Azusa, CA, January 21, 1999 — Resort-style facility gives Alzheimer's patients a sense of freedom
BY ANN-MARIE S. TORRES Staff Writer
Winding paths and gardens, tennis courts, a pool and hot tub are hardly the trappings of a nursing home or treatment center.
But what used to be a dilapidated adolescent psychiatric hospital in Azusa is being transformed into a 53 bed resort style home called Silverado Senior Living for people suffering from Alzheimer's.
"This is going to be a fabulous, fabulous place," said Mayor Cristina Cruz-Madrid during a tour of the facilities Jan. 12.
Once complete, the 22,850 square-foot residential care facility will offer patients and their families a unique approach to dealing with a difficult disease.
Four dogs, 10 cats, rabbits, a dozen birds and even fish will be part of the Silverado Senior Living campus, named "Sierra Vista," which covers 2.7 acres and sits at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains on Azusa Avenue and Sierra Madre.
Patients will be free to "wander" the many walking paths and explore the facility without being confined to a room or by locked doors at the end of every hall.
Encompassed by a large gate and the watchful eye of staff, patients can enjoy a sense of freedom that is rarely available to people suffering from dementia.
"Residents with Alzheimer's have a tendency to wander and in a place like this the likelihood of feeling cooped-up is not very great," said administrator Jack Peters.
Other features include a formal dining area instead of a cafeteria setting, "memory boxes" outside of each resident's room and nursing areas that are hidden behind doors, which keeps staff constantly interacting with patients.
JACK PETERS, regional administrator of Silverado Senior Living, stands in front of the wandering path that is being constructed for Alzheimer's patients.
The "memory boxes" include pictures of the patients, keepsakes, trophies or past awards and family photos that help resident not only remember where they live, but offers staff a look into the patient's life.
"It offers a glimpse into who they are taking care of," said spokeswoman Diane Hernandez.
The one-story facility will also house a small children's, daycare center for staff and visiting families, which allows patients a chance to interact with young children.
Patients will also be able to help themselves to snacks throughout the day in the country kitchen, which often keeps them from losing weight like many who enter standard board and care facilities.
Activities such as dancing, crafts, gardening and simply interaction with roaming pets and children are the cornerstones of Silverado's innovative approach.
"Our goal is to give the residents a life purpose and give them a reason to get up in the morning," said CEO and president Loren Shook. "This is about quality of life for the resident and their family."
Sierra Vista is scheduled to open in March and will be the second Silverado Senior Living community to open. The other communities are located in Escondido and Costa Mesa. The community named "The Huntington" is scheduled to open in Alhambra later this year.
Plans are also underway to build similar facilities in Simi Valley, Calabasas and San Juan Capistrano.
There are approximately 4 million Americans suffering from the degenerative disease, according to Los Angeles Alzheimer's Association.
But paying for such care is often expensive and not covered by Medi-Cal, so facilities such as Silverado Senior Living have to be covered by "out-of-pocket" or long-term care insurance.
"If everybody could afford it, this is the type of place to be in." said Dara Resnick of the Los Angeles Alzheimer's Association. "There needs to be more affordable care with places like this."
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