Cassia in the News

Multi-sensory Environment Stimulates New Brain Activity for Those with Alzheimer’s

In spring 2015, Emerald Crest by Augustana Care in Burnsville began using a new multi-sensory environment to stimulate brain activity and capability for older adults and other individuals with Alzheimer’s and similar conditions. One resident who had not spoken for at least a year talked to staff and family members after being in the environment for only 30 minutes.

“This environment helps exercise the brain, spurring healthy brain cells to connect and form new pathways,” says Cognitive Specialist Theresa Klein. The environment is the first of its kind to be used with older adults dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, though it has been used to help children and adults with developmental disabilities here.

Read more in this article, published in Sun ThisWeek.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journals Eureka! Innovation Awards honor the activity surrounding startups, new products and business transformations. Augustana Care is pleased to announce we are one of the organizations who received an award in 2016, recognizing our multisensory environment at Emerald Crest by Augustana Care. The environment was designed for people with Alzheimer’s and similar conditions. Learn more in the Journal’s news story about Augustana Care.