Connection with Kids Brings Joy to Those with
Alzheimer's, Dementia at Air Force Village's Freedom House

Daycare Children Brighten Days for Memory Support Residents

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Even though they are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their lives, they still look forward to simply spending time together each day when they can. Two very different groups of individuals share a unique connection at Freedom House, the memory support center at Air Force Village in San Antonio.

There are the senior residents of Freedom House, individuals who all have some level of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, that impairs their daily lives. Each has a lifetime of experiences and memories, from their own childhoods to raising their families, they are trying to hold onto. The goal of Freedom House is to help them live as independently as possible, while addressing and limiting the impact of their progressive illnesses.

Just starting their quest for independence are the children who attend the daycare located within the Freedom House building. Many of these youngsters, whose parents are part of the staff at either the Air Force Village I or II campuses, are just starting to explore the world around them. Each day and routine brings them new experiences, more skills and greater knowledge.

"We make sure there are opportunities for interaction between the kids and the residents," said Freedom House Daycare Director Brenda Criado. "We take them for walks and go around to the various phases of Freedom House. We'll take the kids to the activity room in front of the daycare. Then we have events such as an Easter egg hunt, or at Valentine's Day and Christmas, we'll have something involving the residents."

This unique arrangement began eight years ago, when Air Force Village converted its adult daycare area into the daycare for employee's children. It was an innovation in Alzheimer's care suggested by Dr. Donald Royall, research director at Freedom House and chief of the Division of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry at The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio. Dr. Royall, a world-wide resource for Alzheimer's care, has partnered with Freedom House for long-term studies on aging, Alzheimer's and dementia.

"The concept of Freedom House is that the health care is integrated into a neighborhood environment," said Wendy Carpenter, executive director of Freedom House. "In a neighborhood, you interact with individuals of all ages. In general, people who need memory support care are at high risk for becoming isolated. At Freedom House, we encourage social interaction to keep that isolation from occurring. Our residents don't stop being warm, kind and loving people just because they need our care."

While in the same building, the daycare and the memory support areas each have separate, secure access. Staff members bring memory support residents to the daycare, where they can read to children, play with them or rock the babies. The daycare staff also escorts the kids through the various house-like phases of Freedom House for visits.

"The residents are always asking for the children," said Criado. "They are very happy when they see them. At the same time, the kids will stand at the door wanting to go visit. Both the residents and kids enjoy and benefit from the one-on-one interaction and attention."

Criado said while visiting the children is therapeutic for the residents, it also helps the youngsters relate better to older adults. Since the parents of the children are employees of Air Force Village and work around retired military officers and spouses, they encourage the mutually beneficial time their children spend with residents.

Memory support at Freedom House is just one part of a full continuum of care that complements the independent living on Air Force Village's two campuses. Air Force Village is planning a $145 million expansion of its independent living residences, including new garden-style ranch homes and hill residences. As a resident's health needs change, Air Force Village offers preventative health and wellness programs, home healthcare, assisted living, skilled nursing and hospice care, in addition to memory support.

Air Force Village was founded by the Air Force Officers' Wives' Clubs. The retirement community welcomes retired officers from all branches of the military and their parents or spouses. Located in San Antonio, the Air Force Village I campus is off Ravenswood Drive, and Air Force Village II campus is off John D. Ryan Boulevard. Air Force Village is the first military-related retirement community to be accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.