There is nothing more important to Life Enriching Communities (LEC) than building a supportive retirement lifestyle and creating exceptional experiences for those they serve. For over 120 years, LEC has been fostering fulfillment through purpose and meaning to keep their communities and residents thriving.
Located in Montgomery, Ohio, Twin Lakes is one of two premier, local locations that offers residents a worry-free lifestyle and accommodates those who require high-skilled care, rehabilitation, and memory support services.
November brings a wave of innovation and excitement as Twin Lakes readies its campus for the addition of a brand-new assisted living area devoted entirely to serving individuals with memory loss.
Lisa Zimmers, a registered nurse, is the executive director at Twin Lakes, which serves about 400 residents.
“The new Memory Support Assisted Living area is a specifically designed 16-apartment community that provides support to residents who have a high level of physical function and some cognitive loss,” says Zimmers. “The programming focuses on engagement and meeting people where they are to help them to embrace each day, no matter what that day brings.”
The project has been several years in the making. The new area will promote socialization and interaction between those who live and work there, which includes a coffee bar for residents to sit and chat with each other, along with the associates that work there. “A lot of thought went into the layout and the flow of processes,” Zimmers adds.
“We’re so excited because we know that not everyone who has memory loss needs full-care nursing. This will give us an opportunity to serve those who have that need on our campus, as well as those who live in the Greater Cincinnati area.”
LEC recognizes the challenges that are faced daily by residents and their families. It is their mission to serve those who need what Zimmers refers to as “the bridge between independent living and full nursing care.”
“I’m excited to be able to serve people in an area in which peers have similar needs and, therefore, we can help them to really embrace each day with those special services, [which includes] unique programming to meet those needs,” she says. “It’s vital to get residents together who can really support one another because they can accept their similar deficits and opportunities and not have to be isolated in an area that may not be as comfortable for them.
“Cognitive loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s-type diseases are a growing epidemic in our country and world, as people live longer and have increased loss. It’s a tough spot to be in and we need to make sure we can meet all the needs of our residents.”
How has COVID affected the development of the new assisted living area? “The development of the area was a challenge in the beginning of COVID because we could not have contractors in our building,” Zimmers says. “We made opportunities where contractors could access the building through areas that were not being utilized by our residents. We enclosed a previous stairwell and built around it so we could use that space to get to the second floor, which is being renovated to create the Memory Support Assisted Living area.
“It has required a lot of creativity but, ironically, it has brought us to this point on schedule.”
Engagement and personalization are priorities when it comes to caring for residents who require memory support. The new Memory Support Assisted Living area gives LEC an opportunity to put a fresh, innovative perspective on memory care.
“It’s going to be very intuitive for the residents so it feels like their home. That’s the key — ensuring that residents feel comforted and that they are part of something.”
Life Enriching Communities is located at 6279 Tri-Ridge Blvd., Suite 320, Loveland, OH, 45140. Twin Lakes is located at 9840 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, OH 45242. For more information, call 513.719.3510 for the corporate office, and 513.247.1300 for Twin Lakes