Tag: Abington Alzheimer’s disease

Connecting while Quarantined, engage your Senior living with Dementia

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes

We are all having a tough time living life “on hold” and changing our daily habits. However, we understand the end goal and the reasons why we are making these temporary changes.

What if we were living with dementia? For someone whose brain is dying, they cannot rationalize the situation in the same way. We are asking them to change their daily habits, the very habits that help keep them occupied and living with a sense of purpose. If we think changing our habits is hard, it is extremely challenging for a Diamond or Emerald stage person living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Teepa Snow discusses this dilemma in a recent podcast here.

We can mitigate this additional stress though targeted engagement. NursePartners works with clients to build personalized plans of care and add meaning to the lives of older adults living with dementia. We strive to do activities with our clients that are reflective of their life histories and hobbies, adjusting tasks to meet their current skill levels.

During these times it is important to continue to engage with those living with dementia, to make sure they still feel connected, and help ward off the depression of isolation.  If your loved one lives in an assisted living or nursing home, it is likely that the facility is no longer providing their usual calendar of social activities.  If all residents are isolated to their rooms, how are they being mentally stimulated?

NursePartners goes above and beyond simply performing hygiene related tasks, making engagement a cornerstone of our service. If you have not tried us yet, call us to learn more: 610-323-9800.

Carepartners work through role play scenarios with dementia coaches and practitioners

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes

NursePartners practices the Positive Physical Approach to CareTM as developed by Teepa Snow and her team.  Each client living with dementia is classified by a GEM stone.  The characteristics of these GEM stones, along with the client’s personality and unique life experiences, dictate our approach.

All carepartners are trained to connect before providing care.  Simply put, we find this the most effective method.  Too often, carepartners push forth their agenda without enough emphasis on how it is affecting the client.  The mentality is to complete the “to do” list as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, older adults are not always moving at our speed.  If they are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, the situation becomes even more complicated.  The older adult may not realize what we are trying to do, even though these actions are intended to assist them.  When we rush to complete tasks, this can lead to unfavorable outcomes.  If we provide care before connecting, this can increase anxiety, depression, or lead to aggression.

All carepartners are trained in the Positive Physical Approach to CareTM methodology.  During orientation, carepartners work with dementia coaches and practitioners as they role play challenging scenarios.  We want carepartners to be prepared for all types of situations.

Carepartners are trained to put their agenda away and go with the flow.  They focus on connecting before rushing to provide care.  This simple investment of time pays dividends in the long run as a meaningful relationship is developed between the carepartner and the client.  The result is that the client becomes more receptive to receiving care.

In this video, Denise encounters a client actor (dementia coach) who is non-verbal and fixated on a task.  Instead of demanding that the client focus on her, she engages him in his task first.  She continues to have a conversation, even though he does not respond to her.

When it is time to perform the caregiving task, Denise is patient as the client stands up.  She respects his independence and does not rush to do everything for him.  Denise helps explain how to get up and helps stabilize his gait during the process.

As he stands, she lightens the mood with movement and rhythm.  Music and rhythm are deeply engrained in our brains and is one of the best ways to connect with someone living with dementia.  Carepartners that employ this preserved skill are more likely to succeed than those who do not.

Would you like to learn more about GEM care services or want to join our team?  Call us today at 610-323-9800.

Click to the link to see the full video:

Denise demonstrates the Positive Physical Approach to Care

 

Philadelphia dementia care, Philadelphia home care, best home care Philadelphia
Denise uses the Positive Physical Approach to Care to guide non-verbal client

Abington, PA Dementia Care

Posted on by NursePartners

phladelphia dementia Abington, PA Dementia Care

Dementia Care in Abington, PA

Care. Connection. Companionship.

2Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia can be a challenging journey, but we are here to help. Abington, PA Dementia Care understands that dementia poses many changes that require personalized care, expertise, and compassion. Abington, PA Dementia Care is an option for providing support to individuals, while keeping them in a familiar environment.  We are able to work with your loved one, right in the comfort of their own home or current residence.

NursePartners’ approach to Alzheimer’s and Abington, PA Dementia Care is based on The GEMS™: Brain Change Model created by Teepa Snow. NursePartners recognizes Teepa’s positive approach to care as an effective method to provide care for loved ones affected by dementia. This approach categorizes dementia stages with six different gemstones, defined by unique characteristics. Click here for an overview of the classification system.  We will introduce you to the GEM system and show you how it can work to improve the life of your loved one.

1Trained carepartners are knowledgeable and experienced with dementia and adjust care accordingly. They undergo hours of training and coaching from our staff.  After an initial assessment, we create a plan of care to help your loved one live comfortably and safely. This positive approach allows carepartners to fill their time together with meaningful activities and positive interactions to best support every stage.

Our Abington, PA Dementia Care carepartners are dedicated to improving quality of life. By keeping a record of everything from mood behaviors, health complications, and daily activities, we begin to understand what factors contribute to positive moods and overall happiness.

By appreciating and understanding what is changing and what is still possible, we generate a plan of care that is positive and productive

Some of the services we provide are:

  • Philadelphia Dementia CaregiversCompanionship
  • Meal preparation
  • Bathing, grooming, and hygiene
  • Mobility assistance
  • Transferring and positioning
  • Feeding / diet monitoring
  • Toileting and incontinence care
  • Light housekeeping
  • Errands and shopping
  • Medication reminders
  • Incidental transportation

Best Abington, PA Dementia Care

Philadelphia Dementia Care serving Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties.