Though my mother isn’t affected by any of the 180 completely different types of dementia, I used to be completely happy to attend the “Digital Dementia Tour” placed on by Senior Helpers at Blue Heron Senior Dwelling in Wesley Chapel on July 16.
I actually consider that whether or not you realize or assume somebody you’re keen on has Alzheimer’s illness or every other kind of dementia, the Digital Dementia Tour provides you with a brand new perspective on the various number of issues most of us will take care of as we age, no matter our whether or not or not our psychological schools ever diminish (extra on this occasion under).
I additionally know that Blue Heron, owned and managed by TLC Administration, is the one assisted dwelling and reminiscence care facility in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel that additionally presents expert nursing for rehab or long-term care. Internet hosting occasions just like the Digital Dementia Tour simply provides to the enchantment of this 159,000-sq.-ft. residence the place the chance to “age in place” has stored it close to capability because it first opened in 2021.
“Our present occupancy is 100% in each long-term care and reminiscence care and 90% in rehab,” says Blue Heron’s government director Meagan Kopstad, “however we do have a few rooms out there proper now on the assisted dwelling aspect.”
Blue Heron’s expert nursing space added a brand new wing final yr, “with 37 further affected person beds, bringing us as much as 141 whole,” says group relations director Lilly Gonzalez. “These new beds are divided between the primary and second flooring — 18 on the primary flooring (for rehab) and 19 on the second flooring (for long-term care).”
She provides, “We couldn’t maintain our deliberate Grand Opening of the brand new wing final October due to the hurricanes that hit the world. In different phrases, your readers have by no means seen the brand new wing in print earlier than.”
The brand new wing additionally features a new eating space (picture above), a brand new affected person lounge and a brand new nurses’ station.
With the enlargement, Blue Heron Wesley Chapel now has a complete of 248 residential models — 95 assisted dwelling, 22 personal reminiscence care and the 141 expert nursing models.
About The Digital Dementia Tour
Blue Heron introduced in Senior Helpers, the nation’s main supplier of in-home senior care, with greater than 400 places throughout the U.S., together with a neighborhood location serving New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, to host the Digital Dementia Tour (VDT). Senior Helpers is licensed to deliver the VDT to Blue Heron and different assisted dwelling services and, in just some minutes, the tour undoubtedly gave me new perception into the lives of the aged.
VDT individuals put supplied inserts of their footwear with plastic pegs that push into your ft to simulate painful neuropathies.
You additionally placed on glasses that blur your imaginative and prescient, much like how cataracts have an effect on your eyes. You additionally need to placed on thick, heavy work gloves that considerably cut back your guide dexterity. And eventually, you placed on headphones that make it much more troublesome to listen to. Anybody you realize have any of those points?
You might be then led right into a room and given two duties to try this can be easy for the typical individual to finish, however you might be solely given the directions as soon as, all whereas carrying the headphones. Just about everybody, together with yours actually, fails the VDT miserably. However in doing so, you may clearly see (when you take off the glasses, that’s) how troublesome essentially the most mundane duties can grow to be.
This five-minute take a look at is just about assured that can assist you grow to be extra empathetic to your aged family members — I do know it’s helped me higher perceive a number of the issues my mother is coping with — and the VDT is only one of many free packages Blue Heron brings in for each its residents and members of the group.
The subsequent such free occasion is being held on Wednesday, August 27, 10:30 a.m.- midday, and is known as “Charting Your Course: Defending Your self, Your Beloved Ones & Your Legacy.” Board-Licensed Elder Legislation legal professional Ed Spinks, a associate with Florida Elder Legislation & Legacy Planning, will lead the dialogue so you may learn to legally defend your self, your loved ones and your belongings. “That is an important first step within the estate-planning course of and can allow you to take management of your future with confidence.”
Blue Heron additionally presents superb facilities for all of its residents, like lovely, enclosed courtyards and gardens, lounges, household rooms & eating rooms with scrumptious meals, a pub, a theater, a salon/spa, computer systems, web and cable TV, a non-public eating room for household gatherings, an artwork studio and a beautiful life enrichment middle with enjoyable packages.
There’s all the time one thing to do for Blue Heron residents, the place your family members can discover compassion, companionship and care.
For extra details about Blue Heron Senior Dwelling (5071 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel), name (813) 454-0513, or go to SeniorLivingAtBlueHeron.com.
