Page 30 - BusinessWest March 4, 2024

MONTHLY FEATURE
www.HealthCareNews.com
Peace of Mind
As the
Population
Ages, Memory
Care Continues
to Evolve
BY JOSEPH BEDNAR
[email protected]
It’s a moment so many families dread — until they come out on the other side.
“There’s a lot of anxiety. There’s a lot of guilt,” said Allison Baker, director of Community Relations at the Atrium at Cardinal Drive in Agawam, about
the decision to move a loved one — usually a parent or spouse — into the assisted-living facility, which special- izes in memory care.
“Families can feel like they might be giving up on their loved one by moving them to a setting like ours. And I think our challenge is to show that you’re not plac- ing your loved one in a place just to live out the rest of their life. The point of our community is to give them the best quality of life.”
Cathy Ballini, executive director of Mason Wright Senior Living in Springfield, agreed.
“I always tell families, ‘nobody shops for this until they have to shop for this.’ And there’s a lot of guilt involved when you take parents out of their home. But you have to look at the bigger picture of what’s best for them.”
What often precedes that discussion, especially with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another demen- tia, is large quantities of “caregiver burnout,” Ballini added.
“When one or two people are caring for someone, there comes a time when something is sacrificed or suffers because you’re not providing this level of care. There’s only so much one person can do to keep some- one entertained. There’s only so much the television can
do.“Coming here, they’re building friendships and trust with us so their relationship with the parent becomes what it should be,” she went on. “That time they have left should be quality time. You’re taking the business end of the relationship and putting that on us so that you can truly enjoy your time with your with your parent, with
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MARCH 4, 2024
MONTHLY FEATURE
BusinessWest
Allison Baker says the Atrium at Cardinal Drive aims to both give residents a high quality of life and take stress away from their loved ones.