Moments That Matter: Rediscovering Purpose in Memory Care
Over time, staff began noticing small changes in Andy like increased forgetfulness and occasional confusion. After about six months, it became clear that a move to Assisted Living would provide additional support and peace of mind. When Andy’s needs progressed, the family decided it was time he transitioned to Memory Care.
Joyce remained in Assisted Living, where she has found a rhythm she enjoys. She still attends activities with friends in Independent Living and now visits Andy in the memory care unit each day. Instead of carrying everything on her own, she can focus on simply being his wife.
Andy’s transition to Memory Care came with an understandable adjustment. But one conversation changed everything.
Jamie, Executive Director of Victorian Village, also leads the community’s Alzheimer’s support group in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association. It was there that Joyce shared something meaningful about Andy’s past.
He had once led children’s workshops at The Home Depot. Every month, he helped with Kids Club projects. It was hands-on work that he had always enjoyed and took pride in.
Jamie immediately saw the possibility. If that role had once defined him, perhaps reconnecting him to it could help him settle into Memory Care.
She reached out to the Homer Glen Home Depot location and spoke with Cheryl, who now helps coordinate the kids’ workshops. Jamie explained that she was hoping to bring something familiar back into Andy’s routine. Something tactile. Something meaningful.
The response was generous and immediate. The store donated twelve wooden kits, along with paint and wood glue, eager to support the effort.
A day or two later, Jamie brought the kits upstairs. Together, they selected a tow truck.
As the instructions were laid out and the small wooden pieces spread across the table, something shifted. Andy picked up the screws. He handled the hammer with confidence. He began talking about leading the workshops.
Each kit comes with a pin. After completing the project, he placed the pin on his lapel. He now wears it every day.
If asked directly about his time at Home Depot, he may not always recall the details. But when the materials are in front of him, the recognition is there. The memory lives in his hands.
Since that first build, hands-on projects have become part of his routine. The tactile stimulation helps him engage in a way that feels natural and familiar. His anxiety has lessened. The agitation has softened.
Joyce has seen it too. She still enjoys bingo and other events with her friends, but she now has the freedom to simply spend time with him without carrying the weight of daily caregiving responsibilities.
For Jamie, this story reflects something larger about Memory Care at Victorian Village.
“We try to learn who our residents were before memory changes began shaping their days,” she says. “Cognition may shift, but the person is still there. Our job is to find ways to bring that out.”
For Andy, that meant a wooden tow truck. A small lapel pin. The familiar rhythm of building something piece by piece.
Thanks to the generosity of The Home Depot in Homer Glen and a community committed to personalization, one resident rediscovered a part of himself that had not disappeared. It had simply been waiting for the right moment.
At Victorian Village, those are the moments that matter.
Alzheimer’s Support Group at Victorian Village
Navigating memory changes can feel overwhelming for families. That is why Victorian Village offers an Alzheimer’s support group in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association.
The group provides a safe space for spouses, adult children, and caregivers to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others walking a similar path. Conversations often include practical guidance, emotional support, and encouragement rooted in understanding.
It was during one of these gatherings that Joyce shared about her husband’s time leading children’s workshops at The Home Depot, a detail that ultimately helped shape his personalized Memory Care experience.
The support group meets the third Tuesday of every month from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Victorian Village’s private dining room. The meetings are open to families within the community. For many, it becomes not just a resource, but a lifeline.
