Heritage Springs Memory Care prides itself on its quality care of residents at its Montoursville area living community.

“It takes a really special person to work in memory care,” Executive Director Emily Anthony said. “It takes dedication and compassion.”

Heritage Springs opened its doors two years ago to help meet the demand of seniors suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Some 40 employees are involved in the care of those living at the 60-bed facility located along Old Cement Road.

Residents receive compassion combined with a strategic care model, according to Anthony.

Different levels of care are used to meet the special needs of individual residents, and for good reason. Every time someone makes a transition, it decreases their level of functionality, Anthony said.

“That is why we have three levels of care. Activities and various amenities help make residents comfortable and feel at home. We try to keep them in a routine,” Anthony said. “All of our staff are dementia trained, and we are very big on activities.”

Heritage Springs, unlike a traditional hospital or health system, focuses solely on caring for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The goal is to do as much as possible in house.

Hertitage Springs provides on-call physician services, therapy, and diversions geared toward physical activities.

Most residents are house in single-person rooms. There are semi-private rooms as well.

Overall, demand for community living residences such as Heritage Springs is high in this area.

“We generally have about two admissions a week,” Anthony said.

Staff are specially trained to take care of residents and undergo ongoing education.

“We haven’t had great turnover (of employees),” Anthony said.

The COVID19 pandemic, she said, presented its own challenges, but staff has been able to adapt while still meeting the needs of residents.

“All of our staff are very dedicated to residents, because they are like our family,” she said.

Heritage Springs Memory Care also has a living community in Lewisburg.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks, according to the National Institute of Aging.

It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.

An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s dementia.