Integrated Memory Care: Revolutionizing Dementia Care in Atlanta by Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, Emory Integrated Memory Care

Integrated Memory Care (IMC) was founded by Dr. Carolyn Clevenger and designed to cater to individuals with dementia, ensuring they receive both comprehensive primary care and specialized dementia services all under one roof. This revolutionary approach is a first-of-its-kind practice in the United States and is redefining the standard of care for dementia patients in metro Atlanta. IMC operates out of the Emory Healthcare Network with an outpatient clinic at Executive Park Campus and a community program that brings care to patients residing in select senior living facilities.

A significant component of the IMC Community (IMCC) program is its dedication to accessibility and convenience for seniors. The program seeks to provide most healthcare encounters at the home, reducing the stress of traveling to appointments and providing unparalleled care to patients and caregivers alike. The IMCC also offers weekly engagement visits by a dementia care assistant (DCAs). The DCAs play a crucial role in supporting cognitive health through one-on-one engagement, tailored activities, and close monitoring of subtle changes.

Nurse Practitioner Meredith Sawyer, dual-certified in primary and psychiatric care, delivers specialized services to numerous communities, including Arbor Terrace at Crabapple and South Forsyth and Village Park Milton and Alpharetta. These services include primary care, memory care, and psychiatric care—all delivered through at-home visits.

Care That Makes a Difference

Kelly Crawford's personal journey highlights the profound impact of the IMCC program. As a caregiver for her father, Kelly emphasizes the significant role that the IMC model plays in helping families manage a loved one’s care effectively with personalized care plans, understanding the nuances of dementia, and proactive management that can drastically change the trajectory of a loved one's day-to-day life.

Kelly discovered the IMC community program through a referral from her father’s attending physician while receiving physical and occupational rehab. IMC was able to complete a visit and cognitive assessment from which results were shared with his care team and that Kelly believes contributed significantly to his recovery and rehabilitation. "Our experience overall with IMC has been exceptionally positive," Kelly notes, highlighting the meticulous attention to her father's medication and the program's emphasis on caregiver education.

For the last two years, Kelly’s father had experienced multiple ER visits and hospitalizations as well as moving from his personal home and between three assisted living communities—all resulting in a very emotional and traumatic experience for him as well as their family.  After it became clear to Kelly and their family that his cognitive and occupational health was declining and realizing he would need around the clock supervision, they engaged Meredith at IMCC in March of 2024.

One of the first steps after establishing care was to evaluate his medications and their potential impact on his cognition to then facilitate discussions with Kelly’s father’s specialists which resulted in reducing and in some cases eliminating medications. A psychiatric evaluation was also completed to assess his emotional state and address concerns of depression due to the recent changes in his life. 

Since engaging the IMCC services, he has experienced a limited number of hospital visits. Kelly shares, “His health has dramatically improved, and he is doing amazingly well as he turns 86 this month. Meredith continues to assess and address Dad’s health with thorough and clear communications, and we are always able to reach her and the nursing team with any concerns.” By anticipating disease progression and avoiding unnecessary medical interventions, the program helps prevent emergency visits and hospital stays, which can be particularly challenging for those living with dementia.

DCAs provide personalized engagement activities that are tailored to each patient’s interests and abilities, making them more than just caregivers—they are companions who positively impact patients' daily lives. Kelly expresses appreciation for her father's care assistant, Michelle, whose weekly visits have improved her father's mood and overall community engagement significantly. With visits lasting an hour, they talk about all sorts of topics from how he is feeling, to music, current events, food and nature. Sometimes introducing a simple game, puzzle or playing music acts as an icebreaker and helps her assess his ability to focus, articulate and multi-task, as well as his fine motor skills. Michelle has also advocated for some changes to her father’s daily schedule, including convincing him to attend daily Tai Che and chair yoga sessions. 

After every visit, Kelly receives a detailed report to re-cap their activities, including comments on his appearance and his mood. Kelly shares, “Although I visit him regularly each week, it is a blessing to have Michelle as a weekly companion to engage him and advise us on his overall well-being. The weekly visits with IMCC are so enriching for him and we look forward to reading the visit reports, knowing his day and week was made brighter.”

Navigating senior living options can be an emotional and challenging journey for families. Admitting initial skepticism over her father’s dementia diagnosis at first, Kelly reflects on how it would have been beneficial to have sought formal advisement or support earlier to identify behavior patterns or “warning signs” that were not easily identifiable. She shares, “Dementia is so different from other diseases in that it happens quietly over time, until a big incident happens and then you realize that you missed the signs.”

As it became increasingly clear that their father could not return to his independent life, they began the seemingly endless journey of research and decision about senior living, assisted living and memory care. She notes that serving as a loved one’s advocate regarding their health, living arrangements, and finances can be overwhelming at times—and living with dementia makes it all the more challenging on every front.

In the midst of grieving the “loss” of their father, Kelly and her family recognized that they had to embrace the concept of “try to meet them where they are”—which can change daily or even hourly—that is prevalent in the dementia care community. She emphasizes that while there are several programs out there, she feels that there are none that approach dementia care as holistically and proactively as Emory IMCC—providing her family an incredible gift of “peace of mind and the ability to just love and celebrate him.”

The IMC program's community outreach extends to various senior living communities in the Metro Atlanta area, making it accessible to more families. This expansion reflects the growing demand for comprehensive dementia care that prioritizes patient-centered approaches. IMC team's dedication to improving the lives of individuals with dementia and their families is evident in their commitment to providing personalized support and advocacy.

Learn more: www.nursing.emory.edu/imc