The Hearthstone Way: Coordinated Non-Pharmacological Treatment

Hearthstone's Therapeutic Approach:
Coordinated Non-Pharmacological Treatment

Although Alzheimer's disease is not curable at present, its symptoms can be reduced and managed with appropriate, coordinated treatment. The Hearthstone Treatment Program focuses on making up for residents' impairments through environment and programming. In this way, despite the very real changes occurring in their brains, people with dementia can continue to flourish:

Environments cue residents by speaking for themselves

Staff use residents' own definition of reality in interactions

Activities of Daily Living empowers residents by focusing on positive emotional outcomes

Continuous activities promote the sense of belonging to a community and promote each resident's individuality

Communication takes place through music, touch, art, and other cross-modal perceptual methods

Behavior improvement occurs through positive reaction and reinforcement

Hearthstone offers full-time residential living with 24-hour supervision, both short and long term respite stays, and day programs with flexible hours to meet caregivers' needs. A registered nurse is on site every day and available on call to provide phone support as needed 24 hours a day. The Hearthstone Residential Treatment Program can be summarized as follows:

Alzheimer's care and treatment provides a safe, nurturing and enriched environment. Each resident receives personal attention that builds on his or her needs and skills.

The Hearthstone approach is appropriate for all stages of Alzheimer's and includes:

Unique Alzheimer's treatment program

Live-in treatment, respite care and day programs available

Three nutritious meals a day

Daily assistance with all ADL's

Incontinence reminders and management

Medication reminders

Home-like setting and atmosphere reduces anxiety

Security provides reassurance and independence

Continuous engaging life-quality activities

24-hour awake staff supports residents with sleep disturbances

Special "Hearthstone Way" Alzheimer's staff training

Caregiver support groups for spouses and children

Enriched Alzheimer's environments decrease disorientation

Healing garden combats the effects of sundowning

Medical and nursing support for emergencies.

Hearthstone Treatment Residences in Massachusetts are officially certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Assisted Living facilities. According to Governor Weld's 1994 proclamation, Hearthstone at Golden Pond was the first Assisted Living residence for people with Alzheimer's disease in Massachusetts. Hearthstone's "Enhanced Life" program supports those with the disease at the end of its term. Increased staff-to-resident ratios and more people-focused, quieter activities evoke spiritual dimensions of residents' lives and are a great help to families. Hearthstone also has a Family Network Coordinator who supports families so that they may be involved appropriately and sets up family networks that help families deal with their reactions to the disease.