Memories are precious. They link us to our past and to the people we hold dear. But for some of us those memories begin to fade and eventually even those people and places we love most can become unfamiliar or forgotten.
Dementia affects more than 55 million people around the world, with almost 10 million new cases diagnosed annually. In the United States alone, more than six million people are suffering from dementia. There are more than 100 types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s as the most common.
According to AARP, some dementia-related behaviors include repeating the same question; wandering, especially later in the day; resistance to bathing; incontinence; insomnia; delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia; loss of appetite. Most often, we think of the more common symptoms, such as short-term memory loss, struggling to find the right word, mood swings, and irritability.
Becky Miles is no stranger to the devastating impact of dementia. Not only has she personally experienced it in her own family, but she also has over two decades of nursing experience with a background in behavioral dementia and psychology. Mix that with a vision to help families in need and a passion to love those suffering from memory loss, and Miles Memory Care in Papillion was born.
“We’re not a big, fancy place,” Miles says. “Our people need a comfortable place that’s small and homelike. They need to know they are loved, they are safe, and they are cared for.”
Miles Memory Care is comprised of two one-story home-like structures sitting adjacent to each other on Grandview Avenue in Papillion. Each building features four private rooms and six companion rooms.
“Studies have shown that memory care patients do better in companion rooms,” Miles says.
The buildings also include large, open spaces for comfortable gatherings of residents and families, dining areas, and activity spaces. According to Miles, life here happens in the common areas, where residents spend 99% of their days. Families can rest easy knowing this social environment is paired with rigorous security, including around-the-clock monitoring and controlled-access doors.
“Their days are filled with delicious meals, fun activities, and good friends,” Miles says. “Bingo is big here, and we also offer bowling, music, pet therapy, golf, and one-on-one activities. We want all our residents to relax, have fun, and know there is no wrong way to do an activity.”
Miles says it is important to help residents at Miles Memory Care maintain their dignity, and for many, that means feeling needed, wanted, and useful.
“We never want them to lose their self-worth, so you may see someone helping with the dishes or helping around the facility in other ways,” she says.
Miles says she empathizes with the challenges and emotional toll facing families of dementia patients and her goal is to always keep family members involved. Oftentimes, these family members have been caregivers for quite some time and now are able to return to their role as daughters or sons knowing that Miles Memory Care is a place where their family members will be comfortable and cared for in a setting that feels like home.
402.593.5496 | milesmemorycare.net