Thomas Hall

Opened in February of 2005, Thomas Hall, the Alzheimer's-Dementia Care Center at Friends Nursing Home, is named in honor of the commitment made by the Thomas family to the Olney-Sandy Spring area community. Other major supporters of the Center include the Derrick family, the Ligon family, the Lansdale family and Sandy Spring Bank.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a group of conditions that all gradually destroy brain cells and lead to the progressive decline in mental functions. Vascular dementia, another common form, results in reduced blood flow to brain cells. There are many other forms and causes of dementia. Research has shown that specialized care and support improves the quality of life for individuals and their caregivers over the course of the disease.

Thomas Hall has been designed to provide the highest degree of specialized dementia care through the following means:

• Staffing numbers are at a high level.
• Staff receives on-going dementia care training.
• Activities focus on minimizing anxiety.
• Nature, live plants, family visits, and home-style dining give a peace to the soul that medicine cannot.
• Looped pathways encourage exercise and reduce anxiety.
• Large windows invite more sunshine known to lift spirits.
• Nursing stations are designed to keep residents in line of sight.

Thomas Hall features The Derrick and Ligon Houses designed with family kitchens and living rooms, scented rooms, and sound machines. New technology incorporated into Thomas Hall will eventually permit cameras to be in every resident's room. Family members, with their own computers, will be able to log on, and view and hear their family member.

The Activities Department provides an ongoing activities program based upon the social and emotional factors related to the resident's illness, and the resident's individualized interests and needs. While providing musical entertainment, and other meaningful activities, the Activities Department also supports community involvement through out-of-building events and other van outings.

The Lansdale Courtyard is a central open garden, featuring seasonal plants, a pergola and benches along the Sandy Spring Bank Heritage Walkway. Looped pathways surround the garden, providing residents the opportunity for exercise and fresh air in a secure garden setting.