Innovative Memory and Dementia Care Facility Marks One Year Anniversary

MCMINNVILLE, Ore., March 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marjorie House Memory Care Community located in McMinnville is celebrating its one-year anniversary. They provide person centered care and support to elderly individuals. Specific dementias can be Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontal lobe dementia, and Primary Progressive Aphasia, as well as alcohol or stroke related dementia.

The community is among the few nationwide specifically designed to facilitate care and comfort for persons with brain diseases. For example, Marjorie House staff provide ongoing, highly attentive care to every resident in an architecturally enhanced environment determined by years of clinical research to be highly beneficial to those with dementia. The creative design encompasses straight lines, subdued lighting, special paint colors and schemes as well as room dimensions that deter restlessness and enhance independence. 

"The word dementia is an umbrella term for diseases like Alzheimer's that develop when nerve cells in the brain die and don't function normally," said Neil Leatham, chief operating officer (COO) of Marjorie House Memory Care Community. "Over time, this condition not only affects memory but can eventually impair speaking, walking or even swallowing," he added. One-third of Americans over age 85 currently have memory loss due to Alzheimer's Disease, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports.

The CDC further says Alzheimer's is now America's sixth leading cause of death. That number could increase soon. When the first wave of baby boomers reach age 85 around 2031, the Alzheimer's Association predicts more than 3 million will have the disease. Unless a cure is found, the Association further estimates more than 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by 2050.

Founded by Dr. Raymond and Kathleen Leatham, the memory care community focuses solely on diseases affecting memory. It is not a retirement home or senior center. It supports the elderly through activities, therapy and a beneficial quality of life specific to their condition. Caregivers are trained in all aspects of treating, interacting and relating to persons with dementia.

The COO credits the facility's residents, their families and friends for sustaining Marjorie House in its first year. "Our groundbreaking work wouldn't be possible without these remarkable people," he said. Marjorie House Memory Care Community is located at 2855 NE Cumulus Ave., McMinnville, Ore., 97128. Contact the community at 503-474-4222 or via the Internet at www.marjoriehouse.com.

The Marjorie House Memory Care Community provides daily 24-hour care to persons with dementia in a state-of-the-art, live-in facility. The building's architectural design and care approach result in a therapeutic culture that's satisfying and purposeful to residents. Its singular focus fosters a keen understanding of the challenges of memory loss, as well as the emotions and needs of loved ones managing this condition.

SOURCE Marjorie House Memory Care Community