Milton Village Open House builds community to support caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive conditions

Caring for a person with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions can be a difficult journey. For caregivers, it means watching the heartbreaking reality of a loved one losing their memory. Coupled with the intensive amount of care needed to keep a person with a cognitive condition safe and healthy, this can seem like an overwhelming task. Healthcare providers are limited in the amount of support they can provide as well.  

However, a beacon of hope shines brightly at Milton Village in South Bend, helping caregivers manage these challenging times. To help healthcare providers better understand the numerous resources available, Milton Village hosted an open house on Tuesday, September 30. 

Milton Village is a collaborative effort between Milton Adult Day Services (a program of the Center for Hospice Care) and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana (a REAL Services program) to provide comprehensive care and support to individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions and their caregivers. 

“Inviting healthcare providers to see our facility and learn more about our programs is a great way to help them understand our unique model,” said Sarah Youngs, director of Milton Adult Day Services. “As providers tour the facility and hear how our guests engage in the programming, it’s so satisfying to see them recognize what this can mean for their patients and the patients’ caregivers.”

Milton Adult Day Services is proud to offer one-of-a-kind revolutionary memory care, which includes hosting guests in an enclosed town-like setting based on the Dutch de Hogeweyk concept. This concept enhances problem-solving skills to help guests maintain their independence. 

“Dementia and related neurological conditions are becoming more prevalent as the Baby Boomer generation ages,” said Mike Wargo, COO of Center for Hospice Care. “When this collaboration started, we knew we had the chance to do something extraordinary. Engaging with the Vivum Group from the Netherlands to adapt the de Hoegweyk model was a terrific experience for everyone involved.”

Centered around the pillars of favorable surroundings, lifestyle, health, life’s pleasures, the meaning of life, formal and informal networks, and social inclusion and emancipation, Milton Adult Day Services provides a unique program tailored to each person. This helps ensure their treatment plan is designed to their needs, allowing them to experience a quality program route that brings peace of mind to everyone involved. It’s an approach that benefits everyone.

“The patients here live normal, everyday lives,” said Angel Baginske, director of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana. “The care that happens here is tremendous. Because of it, we’ve been able to keep people in their homes two years longer than would have been possible without care.” 

She added, “It’s one thing to drop off your loved one who has dementia, but it’s another thing to then be embraced with support, education and community as a caregiver. That helps caregivers stay at their best so they can continue caring for their person in the home.”

Milton Village also offers that same compassionate care to those helping individuals navigate their cognitive conditions. At the open house, attendees toured the facility to learn more about its full scope of care. This included guided walk-throughs of the living areas designed to mimic a familiar neighborhood with everything from a movie theater with its own marquee to a barber shop complete with a barber pole out front.

Attendees could also view demonstrations of the specialized activities and rooms that encourage socialization and cognitive stimulation. From a fully functional cooking area for the baking club to a putting green to rentable activity packages for families to do together, Milton Village provides detailed, thoughtful support to guests and their families.

GreatNews.Life Founder Chris Mahlmann, hosted by Milton Adult Day Services Director Sarah Youngs, was blown away by the revolutionary design of the facility and the promise it provides to those experiencing dementia in the community.

“It’s unlike anything I ever imagined,” he said. “While I know so much has advanced scientifically, I was blown away by the advancement in thinking. There’s an awesome attention to detail that brings the feeling of being in your hometown to life in a safe environment where you know you’re cared for.”

In addition to learning more about the resources available, guests were also able to enjoy some entertainment and light refreshments, creating meaningful conversation and heartwarming moments as they learned more about the types of memory care available for their patients and loved ones. Music, laughter and shared stories filled the halls, embodying the sense of community Milton Village strives to provide every day.

“As soon as you walk in, you feel a bit like a child walking onto a playground,” Mahlmann said. “Everywhere you go, it’s clear where you are and that there is something for everyone all the time. From quiet time and reflection in the chapel space to the workout room that looks like the edge of the beach to the outdoor garden paths and gazebos, it’s truly revolutionary.”

To learn more about Milton Village, please visit miltonADS.org