Page 7 - Vibrant Living Scrapbook

Unlocking Creativity for Vibrant Daily Life
Moving from a task-oriented to a person-centered focus in the Household Model unlocks creativity for residents and staff. Creativity is a uniquely human function. There is no better way to foster a person-centered focus in long-term care that to encourage creativity in households among staff and residents. Creativity certainly includes artistic tendencies, but householders must also have opportunity to use creativity to address household challenges. Ultimately, those who live and work in the household will together create vibrant daily life in the household and a new definition of what it means to live in a long-term care setting.
Leadership can do much to promote creativity in households by stepping back and letting the householders problem solve and design for themselves, but also by offering support in the form of expertise and mentoring.
Carmen heard of a very creative idea dreamed up by staff in a Colorado nursing home. To get a woman with dementia to stop pacing and rest, they simply filled the baby doll she carried with sand. Sure enough, she would say, “Whew, I’m tired, that baby is heavy,” and sit down. When Carmen relayed that story while teaching a session on reducing restraints, a restorative nurse pointed out that due to the mere existence of restraints, there is no reason to be creative in avoiding them!
Residents and staff of long-term care, let’s get creative again. One of the most fulfilling aspects of working with people is getting to know them, figuring them out and being creative. Leadership of long-term care, encourage your staff, residents and families to let their creative juices flow and be innovative in everything from solving problems to celebrating birthdays to eliminating restraints.
Maybe there are people with whom you live or work who would benefit from a little more creativity. Perhaps you desire to be more creative. Or, perhaps you haven’t thought much about it. It is your decision, of course, but nonetheless the make-up of a household – a home with a family of persons with various skills and talents free from the bounds of the institution – beautifully sets the stage for you to be more creative.
Community Learning Circle Questions
How have you been creative in your life? How would you like to be more creative in our household?
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