Receiving the news of memory impairment is devastating. It impacts not only the patient but his or her entire family. Innova Health & Rehab understands that your family is about to face changes and difficult decisions. That’s the thinking behind Essentia, an active, fulfilling “neighborhood” for those with diminished memory. Essentia’s goal is to provide dignified care and meaningful lifestyle to patients as well as comfort and support to their families. Essentia provides peace of mind when it comes to long-term care of your loved ones suffering from cognitive and memory impairment.
“Memory loss and dementia should not strip away a person’s dignity. Quality care, marked by structure, compassion and patience, is a gift to these individuals and their families. That’s what Essentia is all about,” says Drew Barile, CEO of Innova.
In the Essentia neighborhoods, located at Innova Health & Rehab’s facilities in Mount Laurel, Hammonton and Deptford, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other forms of memory loss don’t mean the end of an active life.
The seven-day-a-week therapeutic program is supplemented with sun-up to sundown activities specially designed for these residents. Music, arts and crafts, outdoor time, games and designated quiet time are among the options available. Fully staffed and administered by therapists trained in areas such as understanding dementia, effective communication and stress management, these daily activities give residents an opportunity to interact with others and exercise both physically and mentally in a warm, friendly environment.
Every Essentia resident gets individualized care under a patient assessment system called, appropriately, C.A.R.E. The essentials of C.A.R.E. include: comprehensive assessment including physical, cognitive, medication, and psychosocial components; ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) as determined by a functional assessment; recreation and Relaxation including aspects of past and present hobbies, interests, and preferences; emotional, including aspects of personality, behavior, spirituality, social support, and relationships.
By evaluating residents with C.A.R.E., staff can customize treatment and care to the physical, emotional and intellectual needs of the individual. For example, pastimes that were enjoyed prior to admission remain a part of residents’ routines after admission, to the extent possible.
Peace of mind extends to their physical security as well. The Essentia Neighborhood is highly secured, employing the WanderGuard Departure Alert System, making it virtually impossible for residents to leave the facility unsupervised.
Lourdes Dialysis Unit
Inefficient kidney performance doesn’t have to slow you down. In fact, with proper management and proactive care, your loved ones with renal failure can enjoy active, fulfilling lifestyles.
Comfort, convenience and education are the hallmarks of the Lourdes Dialysis Unit at Innova Health & Rehab in Mt. Laurel. Serving both sub-acute and long-term care patients of Innova, as well as anyone with renal failure from the surrounding community, the Lourdes Dialysis Unit offers this essential procedure while significantly reducing the stress caused when kidneys stop functioning properly.
Opened in 2009, the dialysis unit at Innova was designed from the ground-up to provide a relaxed environment for treatment, which typically lasts three to four hours per session, three days a week. The unit’s bright, open décor features nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, high-definition TVs at every station, and a DVD player for movies or educational videos. The unit has 24 state-of-the-art hemodialysis stations, including eight beds for non-ambulatory patients, and two isolation stations.
A multidisciplinary staff of Lourdes employees includes nephrologists, RNs, LPNs and Certified Technologists, as well as a full-time social worker and dietitian. Because it is an “open” unit, however, non-residents can be seen here by their credentialed nephrologist. For residents, dialysis treatments are scheduled around their regular rehabilitation schedule. Also, since there’s no need to leave the Innova facility, the patient won’t risk missing a visit from his or her doctor. And with everything under one roof, transportation and poor weather are non-issues.
In addition, one RN serves as a dedicated liaison between the dialysis unit and the rehab facility. This means consistent communication between the two operations, helping ensure continuity of care and the best outcome for your loved one.
For more information on Essentia or the Lourdes Dialysis Unit, or to arrange a tour of your nearest Innova Health & Rehab location, call 877-91 INNOVA or visit www.InnovaHealthandRehab.com.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 8 (October, 2011).
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