Page 76 - Vibrant Living Scrapbook

Integrating and Welcoming Persons with Dementia
Creating a normal daily life for small groups
of residents in normal home settings like the Household Model often enables people with dementia to integrate with other householders instead of being isolated and essentially locked up.
True, some organizations create households specifically for elders living with dementia. They provide thoughtful programming and additional training for staff. But others have discovered the normal flow of the day affords many people with these special needs to find their place and blend in. The smaller size with fewer householders also helps.
What about Safety for Persons with Dementia?
A dignified answer for this tough question
is the silent WanderGuard® System. Instead
of setting off audible alarms, it silently locks
a door to prevent a person who has been determined to need assistance from leaving unescorted. It is even more important to make those outdoor areas safe so that people can enjoy and obtain the benefits of fresh air and sunshine whenever they please.
Staff Learning Circle Questions
If you don’t integrate persons with dementia into your households, why not?
How do you feel about it?
If you have integrated persons with dementia into your households, how is it going and how could it be better?
Community Learning Circle Questions
How can we help one another in our households, including those with dementia?
76