The Preserve at Palm-Aire is thrilled to welcome its new Bridges neighborhood to the Palm-Aire family. This unique community is ideal for seniors with dementia whose needs exceed what assisted living can accommodate, but who are not yet ready for dementia care. We believe that every senior deserves a home where they can feel safe and comfortable, pursue their dreams, maximize their unique talents, and find new purpose and meaning. The Bridges neighborhood is part of that vision. Here’s what you need to know to decide whether this unique community is right for you or someone you love.
What Makes the Bridges Neighborhood Different?
One of the biggest challenges of living with dementia is deciding whether and when to move. Dementia attacks many aspects of daily functioning, but it’s also a highly unpredictable illness. Many people with this disease live independently for many years following their diagnosis. Even as a senior begins to need more help, they may retain significant independence.
Honoring that independence is a way to show respect for and preserve a loved one’s dignity. It may also help them live a longer, healthier life. Regular exercise, for example, may slow the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s, while loneliness increases the risk of significant cognitive decline. The Bridges neighborhood supports seniors’ efforts to remain as independent as possible. They can enjoy a wide range of activities, including those designed specifically for people who are facing cognitive challenges.
Our Bridges community ensures that seniors with dementia remain safe and healthy, while also supporting their efforts to live life on their own terms to the greatest possible extent. As your needs evolve, you can transition to dementia care. You'll get the same quality care from the same staff you’ve learned to trust. That continuum of care can make the uncertainty of living with dementia feel less scary.
Who Lives in the Bridges Neighborhood?
People choose Bridges when they know they need more help than they’re currently getting — either at home or in assisted living. Needing more help, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is ready for the extensive (and pricier) help of dementia care. Bridges is a happy intermediate point between these two options.
The seniors who choose Bridges as their home come from many backgrounds. They’ve been homemakers and executives, political leaders, writers, doctors, lawyers, and more. We value the contributions of the people who live in our Bridges neighborhoods, and we know they still have so much to offer. We’re here to support your efforts to nurture strong relationships, good health, and a meaningful retirement.
Is Bridges Right for Me or Someone I Love?
If you’re contemplating Bridges, here are some signs that it might be right for you or the senior in your life:
- You have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia and are beginning to notice signs of cognitive decline.
- You need help with activities of daily living.
- You feel lonely or isolated at home or in your current senior living community.
- You want to have access to a continuum of care if your needs change.
- You know you want to remain as active and engaged as possible as your dementia progresses.
- You’re very scared about what the future with dementia holds and could use some hope and support.
- You’re afraid of becoming a burden to your loved ones, or your long-term care is an ongoing source of conflict in your family.
- You want to continue having a relationship of equals with your family, rather than relying on them for care.
- You want to do as much as you can for as long as you can.
There’s no denying the fact that a dementia diagnosis can be scary. No one likes living with uncertainty. But more and more seniors are living passionate, adventurous, meaningful lives, even amid cognitive impairments. Our Bridges neighborhood can be part of that wonderful life. To learn more about how to stay happy and healthy, check out our free guide, “Living Well with Dementia.”
