This article is proudly sponsored by Dementia By Day. It is a summary of a discussion held at the SHN BRAIN Conference on May 16th, 2024, featuring Rachael Wonderlin, CEO and Founder of Dementia By Day, Jessica McCollum, Vice President of Operations at ThriveMore, and Reed VanderSlik, President and CEO of ThriveMore. The conversation focused on ThriveMore’s innovative model to keep couples together in memory care.
Reed VanderSlik shared the origin story of the model, which was inspired by a group of residents who expressed a desire to stay together as a couple even when one required memory care. This led to the development of a unique living arrangement that includes a home-like setting with a studio apartment for caregivers to use when needed. The goal is to provide a sense of community within a community, where caregivers can support each other while their loved ones receive specialized care.
Rachael Wonderlin discussed the integration of the Mindful Impressions dementia care program into this model. This program focuses on small group activities, hands-on programming, art therapy, and Embracing Their Reality™ to provide personalized care for individuals living with dementia. The model also aims to allow spouses to continue living their lives as normally as possible.
Jessica McCollum provided insights into the ongoing capital campaign, Immeasurably More, which aims to raise $3 million over three years to support projects like this innovative model. Currently, they are close to reaching their goal of $1.5 million for the memory care project.
In terms of measuring impact, the team plans to work with organizations like LeadingAge to assess industry trends and gather resident and patient satisfaction surveys. They also plan to develop internal scorecards to monitor evidence-based industry standards and track the model’s success as it potentially expands nationwide.
Regarding transition plans for when one spouse passes away, VanderSlik mentioned that the model is being built on a campus with other levels of care available. This allows for a smooth transition and continuity of care for the remaining spouse.
Overall, ThriveMore’s innovative model aims to revolutionize memory care by prioritizing the importance of keeping couples together and providing a supportive and personalized environment for both residents and caregivers.
