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| Jane Verity |
CHICAGO, IL — Pathway to
Living announced that Aspired Living of Westmont, a 107-unit assisted living
and memory care community scheduled to open this month in Westmont, Ill., will
be the first senior housing community in the United States to provide residents
with the Spark of Life Philosophy, a breakthrough program of treatment and
support for dementia care.
First launched in
Australia in 2007, Spark of Life was developed under the guidance of Jane Verity, a pioneer in the field of
dementia care and research with a background in Tom Kitwood’s person-centered care and the Eden Alternative.
Designed to reverse the
symptoms of dementia – a process called rementia – Spark of Life focuses not
just on the physical needs of memory care residents, but also their social,
emotional and spiritual well-being. By creating a stimulating environment in
which each person is encouraged to participate, the program has been shown to
improve memory, language, communication and behavior in people living with
dementia.
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| Maria Oliva |
“The key to Spark of Life
lies in a heart-to-heart connection that enables a person with dementia to
reconnect with their spirit – the inner driving force that restores zest for
life,” said Verity.
Pathway to Living, which
owns and operates 30 senior living communities in four states, is integrating
Spark of Life into its A Knew Day memory care, founded on industry best
practices and the latest research in dementia treatment.
In order to offer Spark of Life, members of
the Pathway team traveled to Australia to complete an intensive three-week
course in order to become certified master practitioners, a requirement for
implementation of the program.
“We diligently seek out
ways to improve the care for our residents with dementia and believe this
remarkable therapy succeeds in rekindling the essence – or spark – of life,”
said Maria Oliva, Pathway to
Living’s chief operating officer. “Spark of Life aligns seamlessly with our
existing memory care programs offered at all Pathway communities. We’re excited
to introduce it to both residents and their families.”
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| Helen Brown |
nder the leadership of Pathway’s two master practitioners, Aspired Living of Westmont will work toward becoming the country’s first Spark of Life Centre of Excellence, a designation that proves 100 percent compliance and success of the program.
The two-year process involves submitting
quarterly reports that measure the effectiveness of care provided and
willingness to go beyond minimum standards for meeting the emotional needs of
residents. A goal of the program is to reduce the amount of antidepressants, antipsychotics
and sedatives often administered to residents.
“Most assisted living
programs meet the basic physical needs of residents, but too often they focus
on what a person is unable to do rather than what they can accomplish,” said Helen Brown, director of A Knew Day at
Pathway to Living. “With Spark of Life, we look beyond the four D’s – diseases,
disabilities, difficulties and differences – and give focused attention to
residents, encouraging those who have withdrawn to re-engage, both internally
and externally.”
The program has also been
endorsed as a recommended best practice by both the Wisconsin Adult Day
Services Association (WASDA) and in a collaborative study between the Wisconsin
Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources and the Wisconsin Office of Quality
Assurance.
In addition to
implementing the philosophy at its Westmont community, Pathway is also
incorporating similar practices across its portfolio as part of the company’s A
Knew Day memory care programming.
“For an elderly person
with dementia, the light never truly goes out,” said Oliva. “Pathway to Living
seeks to be a leader in showing Spark of Life is not a cure but, instead, a
reliable approach that delivers measurable results simply by honing in on each
resident’s emotional needs.
“What may seem like small
steps to an outside person are really significant strides for the individual
living with dementia, allowing them to take back their life and reconnect with
loved ones – even if it’s just for a few fleeting moments.”
Residents of Aspired
Living of Westmont can expect to receive a high quality of care while
benefitting from Pathway’s award-winning VIVA! philosophy, which enriches lives
through various social, educational and recreational pursuits.
Residents will also have
access to a full suite of amenities that serve as an extension of their homes.
They include The Sycamore Restaurant and Prairie Grass Bistro serving fresh,
nutritional meals; a spa and salon; a fitness center with personal trainers; a
library; a movie theater; an art studio; and landscaped outdoor walking paths.
For more information about
Pathway to Living, the Spark of Life Philosophy or Aspired Living of Westmont,
visit www.pathwaytoliving.com or
call (888) 342-1111.
For more information on this press
release, please contact:
Allen Johnson, ajohnson@taylorjohnson.com (312)
267-4513
Abe Tekippe, atekippe@taylorjohnson.com (312)
267-4528
