Keeping Hope in Mind

For seniors facing cognitive decline, Savannah offers a wide range of resources and care options to help bridge the gap between age and agency.

Written by ZACHARY HAYES

FOR MANY AGING AMERICANS, the golden years can feel tarnished by the slew of challenges that can arise in this new stage of life in the form of social stigmas, illnesses, and the fight to maintain independence. Navigating these pressures can feel overwhelming for even the most capable seniors. But for those who face the daunting rigors of early-stage dementia, adjusting to these new realities can be a nearly impossible task without the proper support and guidance.

Thankfully, Savannah seniors don't have to maneuver these uncharted waters alone. From access to groundbreaking Alzheimer's treatments to a variety of senior-tailored care options, Savannah is home to a uniquely robust suite of resources carefully crafted to provide hope and comfort to those wanting to bask in the autumn of life.

Care That Connects

Most often, this next chapter starts in a doctor's office. Many seniors facing the early stages of cognitive decline seek guidance from their primary care physicians, but as their conditions progress and their needs become more specific, the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional primary care might not cut it. Even something as simple as longer appointments can make a world of difference when confronting these confusing and frightening changes.

"So many patients come in and say, 'The doctor didn't even sit down when they came to see me," says Dr. Donell Collins, associate medical director of CenterWell Senior Primary Care in Georgia. "That doesn't happen in our visits."

CenterWell, which recently expanded its national presence with a new practice in Victory Heights last October, provides a holistic, senior-tailored approach to primary care, employing a staff of physicians, social workers, behavioral health specialists, and pharmacists who specifically cater to the needs of older patients, including those reckoning with the various stages of dementia. For Collins, this process starts with gentle, yet thorough conversations about care.

"We try to have these conversations as early as possible," he says. "And, ultimately, the goal is to be able to understand the patient and meet their requests and desires. To me, this is important for patient autonomy."

From providing in-home care options to developing curated care plans, agency and dignity are at the core of CenterWell's approach to primary care.

"The main thing for us is keeping patients living at home, which is what most patients want," says Collins. "That means bringing the care they need to wherever they are, whether that is coming to see us in the clinic or we come into their home. Our goal is to keep them independent as long as safely possible."

New Treatments, New Perspectives

Even with the bespoke approach of senior-tailored primary care, some patients may need to explore more specialized care options as cognitive changes develop. Luckily, Savannahians facing the early-stages of dementia and Alzheimer's have access to groundbreaking new treatment options that can help prevent and slow the progression of these diseases.

"An early and accurate diagnosis today doesn't mean what it did six years ago," says Britni Johnson, an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner and Georgia Memory Net (GMN) provider at Savannah Neurology Specialists.

Johnson helped develop the practice's infusion protocols for the new FDA-approved anti-amyloid medications, including Legembi and Kisunla, which help slow disease progression by removing the trademark plaques that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. In clinical trials, Kisunla slowed cognitive decline by up to 35% over 18 months when compared to a placebo. Though not a cure, these medications represent a new hope for early-stage dementia patients looking to extend and improve the quality of their lives.

But before treatment can be discussed, diagnosis is key, which is why Savannah Neurology Specialists partnered with GMN in 2023 to provide patients with access not only to accurate diagnostic tools but to connections to key local care resources as well.

"The big thing that GMN does is it allows us to have this community services educator role dedicated to knowing everything that's accessible in our area," says Johnson.

"Because, at the end of the day, you go home with a diagnosis, but what does that mean moving forward?" adds Sophie Clark, the memory clinic coordinator at Savannah Neurology Specialists. "That real-world help and support is so needed."

In addition to the new treatments and their work with GMN, Savannah Neurology Specialists is also rolling out a new approach to holistic dementia care through a partnership with the federal GUIDE program this July. The GUIDE program, offered exclusively to Medicare recipients, expands on the success of GMN to provide patients with comprehensive dementia care, including access to respite care services and more supportive advanced care planning.

"It's kind of like GMN on steroids," says Clark.

Savannah Neurology Specialists is one of only a few practices in the state - and the country - that offers such a wide array of options for dementia patients, and the success of these programs gives providers like Johnson and Clark immense hope for the future.

"If there's anything out there that is groundbreaking for Alzheimer's disease, we're gonna have our hands in it," Johnson says.

Where Care Meets Community

Like everyone, older adults, even those with mild cognitive impairment, still crave the pleasures of life and companionship that can imbue their later years with meaning and purpose. To help fill those gaps, Senior Citizens Inc., a local nonprofit celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, has developed an impressive variety of resources and activities designed to meet seniors where they are.

"You don't know how hard it is to go through the aging process until you're in it," says Patti Lyons, president and CEO of Senior Citizens Inc. "We look for ways that we can fill any unmet need, whether it's something we provide or something that's in the community."

From facilitating Meals on Wheels to training senior companions to providing a range of in-home and respite care services, including those provided by their brand-new DayBreak Center on Skidaway Island, Senior Citizens Inc. has programs that can meet just about any need an independent senior might face.

"Even the little things," adds Lyons. "Say we go to their home to do an assessment, spend time with them, and we notice, 'Well, golly, their porch needs repairs,' then we try to solve that problem."

Of all their care options, Lyons is especially proud of The Learning Center, which provides an eclectic and wide-ranging array of programming directly inspired by the special interests and hobbies of its members. Located in-person at the Center for Successful Aging on Bull Street, as well as their satellite campus on Skidaway Island, most of their programming is also available online, allowing members to join in on the action from the comfort of their own homes. Just this last spring, they hosted events on medieval castles of Ireland, yoga, space exploration, Greek mythology, and Romantic composers. If there's a unique topic of interest inspiring the minds of Savannah's seniors, The Learning Center is likely exploring it.

"What I enjoy about working at Senior Citizens Inc. is that every day is different," says Lyons. "Every day is joyful, and every day brings the opportunity to help people be able to say that they've had a life well lived. I feel like the most fortunate person in the world to have found this."

As Savannah's seniors take their first steps on this new path, few things are more important than surrounding oneself with those who can provide the support and direction they might need. Between the trials of age itself and the fear and confusion that haunt those facing cognitive decline, nobody should feel they have to confront these changes on their own. The trick, a guiding principle that Savannah's senior care community holds dear to its heart, is finding support that recognizes the dignity and wisdom of our elders, and strives to nurture it.

"These are real people," says Clark. "They're more than just their PET scan or their MRI results. Even though we're looking at results all day, there's a human being. There's a name, a person attached to those results, and they have family members who love them dearly. That's why I come to work every day."