FAQs Alzheimer's
Do residents have to share a room?
| No. There are 42 private bedrooms. |
Can residents go outside?
| Yes. We have a large secured back yard for residents to use as they please. There is also a huge covered patio for shade. |
Are there planned activities for residents?
| Yes. We have numerous activities specificly designed for Alzheimers residents, which start after breakfast and continue through the whole day. See the Garden calendar on this website. |
Can I take my resident off campus?
| Sure. Just let the nurses know and sign them in and out of the log. |
Can I dine with a resident?
| Yes. We encourage you to dine together. The cost is $5 per meal ($10 for holiday meal). We charge it to the resident’s room and it is billed monthly. If you give us advance notice, we can set up a special table for you. |
What qualifies a resident for this secured unit?
| A resident qualifies if they are at high risk for elopement due to wandering from dementia and/or they would benefit from the structure of activities provided in the Garden. The layout of the building allows residents to freely roam the halls and go outside. |
What is the difference between Pines' Garden and Pines other secured units?
| We have a consistency of care provided by staff who truly understand the disease, so we are able to provide the extra attention that is needed. Our environment allows each resident to flourish and be happy as we recognize each individual’s interests. |
Do you offer any specialty therapies?
| Yes. Besides physical, occupational and speech therapy, we provide massage therapy, music therapy and aromatherapy throughout the day (focused on “calming”). |
What if my loved one gets sick?
| We are a skilled nursing home, so we can provide all of the care that a non-dementia unit would offer. |
At what point should the decision be made to place a loved one in the Garden?
| Families usually wait too long – trying to avoid what they think is abandonment. When in fact, the residents actually benefit from our life enriching environment. Soon the family sees them begin to flourish and maximize their quality of life. |
Can you recommend any education programs?
| Yes. You can order caregiver training DVDs that feature Teepa Snow and Dr. Miguel Rivera – both are specialists in caring for Alzheimer’s residents. |
Where can family members get extra support coping with Alzheimer's?
| We offer a support group on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. It is open to anyone in the community regardless of whether a loved one is living at Pines or not. |
How do I schedule a tour?
| To ensure adequate time for a tour, an appointment is preferable. Contact Samantha Keller at (941) 780-6707. You are welcome to visit a few times or even on short notice so you will get a true sense of the Pines environment. |
Learn more about Pines wonderful Skilled Nursing facility.
Seminars & Training DVDs by nationally renowned specialists.
Learn more about our Assisted Living facility.