The management team at Hilltop of Greenville Memory Care spends each day focused on creating a warm and dignified environment for each of their residents, while also helping family members as they face this journey with their loved ones.
Joe Jasmon, CEO of American Healthcare Management Group, said the Hilltop staff customizes the care to best fit the needs of each resident.
“I think one of the most important things about Hilltop of Greenville is that we really personalize the experience for our residents,” Jasmon said. “It’s not ‘one size fits all,’ it’s not ‘let’s herd all our seniors into these big groups’ and make them do things they don’t want to do. We want them to have the freedom to do the things they want to, when they want to, where they want to and how they want to.”
Jasmon said the process begins by creating a “life portrait” of each new resident. The portrait is vital because the community serves residents at all points on the memory loss journey — from early diagnosis to full involvement — due to conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“We literally get to know each resident in great detail,” Jasmon said. “We ask them questions about where they went to college, what they did in their jobs. We learn about their families. Sometimes, the residents themselves cannot answer those questions, so we have the families help with that. We really dive deep into who they were before they received the diagnosis – what are the things they liked to do, and what are the things they didn’t like to do. What are the things that are going to give them the opportunity to live their best lives?”
Jasmon said it is equally important to understand how a person’s preferences can change as memories fade.
“The interesting thing that happens very often is that their preferences sometimes change,” he said. “They may have disliked something — say a type of food — and now that same food is something they are enjoying. We look for things that may create five minutes of clarity, a smile, a hug, a virtual hug – things that are going to make them happy and bring them what joy they can have.”
That level of care and concern extends beyond residents to their families, as well.
“We also spend a lot of time delving into the dynamic with the family, and help the family understand that it’s OK for there to be grief and concern, and in many cases, there’s guilt, and that it’s OK. It’s not the family members’ fault,” Jasmon said. “We’re there to work with them through this journey, and it’s going to be something very different from anything they’ve experienced before.”
The Hilltop staff will even offer families alternative recommendations for the care of potential residents, if needed.
“The important thing is that we’re here to help with the journey,” he said. “If the family wants help finding another solution, we want to be the good neighbor who will do that.”
For more information, please visit ahmg365.com/greenville-memory-care/home.
