The Lantern memory care/dementia care wing at Morning Pointe of Hardin Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care has limited apartments available. It often has a waiting list.
The Growing Need for Memory Care
The need for memory care and dementia care services across the United States has been growing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2023 annual Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, there is a projected increase in Alzheimer’s cases of 16.7 percent in Tennessee between 2020 and 2025.
With the increase in dementia comes a greater need for clinical care and support for families of individuals facing a recent diagnosis. The demand has grown for secure and dementia-friendly residences where these individuals can find coordinated care tailored for their stage of disease, as well as meaningful interactions and activities suited to their needs, interests and abilities.
For all these reasons, the Morning Pointe of Hardin Valley campus is about to expand the local Alzheimer’s and dementia care options. It is adding a new, free-standing Alzheimer’s/memory care community next to the current building, which will transition to assisted living only. Together, the campus will offer a continuum of care for seniors with varying needs.
Expected to open in late 2024, The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence at Hardin Valley is located at 2433 Reagan Road, just down the road from Pellissippi State Community College and centrally located between Oak Ridge and West Knoxville.
“We are seeing an increased need for memory care services and support in our state, and now is the right time to expand our Hardin Valley campus to rise to meet that need,” said Greg A. Vital, Morning Pointe Senior Living co-founder and president. “We are committed to serving more families in the growing Knoxville area and support them on their journey with Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
About The Lantern
The Lantern will be a single-level building with 60 apartments. It will encompass two levels of care under one roof – Lamplight for early stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and Lantern for the more advanced stages. Residents can engage at a level of activity and care that provides the right amount of mental stimulation without being either underchallenged or overwhelmed. Care staff will be specially trained on the different stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia and how to care for each resident’s needs with compassion and comfort.
Memory care programming will include the Best Friends™ Approach, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, Meaningful Day™ purposeful programming, music therapy, art therapy, and cuddle therapy. There will also be a strong focus on clinical care with physical and occupational therapies, life enrichment and wellness offerings and intergenerational activities. In addition, residents will benefit from Morning Pointe’s Farm to Table program with local, farm-fresh and seasonal ingredients.
The memory care community will be the 40th Morning Pointe Senior Living community and the 24th in Tennessee.
Founded in 1997, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states: Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Indiana. Other local Morning Pointe campuses are located in Knoxville, Clinton, Powell and Lenoir City.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
