The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Chattanooga, has set its grand re-opening date for Thursday, July 29 at 11 a.m. This state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s memory care community at 7620 Shallowford Road will re-open its doors to residents earlier in July after being completely rebuilt following the Easter 2020 tornado that ravaged much of the East Brainerd area.

Offering two levels of memory care programming once open, The Lamplight program is for 
those living with early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease and The Lantern program is 
geared toward those with late to moderately severe stages.

Executive director Alisha Landes, LPN, is once again tapped to lead the helm at The Lantern Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence as she will soon complete her extensive Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care dementia training. Ms. Landes is also a certified dementia care practitioner, making her one of the few leaders in the region with this level of training, officials said.

“It is important to me to thoroughly understand how the human brain reacts in those who have 
dementia or Alzheimer’s disease,” said Ms. Landes. “That’s why I love learning everything I can 
about how we as facilitators and caregivers can change our approach and behavior—because 
people with memory disorders can’t. We have to be able to adapt to their needs and behaviors. 
At The Lantern, we have purposeful programming that does just that. You can feel comfortable 
knowing we are taking excellent care of mom or dad.”

Officials said, "Exceptional memory care is predicated upon well-trained caregivers, but the environment that surrounds those who live with this disease plays an equally important role in each resident’s quality of life and wellness. The Lantern Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence comprises a 59-apartment one-level living community where residents can live well with special life skills stations, specific rooms with access to a safe and secure courtyard that contains special outdoor 
musical therapy instruments, a calming room to soothe sundowning residents and special murals 
and décor for communication connections and reminiscing. It’s all part of Morning Pointe’s 
Meaningful Day programming to help your loved one live their best. Additionally, on-site 
therapy, 24-hour nursing care and farm-fresh dining program round out a suite of services 
second-to-none."

The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga is one of 35 Morning Pointe Senior Living
communities in five southeastern states developed, owned and managed by the Chattanooga-based senior healthcare services company, founded in 1996 by Tennessee healthcare 
entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow. In addition to Morning Pointe of 
Chattanooga, Morning Pointe Senior Living also operates communities in the Chattanooga areas 
of East Hamilton, Hixson and Collegedale.

“The benefits of being cared for in a safe and secure environment built just for seniors with 
Alzheimer’s and other dementias often outweigh those of caring for loved ones at home,” said 
Mr. Vital, president of Morning Pointe Senior Living. “The Lantern at Morning Pointe  Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence senior communities do both, creating meaningful days filled with life enrichment for residents coupled with monthly caregiver support programs to assist family members as they start this journey. There really is nothing like it.”

Morning Pointe of Chattanooga assisted living, sister property to The Lantern and home to more 
than 70 residents, opened in late November after rebuilding from the Easter 2020 tornado.

"Morning Pointe of Chattanooga and The Lantern at Morning Pointe comprise a campus senior 
living community that is committed to serving the East Brainerd area for generations to come," officials said.