Reed Delivers $250,000 for Saint Antoine Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Care
NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI – In an effort to ensure more Rhode Islanders who need memory care can access the support they need and comfortably ‘age in place’ while receiving top-notch services, U.S. Senator Jack Reed has teamed up with the Saint Antoine Community to deliver a $250,000 federal earmark for a new, state-of-the-art Assisted Living Memory Care Unit.
Saint Antoine’s newly renovated memory care unit features 24 home-like suites for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and has helped develop a new model of care for seniors with cognitive needs. The memory care unit brings together elements of more skilled health care, rehab, and behavioral support services to residents on the same campus, rather than transferring the resident to a different environment.
Senator Reed hopes that Saint Antoine’s new model of care can be applied elsewhere to help aging Americans across the country safely and comfortably ‘age in place’ and create a better model to advance treatment and improve care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
“Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that impacts millions of Americans and their families. This federal earmark for the Saint Antoine Community is helping to create a new environment of compassion and support for Rhode Islanders with developing cognitive needs and will pioneer a new model of care that hopefully can assist other seniors across the country,” said Senator Reed, who recently helped pass major legislation to combat Alzheimer’s disease and invest in finding new treatments and a cure. “I’m grateful for the team and service providers at Saint Antoine who are working every day to support Rhode Islanders with Alzheimer’s and helping them age with dignity and comfort.”
Saint Antoine’s new model being employed at the Assisted Living Memory Care Unit allows for greater flexibility in the use of its facility, improved cost-effectiveness, and the ability for residents to ‘age in place.’ The new care unit has transformed two wings in an existing part of Saint Antoine Residence into a supportive community of hope and care for seniors.
“Saint Antoine Community stands out above all else when it comes to our continuum of care,” said Tammy Summiel, Executive Director of Primrose Lane Memory Care Assisted Living & The Villa Assisted Living. “Our population is living longer and memory care can place such an added burden on families who cannot manage all their needs at home. With the addition of Primrose Lane, Saint Antoine Community can further emphasize the importance of family above all else, and allow residents and their families to enjoy each other’s company without extra stress. We have further strengthened our continuum, while addressing a growing need for affordable memory care in Northern Rhode Island.”
Founded in 1913, Saint Antoine Community remains the largest long-term care facility in northern Rhode Island. All located on one campus, Saint Antoine Community provides access to rehabilitative services, assisted living, short/long term skilled care, and two tiers of residential memory care. Saint Antoine Community is located at 10 Rhodes Avenue, North Smithfield.
