Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes?

I missed the first episode but watched the second this week and thought this program was amazing. I went through all emotions I was happy, sad, angry and at the end I cried. I had been told it would be hard for me to watch, as I might relate it to my Grandad, but at the same time I would find it interesting. That was correct. I’m not concerned about my Grandad, I’m really happy with the home that he is in now.
I think it is absolutely amazing that this program is on the TV, serious issues are being raised and dealt with. Issues that I have witnessed first hand and those that I hope never to see. But also examples of what it should be like for residents of care homes, simple things that can make a massive difference.
Earlier on the same day I had been at the dementia care home with work. We were doing one on one sessions making Christmas Pomanders out of oranges, cloves and cinnamon. I had a really nice time and the two residents that I worked with seemed to really enjoy the activity. I feel so much better going in with an activity rather than just relying on my conversation. I don’t know if that is because of my background of delivering art workshops to groups or if it is because I can see the positive effect of an activity much more clearly.

Websites

Some other websites I have been looking at are:

www.alzheimers.org.uk

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Alzheimers-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/

www.alz.co.uk/

www.alz.org/index.asp

Videos

I took these videos from David Shenk's website www.aboutalz.org , I think they are a really useful source of information, even if they are a bit dated.

A Message for Patients and their Families

The Race to the Cure

An Urgent Epidemic

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

technology

It strikes me that technology is going to become quite a big factor in the world of Alzheimer's. In fact this may already be happening. At some point the people who are suffering are going to be people who are accustomed to using technology. Already the people we talk to at the home were confused by the old fashioned iron that we took in, they remember irons being big white plastic things, much easier to lift and use. Soon/already Alzheimer's sufferers will be used to using computers, for many people this is second nature, turning on a computer and checking your e-mail comes as naturally as cleaning your teeth.

This raises the point that the types of activities people with Alzheimer's are doing will have to evolve with time. Making the activities relevant for the individual is something that is already happening but soon relevant activities might involve playing computer games, texting on a mobile phone or reading the paper on the internet.

My Mother told me about a Jeremy Vine show on radio two, where they were discussing dementia and there was a case study of a woman who was diagnosed but afraid to tell people. To disguise the issue she told a few close friends and family and asked them to remind her by text message about things that she had to do. This meant that she could maintain her independence for a while longer.

Today somebody told me about the ihouse a glimpse into the future. Perhaps this could also help to maintain the independence of people with dementia, in fact it could extend the independence of many different people.

Young People

Third visit to the dementia care home this week. This time it was a little different, instead of delivering an activity we observed a group of young people from a local school coming in to sing Christmas Carols to the residents. It was amazing how much of a positive effect the presence of the young people had on the residents. They were smiling, humming along and holding hands with the young people. Of course this is not all of the residents, some weren't aware of what was happening.

It reminded me of one of my friends who is a painter, she delivered a project in a residential home, with people who suffer from dementia and some young people from a local school. She had them working in pairs to create paintings and collages. From what I remember she said it was a positive experience for all involved.

It was nice to hear the residents talking about how much they had enjoyed it after the young people had left.

I suppose for most people it is nice to remember your childhood, or some people are thinking about when their children were young, or their own grandchildren. It is also the change of having something different to see and perhaps the music is what is raising their spirits. It could be a combination of all of these things; whatever it is, it brought a completely different atmosphere to the home, if only for a little while.