Page 6 - Vibrant Living Scrapbook

Despite some disabilities, Grandma Bernie lived a vibrant life by making the most
of what she had. Should she have had to settle for anything less when she moved into a nursing home? We think not, and we have seen time and again how residents, after transitioning from the daily grind of institutional life to the Household Model, come to experience a vibrant home life they so richly deserve. They lacked hope when living in the institutional model where their physical bodies were treated but their spirits and souls were un-nourished.
As our eyes open more and more to how it can be, we see that “programs” in the institutional model are just Band-Aids. One-to-one programs can never fully sooth residents’ loneliness, and activity staff alone cannot truly engage people suffering from lack of companionship. Side effects of institutional care are what we call “behaviors” when really it is just people trying to cope and protect themselves, their wishes, routines and preferences in their daily lives. The Household Model is a refuge where the physical environment and operational systems are transformed to support the individuals living and working there. Be alert to old institutional habits or programs creeping back into your household. You can do it differently.
You hold the key to a vibrant daily home life!
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