I have had the honor of working with and for many amazing senior and dementia care specialists over the past 14 years and now get to share all I’ve learned during that time through this program. Each month I will be focusing on one of our Building Blocks of Quality Care in my blog. This first month, I will be providing an overview of the entire program. So let’s get started!
Quality senior and dementia care requires a mind set and practices that are based on key concepts. Concepts that have been researched, studied and put into practice in some of the best senior communities out there. I have chosen what I feel are the top 12 as the foundation of my program. These 12 Building Blocks as they are referred to in this program, will be covered in depth over the year, one topic each month. Welcome to Inspired Senior Care!
GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS Creating genuine relationships based on a mutual sense of respect, trust and connection is foundational to providing quality care.
BRAIN CHANGE Dementia is a progressive condition where brain cells die over time causing brain change. We need to develop a basic understanding of how brain change caused by dementia affects different part of the brain and what the ramifications are of those changes.
WHAT IF… When you see a resident acting in a way that is concerning, imagine question marks above your head and start assessing everything you observe. Seek to understand, be wildly curious, ask “What if…”, and then take action!
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT What we see, hear, touch, taste, and feel shape how we experience the world. Observe all visual, auditory, and other sensory cues
LANGUAGE MATTERS The words we choose impact how we think and interact with others. Use a person-centered perspective in your language and thoughts to create a more respectful, homelike and supportive environment.
WELL-BEING Well-being is a state of physical, mental, emotional, and social contentment. Regardless of age, sex, or life situation, finding a balance in these overlapping areas is key to overall well-being.
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT Seek engagement that supports residents socially, intellectually, emotionally, and physically at a comfortable level and pace.
COMMUNICATION Dementia affects both the giving and receiving of input by the person living with dementia. As they receive input differently than before and communication methods change for them, we must learn to adapt our communication as well to support them.
DAMAGING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS The detrimental effects of negative social exchanges are more potent than the beneficial effects of positive social exchanges. Can you recognize these signs of damaging social interactions?
POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS Learn about the multiple positive interactions that we can add to our interactions to improve the well being of those around us as well as ourselves.
BE WILDLY CURIOUS Behavioral expressions are a way of communicating an un-need through action. Learn to be a detective to figure out what that underlying need is.
STRENGTHS BASED PERSPECTIVE Seek people’s abilities and help them find ways to express those skills. Focus on what they CAN do rather than what they CAN’T do.
See you next month when we take a deeper dive into the importance of GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS.
Leslie Fuller
