Comments on: People with Dementia: Finding the Right Facility http://nursingassistants.net/2008/05/15/people-with-dementia-finding-the-right-facility/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:56:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Patti http://nursingassistants.net/2008/05/15/people-with-dementia-finding-the-right-facility/comment-page-1/#comment-39328 Patti Fri, 16 May 2008 10:58:56 +0000 http://nursingassistants.net/?p=974#comment-39328 I believe the most important portion of all this is the activity programs. Keeping these residents busy with valuable and failure proof things to do is key; not just 8 to 5 either, but 24 hours a day. Evenings and weekends are most important times for activity coverage. With smaller ratios, the CNA's can provide activities. I think they should have some formal training in this too- so it's not on the fly. Many personal care tasks can be "made" into activities as well. But they must serve a purpose or the resident will get angry. Just because they have memory impairment doesn't mean they're stupid. Coloring books and crayons don't cut it. Cooking some soup for the homeless DOES. I believe the most important portion of all this is the activity programs. Keeping these residents busy with valuable and failure proof things to do is key; not just 8 to 5 either, but 24 hours a day. Evenings and weekends are most important times for activity coverage. With smaller ratios, the CNA’s can provide activities. I think they should have some formal training in this too- so it’s not on the fly.

Many personal care tasks can be “made” into activities as well. But they must serve a purpose or the resident will get angry. Just because they have memory impairment doesn’t mean they’re stupid. Coloring books and crayons don’t cut it. Cooking some soup for the homeless DOES.

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