“Our goal is to help dementia care patients live comfortably,” said Wielechowski.
Dorothy missed her independence. She missed the personal touches and sentimental remnants of her life that now sat in boxes while she sat in a sterile hospital-like room with caregivers who, while competent, seemed impersonal and distracted.
Eventually, it became evident that Aunt Dorothy suffered not only from the result of her fall, but also from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Because of a lack of care options at that time in Southern New Jersey, Sue embarked on a journey to explore options for private residential care. She soon realized how very many individuals had fallen through the cracks of a broken system. She discovered that many patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s were not fairly represented in the home-care community, so she decided to open her own residential home in 2009.
Flash forward to 2024, Sue now owns and operates seven private residential care homes in Northern Arizona, each with a focus on what she refers to as “person-direct care.” One-on-one care is provided for individuals, not bodies with a collection of symptoms, known as “warehousing.” Circle of Life’s focus is on the person as a whole. Despite the challenges and limitations of dementia and Alzheimer’s, Circle of Life homes provide an environment that recognizes the unique qualities, abilities, interests and preferences of their residents.
“Our goal is to help dementia care patients live comfortably,” said Wielechowski. “The house revolves around the residents. Our homes look like the kind of homes most people lived in all of their lives. These are homey homes, not nursing homes. We decorate for the holidays and home-cooked meals are served daily. Visitors are monitored for the safety of our residents, but family and friends are always welcome and visiting hours are open, just like at your house.”
Circle of Life operates seven Northern Arizona private residential care homes, with four in Prescott, two in Cottonwood and one in Flagstaff. They provide trusted, kind and compassionate caregivers who understand residents’ medication, eating schedules and personal preferences. Mental and physical activities are offered daily, all with the preferences of the residents in mind. Circle of Life also serves as a valuable resource in the community for families struggling with the ongoing challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Sue noted, “We are here to help the community navigate what can be a very difficult process when a loved one needs dementia care. We help them find available resources, speakers, support groups and financial assistance, including Medicaid options within the Arizona Long Term Care System.”
The Circle of Life Senior Resource Center, which can be found on the website below, serves as a one-stop shop of sorts for seniors and families facing a diagnosis they may not fully understand and for which they have limited resources. Also, their services are absolutely free of charge.
“Our Home Health and Hospice Care Admissions Team is uniquely trained and equipped to work with seniors and families who need to have their loved ones placed in either assisted living or skilled care facilities,” said Wielechowski. “Each person is unique, and each case is different. We help families navigate their way through what may, at first, seem like very stormy seas.”
Sue is also a trained End of Life Dementia Doula, who specializes in providing companionship, comfort and guidance to those facing a terminal illness or death as a result of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. She is skilled at providing the emotional, spiritual and practical care needed during this time and also acts as a liaison between the medical healthcare team, patients and their families.
Also, Circle of Life Alzheimer’s homes are recognized as an Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Excellence in Care Site, which ensures the highest standards of care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. QCBN
By KayAnne Riley
Learn more about Circle of Life at www.circleoflifecare.com. Images of their private care residences are available on the site as well as a Senior Resource Center, which includes additional information on dementia care and Alzheimer’s, as well as services they provide for patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Parkinson’s Disease. They can be reached at 833-681-4996. Contact Susan Wielechowski directly via email at susan@circleoflifecare.com.
KayAnne Riley is a former U.S. Marine combat correspondent and military broadcaster who is now a Prescott realtor, freelance writer and Trader Joe’s Crewmember.
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