Macomb County issued the following announcement on Feb. 7.
The Macomb County Office of Senior Services, in partnership with the Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility, is pleased to announce the receipt of a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® (MIL) accreditation for its Goldenberry facility. The certification makes it the first adult dementia day center in the United States to be recognized by the MIL program.
“Macomb County is committed to providing innovative programs and services that ensure a high quality of life for all of our residents,” said County Executive Mark Hackel. “And this first-of-its-kind accreditation for our Goldenberry facility shows that commitment in action. I am incredibly proud of our team at senior services for finding this unique opportunity, putting in the work and receiving their credential. It’s a testament to how much they care for the people they serve.”
Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® (MIL) is a person-centered approach to living that involves understanding a person’s capabilities and interests and developing activities and plans of care that match the individual with their environment. This approach leads to greater independence and maintenance of remaining abilities among people with cognitive and physical disabilities. It also is a general approach to living that emphasizes the key values of respect, dignity and equality. MIL training is rooted in rehabilitative techniques and educational approaches originated by Dr. Maria Montessori. It has been developed through decades of gerontological and neuro-psychological research by Dr. Cameron Camp and his team.
“We are so excited and honored to have achieved this goal,” said Sheila Coté, director, Macomb County Office of Senior Services. “Staff were trained and exceeded requirements to attain certification.”
“Notably, since implementing the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle 12 principles, we have observed increased participation and fulfillment in the participants who attend Goldenberry,” said Jane Yanez, supervisor, Goldenberry.
Goldenberry is a state-of-the-art day program in Macomb County for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia-related conditions. The facility offers respite care for caregivers who are in need of assistance caring for their loved ones. The program includes meals/snacks, activities, exercise, transportation, health monitoring, medication management, personal care, socialization, caregiver support and much more. Staffing includes certified nursing assistants, registered nurse accessibility and a social worker with a 1:3 ratio of 1 staff to 3 participants. Staff provide continuous supervision and practice mandated safety protocols.
Funding assistance for Goldenberry is available through the Veterans Administration and the Area Agency on Aging 1-B. The program also offers a private pay rate, which is less than the cost of home health care.
Individuals with a loved one struggling with issues related to dementia or Alzheimer’s can visit macombgov.org/seniors for more resources. Additional information is also available by calling 586-469-5580.
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