Mount Pleasant Gardens may sound like a gorgeous, plant-filled sanctuary, but in actuality it’s a peaceful, loving, family-centered establishment for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia. This stand-alone facility focuses on those three neurological conditions and is one of the few places in the state of South Carolina to do so.
“We are a higher skill level than general assisted living, where people can come out from their apartments and still live on their own,” said Denise Kish, executive director of Mount Pleasant Gardens. “We specialize in ‘safe care living,’ where residents need assistance in many of the activities of daily living (e.g. showering or just going to lunch) as well as safety and socialization which is needed the most. We are between skilled care and assisted living. We don’t leave them on their own too much.”
The residents at Mount Pleasant Gardens aren’t in their rooms watching “The Young and the Restless” all day. Oh no! They’re up in the morning exercising, participating in the walking club and engaging in other healthy, mobility-promoting activities. Throughout the day, entertainment may include arts and crafts, music and brainteasers, all of which consistently use the brain to access and recall information, which is stimulating for all residents. Most of them have lost the executive skills of knowing what tasks to do in which sequence. The staff is trained with the positive approach that was developed by Teepa Snow, a specialist in memory care. They are there for their residents. We often take for granted how easy it is to pick up a fork and properly use it. For residents at Mount Pleasant Gardens, it’s a challenge or a skill that is re-taught daily. “They come in here and usually are not able to function in society anymore. They get lost. They are constantly looking for something. They are hallucinating. They lose sequencing. That’s what mainly scares families,” added Kish.
Starting every morning with prayer and giving thanks, one can feel the love upon entering the building. The Mount Pleasant Gardens staff don’t treat their work as a job; for most, it’s a calling. Everyone at Mount Pleasant Gardens is dedicated to the mission of serving those who have been affected by Alzheimer’s and these neurologically-deteriorating conditions. Thanks to all of them for their compassion and care and for such admirable dedication to their work. From our place to yours, thank you for creating joy in moments and ways that truly matter the most.
For more information, please visit gardensmemorycare.com or call 843-216-1001.
By Maurice J. Frazier
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