From Nearly Bedridden to Winning a Baseball Throw: Memory Care Community Credited with Transforming Centenarian’s Health This past April, Rose Arrington’s health was so poor she couldn’t walk or even feed herself. A few months later, not only was Arrington on her feet – she won a baseball throw competition. The transformation, significant enough, is particularly notable because Rose Arrington is 100 years old and has moderate memory impairment. Her daughter credits the swift change to the care program and what she calls “the love and positive attitudes” of the staff where Arrington now resides: Silverado Senior Living-Newport Mesa in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Silverado Senior Living-Newport Mesa is one of 17 memory-care communities operated by Silverado Senior Living, which has as its mission giving life and restoring dignity to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-impairing conditions. Silverado seeks to keep those with memory disorders engaged in the world rather than shut away from it. The company encourages participation to the fullest possible extent in activities that provide feelings of reward, accomplishment and self esteem, to counter the sense of worthlessness the memory-impaired can experience as they lose abilities they once had.

Arrington had been living in her home until severe health problems forced her into the hospital for four days in April. Her condition did not improve, and at the end of her hospital stay, she moved to Silverado Senior Living-Newport Mesa rather than return home.

“From the minute she arrived at Silverado, I could sense that my mother felt safe and loved there,” said Arrington’s daughter, Dr. Janie Williams, who holds a doctorate in nutrition. “It was so clear that the staff knew exactly what to do and that they really cared about her. For my mother, it was as though she could finally relax and say to herself, ‘I’m in the right place.’” Dr. Williams says she was surprised to find that within one day at Silverado, her mother had regained enough strength to participate in a group sing-along. In just a matter of months, Arrington was feeding herself, taking part in a cooking club, outings, and other activities, walking, albeit with help due to her scoliosis, and even winning the baseball throw in a local senior games competition.

After arriving at Silverado, Arrington went through physical therapy and then Silverado’s restorative therapy. The latter is a program designed by Silverado that combines a variety of techniques, including exercise, massage, and if needed, adaptive equipment, customized to a resident’s needs and aimed at providing maximum physical ability and comfort.

Dr. Williams says equally important in her mother’s recovery has been Silverado’s activities program. It has been devised to reflect long-time grown-up interests, versus simplified pastimes, such as children’s games, that one might associate with memory impairment. At its core are clubs, including cooking, gardening, travel, and more, that engage residents both in the activity and with others who share their interests. “Silverado is so far ahead with its activities program” said Dr. Williams. “My mother is involved from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and even when she is offered the opportunity to take a pause for a short nap, she doesn’t want to do so. It is extremely stimulating.”

Arrington also enjoys the abundance of animals and children at Silverado, Dr. Williams said. Residents are welcome to move in with their pets and employees are encouraged to bring their children and their pets with them to work on a daily basis.

“Silverado is the only senior care community I have ever seen that has everything just right,” said Dr. Williams. “It has the medical attention that’s needed, activities that are meaningful, and a non-restrictive environment that encourages residents to do as much as they can and still be safe. The caregivers always know exactly what is going on and they know when to help when it’s needed, while also promoting each person’s sense of independence.”

Silverado Senior Living, founded in 1996, operates 17 memory care communities in California, Texas, Utah, and Arizona. It also provides home care, care management, and hospice care through its Silverado at Home and Silverado Hospice service lines. The company is headquartered in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Its website is: www.Silveradosenior.com. ###

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