WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
8:45am – 10:45am
Creating Moments of Joy
Jolene Brackey
Share the Vision. A vision that we will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and focus more of our energy on creating moments of joy. When the person has short-term memory loss their life is made up of moments. We cannot create a perfectly wonderful day, but it is absolutely attainable to create a perfectly wonderful moment. When we go where the person is living in their mind, we will create smiles by triggering memories that are engrained in them. Focusing on the abilities they have left instead of their losses may have the possibility of reviving their spirit and ours. Five minutes later, they won’t remember what you did or said, but the feeling you left then with will linger. As will the feeling the speaker leaves the audience as they laugh, cry and be inspired to create moments of joy.
11:00am – 12:30pm
Family Matters
Jolene Brackey
Families have real life information and knowledge to build a bridge between the care provider and people with Alzheimer’s. They can share missing details, create links to a person’s mind, and help give back their greatness. Educating the families about what to expect and how to visit will also help sustain relationships. Once families understand dementia –and how to apply the knowledge they hold – they can become “helpers” in the disease process. In return this creates a solid foundation which gives everyone the opportunity to get started on the right foot.
11:00am - 12:30pm
Dealing with Loss, Care of Self and Residents
William R. Thomas, D. Min Currently Chaplain for Amedisys Hospice of Parkersburg; Recently, Affiliate Professor of Pastoral Care, Palmer Theological Seminary, WV Program
This session will deal with the realities and dynamics of grief. Special emphasis will be placed on the institutional setting. Attention will be paid to self care and helping our residents cope with the loss of their peers.
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Activities for the End of Life Residents
Lisa M. Bettoli, R.N. Amedisys Hospice Service of Parkersburg
Approaching the end of life is unique to each individual and to their loved ones. Despite the varied emotions present in anticipatory grieving, ultimately celebrating life is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Many activities are beneficial as families work to achieve personal peace.
1:30pm – 3:00pm
The Activity Professional Guide to Documentation in Long Term Care
Rita Spak
“If you didn’t document it, you didn’t do it”. The New Federal OBRA survey plans focuses on quality of life regulations. This session will review required documentation.
3:15pm – 4:45pm
Enhanced Activities
Jolene Brackey
When trying to figure out what works and doesn’t work, their face is your teacher. Every person is unique so there can be no rules when figuring out how to tap into the person’s identity. Avoid playing out in your head whether something will work or not. Try anything and everything, and the experience will teach you. Remember they usually do not understand the words coming out of your mouth, but they are more likely to understand what they see, touch, smell and hear. So put “stuff” back in their hands and see if it triggers a response. It’s not about the big things we do. You’ll see that it’s about the simple pleasures ie: a smile. Whenever anyone finds something that causes a positive reaction…tell everyone. So …we ALL can create a better day.
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