Brookdale Vestal West, formerly Emeritus at Woodland Place, is a newly constructedmunity which has been purposely designed and built for seniors who live with memory loss. Our community carries dual licenses by the State of New York Department of Health which allows us to offer even more extensive care for our residents.

Why choose an “Assisted Living Specializing in Memory Care” community?

At Brookdale Vestal West, we offer a unique type of community living for those who live with memory loss and it’s called “Assisted Living Specializing in Memory Care.”

Each person experiences the symptoms and progression of memory loss differently. And there are several “stages” of memory loss that need to be taken into special consideration when exploring senior living options. The earlier these stages are identified and addressed, the better.

Why is Brookdale Vestal West a better alternative to a typical assisted living environment?

• A resident living with memory loss may be “lost” or “confused” in an environment that doesn’t recognize or cannot address the challenges of memory loss.
• A resident who experiences memory loss may be ostracized or ignored by others because of an inability to keep up with conversation or remember fellow residents.
• Assisted Living activities and programming aren’t necessarily designed for residents who live with memory loss. Too much stimulation can be stressful and confusing. The inability to participate will cause withdrawal.
• The resident who has memory loss may need reminders for the activities of daily living (eating, bathing, toileting, etc.) that allow them to live their life in a dignified manner.
• As the memory loss progresses and care needs change, the right community will eliminate the need to move to a different facility.

Understanding our Expertise in Memory Care

Along with this programming expertise, we have a patient, compassionate care staff. These caregivers undergo specialized memory care training. They recognize these stages of memory loss and can help families deal with the frustrations that memory loss may bring. We also have a highly experienced Memory Care Director who designs and oversees our programming.

Brookdale Vestal West is located in the town of Vestal, a warm, friendly community in the Greater Binghamton, New York, area. Vestal offers a small town setting, yet is close to urban comforts and conveniences. The town of Vestal is home to the nationally recognized Binghamton University, a part of the State University of New York. Numerous malls and plazas offer excellent shopping while Vestal’s 20 parks and Rail Trail offer many opportunities for walking and exploring. Health care services are close by, with compassionate and caring medical staff at Lourdes Hospital, along with several medical centers with a diverse offering of medical providers and specialties. We are conveniently located near major highways (I-86, I-88 and I-81) providing easy access and a short driving distance to Syracuse, Albany, and Rochester; New York City and Buffalo; and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Major cosmopolitan cities like Toronto, Montreal, Boston and Washington, DC, are all within six hours by car. And, the Binghamton Regional Airport is only 25 minutes away.

Our Staff

We hire the people you would hire. If you were going to hire one person to care for your family member, you would look for the person who will provide care but also respect and friendship. We feel the same way. We seek to hire only those individuals who are passionate about senior care as their occupation. As a new team in a new community, we are committed to delivering the highest standards of care and service to our residents and their families. All of our caregivers undergo extensive, ongoing training. Their skills and knowledge encompass the aging process, accident prevention, communication techniques, infection control and how to manage disruptive behaviors. They also attend intensive training for our Clare Bridge memory care program. All employees understand the changes and challenges that occur with age and with memory loss.

Strong, Caring, Professional Relationships

We want to serve as a trusted resource for all seniors and their families seeking to understand memory care and memory loss regardless of whether they choose to live with us or not. Our goal is to connect with a network of talented professionals in the community so we can be the ultimate resource provider and help any senior in need of a solution. Also, we partner with a local rehabilitation provider who provides physical, occupational and speech therapy on site in our community. We offer cultural, family-oriented, spiritual and educational gatherings such as our monthly Memory Care support group. We host regular informational seminars. For example, we offer a monthly educational series which will be led by outside experts including geriatric care managers and noted neurologists. We also sponsor fun and interesting programs such as our Brain Health Lifestyle seminar. This is an outstanding opportunity for medical professionals, referral sources and family members to gain insights and share experiences.

Fine Dining

As we age, we don’t lose our taste for good food, interesting conversations, close friends, family and laughter. After all, these are the things that make us who we are and keep life vibrant and exciting. Brookdale Vestal West has an experienced Dining Services Director on staff who prepares three delicious and nutritious homemade meals every day. Our community offers the perfect combination of good food and good companionship for every dining experience. We also love to carry on our residents’ family traditions. Special occasions, birthday parties and anniversary parties are always welcome in either our activity room or our dining room areas. Our community is designed to be a homey, warm and inviting to both residents and their family and friends. We feel that if our residents can live well, they can better enjoy their lives.