John and Jean Schopbach began their journey through dementia in 2013 when Jean was diagnosed. In 2018, following a short stay in rehab, Jean moved to WindSong at Northridge, a Memory Care Community in Greeley, Colorado.
John & Jean Schopbach
John did not know what to expect at WindSong, but past experiences had set his expectations low. He was pleasantly surprised to find that by the end of her first month she was actively engaging in her new community and enjoying herself. She could frequently be seen vacuuming, washing dishes and even ironing while living at WindSong. These were things that Jean had done her entire life as a homemaker and mother of 4. John fondly describes a time where he and Jean were able to resurrect the family tradition of making Apple Pizza – only now for the residents and staff. She was enabled to continue living her life, doing the same things she would have, without dementia.
John also found an extended family and a purpose at WindSong. He visited daily and began reading the newspaper each morning with the residents. He also led exercise classes, collaborating with staff, and researching on his own. He attended Dr. Camp’s presentation on the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle and states, “I felt enlightened. This really expanded my thinking. I thought doing things for them was helpful. But really, encouraging them to do for themselves is the best thing. I wish more places would adopt this philosophy”.
Windsong at Northridge takes person-centered care to an elevated level by involving residents in decisions about how they want to live their lives and by considering their full range of needs. This is the essence of the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle. For more information, please contact Lynn at 970.449.7199 or a l.h.ugarte@windsongmemorycare.co