It seems impossible these days to not know someone who has dementia. I know personally the helpless feeling of watching your loved one’s memory decline. She was at first able to manage a senior living environment but after a time wandering became noticeable and her confusion was causing some other residents to make cruel comments. She is ambulatory and verbal (sometimes making clear her thoughts) but would get lost going to her apartment and when she started to leave the building in cold weather without a coat I was told to find another living situation.

The sad news is there is a dearth of good choices for dementia care in our area. I looked at many options and although desperate to get her into a safer situation, I could not put her into those substandard places. The good news is Linda Manor Extended Care Facility has a dementia unit, it is also a locked building. This means there was no way my sister would leave the building alone and be at risk of freezing to death or getting lost. The wait list is long but after seven months, she moved into the Forest View Unit. We were both nervous, but when we left the elevator on her floor all my anxiety was lost. Each staff member introduced themselves and said how nice it was to meet her.

She has a two-bedroom with plenty of area for her personal belongings. The nursing staff including the CNAs are fantastic, the care is excellent and part of that is that they actually care about her. The food is good and her care plan is personalized. The nurses are the best I have ever met and I worked in nursing for 40 years. The activity department staff are phenomenal with activities chosen for dementia patients. There are activities scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the staff find ways to include all the residents. The dietary staff are kind and caring. The housekeeping department is top notch. The office staff from admissions to those that help with Medicaid are all kind and patient.

People throughout the building smile and greet you and last week as we left a CNA on the first floor spoke to her as we passed. “Hi Mary, have a good time.” a few steps further down the hall she said to me, “That makes me feel good.” Thank you to all who work at Linda Manor, it’s hard work I know but very much appreciated.

Kathleen Mortimer lives in Easthampton.