» New unit addresses expected surge in memory care needs
A new memory care unit in upstate New York underscores growing demands from communities serving older adults with specialized needs.
“The demand for dedicated memory care services in Central New York has continued to increase far beyond what our community can currently support,” said Kim Townsend, CEO of Loretto.
The healthcare company opened its memory special care unit in early January by renovating an entire floor of its main campus to support the unique needs of those in the most advanced stages of the disease. After nine months of planning and three months of construction, the new 12th floor unit offers 30 individual rooms.
Features include wayfinding cues; sensory stimulation through touch, sounds, and a scent system to help residents feel calm; and walls camouflaged with landscapes and familiar home scenes to trigger memories, direct residents and keep them safe.
» New guidelines tout benefits of automatic doors in facilities
Automated door systems can be a versatile solution for resident rooms, reducing potential injury by eliminating the need to use a heavy manual door, the American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers said in new guidelines.
Unique benefits include access control, wander management and touch-free operation. Automatic doors come in three types: sliding, swing and folding, and can be fit to resident room entries. Sliding doors in particular are made to withstand the influx and outflow.
» Mannington Commercial adds to LVT line
The Realities III line of luxury vinyl tile includes 48 enhanced wood visuals and colors, all of them suited for healthcare and senior living and care facilities, where hygiene, easy maintenance, cost savings and efficient installation are priorities.
Those latest wood visuals are designed specifically to coordinate with items from Mannington’s Spacia Collection LVT and Amtico LVT colors, making it easier for healthcare and long-term care designers to create a unified, high-performance space. Rolls available in a variety of widths also reduce seams, making floors easier to install and clean.
