One of the
hardest decisions you’ll ever make as a dementia care partner is when to move
your parent or partner into memory care. Once the move is done, you next need
to know how to work effectively with senior care staff.
The fantasy
is that the move goes off without a hitch, and then life just magically gets
easier. In my experience, though, that’s about as common as running across a
unicorn in the wild.
As a former
Memory Care Director, I can tell you that knowing when to make the move, and
then actually making the move, are only the first steps in the process. Here
are the real insider tips to a successful transition.
Understand the Environment
Memory Care
is considered a therapeutic environment, meaning the environment supports not
only physical health, but also psychosocial and spiritual wellbeing, as well as
having a measurably positive outcome for the resident.
When it comes
to Memory Care, that means an environment populated exclusively with people who
are cognitively impaired. In practical terms, your parent or partner will be
living in a community full of people just like them – forgetful, and at times
confused or disoriented.
Because it’s
normal for residents to be confused at times, you may walk in for a visit and
notice your mom is wearing someone else’s sweater. I assure you, that isn’t due
to a lack of staff attentiveness.
Rather, the
specially trained staff understands that arguing about ownership is
counterproductive; it will be returned to the rightful owner after going
through the laundry – and everyone gets to remain happy in the meantime.
Read more on... 8
INSIDER TIPS FOR WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH SENIOR CARE STAFF
Author: CHRISTY TURNER
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