Every family’s experience is unique, but we find that residents respond very well to the caregiving and programming routines of our memory care program. We graciously guide the resident throughout the day; friends and family can focus on spending time with their loved one without being responsible for medications, behavioral concerns, or personal hygiene challenges.

Therapeutic programming consists of individual and group activities therapy, directed by a licensed professional and designed to improve the quality of life for individuals with memory loss. Every day, The Terrace programming is comprised of activities intended to stimulate each major area of functioning: physical, cognitive, artistic/creative, and sensory. In addition to stimulating multiple areas of functioning, we also provide a safe place for emotional expression. This is a supportive environment where residents can engage and succeed in activities they enjoy. While we find that maintaining a structured routine is helpful for residents with memory loss, therapeutic programming is also flexible. Because activities are structured by qualified individuals, we can adapt any activity to whatever a resident may need at a particular moment of the day.

Our staff-to-resident ratio is higher than the industry standard and we staff to the residents’ needs, not to a profit margin determined by a for-profit corporation. Memory care residents are closely monitored, including hourly status checks throughout the day and overnight. Care staff includes certified caregivers, medication managers, and round-the-clock licensed vocational nurse (LVN) coverage. Residents are assisted with all of their basic needs including bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and being escorted within the community. We also provide reminders and prompting so that residents can independently complete as much of their daily routine as possible.

We are staffed by licensed professionals: a registered nurse (RN), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), licensed marriage and family therapists (MFTs), and medication technicians. In addition to our extensive initial staff training process, we also provide ongoing monthly staff training. Our staff is adept at recognizing behavioral cues and addressing the causes of agitation. Dementia is an extensive subject covered in training and we take professional pride in redirecting residents without the use of behavioral medications as much as possible. We strive to adapt our environment and approach so that each resident can find comfort, self-expression, and the highest possible quality of life.

Residents are not required to be Jewish to live here—we welcome residents of all faiths as well as residents who are more secular than religious. Our memory care program, in particular, has residents of many backgrounds and faiths, and we individualize programming to resident interests and capabilities.

We work with each resident’s primary care provider for medication management and any change in condition, either mental or physical. Residents who have a primary care provider in San Francisco will continue to see the same primary care provider. Residents from outside San Francisco will need a local physician — we can provide a list of local providers, including physicians who make house calls to our community.

We have 24-hour nursing staff who will convey the insurance information, health history, and emergent concerns to the paramedics and emergency room (ER) staff. The nurse will also notify the resident’s primary emergency contact and the resident’s primary care physician. If the resident’s family is unable to meet the resident at the ER, we will appoint a staff member to accompany the resident to the hospital. As hospital emergency rooms can be particularly confusing and traumatizing for residents, our staff will stay with the resident until he or she is safely monitored by hospital staff.

Mealtimes are very social for residents, who often enjoy talking with one another during meals. There is no predetermined time to finish meals and residents are encouraged to eat at their own pace. The memory care dining room looks out across a park and library where residents can watch soccer games, school groups, and joggers.

We invite and encourage residents to participate in therapeutic programming. We also tailor activities to the interests and preferences of our residents. That said, we also respect each resident’s autonomy; those not interested in an activity can relax in their apartment or an alternative common area.