Memory Care at Berman Commons

Jewish HomeLife has partnered with The Hearthstone Institute – a world leader in the development of evidence-based tools for memory care – and adopted it’s I’m Still Here® approach. I’m Still Here® is a proven philosophy that emphasizes purposeful engagement by using specialized communication techniques, an enriched environment, and activities that encourage personal choice and support learning. When residents are involved in activities that are meaningful and interesting to them, behaviors such as the “4 A’s of Alzheimer’s” – agitation, anxiety, aggression and apathy – are reduced.

Berman Commons is a Hearthstone-certified I’m Still Here® Dementia Care Center of Excellence, a distinction held by a select number of senior care communities nationwide. It means that every team member in our memory care program has participated in a rigorous training and implementation program developed by the Hearthstone Institute, including extensive training in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, communication techniques and life enrichment strategies, to give residents and their families an unprecedented memory care experience.

It means that every team member of the Jewish HomeLife care network, including The William Breman Jewish Homeand Berman Commons have participated in a rigorous training and implementation program developed by the Hearthstone Institute. Over six months, our team has received extensive training in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, communication techniques and life enrichment strategies to give residents and their families an unprecedented memory care experience.

Supported by more than 25 years of research and field testing by Hearthstone, the methodology of this evidence-based, non-pharmacologic program is founded on Montessori-inspired learning approaches, as well as carefully researched assessment tools designed to reveal skills and abilities in each person.

I’m Still Here® is based on the belief that every person living with dementia can experience a high quality of life regardless of the severity of their memory loss. Through this groundbreaking philosophy, we can:

Increased meaningful engagement
Improved quality of life
Decrease the severity of symptoms associated with memory challenges
Create opportunities for true, purposeful engagement, regardless of cognitive challeges
Celebrate the person who is always present, even as the disease progresses
Reveal the skills and abilities in each person
Promote independence

Using meaningful engagement as the basis for our person-centered approach, we create a full social life with new learning experiences, contributions to the community and participation in volunteer programs. I’m Still Here® ensures that unique interests and skills are incorporated into each person’s day through interest clubs, learning stations and parallel programming.

People living with dementia do not enjoy “busy work” any more than we do. The I’m Still Here® approach provides a choice of meaningful experiences to each resident throughout the day. Social roles and membership in a wide variety of clubs and classes ensures that residents are part of a social context each day. Hearthstone’s extensive research into uncovering skills and methods to engage people based on their personal interests and abilities enables us to incorporate true purpose into each activity experience. Ultimately, the goal of I’m Still Here® is to create opportunities for residents to express their preferences, thereby increasing their independence, self-confiedence and overall well-being.