Philosophy of Care
Dementia (almost universal in the elderly) is a a disease process which assaults the very core of person _and impacts every facet of one's life It is a devastating attack on individual uniqueness. That is why it is the philosophy of Lakeside Gardens to help each resident maintain their individuality and dignity through gentle supportive care. Our staff's way of caring is a major component of our specialized care which emphasizes human value and connection.
We do this through slowing our pace to that of each resident, having structured days full of activities and meaningful interactions, and by ensuring our residents maintain the right of choice.
Life is made up of a multiplicity of little choices that we hardly notice until the right to make those personal choices is no longer given to us. For example; when we get up, when we brush our teeth, what we wear, what we eat, when we bathe, shave, etc. are all choices we make everyday. But when we start becoming dependent on others to help us with these activities, we become dependent on their time frame, their availability and their preferences. In order to accommodate the needs of their residents, larger assisted living facilities schedule resident care on the convenience or availability of the staff.
"Control over the timing of little events is a liberty so mundane that it is rarely noticed until it is lost, and those who take it away from others often do no realize the impact of this loss." Wendy Lustbader, MSW Journal of Gerontological Nursing
At Lakeside Gardens we are uniquely different in that we accommodate the resident's personal preferences and convenience. Some people like to shower before breakfast. Some people enjoy coming to breakfast in their pj's and taking a shower after the meal. Others prefer an afternoon or evening shower. Some people like their coffee early as they sit at the table overlooking the lake. Others prefer coming to breakfast for their first cup of coffee. At Lakeside Gardens we make every attempt to offer our residents the choice no matter what it is. It is our goal to ensure our residents do not experience the loss of their personal liberty to chose when, where and what time they want assistance.
““Control over the timing of little events is a liberty so mundane that it is rarely noticed until it is lost, and those who take it away from others often do not realize the impact of this loss.””