Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Veterans Administration plans to open an assisted living center on its Topeka campus for veterans with mild dementia.
The building on the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center campus is expected to open this fall, The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/1IlF8ZS ) reported. The building will offer 12 private rooms with their own bathrooms, plus amenities such as a social area, kitchen, dining area and outdoor courtyard.
Veterans Administration officials say the 17,700-square-foot building costs about $8.8 million to design and build. Work started in October 2012, but was slowed when workers found a buried wall and other surprises not in the 1950s blueprints of the site, said John Keys, assistant chief of engineering for the VA in Topeka.
Colleen Grinage, nurse manager for the Topeka VA's community living centers, said the facility is designed for veterans with cognitive impairment or mild dementia. She said residents will be encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, with supervision to ensure they are safe.
"We focus on what the veterans can do, not what they can't do," she said. "If the residents are able to do their laundry with just some setup and prompting, they can do that."
Each room has a display case outside for residents' personal belongings, such as old childhood photos. Those suffering from Alzheimer's disease often become confused about recent events, but clearly remember things that happened during their younger years. Grinage said that while residents may not remember a room number, an old photo or keepsake could help them find their rooms.
Geriatric psychiatrist Maritza Buenaver adds that other therapies besides medication for residents can help address agitation and other symptoms, such as music, aromatherapy and using a whirlpool tub.
___
Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
