Extra Support to Benefit Alzheimer's Patients in Skilled Nursing

Over at the memory care unit at SKLD Zeeland, a resident was speaking with a supportive aide who could tell that she just wanted to get up and go. Unfortunately, it’s not safe for her to be walking around without assistance. With patience and understanding, the aide sat with her joking and sharing stories, which helped her stay right where she needed to be. 

While the level of cognition during conversation with memory care patients can vary, having aides available to chat and engage with residents keeps them more focused and less likely to make sudden moves that lead to falls. 

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Alzheimer’s is “an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.” It is the most common cause of dementia in seniors.

Fortunately, at SKLD Zeeland parallel programming and supportive aides enrich the lives of memory care unit residents and infuse meaning in their daily routine. 

Instead of offering one activity group at a time, SKLD Zeeland offers multiple activities so that people can choose what interests them the most. A supportive aide staff member maintains a range of passive programs to lead so that residents can join any one multiple activities at a time.

Rebeka Moeggenborg, SKLD Zeeland Recreational Therapist, says that some of these activities can vary from residents enjoying a video together to manicures, magazines and puzzles. 

Residents have a wide range of interests, and to ensure there is something for everyone, each resident in the unit has an “all about me” binder. The binder contains the resident’s history, preferences, interests, and more, so that the staff can provide something enjoyable for each individual. 

Activities are set up so that residents of varying memory ability level can all participate. Rebeka explains that the more mobile and independent residents will go to higher functioning craft activities. If a resident doesn’t enjoy going to BINGO, he or she can go with a supportive aide, who will provide an alternate and more personalized activity for them.

A resident with a lower level of functioning often enjoys sitting at a table with other residents just listening to music or engaging in “healing hands” with hand massages and motion exercises. 

Rebeka says that “meaningful engagement throughout the day makes a big impact on the population in the memory care unit.”

Supportive Aides Provide Individual Care and Attention

The personalized interaction and activities for the residents is made possible through supportive aides. The supportive aide is a position that is assigned to the group of residents in the common area as opposed to assigned to a specific group of residents.

In a large activity room, the supportive aide runs individual or small groups, helping to maintain a positive environment. That could include helping to reduce overstimulation, making sure everything is clean and keeping the residents’ path clear. The residents are very active, so it’s extremely important to keep open spaces safe and not congested. 

By keeping the environment safe and residents busy, both the use of parallel programming and supportive aides can reduce the risk of falls and other related injuries. Falls among the population with Alzheimer’s and dementia are often the result of overstimulation and the sundowning effect. Keeping residents busy at times when they might be otherwise distracted can keep them from jumping up without some stability support. 

Parallel programming in SKLD Zeeland’s memory care unit keeps residents busy with a selection of activities.

Similarly, the supportive aides have lists of residents who are awake and meant to be participating. Certain residents could be at risk while alone in their rooms, so this way they can keep track of patients and encourage them to participate in group activities. 

The supportive aides also learn about the residents’ daily lives in order to help them enjoy themselves in activities and also to help keep them safe. 

According to Rebeka, “Having supportive aides is helpful for reducing residents’ sundowning or negative behaviors. We see the moment when they start feeling down or sundowning. The supportive aide learns about the residents’ situations so they know when to intervene with the sensory room, activity, or a one-on-one session. It deters a lot of negative behaviors.” 

Sundowning is common among patients with dementia and refers to an evening hour when they can exhibit signs of confusion, agitation or other negative behaviors. The key is to know the residents and what time sundowning starts so that staff can get them engaged or in a good mood before it hits. 

Parallel programming and the use of supportive aides are both key initiatives that the SKLD Zeeland staff uses to provide meaning, enjoyment and comfort in the lives of their memory care residents.

Click here to read about sensory rooms for memory care patients