Senior Scene
The first of its kind in Alabama, the Clare Bridge Crossings program at Brookdale University Park is designed for high functioning Alzheimer’s and dementia residents.
“Crossings is dedicated to intense programming to help stimulate the brain and keep people in that beginning stage [of dementia or Alzheimer’s] as long as we can,” explains program manager Elizabeth Vise who gives the example of a resident who was a former pilot. “We have a flight simulator so they can fly and remember what it was like to fly. They can fly on the computer against other people or solo… Anything they used to do, if it was an occupation, a hobby, we incorporate it.” Residents are evaluated every three months to see where they are cognitively. “What’s really exciting is that some people’s scores actually go up so that’s how we know the program is working,” shares Vise.
Brandon Bornstein, the Executive Director of Brookdale University Park, is charged with overseeing the senior living community’s continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, memory care, the new Crossings program and skilled nursing. “We are a continuum of care retirement community and what that means is we provide all levels of living.” The Crossings program fits well into that continuum. “Someone can move in independently and then as their needs change we can change with their needs. They maintain the same social circle of friends since it’s all on the same campus. You can pretty much provide a solution to what everybody’s needs are.”
Brookdale University Park is located just off Lakeshore Drive in Homewood. To learn more call 205-870-0786 or visit www.Brookdale.com. †
