Valeo™ Signature Programs
Every person’s life experiences and needs are unique, so these programs are adapted to the individual. We assess each resident’s interests and abilities, then build a personalized approach to create moments of joy. Each resident’s legacy and passions are honored through the Valeo Signature Programs, which increase awareness, cognition and engagement; stimulate pleasant long-term memories; and provide joy and pleasure.
Respecting legacy is the core of Valeo. These signature memory care programs tap into the individual’s past and call upon and preserve their memories — not only for the individual but for the entire family. We believe that life can continue to be fulfilling and engaging for individuals with memory impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These programs respect the passions and experience of residents, and we develop this programming around their hobbies and interests.
Some of the Valeo Signature Programs include:
Create & Compose
Art and music draw residents away from daily concerns and take them on a journey of self-expression while helping them relive fond memories. Residents enjoy painting, drawing and sculpture and will both listen to and play music in a unique program that capitalizes on the therapeutic benefits of art. Neurological research also shows that creating art and listening to music can improve cognitive function. These activities help the brain actively compensate for changes in function that are often associated with aging and memory impairments such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Art also helps residents relax, reduces anxiety, provides socialization and fosters a stronger sense of identity.
Legacy Kit
Residents and their families create a treasure chest of specific items that are familiar, meaningful and reflect aspects of their identity. These pieces have particular historical relevance to the resident’s life experiences, special interests and associations with significant people or life events. These kits and their contents help create fun, meaningful interactions and are the catalyst for special moments of reminiscence that enhance their quality of life in the present. Both caregivers and family members use Legacy Kits.
Travel Times
Travel offers an opportunity to “get away from it all,” both physically and mentally. Travel Times brings joy and gives residents the opportunity to engage and experience different world cultures. The travel experience has been shown to relax the mind, renew the soul and offer new ways to see things. At the same time, it provides novel paths to connect and sparks pleasant, bygone memories. Travel Times is celebrated by “traveling” to a different country each quarter and is experienced through language classes, culinary experiences and programs related to the country being highlighted.
Creature Comforts
There’s no denying the bond between humans and animals. While a tactile experience, pets offer therapeutic benefits too such as comfort, enjoyment and socialization. Research also shows that bonding with animals can lead to significant health improvements. These benefits include lowering blood pressure and rates of heart disease, reducing stress and even decreasing anxiety and depression. Creature Comforts is a pet program that brings gentle animals such as dogs, cats, birds, fish or even reptiles into a retirement community to interact with the residents. It’s also a perfect time for residents to show pictures of past pets or recall memories of their own animal experiences. All to create a positive impact on the intellectual, social, physical and spiritual well-being of every person.
VITA!
Routines provide daily structure and a sense of purpose to those with memory impairments, but how can you turn such everyday tasks into enjoyable experiences? VITA! takes the seemingly routine actions of daily living and makes them a pleasant, memorable action. Led by the community’s wellness team, VITA! programs may include trivia, brainteasers, singing songs, meaningful conversation and exercise, all while paying attention to self-care. The result: daily “to-do’s” become moments of joy, creating positive moods and enhancing quality of life. For residents living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other memory impairments, VITA! practices help to calm and bring a sense of peace and focus to the activity of the moment by creating a fun event that improves both physical and cognitive function. Taking time to be fully engaged and mindfully present for the basic tasks of each day is essential not only for the individual but equally so for team members.
“One day at a time—this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.”
― Ida Scott Taylor McKinney
