As the halls of North Woods Village Memory Care are decked in trees, winter and holiday décor to surround residents in this spirited season, Audrey “Audie” Henriquez, Executive Director, emphasizes

the importance of creating a moment within the walls of their facility here in Kalamazoo.

WHY A MOMENT?

North Woods is unique from other care facilities as it is an assisted living home specializing in caring for those suffering from dementia in any of its many forms. And while all are at varying stages of the multiple forms of their onset dementia, one thing remains common: a continued deterioration of their memories as well as the ability to retain a memory. When one cannot make a memory, a moment then becomes so much more important.

With that in mind, Audie and her staff are working hard to ensure this 2020 Holiday Season feels like the holidays for their residents, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Months ago, the staff had begun to prepare for what November and December would look like for residents if the pandemic numbers increased or in general, failed to let up or flatten the curve. With infection rates as high as they have been this month (over 7,000 cases a day in Michigan when this was written), the center is at what they call a “Level E” status, meaning absolutely no outside visitors.

With COVID and the inability to bring residents outdoors, a plan needed to be formed on how

to create the same treasured moments and memories residents would have received around the Thanksgiving and December holidays. What it came down to: staff and residents would have to do the performing.

From the resident who enjoys playing piano to staff members who have been rumored of playing instruments like guitar, Audie and her staff have worked diligently to in a way, to really encourage their staff into participating in performances to help continue the idea of having holiday moments here for the residents. After successful persuading, even the resistant ones were happy to participate in the festivities.

With entertainment near figured out and orchestrated, it comes down to the other details to make the magic moments of the holidays for residents. Staff at North Woods reach out to residents’ families to ask if there are specific holiday traditions or occurrences tied to their specific loved one. Audie gives an example of perhaps there is a resident who absolutely loves making fruit cake, and every time they made it, it was absolutely terrible. Regardless, she still made that fruitcake. And maybe, in having fruit cake provided to residents one of the days this December season, that can trigger a memory, or create a moment to make it truly feel like the holiday for that particular resident.

North Woods also has a neutral chapel that can provide holiday services for residents who are used to doing just that for the holidays. With beautiful stained-glass windows and décor, a lot can be done to turn it into the beautiful holiday backdrop for those who hold religious ties of varying degrees and denominations.

Staff have already begun to tune residents in to channels like Hallmark to air holiday movies. Dinner menus for the variety of holidays observed in the community, while keeping in mind senior nutrition and restrictions are being put together and prepared. And as mentioned, decorations around the entire center.

One unique thing about the 61-bed community is the shape of the facility. Resident rooms and recreational rooms (both spacious and aplenty), line hallways connected in a square shape, allowing residents, especially those who are restless and wanderers, to walk around the building’s hallways safely. And those hallways this season, will be decorated to give that warm and cozy feeling the rest of us experience in stores and around the streets during this time of year.

The goal is to make things feel as normal as possible for the residents, which with  a high-risk group in a deadly pandemic is a difficult feat for staff to tackle. But they take it in stride.

To date, none of the staff or residents have tested positive for COVID since the pandemic arrived here this past spring. This is largely due to a dedicated staff taking every sniffle, cough and ailment seriously and now, frequent testing, both normal testing as well as rapid testing. If the status for Michigan facilities drops in time for the holiday, because of rapid-testing, they would be able to test entertainers before they enter the premises. Although, the rate things are going, that idea may not have a chance to be utilized.

Some residents will be returning home to spend the holidays with their families. North Woods staff walk families through the care entailed for their loved one during the time they will be staying. Upon return, residents will be tested, and isolated from the rest of the community population for 14 days, while frequently tested to ensure the community’s safety. That same procedure is applied to new residents coming in as well.

The attention to detail Audie and her staff places into enriching their residents’ life is a true testament to the care North Woods provides, where not only health is concerned, but ensuring even they too, can create something special for this rather unpredictable holiday season to feel “like it always has,” even, if just for a moment.

The holidays are already a difficult time in general. If you are also struggling with deciding if it is time to put your loved one with dementia in care, that stress is magnified. Here are five key indicators Audie shares with families suggesting the next step toward required care beyond what you may be able to provide.

SIGNS YOUR LOVED ONE MAY REQUIRE MORE CARE

•  Are they falling at all? What is the plan if they should fall and cannot get to the phone? How long would they be there before someone finds them?

•  Are they known for elopement or being an escape artist? Do they wander and find themselves in odd  places?

•  Do they have adequate nutrition to maintain good health? Is their diet colorful and varied?

•  Are they able to take their medications safely? If someone sets up their medications can you trust they take them when they need to, on the correct day?

•  Are they clean enough to maintain good health? Do they don the same clothing? Soiled clothing? Odd smells? Hygiene is linked to good health for seniors.

Lalita is our Editor, Writer and occasional photog. Her 13 years of writing has landed features with Panorama, published poetry and even a short film. She spends any extra time she can quenching her wanderlustian needs by finding new places to adventure with her other half, writing, or playing with their motorized toys.