Homes at Geer Village’s Hillside offer help, dignity to Alzheimer’s patients

NORTH CANAAN — It’s hard to believe a concept that meets such an obvious need has not been implemented to a greater degree. But the six new apartments at Geer Village, dubbed Hillside, are only the second of their kind in the state.They will be available to people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The approach allows them to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Like Gardenside Lodge, Geer Village’s section for the memory impaired who need regular supervision, Hillside will be secured. A pass code is required to enter and exit the wing. The difference is that instead of rooms that are like those in a nursing home, residents have their own one- or two-bedroom apartments like the retirement community’s independent residents.And they are beautiful. Administrator Linda Pierce and Karen Kuhl, director of community relations, decorated model apartments and common areas for a Dec. 12 open house to show how homey and welcoming they can be. The apartments can accommodate an individual, a married couple, or two people who want to be roommates.A common sitting area and balcony allow for residents to get out of their apartment and mingle, as does a dining room with another sitting room and television.Meals together are optional. How that works out will depend upon the desires of the eventual mix of residents. LPN Kathleen Barlow, a longtime Geer employee, is in charge of Hillside.“Each person who lives here will be treated as an individual. I will work with them one-on-one and create an individual program for each so that they can live a dignified lifestyle for as long as possible,” Barlow said. “The idea is to keep them active and motivated, and possibly slow down the progress of their memory loss. It’s about not just managing their care, but their independence.”At this level, nursing care is on the floor around the clock, helping residents with things such as taking medications on schedule. One resident has already moved in, having been a current Geer Village resident. More people were expected to begin moving in around Dec. 20, after lengthy screening processes. One of the advantages to various levels of living assistance under the same roof is the ease of aging in place. Geer Village has been a godsend for many couples when one has been diagnosed as memory impaired. It eliminates the painful decision to send that person away when professional care is needed. They can be just down the hall, as is the case with the first Hillside resident, who spends most of his day with his wife in Gardenside.Monthly fees start at $5,700, but that includes essentially all living expenses, such as three meals and snacks, laundry and housekeeping services, all utilities and cable television, scheduled van transportation, activities, outings and exercise programs and a full membership to the YMCA on site.