This unit is providing a stable, quiet loving environment for those suffering from
Alzheimer's Disease.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease is an illness characterized by severe memory loss. As the disease progresses, memory loss becomes severe and erratic changes in mood and behavior may appear. Most individuals with Alzheimer's retain physical health, but "wander" and are unable to remember family members or understand their surroundings. In the final stage, individuals lose all ability to communicate and can no longer feed, dress, or care for themselves.
The Nebraska Masonic Home
The Nebraska Masonic Home, located in Plattsmouth, is a continuing care retirement community dedicated to providing loving, dignified care for Freemasons and their eligible female relatives. Masons have always had an obligation to aid and assist other Masons and their eligible female relatives. The Home helps fulfill this obligation.
Since opening the doors in September 1903, The Home has focused on creating a gracious, dignified lifestyle for its members. Through the years The Home has evolved from the original three story, 16-room private home to the current facility with a 58-bed 24-hour nursing care center, 14 private rooms in our Alzheimer Special Care Unit, 33 Assisted Living Apartment Units, and 19 Assisted Living Center rooms.
Every Nebraska Mason, friends of The Home, and many Masonic affiliated organizations help provide funds for daily operational expenses. True to its original purpose, The Masonic Home endures as a testament to the thoughtful concern and lasting loyalty that make the community of Freemasons unique.
A Special Alzheimer's Unit
The Nebraska Masonic Home Special Care Unit is dedicated to promoting the quality of life of its residents by creating a secure living environment that enriches and fulfills the lives of our eligible members of the Masonic family.
A special unit to care for members with Alzheimer's disease enables them to live in
comfortable, safe surroundings with grace and dignity. Caring for these individuals is
very difficult. Still possessing physical health, they "wander" the halls creating
concerns both for their safety and the privacy of our other members. The unit provides
these individuals with beautiful private rooms
(furnished to promote memory retention), an outdoor courtyard,
activity areas, and a dining facility.
The unit includes 14 private rooms. This is the recommended number of rooms by professionals in the field to insure manageability and quality of care. The number of rooms has been limited to provide each member with individualized attention to minimize the uncomfortable effects of the disease. Expansion may be necessary in the future and the unit has been designed to permit us to grow as our needs change.
A message from the Executive Director about
DEDICATION AND COMPASSION
In my many years of service here at The Masonic Home many changes have taken place - changes in the services offered to our residents and changes in the physical plant such as we experienced with the addition of the Alzheimer's Unit.
Alzheimer's disease is not a new ailment - a German physician first described the disease in 1907, but the problems connected with it have been recognized since the beginning of time.
Those afflicted with Alzheimer's disease deserve to be cared for with dignity and grace, and the heartache experienced by their relatives and friends is important to address as well.
Our new Alzheimer's Unit does just that . . . it is proof that we are dedicated to helping and caring for those who can no longer find their way alone. We want to continue in the forefront of care for the elderly with this addition to the services we already offer.
Mary C. Stapp, Executive Director