New Sensory Room Provides a Soothing Atmosphere While Ensuring Personal Dignity
Edgemere, Dallas’s premiere senior living community, is launching the innovative, new Vitalize Program in its memory care neighborhood. Designed to raise the bar for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, Vitalize will serve as a model for communities across the nation, blending research-backed therapies with state-of-the-art amenities to create a dignified, engaging, and holistic wellness-focused living experience for residents.
“With the number of Alzheimer’s cases expected to double by 2060, advanced memory care solutions are overdue,” said Will Haase, CEO and Founder of Certus Living, the developer-operator of Edgemere. “The Vitalize program is about more than just medical treatment—it’s about treating residents with dignity, fostering purpose, and enhancing their quality of life as their memory changes.”
The Sensory Room
One of the cornerstones of the memory care program is the new Sensory Room, which provides a relaxing sanctuary for both residents and their visiting loved ones. Soothing lighting and calming scents ease the agitation and frustration people with memory issues so often feel. A textured wall provides tactile and visual focus. Bubble tubes, fiber optic curtains, and immersive projected images of forests, oceans, or gardens hold attention while instilling a profound sense of tranquility.
“Family members are encouraged to join residents in the Sensory Room,” explained Teresa Bates, Executive Director of Edgemere. “Not only will they enjoy the peaceful atmosphere — which everyone loves — they will discover new opportunities to interact with and engage with their loved ones.”
The Sensory Room will feature a Nordic Relaxation Chair, which uses a gentle rocking motion and music to release anxiety and bring calm and a strong sense of well-being. In addition to the chair’s movement and music, a weighted duvet and U-pillow can be used to create additional peace and security while supporting the body for an even more comfortable sitting position.
New Renovations and Initiatives
Additional renovations and new services will include a newly remodeled memory care welcoming area, an improved secured courtyard, updated dining facilities with red plates intended to stimulate appetite, the use of the joy-invoking scents of lavender and mint throughout the neighborhood, and enhanced activity space and resting stations.
All services and treatments have an adult focus and are based on Edgemere’s community-wide commitment to emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, vocational, and occupational wellness.
“Many of our residents have led very full, very successful lives both professionally and personally,” said Bates. “Yet in some memory care facilities, they are being handed child-like toys to stimulate their minds – or nothing at all. At Edgemere, we see each resident as an individual with unique histories, needs, talents, and preferences. We offer completely customized programming that brings purpose and connection to their lives, as well as dignity.”
A Higher Standard of Care
CERTUS Living is making a significant investment in memory care, allocating $750,000 to physical enhancements at Edgemere and $1 million toward staff training and planning. While many senior living communities require only 12-16 hours of annual training for memory care staff, Edgemere is setting a higher standard with at least 40 hours per year. This investment ensures that caregivers are not only trained in the latest memory care techniques, but also are fully equipped to provide compassionate and innovative support.
“It’s important that our caregivers have a deep well of knowledge and experience,” explained Bates. “Every day is a new day in memory care. People with Alzheimer’s and dementia are dynamic — what worked well yesterday may not work today. It’s important to think on your feet while maintaining equanimity.”
“That’s why we emphasize continuous training, compassionate care, and an environment that adapts to residents’ changing needs,” added Haase. “Certus Living is working to redefine memory care by expanding the Vitalize program to other communities nationwide. We are always seeking new ways to improve the lives and experiences of our residents through 5-star care, services, and amenities.”
To learn more about Certus Living, visit www.certusliv.com.
To find out if Edgemere’s memory care neighborhood is a good fit for your loved one, visit https://edgemerelife.com/memory-care/.