DOING DEMENTIA DIFFERENTLY
Experience The Difference
Our Commitment to Care
We believe that where you live can impact how you live. For more than 30 years, ComfortCare Homes has specialized exclusively in caring for people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. That's our commitment to doing memory care differently.
ComfortCare Homes was founded by Charles and Mary Lou Stark in 1993. Our mission is to offer new and dynamic models of care for people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, provided by well-trained and loving people who genuinely care for their patients.
Centered on practices and philosophies developed by the Stark family during their own experiences as family caregivers, ComfortCare Homes meets residents and families where they are, providing expertise, compassion, and support for the entire family.
ComfortCare Homes offers a variety of care options and experiences. Families receive innovative and dynamic care in the right amounts at the right times.
What distinguishes Comfortcare Homes from our competitors is our approach to caring for the whole person and their family:
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Engagement programming that reduces stress
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Comfortable home environments
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Access to a robust network of organizations, educators and community members
Personalized care plans for each resident provide daily direction for our caregivers. We compile a detailed life history for each resident, including past professions, hobbies and interests, and personal family anecdotes.
Better Living Through Intentional Design
Designing for dementia care is different than design for a general audience. As dementia progresses, the ability to identify or comprehend a wide variety of objects or situations diminishes, which can often lead to social withdrawal, hastening the disease process.
Whether we retrofit an already existing residence or build an entirely new home, we take certain design elements into consideration:
- Wayfinding: How easy is it to navigate through the residence? Are doorways clearly outlined? Are there any dead-end hallways that can cause confusion? Does every room look like what its function is?
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Decoration: Are the color palates simple, and not overly colorful or patterned? Do they increase contrast and make understanding the room easy? Does each resident's room contain familiar objects that will indicate to the where they are?
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Lighting: Is there appropriate lighting? Is there an abundance of natural light during the day, and proper lighting at night? Can the residents clearly tell the difference between day and night? Are household objects clearly identifiable in multiple lighting situations?
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Signage: Is all signage clear, high-contrast, and relevant?
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Safety: Can residents wander safely and purposefully throughout the home?
The benefits of intentional design go beyond a more consistent mood for our residents: over time, it's possible to see a reduction in the use of anxiety medications as well.
We’re always available to meet your family for a free consultation, or you can schedule a visit to learn more by calling (316) 685-3322.
Engaged, Enjoyable Living
At ComfortCare Homes, we view social engagement as a fundamental component of dementia care. Keeping residents connected with their families, our care staff and each other results in better overall health and fewer behavior issues, which can result in a reduced need for some medications.
Loneliness and social isolation pose significant risks to a person's health, and even more so for those living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Yet many times, a dementia diagnosis increases the likelihood that someone will become withdrawn or experience frustration relating to other people.
Because each person's dementia manifests differently, it's important that our engagement programming begins with an assessment of the individual and their current capabilities. We offer manageable, participatory engagement that provides opportunities for creativity, confidence-building, and authentic moments of join.
Simple programs like gardening or light straightening up after dinner can provide purpose, a sense of pride and confidence that helps to reduce stress and decrease disruptive behaviors.
ComfortCare Homes also uses the Sagely family app, which is designed to keep senior living communities and resident families connected and informed. Families can view calendar and event details, information about a loved one's participation in activities, receive photos of your loved one and receive messages and notifications from the community.