice and Symphony at Olmsted Falls answered

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You can’t always predict the exact moment your loved one will need dementia care, but you can be prepared. Find out how the team at Symphony at Olmsted Falls helped one family effortlessly navigate both. (Photography: Benjamin Margalit)

By Patricia Nugent

Oftentimes with dementia patients, the decision to move into a memory care facility comes with crisis and immediacy. It makes sense to be prepared.

Such is the case of 89-year-old Rose Beck.

When her husband passed away six years ago, she was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her stepchildren knew she wanted to live in her home as long as possible, but they wanted to empower themselves by finding the right place for when the time came.

They toured Symphony at Olmsted Falls and loved it.

“The People Here are Wonderful”
“We met with the staff and toured the social areas and apartments, learning about the programming, too. We thought this place was an exceptional value,” says her stepson Mark Beck. “Rose was spry and strong, still healthy at that point. Her Alzheimer’s seemed to have plateaued after my father passed away. It’s said people with dementia feel comfortable in routines, and her routine was her four-bedroom Colonial home in Strongsville. She’s a bit of a loner, so we did everything to keep her in her place as long as possible. We had people come to the house daily. And I was stopping in about 15 times a week.”

Then, suddenly, the time came for her to move on January 3 of this year, when she fell and broke her wrist at home.

“We knew it would be a difficult transition, but the people here were wonderful,” says Mark. “They immediately took her into a respite suite, that eventually became her home. They bent over backward to be helpful.”

Mark says that the social aspects of Symphony at Olmsted have far exceeded his expectations.

“Mom has really come out of her shell,” he says. “Every time we come to visit, she’s down in the social room or eating with friends. She participates in all the different activities and has even been on a field trip already. She’s really come a long way.”

Danielle Ridgeway, director of sales and marketing at Symphony at Olmsted, was one of the people responsible for getting Rose a room within hours of that phone call from Mark.

“We worked with him to coordinate all the necessary steps to getting her settled here,” says Danielle. “Now Rose is thriving, gaining weight and really seems to be enjoying herself.”

Symphony at Olmsted Falls is able to accept new patients at a moment’s notice. However, the team strongly recommends you tour facilities and put a plan in place to transition your loved one into care should the immediate need arise. Pictured above is Rose with her son Mark, who along with his siblings, was relieved to find the help his mom needed quickly.

Do Your Research, Take Tours
Executive Director Chrissy Grude says it’s invaluable for families to do their research and tour facilities in advance of needing one.

“When you have to make a stressful decision on the fly, with a loved one maybe in the hospital or rehab facility, it won’t be well thought out,” she says.

Chrissy notes they are uniquely designed and dedicated to serve those suffering from dementia, with licensed nurses and caregivers on duty, and security measures in place.

And with their In the Moment memory program, they make the most of each moment, getting to know residents and nurturing them.

“This program is different from traditional, outdated dementia care practices,” she explains. “We recognize each person we serve as unique, and we treat them as individuals, finding out about their history, likes and dislikes.”

Hitting the Great Outdoors Again
Situated less than a mile from downtown Olmsted Falls, Symphony’s gracious building—with a wide, welcoming, wraparound front porch—is tucked back into a quiet, tree-lined section of Elm Street.

Residents live in 44 spacious studios to enjoy time by themselves, or social time. A comprehensive host of services, from physical therapy to physicians, beauticians, rehab services, therapy dogs, cooking demonstrations and hospice are also available.

Adult Day Care folks at Symphony can participate in a variety of activities with the residents, including meals and snacks, crafts, field trips and entertainment.

With beautiful springtime weather arriving, residents are looking forward to spending more time outdoors within the brick-lined courtyard, planting their gardens and filling bird feeders for the colorful clientele.

Chrissy says plenty of field trips are on their spring docket, whether a day trip to the Vermilion boat or just lunch around town.

Symphony at Olmsted Falls boasts a beautiful and secure patio to enjoy.

One of the Few to Offer Day Care
Symphony’s Adult Day Club accommodates people seven days per week, half-day or full-day, or even by the hour if necessary. And they can also provide care services such as administering baths or showers.

“We try to stay as flexible as possible,” says Chrissy. “Our Day Clubbers come when best fits their schedule, whether that’s a few hours, or a day, or five days a week. They are fully integrated in all of the activities the residents enjoy, including meals and snacks, crafts, field trips and entertainment.”

If they need a nap, no problem, there are resting accommodations, too.

She says that once people are comfortable with the Day Club, they often transition to stay for respite care, and eventually segue into full-time care when the time comes.

Symphony at Olmsted Falls is located at 25880 Elm Street in Olmsted Falls. For more information, call 440-230-3591 or visit SymphonyatOlmstedFalls.com. Ask about move-in specials. Their Facebook page offers helpful insights for navigating dementia.

Categories: Westside Smart Living