http://www.blisstree.com/articles/st-patricks-day-celebrations-for-alzheimers-patients-117/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:06:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.blisstree.com/articles/st-patricks-day-celebrations-for-alzheimers-patients-117/comment-page-1/#comment-68449 Quilting & Patchwork Participates in St. Patrick’s Day Carnival on the Lifestyles Channel Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:08:32 +0000 http://www.alzheimersnotes.com/st-patricks-day-celebrations-for-alzheimers-patients/#comment-68449 [...] celebrating this day if you have a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s, check out St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations for Alzheimer’s Patients at Alzheimer’s [...] [...] celebrating this day if you have a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s, check out St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations for Alzheimer’s Patients at Alzheimer’s [...]

]]> http://www.blisstree.com/articles/st-patricks-day-celebrations-for-alzheimers-patients-117/comment-page-1/#comment-68317 Maria Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:59:51 +0000 http://www.alzheimersnotes.com/st-patricks-day-celebrations-for-alzheimers-patients/#comment-68317 I have worked in Nursing Homes, Home Care Agencies, and now in Public Housing for over 20 years...I worked in Activities with Alzheimer's Patients 3 nights a week...what we really need in these places is #1, more staff! Especially more activities staff, and more Certified Nurse Aides, specially trained in Alzheimer's behaviors. If you are placing your loved one in a home...please, please, visit often...at all times of the day & night...and participate in Family Councils...and make a point of asking...is the Nursing staff specially and continually trained in dealing with alzheimer's patients, ask for a staffing list to make sure they have enough help on duty - daily! And then ask, how often do you have activities...the home I work in has activities from around 8 am till about 7:45 pm! Ask, to you have a well supplied activities dept? Ask them to show you what type of activities they have on hand (our dept. is severly under supplied...these patients have a short attention span, and for every hour, there should be at least 3-4 activities planned.) Then ask if the alzheimers' patients are ever taken outside...they are not where I work because they do not have an enclosed courtyard for them...the last home I worked in did, and it was so much nicer to be able to take them outside, and even have them garden in good weather. Most importantly...do not feel guilty for having to place your loved one in a home...Nursing homes do provided 24 hour supervision...the most important point...VISIT OFTEN...even if your loved one does not recognize you, or speak to you...they will...on some level, know that you are there with them - in that moment! Enjoy the time you have with them...remember the more you are with them, the better care they will receive....God Bless you! I have worked in Nursing Homes, Home Care Agencies, and now in Public Housing for over 20 years…I worked in Activities with Alzheimer’s Patients 3 nights a week…what we really need in these places is #1, more staff! Especially more activities staff, and more Certified Nurse Aides, specially trained in Alzheimer’s behaviors.
If you are placing your loved one in a home…please, please, visit often…at all times of the day & night…and participate in Family Councils…and make a point of asking…is the Nursing staff specially and continually trained in dealing with alzheimer’s patients, ask for a staffing list to make sure they have enough help on duty – daily! And then ask, how often do you have activities…the home I work in has activities from around 8 am till about 7:45 pm! Ask, to you have a well supplied activities dept? Ask them to show you what type of activities they have on hand (our dept. is severly under supplied…these patients have a short attention span, and for every hour, there should be at least 3-4 activities planned.) Then ask if the alzheimers’ patients are ever taken outside…they are not where I work because they do not have an enclosed courtyard for them…the last home I worked in did, and it was so much nicer to be able to take them outside, and even have them garden in good weather. Most importantly…do not feel guilty for having to place your loved one in a home…Nursing homes do provided 24 hour supervision…the most important point…VISIT OFTEN…even if your loved one does not recognize you, or speak to you…they will…on some level, know that you are there with them – in that moment! Enjoy the time you have with them…remember the more you are with them, the better care they will receive….God Bless you!

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