Creating a sense of home and community is critical to the quality of life for a memory care resident. That’s why Hallmark House has limited its capacity to 32 residents – organized into four “neighborhoods” or communities of eight residents. This helps to increase familiarity with each other while also minimizing the confusion that comes with having too many people coming together. This also allows us to encourage family to join our residents regularly, for meals, planned facility activities, or even personal activities that were part of the resident’s home routine prior to moving to Hallmark House.
The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s care is considered the first comprehensive philosophy geared to caregivers. The philosophy suggests that what people with dementia need most is a friend – a best friend who can empathize with their situation in a loving and positive way. The Best Friends Approach teaches caregivers how to have “knack,” a way of responding to those with Alzheimer’s care in a way that preserves their dignity and, in turn, helps them feel safe, secure and valued. The Hallmark House staff also undergoes rigorous training and education conducted by a Master Trainer of the Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s care. The training helps our staff achieve better outcomes and more rewarding experiences.