Even as the landscape of older adult services is changing, our mission and values remain as guides as we navigate into the future. They enable and empower us to evolve our services to meet the changing needs of individuals and their families.

We know that service delivery improves through the promotion of innovation, new technology and best practices. As our work continues to thrive and grow, we actively seek innovative ways of caring for individuals we serve.

Jennings is continuously exploring ways that technology and practices can directly improve and support each person's quality of life in a unique way. Here are a couple of examples:

Safe Movement program

Musculoskeletal injuries sustained on the job by healthcare workers are one of the highest among all professions, even more than construction. Jennings introduced the safe movement program in 2006 to prevent injuries that result from moving and assisting residents and patients across all care settings.

This equipment – ceiling lifts, fast rising electric beds, and sit to stand lifts – combined with ongoing education and the addition of equipment has made a tangible impact for staff and residents.

Safe movement equipment and practices - such as ceiling lifts, fast rising electric beds, and sit to stand lifts – combined with ongoing education and the addition of equipment has made a tangible impact for staff and residents.

Music and Memory

Research has shown that our brains are hard-wired to connect music with long-term memory. As a result of enabling individuals to readily listen to meaningful music, individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are happier and more social, experience less anxiety and agitation, have deeper relationships, and are less reliant on medications.

Through the generosity of The Reinberger Foundation, Jennings is incorporating best practices in Alzheimer’s care and research in our specialized memory care neighborhoods through the Music and Memory℠ program, in which personalized playlists enable those living with dementia to reconnect with the world through memories triggered by music.

In just six months of using Music and Memory, there has been a positive impact. Some residents use the music interventions as part of their regular routines and find it a welcome relaxation. In addition, we were able to reduce as-needed (PRN) psychotropic medication by 58% in one neighborhood.

The following video illustrates the immediate impact of music and memory with a particular resident.

PLEASE NOTE: The first few seconds of the video are very difficult to watch. You will see that Dorothy is trying to verbally communicate without success, and she is becoming increasingly frustrated. When her caregiver approaches Dorothy with her personalized playlist, watch as Dorothy physically relaxes from her shoulders all the way to her tapping toes.

Fall protection flooring

Even with precautions and technology, it is nearly impossible to completely prevent falls. The prospect of getting physically stronger now has extra support in Jennings’ Gardenside Rehabilitation and Jennings at Notre Dame Village small houses: fall protection flooring.

This specialized flooring is in all the resident and patient suites as another layer of preventing injury. Studies have shown that fall protection flooring can mitigate up to 60% of severe injury from a fall by absorbing much of the impact instead of the body.

Paro Seal

Jennings welcomed Paro the seal to the Garfield Heights campus. Fluffy and antibacterial, Paro is a robotic baby harp seal designed as a therapeutic animal to enhance interactions with individuals and has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, wandering, and aggressive behavior.

Paro recognizes motion and voices and responds with soothing actions such as wiggling, cooing for attention and adjusting its temperature.