Thrive with Parkinson’s: with Geriatrician Mehrdad Ayati, MD & the Parkinson’s Foundation
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Thrive with Parkinson’s: with Geriatrician Mehrdad Ayati, MD & the Parkinson’s Foundation
Saturday, April 6th 11am-1pm at Little House Activity Center. Click HERE & RSVP Today!
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Living With Dementia

Receive specialized care for all types of dementia.

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young couple with senior laughing outside

4 Common Types of Dementia

An accurate diagnosis for dementia is an important first step in receiving necessary care that will help those diagnosed maintain the best quality of life possible. Get to know more about the common types of dementia.

The Most Common Type of Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease occurs when amyloid protein deposits and tau protein deposits form plaques and tangles around brain cells.

A diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease could be given for mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. As symptoms begin they often include short-term memory loss and increasing forgetfulness. As symptoms progress they may include more impulsive behaviors, agitation, and issues recognizing loved ones. More severe symptoms require higher levels of care, as someone may struggle to communicate their needs and may need more physical assistance.

A spectrum of related disorders

Lewy Body Dementia, or Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), involves abnormal protein deposits called alpha-synuclein (“Lewy bodies”) that collect in the cortex and affect chemical messengers.

It’s common but sometimes more difficult to diagnose because it’s so closely related to other disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Lewy Body Dementia often causes cognitive decline including an inability to organize thoughts, sleep disorders, and visual hallucinations, as well as mobility issues such as muscle rigidity and loss of coordination.

Those with Lewy Body Dementia often need a broad spectrum of care to manage symptoms.

Dementia and cardiovascular health

Vascular dementia is also called post-stroke dementia because it’s caused by brain damage that is traced to cardiovascular problems or mini-strokes.

It is commonly diagnosed when drastic health or behavioral changes occur immediately following a stroke.

Symptoms correspond to the parts of the brain where strokes are detected and cause changes in personality and reasoning. They’re primarily cognitive, including forgetfulness, misplacing items, delusions or hallucinations, and lack of judgment.

Medication management is important in preventing or slowing further brain damage and specialized care is often needed to manage heart health and cognitive symptoms.

Dementia affecting the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) or Frontotemporal Degeneration occurs when abnormal amounts or forms of proteins (tau and TDP-43) accumulate inside neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes.

Symptoms might include changes in personality and emotional states, difficulty organizing, impulsive behaviors, struggles with understanding and speaking language, and movement issues such as shaky hands and difficulty balancing or walking.

As the disease progresses, people often withdraw from those around them and their surroundings. Communication skills weaken, making it essential to provide specialized care to keep the person as comfortable and healthy as possible.

Commonly asked dementia questions

We understand that getting a dementia diagnosis raises many questions for your entire family. At Kensington Place Redwood City we’re here to help you navigate this new stage of life. 

The answers to these commonly asked questions are a starting point. If you have further questions, please reach out to us and share your thoughts, questions, and needs: (650) 822-6870.

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia. It’s actually the most common type that is diagnosed, accounting for 60-80% of all cases.

Alzheimer’s causes difficulty with memory, thinking, and sometimes behavior. As it progresses from early-stage Alzheimer’s disease to middle and advanced stages, the person diagnosed may need more attention and care.

It currently has no cure but, like many other forms of dementia, there are treatments that improve the quality of life for those diagnosed and their families.

Kensington Place Redwood City provides the right specialized treatment, tools, environment, and compassion to give each resident the individualized support they need.

What is dementia?

Dementia itself is not a specific disease. It is instead a term that encompasses a group of conditions that cause cognitive impairment.

The various forms of dementia can affect a person’s way of thinking and cause issues with memory loss, reasoning, problem solving, speaking and understanding language, and other cognitive functions.

Dementia is progressive, so its symptoms worsen over time and interfere with a person’s activities of daily life, sometimes even causing physical limitations. In its early stages, it may go undetected but as it progresses through the seven stages, it often causes a decline in a person’s ability to function independently.

Although there is currently no cure for dementia, Kensington Place Redwood City provides treatments that improve the quality of life for those with dementia and their loved ones.

What are the leading causes of dementia?

Dementia is usually caused by degeneration in the cerebral cortex of the brain, as the cerebral cortex is responsible for our thoughts, memories, actions, and personality.

Often, a buildup of certain proteins in the brain or cardiovascular issues such as strokes can lead to deterioration of brain cells in this region, causing the cognitive impairments that characterize dementia.

What is memory care?

Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living where residents live in an environment that is safe and structured, designed specifically to manage their symptoms, lower stress, and provide the compassion and care they need to live comfortably.

Memory care at Kensington Place Redwood City provides residents with around-the-clock care from specially trained medical professionals and staff.

Our two memory care neighborhoods, Connections and Haven, allow for tailored and individualized care.

We also provide partnership programs and collaborations with specialized professionals who generate positive care outcomes based on current research findings.

To help residents thrive as much as possible physically, mentally, and spiritually, we provide customized small-group activities, special time with family and friends, and all-day dining as well. We also provide educational resources for residents and their families, including our blog, Kensington Konnect, and ongoing events.

What are Connections and Haven?

The Connections Neighborhood

Connections is designed for residents who are experiencing early-to-middle stages of Alzheimer’s and provides an intimate and comfortable environment. As such, the neighborhood cares for those who are showing increasing signs of memory loss.

In Connections, we strive to help residents to engage with interactions and socialization every day independently. Our daily programming guides them to find purpose and meaning every day. We stay attuned to our residents’ maximum cognitive abilities and recall to make the most of their strengths, supporting them and their families.

The Haven Neighborhood

Designed for those residents showing more advanced signs of memory loss, Haven provides peace and security for those with middle-to-late stages of Alzheimer’s.

Since these individuals require more assistance and a higher level of care, we strive to create a safe and soothing space with minimal agitation and an abundance of compassion.

How do I know if memory care is the right option?

The right time to transition a loved one to memory care is different for every family.

It may be prompted by a specific dementia diagnosis. Or you may consider changes in behavior or needs that may require more specialized care.

Is there a noticeable difference in cognitive function, behavioral changes, or diminishing physical health? Has physical safety become a concern? What would provide the best circumstances both for the person with dementia and their caregivers?

It’s also important to research and consider what care options are available and what you feel most comfortable with. Dementia can be challenging to navigate, so you want a care team that your family can trust so that you feel confident about your next steps.

We’re here to help if you would like to discuss your questions and options to know if  memory care is the right option for you.

What makes Kensington Place Redwood City different?

At Kensington Place Redwood City we specialize in providing enhanced memory care services, offering the opportunity for true aging in place for seniors needing a full spectrum of memory care.

We’ve developed two specialized neighborhoods: Connections for those in early to middle stages of memory loss and Haven for those in middle to late stages of cognitive impairment.

In Haven, we have the best caregiver-to-resident ratio in the San Mateo area, with one caregiver to five residents.

With a mix of both state-of-the-art resources and loving care, our memory care program  considers the degree of memory loss, the comfort and safety of the individual, and all the ways we can preserve and enhance the quality of life for each resident.

We know that managing dementia can feel complicated for the person diagnosed and their family. We’re here to work alongside you, providing support that is customized to your loved one’s individual needs.

We treat your loved ones as if they were part of our own family. Our hope is that we can provide you with peace of mind and confidence that your loved one is fully supported in loving, capable, professional hands. We work to relieve your worries and burdens so that you can create more shared moments with your loved one.

team members and residents in the garden planting
grandfather with daughter and grandkids outside
team members and residents in the garden planting
grandfather with daughter and grandkids outside

Only the Best for You Because the Best is All Kensington Knows How to Do

1

Reach out to us to get started.

We’re here to discuss any needs and questions you have and to explain all of the memory care services we offer.

2

Understand your options.

We’ll help you determine whether our specialized services meet the needs of you, your loved one, and the entire family.

3

Get the best care possible.

Becoming a resident at Kensington Place Redwood City means receiving a full spectrum of continuous and customized care to age comfortably in place.

We’ll help you navigate a dementia diagnosis

Receiving a dementia diagnosis brings on many challenges for families, from coping with changes to taking action and managing care needs. It’s not something you need to manage on your own.

Kensington Place Redwood City is honored to specialize in navigating these challenges alongside you. We’re here to answer questions about dementia care, offer innovative care and therapy options, and provide a tour of our unique memory care community.

Share a few details about your situation. We’ll get in touch to see how we can make a positive difference. If you’d like to speak with someone right now, call us at (650) 822-6870.

Learn more about dementia care at Kensington Place Redwood City
Learn more about dementia care at Kensington Place Redwood City

Meet Kymberly, Our Memory Care Manager

Kymberly joined our Kensington Family as a Lead Care Partner when our community opened in 2015. She excels in all she does, and her passion and drive led her to becoming our Connections Memory Care Manager. She says, “my philosophy is to always treat our residents with the respect and care they would receive from their loved ones. My heart is full knowing that I serve our residents in the most dignified and loving way.”

Meet Jody, Our Director of Nursing Services

Jody has over 25 years of nursing experience in a variety of healthcare settings, but she truly has a passion for caring for seniors. Her commitment to excellence and dedication to providing the best care possible to our residents has wowed us all. She also has a sweet dachshund puppy named Wendy, who frequently visits our community!

Specialized dementia services at Kensington Place Redwood City

With enhanced memory care services, Kensington Place Redwood City provides a full spectrum of exceptional memory care for those diagnosed with dementia. 

Memory care is most effective when each resident’s degree of memory loss and individual health needs are considered in designing their unique care program. Our residents age comfortably in our community while also being provided with opportunities to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually. 

Led by our dedicated Director of Memory Care, our Memory Care team is available day and night to assist with all stages of dementia.

To learn more about how our services may apply to your situation, reach out to us at (650) 822-6870.

  • Physician services on-site

  • Licensed nurses on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

  • On-site rehabilitation, recovery, and fitness services through partnership with HealthPro Heritage

  • Two memory care neighborhoods, Connections and Haven, designed for all stages of dementia

  • Extensive and ongoing support for each resident

  • Staff-to-resident ratio based on resident needs

  • Medication and diabetes management

  • Support programs including wheelchair assistance, two-person or three-person assists, wound care, and hospice

  • Psychological and psychiatric services

  • Specialized all-day dining services

  • Complementary meals for families and guests

  • Life enrichment programming, 7 days a week

Our Promise

To love and care for your family as we do our own.

Our Hallmarks

  • Fostering Choice
  • Encouraging Independence
  • Protecting Dignity
  • Engaging Family and Friends
  • Enriching Each Day

Our Values

  • Love for Seniors
  • Respect for Each Other
  • Passion for Excellence
  • Spirit to Serve

Living with Dementia

Get the care you need for all stages and types of dementia.

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