Sugar Land, TX , December 10, 2007 — Contact:
Mark Mostow
V.P. Sales & Marketing
Silverado Senior Living
949-240-7200
SILVERADO SENIOR LIVING AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE TEAM UP TO PROVIDE VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS
Continuing their long-standing affiliation, Silverado Senior Living and Baylor College of Medicine recently teamed up to help medical students learn more about palliative care.
Students in their third year at Baylor College of Medicine visit Silverado Senior Living to learn about hospice and the often-difficult family dynamics that accompany the dying process. The affiliation has proved beneficial, not only for the BCM students, but also for the families of the Silverado residents.
“This affiliation has been great for our residents and their families,” said Le Riggs, Administrator at Silverado Senior Living in Sugar Land. “It gives them a chance to share their experience with the students and helps the students understand the complexities of the dying process as it affects not only the resident, but the family as well. In addition, in the loving family environment we have created at Silverado our lives are touched by each and every resident, and the death of a resident is something that affects us all.”
Baylor College of Medicine’s Ursula Braun, M.D., who is also a scientific liaison at Silverado Senior Living supervises the students.
“It seems as though it provides a sense of relief for family members to express what they are experiencing,” said Dr. Braun. “We believe it helps them to deal with situation, and the students are learning something very valuable here.”
Students in their third year of medical school visit Silverado and interview the family of a resident. Upon leaving, the students are asked to write a reflective essay on their experience.
“The essays so far have been amazing,” said Braun. “They see that Silverado is a unique place that puts major emphasis on the comfort of their residents. It seems to increase the students’ interest in palliative care. I’m pleased that the medical students would consider and want to know more about palliative care after their experience.”
In her reflective essay, Baylor medical student Lauren LaRue speaks of her experience as eye-opening and impactful.
“I walked into Silverado and was happily greeted by the sounds of dogs, cats birds and someone calling BINGO in the distance,” said LaRue. “It was not at all what I was expecting to find on my journey to study palliative care.”
The purpose of the visit to Silverado is to give students experience and insight into hospice and palliative care in an environment that focuses on total patient care. Silverado holistically cares for their patients instead of focusing on just one issue.
“The Silverado staff and residents have chosen to celebrate lives well-lived and to fully enjoy the life that remains,” said LaRue. “I became endeared to this philosophy and left Silverado feeling truly inspired.”
Silverado Senior Living has made a commitment to give LIFE to its residents through Love, Innovation, Family and Engagement. Its environment is designed to appeal to and engage residents in all stages of dementia, whether early onset or end of life.
About Silverado Senior Living
Silverado Senior Living is the leading specialty memory care provider with 24-hour on-site licensed nursing coverage as well as activity programming specific to dementia. Based in San Juan Capistrano, California, Silverado has four communities in the Houston area including Cypresswood, Kingwood, Sugar Land and The Woodlands, as well as branch offices for their In-Home Care/Care Management and Hospice service lines.
Silverado Senior Living, Inc. was founded in 1996 and currently operates 16 communities and 11 service line branch offices in California, Utah and Texas. The communities provide high-quality, specialized long-term, short-term and day services for those with all levels of memory impairment.
Silverado At Home offers Home Care and Geriatric Care Management. Staffed by specially trained caregivers, and overseen by professional Geriatric Care Managers, Silverado At Home provides comprehensive assessments, medication reminders, assistance with daily living needs and coordination of needed services.
Silverado Hospice offers compassionate end-of-life care using an interdisciplinary team including the patient, family, attending physician, plus an RN, MSW, home caregivers, non-denominational chaplain and volunteers. Palliative care is provided in the setting of your choice: home, assisted living or skilled nursing facility.
For more information about Silverado Senior Living, please contact Le Riggs of Sugar Land at (281) 277-1221, Rachael Kleczkowski of Kingwood at (281) 312-2526, Denise Parker of Cypresswood at (281) 955-0880 or Gloria Pollard of The Woodlands at (281) 681-8000, or visit www.silveradosenior.com.
