| Activities Directors Quarterly ® | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Publications American Journal of Disaster Medicine Opioid Management
Society Journal of Neurodegeneration & Regeneration Activities Directors' Quarterly for Alzheimer's & Other Dementia Patients American Journal of Recreation Therapy |
Winter 2001; pages 5-6 Abstract A cool breeze carries sounds of early morning into the recreation room of the nursing home. As insects drone busily outside her window, Gladys rushes hurriedly between her closet and the clothing cart outside her door. Over her shoulder she wears the navy blue cape that earlier covered the clean clothing on the delivery cart. Her hands are filled with items she has collected this morning, and her lips are pursed holding the plastic straw she is “smoking” as she gets ready for morning walk and coffee group. She arranges her life around the many interesting objects, sights, sounds, and therapeutic activities in her immediate environment.
Winter 2001; pages 7-9 Abstract Music is therapy. This is not simply the turn of a phrase. The theme that emerges from our conversation with music therapist Concetta M. Tomaino is that music is not simply a basic recreational, leisure, or sensory-stimulating activity; neither is it a behavior-modifying background milieu. It is therapy!
Winter 2001; pages 11-12 Abstract When persons have Alzheimer’s disease, they lose their short-term memory. Yet they retain their long-term memory in detail. When you are having a conversation with them, focus on their long-term memory. However, as the disease progresses, their age regresses. They get younger and younger in their mind. You need to give them an answer so that they are reassured. Many people think this is lying, but you are actually “living their truth.”
Winter 2001; pages 13-23 Abstract The objective of our original research study was to develop a variety of sensory stimulation products for the behavioral intervention of patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia. Many caregivers have relied on physical and chemical restraints as the primary method of patient intervention due to the lack of appropriate dementia management products. This significantly lowers the sufferer’s quality of care and life. As the age group most susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease (65 and older) is the fastest growing segment of our society, an appropriate care solution must be sought. The specific aim of our study was to develop products that are sensory satisfying for the Alzheimer’s patient that exhibits self-stimulatory wandering behavior. Sensory satisfying objects for product development would be determined through structured observations of self-stimulatory wanderers in an institutionalized setting. Variations of product design and mounting would be pursued in order to develop products that are not only safe and effective for patient use, but are easy for the caregiver to implement and maintain. Such products would have widespread commercial application in both the institutional and private care settings, such as nursing homes, adult day care facilities, Alzheimer’s care facilities, convalescent homes, mental health institutions, and assisted-living facilities. In this article, we outline the essential steps in selecting products and designing this type of program at your facility.
Winter 2001; pages 25-33 Abstract The Simple Pleasures research team investigated the effects of 30 handmade recreational items on the behavior of nursing home residents with dementia.1 The impact on family visits, staff knowledge, and volunteer involvement was also examined during the course of this study. Twenty-three items were found therapeutically valuable and acceptable for nursing home use. Family visits, use of recreational items, and satisfaction with visits significantly improved during the intervention. Residents were significantly less agitated at one nursing home and slightly less agitated at the other nursing home. Simple Pleasures can be modeled for multilevel sensorimotor activities-based interventions for nursing home residents with dementia.
Winter 2001; pages 35-39 Abstract The intent of this article is to eliminate or significantly reduce problem behaviors unintentionally induced by family members and other caregivers. Of equal importance is the enhancement of the relationship between the patient and caregiver and elevation in the self-esteem of both. Quality of life is indeed possible. Important themes are introduced and are followed by sample dialogue. Activities Directors Quarterly Spring 2001, Volume 2, Number 2
Spring 2001; pages 5-8 Abstract Many group and individual activities at a long-term nursing care facility can be selected primarily for their ability to increase residents’ self-esteem. Self-confidence and good feelings are enhanced when they are “able to do things,” when they feel a sense of accomplishment, or simply feel good about themselves. This article describes some proven techniques for eliciting these positive feelings.
Spring 2001; pages 11-17 Abstract Individuals caring for those with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in long-term care institutions sometimes must deal with forms of agitation that lead to physically aggressive behaviors. Preventive measures and early intervention techniques often can keep these agitated behaviors from escalating to aggression. This article highlights important points made in published studies of the origins of aggression, as well as the successful nonviolent crisis intervention techniques used by staff at Bethany, Harvest Hills, a long-term care facility in Calgary, Alberta, over a six-month observation period.
Spring 2001; pages 19-25 Abstract This article describes challenges encountered in conducting a glider swing intervention activity for persons with dementia and the strategies used to manage the problems encountered. The overall purpose was to explore the effects of a glider swing intervention on emotions, relaxation, and aggressive behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia.
Spring 2001; pages 27-34 Abstract Elderly residents with cognitive deficiencies who exhibit aggressive and disruptive behavior (ADB) are becoming increasingly common in residential and extended care facilities. ADB can sometimes take the form of aggression toward the facility’s staff or other residents, and disrupts the care unit’s operations. Through policy recommendations and in-service training, activities directors can modify and adapt the program and strategy outlined here for implementation at their facilities.
Spring 2001; pages 35-39 Abstract The intent of this article is to help activities directions and other staff understand and soothe the anguish of family members who have placed their loved one in a long-term care facility or are considering placement. Activities directors and other team members of care facilities can become more understanding of what the patient and family are going through. Activities directors can increase the exposure of their care facility to this information through in-service training, distribution of the article to staff, and its inclusion in information packets to family members. Activities directors of community-based adult day care centers will also benefit from this information. Activities Directors Quarterly Summer 2001, Volume 2, Number 3
Summer 2001; pages 5-9 Abstract In any group for the cognitively impaired, there is usually at least one member the staff considers difficult. The difficult program participant needs more supervision, attention, or care than the rest of the group. Of course, what one staff member finds objectionable might not bother another staff member in the least. Understanding the reason behind an action is usually a good way to start dealing with it.
Summer 2001; pages 11-13 Abstract Possible music therapy goals when working with the elderly, particularly those with some form of dementia, include increased self-esteem, temporary alleviation of depression and anxiety, increased attention span, decreased wandering, increased socialization, increased communication, enhanced mental functioning, maintenance of or increased motor skills and coordination, distraction from pain, and increased opportunity for creativity and expression of emotions. Music can facilitate reminiscence, reality orientation, life review, and validation. Music therapy activities may include singing both familiar and new songs, movement or exercise to music, playing percussion instruments, controlled listening to music, improvising with voice or instruments, composing music, and engaging in discussion and trivia related to themes and music.
Summer 2001; pages 15-18 Abstract A sense of community is crucial to a smoothly running locked unit for early-dementia residents. The Harmony Program at an assisted living center in Massachusetts, in addition to implementing special group activities, celebrates the ordinary aspects of life in the unit. In addition to attending band concerts and other events, residents prepare meals for visitors, care for pets, and sometimes even work alongside the housekeeping staff in an effort to feel at home in the unit. The program is a work-in-progress, according to Jan Chiampa, the program’s director, and this article provides an update on its progress.
Summer 2001; pages 19-25 Abstract Traditionally, support and services for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease have focused on the caregivers. The increase in early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease has resulted in greater numbers of older adults that have some insight and awareness of their deficits and are capable of dealing with the ramifications of their illness. Yet there are few places to turn for support and education. Circle of Care, a community-based home support agency in Toronto, has developed a support group for individuals with early stage dementia. COTA-Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services, a community-based rehabilitation agency, was invited to provide a co-facilitator for this group.
Summer 2001; pages 27-37 Abstract By the middle stage of dementia, persons are experiencing severe cognitive losses, physical deterioration, functional decline, and a progressively lowered ability to cope with stress. Residents disengage from caregivers and their surroundings and begin to exhibit resistance to care, catastrophic outbursts, tearfulness, sleep disturbances, poor appetite, calling out for deceased loved ones, seemingly aimless wandering, pacing, and sometimes expressing negative feelings about themselves. Heart-to-Heart™ provides caregivers (family or professional) with an active way of compassionately and meaningfully assisting these mid-stage dementia persons with their bereavement. Heart-to-Heart™ was specifically developed as an intervention program that responds to the grief and mourning experienced by many mid-stage dementia persons.
Summer 2001; pages 39-40 Activities Directors Quarterly Fall 2001, Volume 2, Number 4 Editorial Meaningful activities programming for the person with memory loss Dennis N. Ricci, MA, PhD, Editor-in-Chief Fall 2001; pages 4-5 Editorial Letter from the editor Déjà vu all over again Christohper V. Rowland, Jr., MD, Editor Fall 2001; pages 6-6
Fall 2001; pages 7-11 Abstract The Best Friends model is designed for use as adjunct care within long-term care facilities. It can improve the quality of life not only for persons with Alzheimer’s disease, but for the staff providing care. Based on the philosophy that best friends share activities, communication, laughter, and affection, the program offers imaginative ideas for enhancing life within long-term care facilities and also results in staff retention. The Best Friends model is offered as a 16-hour training course, and has been described in detail in two recently published books by Bell and her co-author, David Troxel. It is intended to augment, not replace, standard ongoing care of Alzheimer’s patients.
Fall 2001; pages 13-17 Abstract When nursing home residents with dementia are unable to locate their own rooms, it often creates problems for staff and other residents. Placing two external memory aids outside participants’ bedrooms showed that a combination of a portrait-type photograph of the participant as a young adult and a sign stating the resident’s name initially increased room finding by over 50 percent. Room finding stabilized at 100 percent accuracy within a few days.
Fall 2001; pages 19-24 Abstract The intent of this article is to provide a working definition of art therapy and to explain the many ways it can benefit people with dementia. Of equal importance is knowing how to set up an art therapy program that will benefit people of varying functioning levels.
Fall 2001; pages 27-29 Abstract Fill an old suitcase with a variety of items. These could be things that someone would put in a suitcase. This activity is successful with any size group. People may have little response to certain items, but some other things may trigger memories. You set the tone of interest, response, and enthusiasm. The more genuine the tone of excitement in your voice, the greater the response you will get from the person with Alzheimer’s disease.
Fall 2001; pages 31-40 Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe a therapeutic wheelchair biking program for nursing home residents with dementia and depression. Two separate research studies investigated the use of wheelchair biking and its effect on older adults with depression and dementia in assisted-living and long-term care settings. Findings from both studies indicated there was a statistically significant increase in activity participation and a decline in depression for the participants in the treatment group. This therapeutic program can be used by residents of all functioning and cognitive levels, and adds a familiar, fun activity to the practitioner’s list of tools. |
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