Greenwich nursing home takes new
approach to Alzheimer’s care

Rock ‘n’ roll versions of Christmas songs filled the hallway of the Redwood unit at Greenwich Woods Health Care Center late one recent afternoon.

Some residents, such as Arnoldo Castillo, dance to the keyboard music in the unit’s recreation room, while others stand and clap, or sit quietly petting one of the nursing home’s therapy dogs. Some wander down to the windowed lounge, which overlooks bird feeders set up in the wooded area below.

There is no shouting or yelling — the “sundowning,” or the late-day confusion and agitation often seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, which is what the residents on the secure unit all share.

While there used to be music two or three times a week up on Redwood, there’s now something for the residents to do every day between 2 and 4:30 p.m., whether it’s music and dancing, or a tea social.

The changes are among many that make up a new approach Greenwich Woods is taking in caring for people with dementia.

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