A Phoenix, Arizona nursing home discovers success by answering residents’ unique needs according to Pam Belluck’s article in the New York Times (subscription required).
Responding to residents’ needs—sometimes at the objections of the state surveyers—Beatitudes Campus has found success with even previously difficult residents who are allowed to bathe and eat when they want even if this includes a bite of chocolate (“better than Xanax”) or even a nip of alcohol at night.
As a caregiver to my late father who my husband and I eventually moved in a nursing home in California, I feel the industry is taking great strides in caring for loved ones with dementia. By the time we need care, we hope that the state and federal agencies will catch up to Beatitudes in considering the needs of the individual instead of a pre-determined set-up guidelines that doesn’t fit the needs of all. We need to work TOGETHER. More power to Beatitudes!
A special Thank You to Ann Vanino of Moving Forward Coaching for bringing this to the attention of The Caregiver’s Voice.
Dear Brenda,
When I first moved Mom into an assisted living facility in Maine on Valentine’s Day in 2004, I was very worried as to how they would treat my Mom….whether they would try to enter her world, or expect her to enter theirs. The latter to me, would be a losing battle with my Mom. If a conflict were to come to a battle of wills, she was a champ. My mind was quickly put to rest by the remarkable director of the Alzheimer’s unit when she handed me the book, Learning To Speak Alzheimer’s, by Koenig Coste. I learned all about the “habilitation” method of relating to Alzheimer’s patients. I was blown away. It reminded me of what I was taught in an improvisation class for actors. The basic theory of “Yes, and….” – of never negating or denying the choice of another, but of adding to it and enriching it by saying, “yes, and….! Your mention of the wisdom of giving an Alzheimer’s patient what they want reminds me of this thinking and of the remarkable woman who handed me that book and cared so beautifully for my Mom. She kept my mother’s Irish temper at bay and helped her to feel valued and safe. What a gift!
As we approach Valentine’s Day, I am reminded of the beginning of the journey that I still enjoy with Mom. I am so lucky she is still here. Thanks for reminding me.
Judy Prescott
Brenda, thank you for your hug over at caring.com.
In relation to this article, mom did exhibit some signs of dementia; though I’m not sure it was Alzheimer’s. There were so many other things going on with her; we learned even her eye problems could cause some strange things.
One of the strangest things, I think, I ever did for my mom was buy her a Barbie Doll for Mother’s Day. This was somewhat early on before things deteriorated more. I’m guessing that must have been something she wished she had when she was growing up, because the dolls seemed to mean more to her than they did me, especially when I took them to school and they disappeared. Though she never replaced them she did get me another one years later (like after I was married and had kids, all boys, who were almost grown).
I got her one and she kept it out on display all the time; it just seemed to really be special to her to have that Barbie Doll. It was a vintage one, all dressed up one like people used to dress. This was really important to her and she never quite got used to the new casualness even though she had reached the point of not being able to be what she used to be. Anyway, fwiw.
Donna
Donna, thank you for taking time to comment and to share your experience with your mom and Barbie.