Our ETT group visited the Science Museum of Virginia. The Science Museum of Virginia features four floors of interactive labs, awesome artifacts, and hundreds of hands-on experiences. We explored the Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity exhibit where residents learned about the skin’s role in shaping human culture and identity. The Speed exhibit was one of our favorites, displaying engaging demonstrations of the superfast to the incredibly slow, you can race an Olympic athlete or feel hurricane-force winds. 

Engagement is a term used in both love and war. It is a term designating the promise made before a wedding as well as a term objectifying battle. As we age, we are less likely to use the term unless we are looking for memory care for a loved one. Why then?

Because in quality memory care, engagement is the term used for dementia-specific life-enriching activities. As our loved ones’ brains change, their ability to participate in what once was easy changes as well. Traditional programs geared to interest are too generic for them. They are not truly engaged.

Research shows that dementia-specific engagement actually delays the progression of cognitive loss. Individuals with dementia engaged in an active lifestyle maintain cognition longer. An active lifestyle for an individual with dementia includes preference and dementia-specific engagement.

There are many memory care communities with a promise of engagement backed by a nice logo, but with little staffing, training or commitment. Walk through on an evening or weekend and see for yourself. An empty promise.

Whether it is Engagement Therapy Treatment™, or Namaste, Arden Courts’ focuses on optimizing cognitive strength regardless of where the individual’s skill level is. Matching skill, preferences and training to create a quality of life unrivaled by other memory communities.

At Arden Courts, engagement is much more than a promise. Plan a tour today to see it in action.