Providence Place

Providence Place is centrally located near Mt. Zion, Kaiser and California Pacific Medical Center. The facility cares exclusively for memory-impaired clients and stresses the importance of individual residents. After an initial assessment the intake team gathers the client’s medical information and interviews family members to learn the client’s personal history and preferences. The staff then trains with each client, observing body language and monitoring changes in health. Medications are closely monitored to avoid side effects, such as lethargy. Residents’ rooms are decorated with personal items and memorabilia. Each resident is assigned to a neighborhood, which is a self-contained group of people functioning at similar levels; the common area in each neighborhood includes a memory box, containing more items of personal significance. Although the interior is thoughtfully decorated we did notice on our tour that the building’s design posed a few issues: most residents’ rooms are not exposed to natural light and the patio area is accessed via one of the resident rooms. The building is secured, which accounts for the occasionally disruptive ringing of the front doorbell heard in the foyer and main dining room. Additionally, the building does not allow for adequate cross-ventilation.

The meals are colorful, aromatic and delicious, yet simple—the food is meticulously prepared, and considered a kind of therapy. The specialty of the house is homemade chicken soup and bread, classic comfort foods. In keeping with individual style, the kitchen staff tries to find out the special things each resident likes.

Many of the residents have moderate to advanced dementia and require a great deal of care and supervision. During our visit we noted that staff was attentive and residents appeared well cared for. The staff to resident ratio usually is quite high; however, only two staffers work the evening shift, tending to high-needs residents on three separate floors. Families of the resident also receive attention as the staff understands grieving emotions such as guilt and sadness when a family can no longer take care of their own. Providence Place helps bridge these emotions with their supportive, well-trained staff, offering guest meals to visiting family members as well as take-home meals so they can spend more time with their loved one. Providence Place also offers extensive training for families in caring for their parent during home visits. Topics include first aid, transferring, behavior management and dementia care. Providence Place attempts to build the self-esteem of its residents by setting small, achievable goals for its clients, rewarding them with a favorite item or activity. Clients have the freedom to choose whether they want to engage or not in various activities such as ceramics, arts and crafts, music, community outings and memory games. Outings do not take place. Children from a local school visit regularly, which aids in raising everyone’s energy level.