Connections: Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care Near Bonney Lake, Washington
We've Navigated Memory Loss, Too.
Finding memory care in northwestern Washington doesn’t have to be daunting. Our community features the evidence-based Connections program. Our signature service is designed to help people with Alzheimer’s or dementia live comfortably, and we also support families.
Our memory care community provides a secure and stimulating environment. A committed, caring team offers a variety of activities designed to fit the needs of those living with cognitive decline.
We understand the time, effort, and emotional toll caregiving can take on a family. If your loved one’s care needs are beyond your abilities, our dementia care specialists may be able to help.
Who provides dementia care options in Pierce County?
The Rivers at Puyallup provides round-the-clock dementia care. It’s one of the only evidenced-based memory care programs in Washington.
Our team specializing in memory care near Tacoma, WA — including a licensed nurse — is specially trained to support people with various forms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. We also provide medication monitoring and assistance with activities of daily living. Some believe a memory facility may feel institutional, but our senior living community is designed to be comforting and secure.
Connections: Supporting Memory Care Family Members
Alzheimer’s and dementia do not only affect memory care residents. Family members’ lives are also impacted, and the Connections program is here to offer support. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities or struggling to cope with changes in your loved one, our program provides a range of resources designed to help you navigate this journey with compassion and understanding.
- Monthly support groups: Connect with others impacted by dementia and learn how to cope with the challenges through facilitated support groups in partnership with local senior living professionals and hospice providers.
- Educational resources: Access information about dementia, including symptoms, treatment options, and care strategies, through educational resources such as articles, videos, and webinars.
- Family involvement: Involve families in resident care and planning through regular care conferences. Family members can share their thoughts and concerns and work collaboratively with care staff.
- Family events: Participate in special celebrations that provide opportunities for residents and their loved ones to engage in joyful, meaningful activities that instill purpose.
- Caregiver training: Connections team members receive ongoing training from Dr. Petersen and other accredited sources to provide top-rated care, activities, and family communication.
- Sensory stimulation: We engage residents in sensory stimulation activities, such as music and art therapy, that can promote well-being and emotional expression. Our partnership with Dementia Live® offers the experience of cognitive impairment to family members.
- Pet therapy: Residents participate in pet therapy programs, which have been shown to reduce stress and improve socialization among dementia patients. We welcome family pets in visiting areas with prior approval.
Dr. Sandra Petersen’s Connections program sets our Alzheimer’s care in Puyallup apart. Our memory loss team includes dementia care specialists and Connections Academy graduates who provide exercise for the brain and body. Personalized care and intentional programming make a difference.
Looking for memory care units in Bonney Lake, Sumner, or Tacoma? Schedule a tour with The Rivers at Puyallup.
Connect - Move - Learn
The Connect, Move, Learn sequence is how our memory care community promotes neuroplasticity. The brain can continue producing healthy brain cells despite memory loss. Discover how staying engaged socially, physically, and mentally helps residents find their daily purpose.
Programming that
Makes a Difference
The right community and programming can significantly improve your loved one’s quality of life.
Engaging the Emotions
Connections can help your loved one stay engaged with:
- Aromatherapy to decrease agitation
- SingFit, a program shown to elevate mood and improve speech through singing classic songs
- The hobbies your loved one has always enjoyed like painting, drawing, and crafts
Encouraging Movement
The connection between the mind and body is well-established in scientific research, and the Connections program encourages physical activity to maximize quality of life. Under careful supervision, residents of The Rivers at Puyallup can participate in boxing, walking clubs, and other fitness programs to help them achieve an active body and mind.
Challenging the Brain
Our team is constantly finding ways for residents to engage with new information.
Activities designed for brain stimulation include:
- Word games
- Reminiscence therapy
- Book club
- Story time
We also provide a variety of brain-healthy foods for residents.
Supporting Socialization
Research-Backed Music Therapy for Dementia
Dr. Petersen is the memory care expert who inspires our program. We also partner with evidence-based programs like SingFit. This activity helps promote brain plasticity. We offer music therapy to ignite memories, encourage movement, and unite residents.
Inspired by Experience
Medical Director Dr. Sandra Petersen’s background in the memory care field goes back over 30 years, but it was her own experience that inspired the novel approach of the Connections program.
Over a decade ago, a stroke left her unable to use the left side of her body and connect with language skills; she even had trouble completing a sentence.
“The whole experience gave me not only sympathy, but empathy for those that struggle with cognitive decline,” says Dr. Petersen.
With the help of a brain health specialist, she worked her way back through a variety of techniques designed to rebuild neural pathways, including learning Spanish and ballroom dancing.
Watch to Learn More about Dr. Petersen's Story
“I wondered whether the same principles that helped me, like connecting through emotion, moving, and learning new information, could work to stimulate the brain of someone with cognitive impairment.”
Dr. Petersen
Connections Explained: A Comforting Home
Moving to assisted living or memory care can be difficult for older adults. Our program is working to remove the fear of the unknown and welcome residents home to independence. Senior care has been a personal and professional mission for Dr. Sandra Petersen for over three decades. Her practice focuses on neuroscience and the transformative power of rewiring the brain despite Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Is it time to talk
about memory care near Bonney Lake?
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How does memory care pricing work?
Learn about all of the quality features your loved one’s new lifestyle may include at a senior care community in contrast to a nursing home.
We provide independence despite memory loss.
View our memory care floor plans.
When I was a teenager growing up in Puyallup, I remember walking by The Rivers, and I thought that this place was so fancy. The people who live there are so lucky.
I lost my mother in November 2020. After mom passed, dad was diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimer’s. I needed to find dad a place that could help him as my mom did.
My first call was so nice and very helpful in getting dad placed at the Rivers. They came to my house to assess dad for what kind of care he needed. Whenever I have questions about dad’s care, they are always available to answer them. The front office ladies are always welcoming, and dads nurse has always put me at ease when I get worried about him. She has gone above and beyond to help dad.
The Rivers at Puyallup is a good place for your loved one. They really do make it feel not only like home but like your family. Thank you!”
Family Member Review
Family Member Review
