The good news is that today in 2010 we are living longer, healthier lives. We understand what healthy living is all about and what it takes to keep our bodies and minds in better shape. According to a U.S. Census Bureau report published in August 2008, a man’s life expectancy in 2010 is 75.7 years; for women, it is 80.8 years. The same report states that in 2020 those numbers will be 77.1 years for men and 81.9 years for women.

We are combating diseases and using medical technology to keep us alive far longer than our parents and grandparents. A longer life increases the time in which we can develop disease, however. According to the Archives of Neurology, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80% of all dementia. A staggering 5.3 million Americans now have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This means that one in eight people over the age of 65, or 13% of our population, are effected. It is estimated that by 2030, that number will reach 7.7 million people.

Tom Ruffino, owner of Comfort Care Homes in Omaha, has faced the challenges of this disease on a very personal level. In 2002, when his own mother needed special care because of the progression of her dementia, he and his wife, Joyce, began the search for a facility designed for patients with dementia. Tom recalls, “The facilities we saw were larger, more institutional, louder, and busier than what we felt would be best for my mother.”

With a background in health and human services and specifically family issues, Tom decided to buy a franchise of Comfort Care Homes. The company is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Tom now owns and operates four ranch-style homes in various Omaha neighborhoods. As Tom says, “The smaller, more intimate settings of our homes work well for our dementia patients. There is less confusion and more flexibility in our homes.”

For instance, a large and noisy dining room can be disturbing for dementia patients. At Comfort Care Homes, Tom says there is less of a need for all the rules and regulations that sometimes go along with larger facilities. The staff can cook foods they know the residents enjoy while still meeting certain state dietary regulations. Most importantly, they strive to provide a lot of individual attention, he says.

Tom’s goals in having his own business that focuses on dementia patients are many. For example, he strives for more medical attention for his patients, more activities for stimulation, and perhaps most importantly, he wants family education and involvement. The Comfort Care Homes facilities are only for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related disorders. Licensed Practical Nurses check in on the patients on a daily basis. Occupational and physical therapy are provided when prescribed.

There are also activities in the homes, and the patients are even taken on field trips such as to Lauritzen Gardens. There are pet therapy dogs that visit, along with other volunteers from the community. Physicians visit patients in the homes, or transportation can be provided for doctors’ appointments.

Comfort Care Homes is licensed by the state of Nebraska. The company must meet safety standards, such as perimeter fences, fire exits, and full security systems. However, from the outside the homes look like any other home on the block. They are located in quiet residential neighborhoods, and they do not have any signage that reveals that they are assisted living homes for dementia patients.

The homes are staffed in three eight-hour shifts by men and women who are at the minimum state-certified nursing assistants who have medication aide license status. The staff-patient ratio is one to five. “Dedicated staff is what makes this work. We strive for as little staff turnover as possible,” Tom says. “It’s better for us, and it is better for the residents. We have staff members who have been with us many, many years.”

The homes’ bedrooms have either a single or double occupancy. The homes are set up like any other home would be with a kitchen, dining area, family room, bathrooms, etc. The staff cooks the meals and eats with the patients in a family style arrangement.

Tom states that one of the biggest challenges in his field is educating the public about this disease. Family members need to know what to expect and how to handle the inevitable problems associated with dementia, he says. In today’s society where many adult children live in different communities than their parents, it is oftentimes the case that these children are unaware of their loved one’s condition. The parents often hide their symptoms from their children, Tom goes on to say. They will do this for many reasons, including because they are embarrassed that they can’t take care of themselves, they don’t want to be a burden to their children, or perhaps even though they are aware of their decline, they resist a move to a facility.

In some cases, family members take on the responsibility of care-giving. In time, the reality of this arrangement can take on enormous consequences, Tom says. Care-giving is a 24/7 job. Family members begin to suffer physically and emotionally. According to Tom, most private homes cannot provide the safety enhancements that dementia patients eventually require, such as adaptive bathrooms and increased security measures so they do not leave the house by themselves.

At the end stages of the disease, Comfort Care Homes can provide hospice care when requested. Subsequently, patients do not have to be moved from their familiar surroundings when death is imminent.

As one patient’s family member writes, “The care and attentiveness of your facility provides me with a tremendous sense of comfort knowing that my loved one could not be receiving better care, regardless of price.” Tom adds, “A very important part of the equation that makes this all work so well is the family involvement with the patients and the homes in which they live. The families seem comfortable visiting these homes, and they come often.”

Tom states that those living in a home become one family, and one person’s family becomes everyone’s family. Tom adds, “For instance, they don’t bring treats just for their loved one. They bring for everyone, and the extended families surely get to know each other.” Tom holds quarterly meetings with family members to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.

When asked what the overall philosophy of Comfort Care Homes is, Tom states quite simply, “We try to provide our patients with all the comforts of home.”

The Comfort Care Homes office is located at 11725 Arbor Street in Omaha. The phone number is 402-445-4474, and the Web site is www.cchne.com.