Alzheimer's patients get assist by Allerton House

Dec. 24--A family's ability to care for a spouse or sibling who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia is generally difficult, but the Allerton House in Weymouth is giving these patients daily services in Memory Care, a new 16-unit apartment building.

Paul Casale, Jr., executive director for the Allerton House, said he anticipates there will be a big demand for the dwellings by families of Alzheimer's patients.

"Alzheimer's affects over 5 million people over the age of 65 nationwide," he said. "Our company has a history of providing care to residents who have memory or cognitive issues."

Casale said Allerton House is administered by Welch Senior Living, a Braintree based company founded in 1949.

The firm operates Management of Village at Proprietors Green, a senior living community in Marshfield, Management of the Village at Duxbury, a continuing care retirement community, and Allerton House in Harbor Park in Hingham, which provides residents with assisted living, memory care, and independent apartments.

Casale said Welch Senior Living management has worked hard with training its staff to provide the best care possible to people who will live in Memory Care and the assisted living units.

"Our families can see that a lot of time goes into training our staff," he said. "With memory care assistance, the staff receives training that goes above and beyond what the state requires. The care they provide is very special."

Casale said the staff assigned to Memory Care receives 10 additional hours of training to work with patients battling Alzheimer's or dementia.

"They deal with getting to understand Alzheimer's and with how to help residents and families cope with the disease," he said. "They spent a lot of time in training with the therapeutic activities and programs. There is a lot of training that goes into how to help residents in the program get through a day and with keeping them happy and safe."

Casale said the people who live in Memory Care receive a considerable amount of individual attention from the staff.

"The care they provide is very special," he said. "There is a lot of one-on-one time with the residents and small group activities and therapeutic activities."

Casale said the nursing ratio at Allerton is one nurse for every three residents.

"In the Memory Care, we have a program director," he said. "We also have an enrichment coordinator who oversees activities for the residents. We have nursing assistants that provide day to day care for the residents."

Casale said there is a huge need in Weymouth for the Memory Care apartments.

"We are seeing a lot of our residents and families trying to cope with dementia and Alzheimer's," he said.

Casale said three residents recently moved into the Memory Care division.

"We anticipate these units will fill up fast," he said.

Casale said Allerton offers people who live in Memory Care a peaceful setting to live in.

"There are two therapeutic gardens where residents can go outside and enjoy the patio and gardens in a secure setting," he said.

Casale said there is a lot of entertaining that goes on during the day at Allerton for people who live in all the units.

"We have a lot of crafts and a nice painting program," he said. "Our residents get involved with therapeutic painting."

Casale said Allerton is located in a safe neighborhood on Broad Street near two baseball fields used by the Weymouth Little League and Weymouth Youth Soccer.

"We have residents here whose grandchildren play on these fields," he said. "The residents can look out their windows and see their grandchildren playing soccer and baseball which is pretty awesome. It is a nice and quiet setting for our residents. There are nice walking trails around the common where residents can take a nice walk and be safe."

Casale said Allerton has 10 independent living apartments.

"There are eight independent units with one bedroom and two units with two bedrooms," he said "They are oversized apartments complete with a washer, dryer and all the modern appliances. The independent units have wood floors, carpeted bedrooms, granite counter tops, hearing, and air conditioning."

Casale said Allerton has 70 assisted living units for residents with varying health issues.

"It is our largest section," he said.

Casale said Allerton has been in Weymouth since 1999.

"Allerton is at the site of the (former ) Central Junior High School," he said. "We are a prominent member of the Weymouth community. We try to give back to the community. They have been good to us through the Council on Aging and Weymouth Elder Services."

Casale said his grandfather and grandmother founded Welch Senior Living in 1949.

"Their seven children helped provide care," he said. "It really was a family business. Obviously, the company has grown over the years and expanded all of the South Shore by providing skilled nursing care, assisting living and home care services. Now the company is focusing on independent living and memory care."

Casale said he is proud of what his family has accomplished since the senior living program was founded.

"I'm happy to be part of that and to carry the torch as a fourth generation member of the company," he said.

Reach Ed Baker at ebaker@wickedlocal.com.

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