Signature programs for enriched, healthy living.
Signature Programs for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care at The Monarch at Richardson
The Monarch at Richardson has designed a signature dementia care program that offers an active event calendar, full of activities that engage residents in what they enjoy and new experience to try. We regularly schedule and rotate our activities, so residents always have something new and enjoyable to look forward to.
These programs are guided by our Valeo wellness philosophy, which centers on holistic care that addresses physical, social, intellectual and spiritual needs. We want activities to be entertaining, as well as a part of our greater wellness philosophy. Our programs – including Create & Compose, Legacy Kit, Travel Times and Creature Comforts – all use research-backed techniques to improve cognitive function and promote more significant engagement. Although we keep our schedules fresh with new activities and rotating programs, we understand the importance of routine for people who live with dementia. For that reason, our VITA! program infuses routine activities with fun experiences.
Our signature programs aren’t meant to treat a condition; they’re meant to care for people. With these programs, we hope to instill feelings of calm and joy into each day. That’s why we believe in a holistic approach, guiding residents to remain active, engaged and – of course – smiling.
Some of our Valeo Signature Programs include:
Create & Compose
Art and music draw you away from daily concerns and take you on a journey of self-expression while helping you relive fond memories. Neurological research shows that creating art and listening to music can improve cognitive function, helping the brain actively compensate for changes in function that are often associated with aging and memory impairments. Art also helps you relax, reduces anxiety, provides socialization and fosters a strong sense of identity. In this memory care program, that capitalizes on the therapeutic benefits of art, you’ll enjoy painting, drawing and sculpture and will both listen to and play music.
Legacy Kit
You and your family create a treasure chest of specific items that are familiar and meaningful and reflect aspects of your identity. The items may have specific historical relevance to your life experiences, represent special interests or be associated with important people or life events. The kit and its contents provide a catalyst for fun and meaningful interactions, connects you to your past and creates special moments of reminiscence that can be used to enhance your quality of life in the present. Legacy Kits are used by both caregivers and family members on an ongoing basis to foster positive interactions and active engagement.
Travel Times
Travel offers an opportunity to “get away from it all,” both physically and mentally. Travel Times brings joy and gives residents the opportunity to engage and experience different world cultures. The travel experience has been shown to relax the mind, renew the soul and offer new ways to see things. At the same time, it provides novel paths to connect and sparks pleasant, bygone memories. Travel Times is celebrated by “traveling” to a different country each quarter and is experienced through language classes, culinary experiences and programs related to the country being highlighted.
Creature Comforts
There’s no denying the bond between humans and animals. While providing a tactile experience, pets also offer therapeutic benefits including comfort, enjoyment and socialization. Research also shows that bonding with animals can lead to improvements in health such as lower blood pressure and rates of heart disease, reduced stress and even decreased anxiety and depression.
Creature Comforts is a pet program that brings gentle animals into our memory care community. It’s also a perfect time for residents to show pictures of past pets or recall memories of their own animal experiences — all in the name of creating a positive impact on the physical, social, intellectual and spiritual well-being of each person.
VITA!
Routines provide daily structure and a sense of purpose to those with memory impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. VITA! turns seemingly routine everyday tasks into enjoyable experiences by making them a pleasant, memorable action. Led by our wellness team, VITA! programs may include trivia, brainteasers, singing songs, meaningful conversation and exercise, all while paying attention to self-care. The result is that daily “to-do’s” become moments of joy, creating positive moods and enhancing engagements and connections. For residents living with dementia and other memory impairments, VITA! practices help to calm and bring a sense of peace and focus to the activity of the moment by creating a pleasant event that improves both physical and cognitive function. Taking time to be fully engaged and mindfully present for the basic tasks of each day is important not only for the individual, but also for team members.
