Personal Good Practices by Daniela Simmons

IMPLEMENTING CULTURE CHANGE IN ASSISTED LIVING / MEMORY CARE COMMUNITIES

Author: Daniela Simmons

A New Memory Care Community

All of the images are made public with written

consent from the families of the residents.

PRINCIPALS:Residents live on their own terms, as if they were in their

own home!

Caregivers treat residents as if they were their own parents!

Families and Guests are welcome at any time and treated as if they were visiting their loved one at home –

drinks, meals, attention, etc.!

Residents are healthy, happy, clean, beautiful and smiling!

NEIGHBORHOODS: ACACIA, BEGONIA & CARNATION

Each neighborhood Consists of 10 Residents

Meals and Social Activities in the Neighborhood

Residents from the Different Neighborhoods Visit or “Go Out”

DINING EXPERIENCESMeals at one Table for the Residents, Employees and

Guests

Meals at any time!

Diets? Cooking special meals; no one losing weight!Residents Taking Part in the Cooking, Serving, &

Cleaning

Refrigerators, Drinks, Snacks, Cookies, Cake, etc.

“Fancy Living” – Ice Cream, Fruit Punch, Smoothies, Tropical Drinks, Fruit Salad, etc.

NON-PHARMACEUTICAL APPROACHES OF CARE

PRN, “as needed”? Almost never…

Smile Therapy, Pain Assessment

Letters, “Secrets”, Lottery, Singing, Fun and a lot of RESPECT!

ACTIVITIES 

Knowing the past professions, hobbies, habits and preferences of the residents

Making the bed, organizing, laundry, cooking, baking, cleaning, gardening…

Cognitive Activities – McGuffey Readers

Physical, Social, Entertainment, Outings, Arts, Spiritual, Parties and Celebrations, etc.

“You Smile, I Smile” Program

“THE MEMORY OF MCGUFFEY “, COGNITIVE MEMORY CARE

PROGRAM

The program is developed specifically for elderly people with memory impairment.

Elderly people with memory issues often remember the past better than current events.

Consists of reading classic poems and stories to the seniors that they might have learned as children. This activity helps to stimulate memories and provides enjoyment for both the caregivers and people afflicted with dementia. The Program includes Pre and Post Assessment strategies to examine the social and cognitive effects that interacting with Mcguffy’s

Reading has on seniors with dementia.

"THE MEMORY OF MCGUFFEY'S" WILL BE SOON OFFERED FOR SALE FROM THE AMERICAN

INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RELATIONS AND AGING.

It consists of:

- a booklet with instructions and leading assessment tools;

-a 7 volume set of McGuffy's Readers scanned onto CD-ROM that permits making various copies;

- for visual enjoyment, an antique McGuffey’s eclectic third reader book ;

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- for the residents’ listening pleasure, a McGuffy's reader audio CD.

“You Smile, I Smile” Program

TEAM

Selection of Employees – Volunteering, Education

Management; Participation; Communication with the Families

Self-Managed Team; Universal Responsibilities; Shift Exchanges

TRAINING / TEAM BUIDING

Focused on developing sensitivity to the emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of daily life in old age;

the importance of knowing specifics of the background, habits and preferences of elderly people; the interplay

between tradition, innovation and change;

Implementing the great variety of innovative methods such as Group Relations; Psychodrama, Sociodrama, Sociometry, etc. in helping and caring for the elderly, as well as in training employees to be sensible in their

understanding and interactions with the elderly.

4750 Bryant Irvin Rd # 808-271Fort Worth 76132

Phone 817-715-6579; 469-293-1104

E-mail: dsimmons@danieldomes.com; danielatsv@gmail.com