Kerianne has provided CareOne written consent to share this story.
Managing post-hospital rehabilitation and memory care needs at the same time is no easy feat—but with a personalized approach and compassionate care team, patients can experience remarkable results.
When buying her house, Kerianne did so with the intention to care for her aging parents at home. She renovated a suite in her house, preparing to welcome them whenever the time would come. Years later, when her mother fell ill, her parents moved in with Kerianne and her family.
But when Kerianne’s parents moved in, she saw something she didn’t expect: Her father started showing signs of dementia. The signs she saw were not noticeable from her interactions with him when he lived outside of her home.
Kerianne’s father was known for his intellect and ambition, having reinvented his career throughout his life. He was celebrated for his ability to finish the Wall Street Journal crossword in 30 minutes. But little by little, his abilities started slipping — and as Kerianne’s mother’s condition was getting worse, her father’s dementia was progressing. “Dementia progresses like tiny paper cuts all the time — it’s almost too late when you realize there’s a problem,” she said.
“Dementia progresses like tiny little paper cuts all the time — it’s almost too late when you realize there’s a problem.”
Sadly, Kerianne’s mother passed, which also marked a point in time when her father’s condition progressed beyond a manageable level. As with many people with dementia, Kerianne’s father was often confused and started to behave in ways that are typical for those with progressing dementia. During the day, Kerianne placed him in a daily care program. When he would come home in the evening, he would wander, requiring Kerianne to follow him closely to keep him safe. Eventually, Kerianne’s father fell and fractured his hip, requiring emergency surgery and a stay in hospital.
While the hospital took care of his immediate treatment, Kerianne knew she needed to plan for his post-hospital rehabilitation — one that could support her father’s recovery from injury but also provide comprehensive dementia care. Having worked in a skilled nursing facility in the past, Kerianne was concerned that her father would need an extra layer of care to better support his healing due to his dementia. She was looking for a place that would provide around-the-clock rehabilitative support as well as specialized memory care.
Finding the Right Level of Care
While the hip fracture was the primary factor in Kerianne’s decision to transition him to a care facility, there were other life factors at play. As her father’s sole caregiver, Kerianne was finding it increasingly difficult to provide the level of support he needed as his dementia progressed. While Kerianne was navigating these changes, another family member of hers had fallen ill and she was also caring for her teenage children. As part of the sandwich generation, Kerianne found herself in a difficult position that is all too common: She was experiencing burnout from taking care of her aging parents, while also looking after and providing for children who have their own socio-emotional needs.
This is when Kerianne decided to contact Alyson Mulryne, Senior Administrator at Harmony Village at CareOne Jackson. Harmony Village is a specialized memory care community that provides 24/7 care for individuals with dementia. Alyson worked with Kerianne to put special arrangements in place, such as occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and on-site nursing staff specializing in dementia, to ensure the right level of care for Kerianne’s father.
Providing Individualized Care
When Kerianne’s father first arrived at Harmony Village at CareOne Jackson, he was unable to walk and required significant support. Fortunately Harmony Village at CareOne Jackson has an in-house therapy team that includes both OT and PT. Alyson worked closely with Kerianne to ensure the right support was in place for his healing. When Kerianne wasn’t visiting her father, she would be on the phone with his care team to check on his progress. Starting with almost daily check-ins, which eventually progressed to weekly, Kerianne was involved in every decision for her father’s post-hospital rehabilitation and memory care. “Our frequent communication helped us build trust with Kerianne and her family and we believe it helped her know that we were all in,” said Alyson.
“Today, a visit to her father is simply a visit where Kerianne and her father can enjoy themselves.”
At Harmony Village, residents live in distinct neighborhoods based on their degree of memory loss, from mild to moderate and then severe. This layout improves social interaction and engagement in suitable activities, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and improving overall care outcomes. In this case, Harmony Village at CareOne Jackson was able to use the neighborhood system in reverse order to aid his recovery.
Due to his injury, Kerianne’s father started in the neighborhood with the highest care needs. As his physical condition improved, Kerianne’s father was eventually able to move out of the severe neighborhood to the moderate, and now, based on his progress, he is living with others who have mild cognitive impairment. Hip fractures, particularly in individuals with dementia, can often be debilitating, but in this case, his care team helped him get back on his feet. According to Harmony Village at CareOne’s Jackson’s Physical Therapist, Kyle Negron, “He came to us in a wheelchair, and we helped him rehabilitate to the point where he could walk up to 500 feet without assistance or a device.”
“We now have to remind him to sit down and take rests!”
Kerianne’s father’s success story serves as a powerful reminder for those assessing their senior care options: Individualized, personalized care can help people reach their full recovery potential and significantly improve their overall quality of life. Harmony Village designs care plans tailored to the cognitive and physical needs of each resident. This approach extends beyond treating the individual, care teams at Harmony Village provide support for the entire family. Family plays a particularly crucial role in memory care as family members often have to be the advocate and voice for their loved one with dementia. Harmony Village at CareOne Jackson’s Dementia Care Specialist, Casey Gordon stresses the importance of family support:
“You have to support the family along with the resident, because they are the ones placing their trust in us.”
Harmony Village at Jackson helped lift Kerianne’s burden of caregiving. Now, Kerianne is often seen visiting the community, dancing and singing with her father. “I am so grateful to the care team at Harmony Village,” she said. “They have helped improve not only my father’s quality of life, but also mine and my family’s. It is a relief to know that he is thriving when we’re not there, and it’s a treat seeing him so happy at all our visits. ”
“We breathe easier knowing that he is well cared for every day.”
