Spotlight on Cedar Lake Village

A trip down memory lane is a sweet, enjoyable adventure for many people. But for those suffering from dementia, the stroll can become an agonizing journey as this cruel disease slowly dissolves their memories.

In early 2016, KC metro residents will have another choice in housing for those dealing with the effects of dementia. Cedar Lake Village, jointly owned by Olathe Medical Center and the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, will open a new Memory Care Assisted Living Community dedicated to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. “With the completion of the Cedar Lake Village Memory Care Assisted Living, we’ll be able to serve the needs of seniors coping with early to mid-stage memory issues,” stated Kelsie Tryon, marketing director, Cedar Lake Village.

Connected to the main building of Cedar Lake Village, this community will provide a safe, secure and comfortable living environment. The memory care community will be divided into two households, each containing 12 apartments. Each household will offer wonderful, engaging amenities such as a shared kitchen and dining room, a four seasons room and an entertainment area, maintained by skilled staff. The studio apartments offer a private bath, featuring a clear line of sight from the main room to the bathroom. Residents will bring their own furniture to help create a familiar environment.

The memory care neighborhood will feature a secure outdoor courtyard in the middle of the two households. A garden and indoor/outdoor activity stations are also included. “In the center of the courtyard, we will offer various therapeutic activity stations, helping to stimulate pleasant memories for our residents,” stated Kelsie. “We’ll offer mailboxes to pick up mail and raised planters for gardening. Our community will be very stimulating, engaging and social.”

A highlight in the courtyard will be a bench fashioned from a 1968 Ford truck, donated by one of the corporate staff members whose grandfather had owned it. The Olathe North High School Auto Body Shop students volunteered to refurbish the truck as a tribute to an instructor at the high school who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. To top it off, A.L. Huber, the general contractor building the addition, offered $1,000 to the Center if the truck was painted its signature color of orange.

Not only does the community offer many positives for the residents, but the staff is very focused on meeting the memory care needs of the residents in every area of Cedar Lake Village. “An important class that our wellness director has developed for residents of Cedar Lake Village is the balance and brains course,” revealed Kelsie. “This weekly class helps residents develop better body balance and challenge their memory with games and exercises. Our residents are reporting to us that their physicians are very impressed with the improvements made in these areas.”

At this time, the staff at Cedar Lake Village Memory Care Assisted Living is taking applications for a waiting list to move into the new community. The demand will be intense, given the fine reputation that Cedar Lake Village maintains in the community. “After several visits to retirement places in the area, I chose Cedar Lake Village for my parents,” stated Linda Niehus, the daughter of two residents. “When my parents took the tour, they were comfortable with the selection. My mother has dementia, which increased the stress of considering a change in their lives. However, it’s been four months since their move, and they are very happy at Cedar Lake Village.”

In addition to the new Memory Care Assisted Living community, Cedar Lake Village has expanded services at its Assisted Living community by adding a fourth level of care for residents who would benefit from a higher level of assistance. Among these changes is the addition of a licensed nurse on every shift. This gives residents and families the security of knowing there’s a licensed nurse at Cedar Lake Village 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. In addition, this nurse will complete a monthly wellness check for all residents, assist diabetic residents with injections and educate them on healthy lifestyle choices.

Situated on the campus of Olathe Medical Center, Cedar Lake Village offers a wonderful senior living complex. For those interested in a maintenance-free lifestyle, the choice would be the Villas or the senior apartments. Other levels of care include Good Samaritan Society–Olathe, a skilled nursing facility with a specialized dementia and Alzheimer’s neighborhood, Hoeger House, a post-acute rehabilitation facility, the Olathe Medical Center Hospice House and a wide array of physician offices.

If your loved one is in need of the outstanding care available at Cedar Lake Village, now’s the time to reach out to its warm and engaging staff. Their compassionate care and Memory Care Assisted Living community will help ensure that the memories going forward are good ones for you and your family. HLM

For more information, visit the website at cedarlakevillagekc.org or call 913-780-9916.