Nurturing wellness in people with dementia and their caregivers by Marilynn Larkin, MA

When my mother progressed from “mild” to “moderate” cognitive impairment, my brother and I visited a number of facilities recommended by our geriatric caseworker. Several were just as we feared—large buildings with locked doors; residents sitting in wheelchairs next to each other, but not interacting. Others had nicer environments, but would only accept individuals who didn’t have “behavior problems.” We eventually chose a cottage-style community with standard activities such as sing-alongs and bingo—better, but somehow, I wished for more.