Memory loss changes how a person experiences the world. Unfamiliar buildings, rotating staff, and busy hallways can make confusion and anxiety worse. A six-resident home with the same caregivers every day is often the setting in which someone with dementia does best, and it is the setting we offer at both Silvergate homes in Bonney Lake and Buckley.
What the dementia specialty designation means
Washington State does not allow an adult family home to admit a resident with a formal dementia diagnosis unless the home holds a DSHS dementia specialty designation. Earning the designation requires the provider and caregivers to complete additional state-approved training in dementia care. Both Silvergate homes hold the designation, and it appears on our public DSHS license records (755142 for Bonney Lake and 759153 for Buckley).
How we care for residents with memory loss
Our approach is built on routine, patience, and knowing the person. Before move-in, our RN owner talks with the family about the resident's history, habits, and the things that bring them comfort. That conversation shapes the care plan and the day.
- Consistent caregivers who learn each resident's cues and preferences
- A predictable daily rhythm for meals, rest, personal care, and activity
- Cueing and supervision at meals for residents at risk of choking, with texture-modified diets when needed
- Reminders and full assistance with toileting, bathing, and dressing, offered with dignity
- Safe, supervised movement around the home, with gait belts and standby assistance for unsteady walkers
- Skin checks at every shower and two-hour repositioning for residents who spend much of the day in bed or a chair
Activities with a purpose
We match activities to what residents loved before they moved in, whether that is folding laundry, listening to particular music, sitting outside, or helping in the kitchen. Familiar tasks give a person with dementia a sense of purpose, and purpose steadies mood. We do not park residents in front of a television.
Working with families and physicians
Our RN coordinates with the resident's physician, and with home health or hospice when they are involved, so that changes in condition are noticed and acted on. Families receive honest updates. If a resident's needs grow beyond what an adult family home can safely provide, we say so and help plan the next step.
Which home is right for my parent?
Both homes provide the same standard of dementia care. Silvergate Adult Family Home in Bonney Lake accepts Medicaid and has an established inspection history. Silvergate at Buckley opened in 2026, and the RN owner lives on site. Call either home to talk through your situation, or schedule a tour to see the setting for yourself.