Posted by Molly5 (152.163.252.163) on September 20, 2003 at 16:56:42:
In Reply to: Few activities in Alzheimer's section posted by Melanie on September 20, 2003 at 13:35:17:
: Hello,
: I am not sure if anyone on this board can help me, but I thought it might be a good place to start. My mother is a resident at an assisted living facility, in the secured Alzheimer's section. She has been there about 9 months. I am concerned because few activities are offered in this section. The facility has an activity director, fulltime, Mon-Fri., but she conducts activities mainly for the assisted living residents (those not in the Alz. section). They have what I guess are all the typical activities...bingo, monthly parties, games, etc. However, little goes on in the Alz. unit. Occasionally an entertainer that performs in the main area will then come back to the Alz. section and perform for a little while, but that's it. The Alz. residents just spend their day sitting around, watching TV, napping, etc. The CNAs are very caring and I feel that they do take good care of my Mom (she's always clean, seems content), but I just wish they could be doing more during the day. And it's not that I'm missing the activities; the CNA confirms that they don't do much there. Is this typical? I know my Mom would enjoy and is capable of some simple crafts, puzzles, that type of thing; of course she'll forget that she even did it a few minutes later. Perhaps this has something to do with why they don't do more with these residents. I don't know. Are there any legal requirements for activities in facilities? Should this be reported and to whom? This is in the state of Florida
I am not a real expert when it comes to assisted living Alz Units. In fact,I am thinking that I would LOVE to coordinate one. I work with dementia residents in skilled nursing. Having said that, I support "normalization" type activities. In other words establishing a "routine" blended in with ADL's. I believe that mid stage Alz res. need routine and structure BUT not rigid structure.
Sometimes overloading them with "things to do" can be non productive. On some level we have to deduce that with all the "losses" they are experiencing, their capacity for boredom is also diminished. We project our own needs as high functioning adults to keep busy, on to them. This is not to say that activities should not be provided. For Alz residents, I think it is important to tap into early learned skills. Usually all "ing" words can be incorporated into a day. IE: walking, singing, folding, sorting, cutting, praying, dancing, turning,. Activities should be "no fail safe", validated and presented with dignity. There really should be musical therapists on the Alz unit and not entertainers. Maybe the director can hire someone with a "knack" for these residents on a part time basis to set a Schedule in motion", to train the CNA"S, to set up diversionary type lounges.
The director sounds like she may know all of this , but is being barraged by all those "high functioning "squeeky wheels" who want programs tailored for them. Those folks can be very cruel and impatient with the Alz. resident. Some don't mean to, but they are so fearful that they are closer to ending up confused like them I"m not certain as to whether or not there are any state regs. regarding ASST. Living Alz units. Please e-mail me about that if you find out. I would be very interested. " They may forget the activity, or what was said and done.................BUT they never forget how that person (with a "Knack" ) made them feel. "