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aVONDALE THERApeutic
Living CentrE

There are many challenges associated with dementia that may create barriers to living and feeling at home within the community. Although no two experiences of dementia are the same, common symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty with language, problem solving and concentration can make day-to-day life difficult. These challenges potentially compromise the safety, activity and participation of persons with dementia living in the community.

Supportive environment that promotes activity while maintaining safety is one very important factor in the health and well being of persons living with dementia. To create a supportive environment means not only considering physical factors such as security within the home, but also social factors such as the quality of interactions between the person experiencing dementia and those in his/her social environment (i.e. family members, friends, acquaintances and support personnel).

The Therapeutic Living Centre (TLC) is a resource contained within the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region (ASNR) that helps people living with dementia, their families and the Niagara community learn ways to create supportive environments.

Core Values
At TLC the perspective of people with dementia is honoured and serves as the core value from which programmes are developed and continue to evolve.

Opportunity
TLC offers an opportunity for people living with dementia to be:
  - Accepted as people
  - Engaged as equal participants
  - Valued for their contribution and perspective
  - Supported as they face the challenges associated with dementia

The TLC suite includes four main areas (living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom) all of which follow three main principles for design:
Design Principles
  - Establishing safety/security
  - Providing orientation or wayfinding
  - Supporting functional ability/participation
Within each area of the TLC suite environmental features and strategies have been used to enhance safety, orient, and promote the participation of persons with dementia.
Environmental Features
  - Colour
  - Lighting
  - Sound
  - Texture
  - Furniture
Environmental Strategies
Task simplification
Adaptive aids and equipment

If you would like more information or a tour, please call the office:  905-687-3914.