The Mooring Blog

The lessons of Covid-19

Maintaining exceptional care – in extraordinary circumstances At The Mooring, where our residential living environment involves unique risks to a vulnerable population, emergency planning had long been a priority. Long before Covid-19 was first identified in Washington State – where residential care facilities were particularly hard hit – we had already begun the process of… Read More

Farewell winter – we’re ready for spring.

Maine is well known for long winters, and the necessary limitations brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic made the winter of 2020-2021 feel longer than any in recent memory. At The Mooring, we embraced the challenge. And while our usual activity schedule involves lots of community-based activity, we got creative. Instead of trips to restaurants,… Read More

Introducing Moose and Otter

Care partners with four legs – and huge hearts. We’ve shared the story of the two pets who call The Mooring on Foreside home, but a little refresher is always worthwhile. Mick, our perpetually hungry yellow lab, is doing very well, taking housemates out on regular strolls, and cleaning up anything edible that finds its… Read More

Memory care gardening: a rich harvest of health, hope and happiness.

There’s a growing body of academic research that confirms what backyard gardeners already know: gardening is good for you. Given their propensity to produce fruits, vegetables and blossoms, it really comes as no surprise. From nutrition to soul-soothing beauty, gardens offer an incredible return on the investment of both time and money. But studies suggest… Read More

The Mooring at The Downs: Learning, Growing and Building on Success

We started this journey with an idea. Not the sort of idea that comes in a rush, all at once, but something much more deliberate – formed and shaped by years of experience in the world of assisted living and residential memory care. Over the course of those years, members of our team worked in… Read More

Making the most of every single day: the fine art of activities planning

Over the course of pretty much every lifetime, we’ll all see friends and loved ones faced with a dementia diagnosis. Given the ubiquity of the condition, it’s reasonable to have lots of questions about its impact on everyday life. In truth, those impacts vary widely from one person to another – and, over time, for… Read More

Recreational therapy: finding passion – and building connection

For most of us, the subject of dementia is one that exists in the periphery of our minds – until it’s diagnosed in a friend or loved one. When we finally experience its impact, there’s a natural inclination to learn as much – and as quickly – as possible. Like so many challenging topics, dementia… Read More

The Power of Pets

As anyone who’s had pets in the home can attest, they make life better. Puppies and kittens pretty much sell themselves: they’re cute, they’re cuddly, and they do a wonderful job of taking our minds off the trials and tribulations of everyday life. As they evolve into fully-grown dogs and cats, they become an indispensable part… Read More

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

Around here, we don’t really need much of an excuse to celebrate. But when Halloween arrives, we jump onto the holiday fast track, and embrace every opportunity we can to enjoy the season. Hardly a day goes by without a party, road trip, event or meal that brings us all together – and gives us… Read More

Home cooking for our housemates: Dessert First.

We live in a golden age of information. Science moves at the speed of light, and technology exposes us to a seemingly infinite stream of new knowledge on nearly every topic. And nowhere is that knowledge more abundant than in the area of nutrition. On one hand, it’s exciting. Logic suggests that the more we… Read More

Living with purpose: the story of Stephan Putnam

Like every housemate at The Mooring, Stephan Putnam came to us with a story of a life well lived. Steve, who was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease more than 15 years ago, was one of the first to call The Mooring home. Together with his partner, Mary Lou, Steve acknowledged that the disease’s impact on… Read More

Care Partners: the family we choose

In an industry where skilled, experienced care partners are in high demand, staff retention is a vital and ongoing consideration. At The Mooring, our standards are especially high, due in part to our commitment to the concept of universal caregiving. Under this concept, each care partner is responsible for all aspects of housemate care, regardless… Read More

Personalized programming with a focus on passion, family and wellbeing

Individualized Programming Each housemate at The Mooring is an individual, with a unique personality and distinct passions formed over a lifetime of experience. Despite its varied impacts, dementia doesn’t diminish those distinguishing characteristics, and we seek every opportunity to acknowledge and support the interests of each Mooring housemate. In most cases, our efforts are as… Read More

Memory care with context: preserving connections through continuing community engagement

When an individual is diagnosed with progressive memory loss, and cognitive abilities show increasing signs of decline, few things are more grounding and reassuring than the connections that have served to define and shape his or her life. Over time, the familiar takes on greater significance by providing context in a world that seems increasingly… Read More

The Mooring: creating the perfect fit

The onset of dementia strikes at the very core of an individual’s sense of self. As memory progressively fades, the familiar takes on ever increasing importance, providing a sense of security in a world where certainty and confidence is supplanted by growing confusion. As cognitive decline advances, new settings, varied routines and unfamiliar faces only… Read More

Memory care innovation that feels like home

Situated in a quiet forest glade, the first impression of The Mooring is comforting: it looks and feels like a meticulously maintained farmhouse. The impression is sustained as you enter the front door and make your way to the warm, welcoming interior, where you’re immediately greeted by an abundance of natural light filtering in through… Read More

The Mooring on Foreside: memory care’s brightest ideas – brought home

As a distinct specialty, the concept of memory care is relatively new. For decades, the impact of age-related dementia was addressed within the context of “elder care,” which glossed over the nuances of the countless mental and physical declines associated with aging. The designation also overlooked the fact that memory decline is sometimes diagnosed in… Read More