Elderwise

Mission

Our mission is to enrich the lives of caregivers and adults living with dementia through teaching and demonstrating the Elderwise philosophy and practice of Spirit-Centered Care®.

Description

Currently celebrating over 25 years, Elderwise is dedicated to enriching the lives of adults living with dementia and their caregivers. Elderwise recognizes and nurtures the wholeness of older adults, regardless of their cognitive or physical ability, and meets their need to experience life deeply in the present moment. 

The three Elderwise Programs are:

Adult Day Program serves elders living with dementia from the Greater Seattle area and also is a model, demonstrating the practice of the Elderwise Way. It operates 3 days a week in the Memory Hub, a group of collaborating organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association, the Frye Art Museum and Full Life Care.  It is a place for adults living with dementia and their families to receive information, support and services. Our day program is a four-hour program that provides enrichment for body, mind and spirit. We specialize in therapeutic arts, singing, movement and meaningful conversations. Our participants’ caregivers not only value the respite but also the improved mood and openness of their loved-one after attending our program. 

Education Programs are foWe have seen the positive results the Elderwise programs have on individuals and families navigating the reality of living with dementia. Our intention is to make the Elderwise approach of Spirit-Centered Care® and therapeutic enrichment a part of the standard care for all adults living with dementia. We are confident in the quality of our approach having won two national caregiving awards in the past two years: the Family Caregiver Alliance Award for Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving in Creative Expression, 2021 and the Maude’s Award for Innovations in Alzheimer’s Care in Supporting Care Partners, 2022. r professional and lay caregivers, health care professionals, students and volunteers.

-Book: In 2020 we published a book, The Elderwise Way: A Different Approach to Life with Dementia. This book is available at Seattle and King County Public Library Systems, Third Place Books and Amazon. The book explains our philosophy of Spirit-Centered Care as well as our day program techniques.

-Online Course: An Overview of Spirit-Centered Care is available to organizations and individuals through our website. It is free of charge for students and people with low incomes.

Outreach Programs transport our therapeutic enrichment community focused watercolor classes to other senior facilities. We also partner with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Full Life Care and others to provide opportunities for artistic engagement. Our Artful Dementia watercolor exhibit, consisting of 25 framed paintings created in our adult day program by persons living with dementia was on display this June at the AN/T Gallery at the Seattle Center. 

Recognition

We have seen the positive results the Elderwise programs have on individuals and families navigating the reality of living with dementia. Our intention is to make the Elderwise approach of Spirit-Centered Care® and therapeutic enrichment a part of the standard care for all adults living with dementia. We are confident in the quality of our approach having won two national caregiving awards in the past two years: the Family Caregiver Alliance Award for Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving in Creative Expression, 2021 and the Maude’s Award for Innovations in Alzheimer’s Care in Supporting Care Partners, 2022.