Life Enhancement Programming
Highgate specializes in Assisted Living that
emphasizes programming that is designed to preserve
the cognitive and motor abilities for older
adults. At Highgate, we provide our residents
with safety, care oversight, and encouragement
to stay socially involved and active by providing
access to meaningful interaction daily.
The
Highgate
staff receives additional training than typical
assisted living communities in order that they
understand that an older adult who engages in
activity that is meaningful to them in a social
environment will decline slower than their peer
who is living isolated and alone without regular
meaningful engagement.
Highgate’s goal for a resident’s optimum success
is to involve the resident in the Life Enhancement
Program. The intent of the program is that
by providing meaningful activities to aging
older adults their quality of life and well-being
is enhanced. We have studied and compiled research
that supports the benefit to an older adult
when they are actively engaged in something
that is meaningful to them on a regular basis.
The activity program is an important ingredient
for the success of a resident at Highgate. There
is an activity each hour during the day.
We train Life Enhancement Specialists
to understand how to engage residents and how
to provide “Joy in the Moment” as well as a
wonderful life experience.
The Life enhancement Specialist enlists the
help of the Highgate team to ensure that a resident
has the opportunity to attend each event as
it is our goal that all residents are
participating and engaged thus providing them
with a sense of purpose. We adhere to the content
of the program to ensure that the basics of
the program;
exercise, music, aromatherapy (which includes
baking
club as well as therapies with essential oils),
mental activity, and socialization are
included
in
every day.
 This template is important because the order
of the activities and events all have a purpose.
Music
-
Makes residents thirsty and therefore often
precedes a meal or refreshment.
-
Increases Melatonin…helps a resident sleep better
at night so is a wonderful evening activity
-
Relieves chronic pain
-
Reaches through the cobwebs…a resident with
declining memory is able to better communicate
verbally after participating in a music therapy
Exercise
Exercise occurs in the morning hours while the resident
is at the peak of their energy level for the day.
We know that exercise sets our residents up for
having
 a better day.
Exercise helps with mobility, strength, hydration,
and sleep. Exercise improves cognitive levels of
all adults. After both music and exercise, an older
adult with declining memory is
able to participate better in conversation. There
are research results indicating that older adults
who exercised for just six months showed growth
in regions of the brain that typically shrink with
aging.
Aromatherapy
Essential oils create positive organic changes in
the brain. Depending on the type of essential
oils being used we have found that we can help a
resident relax, improve attention, and improve emotional
well-being. We use aromatherapy towels before a
meal to improve appetite.
Socialization
Older Adults who are encouraged to socialize will
decline more slowly than their peer who isolates.
Mental Exercise
Older adults who participate in mental exercise
show growth in areas of the brain that typically
shrink with aging.
Tea
Time
In addition to providing a social event, a daily
refreshment activity provides fluids during
the day. As we age, our thirst sensation declines.
As a result, in ninety percent of all hospitalizations
for older adults…the underlying cause is dehydration.
This includes stroke, heart attacks, falls,
infections. Tea time is ideally designed
to be a formal occasion in both the Manor and
the Cottage. We set the table with fine china
and special linens in order that our residents
have something special to anticipate each and
every day.
Fine Dining Luncheon
Assisted Living residents enjoy and prefer the
restaurant style dining in the main dining room.
Mealtime is a very important social occasion.
Foot Spa
The Highgate Staff provides a foot spa as an
activity for anyone who may benefit from aromatherapy
massage in the evening in order to sleep better.
Staff can take the foot spa to a resident’s
apartment when getting them ready for bed…and
of course using the lavender massage oil.
Essential Oils
The Highgate care-giving staff carry aromatherapy
lotion bottles and spritzers in their pockets.
This is for the purpose of a 30-second activity
when a resident needs a lift or relaxation.
For those residents with difficulty sleeping
at night, staff can use a relaxing mixture on
the bed pillow for anyone developing sleep difficulties.
Some residents may benefit from having an aromatherapy
diffuser in their apartment in order to best
help relax them during the even hours.
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