Franke Tobey Jones Awarded the Innovation in Care and Services Award of Excellence From LeadingAge Washington

By Christine Hall

We are proud to announce that Franke Tobey Jones was awarded the “Innovation in Care and Services Award of Excellence” at the LeadingAge Washington Annual Conference.  This award is given to one deserving community in Washington State, and is designed to recognize programs, services or initiatives that:

• Demonstrate real innovation in the delivery of care and services for older adults
• Improve quality of life or significantly enhance organizational operations
• Offer proven benefits and have been successfully operating for at least two years
• Are replicable and scalable by other aging-services organizations

Enhancing Memory Care Through True Doors Initiative
In 2023, Franke Tobey Jones introduced the True Doors initiative throughout its memory care community, aiming to enhance residents’ quality of life through an innovative and personalized approach to environmental design.

True Doors is a company that specializes in creating realistic, vinyl decals designed to resemble traditional front doors. These decals are specifically intended for use in memory care settings, helping individuals with dementia or memory loss better recognize their personal living spaces. Each resident’s door was transformed to reflect either a photo of the front door of their former home or a carefully chosen image selected by family members from a curated collection of designs.

Initiative Impact

The impact of this initiative was immediate and meaningful. Residents began to more easily identify their own rooms, reducing confusion and enhancing their sense of familiarity and comfort. For residents who often expressed a desire to “go home,” seeing a door that resembled their own helped ease agitation, reduce restlessness and decrease exit-seeking behaviors.

Privacy, Dignity and Navigation

The True Doors also contributed significantly to residents’ privacy and dignity. The unique, home-like appearance of each door discouraged unintentional room entries by other residents and prompted a natural respect for personal space. Staff members became more mindful of knocking before entering, treating each room as the private home it represents.

Additionally, the doors improved residents’ ability to navigate their environment. Prior to installation, uniform white doors made orientation difficult, even when labeled with names or photos. With each door now distinct, residents gained new visual cues for wayfinding, allowing for increased independence and a greater sense of autonomy. This also contributed to reduced anxiety around locating their rooms.

Home-Like Feeling

The transformation extended beyond individual rooms, subtly reshaping the atmosphere of the entire community. Hallways that once felt institutional now evoke the warmth of a neighborhood street, fostering a more inviting, home-like environment for residents, families, and staff alike.

Made Possible by a Generous Donor

We are deeply grateful to a generous resident family whose meaningful donation made the entire True Door program possible. Their heartfelt gift has not only brought beauty and charm to our community but has also had a profound impact on the daily lives of our residents, enhancing their sense of familiarity, dignity and connection. Thanks to their generosity, this thoughtful project is now enriching the lives of so many in our care.

Ultimately, the implementation of True Doors at Franke Tobey Jones has exceeded expectations, delivering measurable improvements in quality of life, privacy, orientation and emotional well-being. It continues to be a meaningful enhancement for the entire community.