I had an interesting chat with the unit nurse this morning. My dad is in a Dementia+ unit within a larger care home, which is for residents with challenging behaviour, there are a max of 16 residents in the unit. They have asked if dad could change rooms as they are making some changes to the unit which they are hoping to do early next year.
The reason they want dad to change rooms, is that they want to knock his room and the room next door together and create another lounge area with patio doors onto the garden. They are also changing the dining room into another lounge area and making changes to the current lounge. Basically they are planning to have three lounges all with basic kitchen and dining facilities. They have said they are going to change the Activity room into a shop and the reminiscence room into a cinema room, currently there is just a TV in the main lounge which to be honest none of them are interested in, so why a cinema room? They said their plan is for the residents to be a bit more 'independent' and to do more, like they used to. For example their plan is to take the residents to the 'shop', give them a basket and let them choose their own ready meal for their lunch, which they will then take to one of the lounges and prepare it for themselves, ie in the microwave. Eat it and then they can wash up after themselves.
I just can't get my head around this. 9 months ago when my dad still lived at home he was unable to make good decisions regarding food and he certainly couldn't prepare food for himself and this was one of the reasons of many for him going into a care home. Since then his dementia has advanced quite a lot and he is unable to do much for himself now, he also can't answer basic questions or follow any instruction, he can no longer communicate effectively and these suggested changes worry me. I also feel that many of the other residents will not be able to cope with this. Up until now apart from the lack of activities in the unit, I have been happy with how they take care and interact with the residents and they have shown some good practices in dealing with challenging behaviour, but I'm really not sure about these new plans.
Is this some new idea to help people with Dementia? Have any of you had any experience of similar things happening in a Dementia care home unit, does it work?
Thanks.
Elle x
The reason they want dad to change rooms, is that they want to knock his room and the room next door together and create another lounge area with patio doors onto the garden. They are also changing the dining room into another lounge area and making changes to the current lounge. Basically they are planning to have three lounges all with basic kitchen and dining facilities. They have said they are going to change the Activity room into a shop and the reminiscence room into a cinema room, currently there is just a TV in the main lounge which to be honest none of them are interested in, so why a cinema room? They said their plan is for the residents to be a bit more 'independent' and to do more, like they used to. For example their plan is to take the residents to the 'shop', give them a basket and let them choose their own ready meal for their lunch, which they will then take to one of the lounges and prepare it for themselves, ie in the microwave. Eat it and then they can wash up after themselves.
I just can't get my head around this. 9 months ago when my dad still lived at home he was unable to make good decisions regarding food and he certainly couldn't prepare food for himself and this was one of the reasons of many for him going into a care home. Since then his dementia has advanced quite a lot and he is unable to do much for himself now, he also can't answer basic questions or follow any instruction, he can no longer communicate effectively and these suggested changes worry me. I also feel that many of the other residents will not be able to cope with this. Up until now apart from the lack of activities in the unit, I have been happy with how they take care and interact with the residents and they have shown some good practices in dealing with challenging behaviour, but I'm really not sure about these new plans.
Is this some new idea to help people with Dementia? Have any of you had any experience of similar things happening in a Dementia care home unit, does it work?
Thanks.
Elle x