Situated in Mount Pleasant amid beautiful lagoons and ancient oaks draped with Spanish moss is Franke at Seaside. In this idyllic setting, the assisted living community offers a wide spectrum of programs for seniors seeking an active, worry-free lifestyle regardless of the level of support the individual and his or her family needs.
While the staff focuses on the overall wellness of all the community’s residents, the facility has earned high praise for its Memory Support Program. One reason it’s so well-thought-of is that Franke has one of the only full-time directors of memory care in the Charleston area.
According to Allison Macfie, the director of memory support, “Our staff takes pride in providing a family environment for our residents. We enjoy using our specialized software, It’s Never Too Late, as part of our dementia-specific programming we offer to residents. The software was specifically designed for dementia patients and helps keep their minds as active as possible. With this software and other technology, family members are able to enjoy Facetime and email correspondence with their loved ones from around the world regarding their daily activities.”
The participants in the program are the most active on campus. They are offered a varied schedule of interesting opportunities each week. The memory support staff takes the time necessary to get to know each of the residents in the program and blends their interests into their daily activities. New and interesting activities are scheduled from morning until night. During a typical week, the 22 residents in the memory support community go off campus three times a week to dine, sightsee, go to athletic events or attend concerts. Family members are also encouraged to join in the activities and volunteer for the events.
Once a month, participants also have the opportunity to visit a foster-care facility and interact with young children. The partnership has proven beneficial for both the foster children and the residents of Franke at Seaside.
A family member of one the residents in the memory support community commented: “The Memory Support Program at Franke at Seaside provides our family with peace of mind knowing that our mother is receiving the care and treatment that will allow her to have the highest possible quality of life while allowing our family to not be overwhelmed by the wide array of challenges that we faced on a daily basis trying to care for her at home. The memory support community and staff are truly treasures.”
Franke has also partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to host a monthly caregiver support group for the Charleston area. The goal is to provide caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients the support and information they need to provide care for their loved ones. The group meets at Franke at Seaside on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:45 p.m.
