Care home stimulation

[KEEP TALKING]

Mum has finally been moved to a. Care Home of Dad's choice. She seems settled and the staff tell us that she is. Mum is clean, well fed and medicated accordingly - she looks well. I do have concerns however at the level of stimulation that she is getting, as does my Father. My brother was saddened when he visited a few weeks ago, to see Mum sitting in a television room, seemingly more interested in pulling at a loose thread on her clothing!
The home publish an activities list every week. When I visited today she was sitting in the "pleasant" breakfast room, at a table alone. Two members of staff kept drifting in, but I saw no acknowledgement of her really or efforts to engage with her. I asked what Mum would be doing when breakfast was over, and neither of the staff could tell me. I (politely) made it very clear that I would not be happy if Mum was just going to be left somewhere, sitting alone, when I left.
A senior member of staff was then contacted who was very pleasant with Mum and I. She explained that a music activity was going on. I asked if I could see that, made encouraging noises...and the member of staff escorted Mum down to the room. Once there, she sat down and joined in. I joined in for two minutes or so, and then left her seemingly happily, joining in. The member of staff told me that when they asks Mum if she wants to join an activity, she often says no. From past experience however, I know that Mum's "no" does not always mean "no'!
I'm no expert!! I just hate to think that Mum is not getting the stimulation that she deserves. From what I can see, she's exhibiting many Mid stage characteristics of Alzheimers. What should we expect though from the care home?

hi sunshine 11. i share your concerns . my mum is in a care home .and the website says all lovely things ,but im not sure if this happens ,an because i work five days .i viisit saturdays . but there doesnt seem to be any sign of these happening . i.e pictures . ect . im cant help thinking isit the differance between private and loacal authourity run .

 

[Sonya1]

Speaking as someone whose Dad has been in a Nursing home for 10 months - our experience is that they have a super duper activity programme - but that it is of quite narrow interests and really only beneficial to those who can willingly engage. For example a few of the residents can read and manage pencils so can ddo colouring/arty activities. Some enjoy the musical activities, some are able to dance, some can enjoy walking round the gardens and simple cooking activities. There is a weekly coffee morning with a sing along, and numerous multi faith services run by a wonderful chaplain, weekly bingo, a hair/beauty salon etc etc.
BUT.. the flipside is - most can't read and don't have the motor skills to manage pencils. Many cannot tolerate the noise of the musical and singing activities and become extremely agitated and/or distressed. Most cannot focus on tasks without 1:1 support and many, I hate to say, possibly feel patronised by the dumbing down of some of the activities.
Because let's face it, despite in this case all the residents having varying degrees of dementia illness, many of them are fundamentally as they were - somewhere inside - and what works for one, won't work for others.

When I visit, and certainly at weekends, they are often all dozing or staring onto space, or wandering around apparently oblivious or confused.

The residents who want/are able to take part can do so. The ones who need more, or differentiated , activities, are a little neglected. There are just never enough staff to provide activities tailored to so many abilities, likes and tolerances. Obviously the carers are more often than not busy with physical tasks, or managing behaviours and the care of residents is superb, and they really do try.

Where my Dad is, the budget for 'activities' is only £140 per month, for 48 residents!

So we have a resident's fund, whereby any monies raised can help towards extra treats - like animals coming in; 1940's singers; we had a lottery funded 20 weekly sessions of fun activities run by a team of young students with additional needs (and the rapport between the young SN people and the dementia residents was just beautiful ) and so on. Some local companies will occasionally offer something at no charge/reduced charge, like surplus flowers to allow flower arranging.

I think most homes rely on volunteers to help with fundraising/ideas/activities too

 

[canary]

Also, @KEEP TALKING , quite often activities are organised, but its only during the week and not at weekends. I once asked mums care home why and I was told that weekends is the time when most families visit and often take them out. I also suspect that the activity co-ordinator only worked week days

 

[northumbrian_k]

My wife has been in her care home for 4.5 years. During that time the activity coordinator has tried to engage her in all sorts of 'stimulating' quizzes, games, manual tasks and entertainment. What I have witnessed is that, as she and other long-term residents have declined, so their ability and interest in engaging has waned. Family and visitors sometimes think that doing stimulating activities is good for the person with dementia and that lack of activity is 'bad' (I have thought this myself). On reflection, though, if my wife wishes to sleep her way through activities or entertainment (eg the Christmas pantomime) rather than engage in them, I don't see any harm in that. That is her choice (so far as she is able to choose). Perhaps what she imagines when she is sleeping or barely awake is preferable to the sad reality of her world as diminished by dementia.

 

[sdmhred]

I would say give it time. My mum’s current small home has a small but bustling lounge where there is always activity going on. Mum enjoys it but actually has found it has been too much. She becomes far too overstimulated and her mobility and anxiety increases.

She has actually benefited from having quiet days in her room with just the TV on.

She is moving to a larger home this week. They advise they have less activities for the above reason.

But I do have to say activities that are on in care homes are not suited to all as others have described- the music choice, some activities I cringe at. And after having had 2 days in bed at her choice mum was switched on yesterday and told me the activity was childish and could we go to her room to watch TV 🙈🙈 moment of clarity I wasn’t expecting!

 

[nancymay]

Mum has finally been moved to a. Care Home of Dad's choice. She seems settled and the staff tell us that she is. Mum is clean, well fed and medicated accordingly - she looks well. I do have concerns however at the level of stimulation that she is getting, as does my Father. My brother was saddened when he visited a few weeks ago, to see Mum sitting in a television room, seemingly more interested in pulling at a loose thread on her clothing!
The home publish an activities list every week. When I visited today she was sitting in the "pleasant" breakfast room, at a table alone. Two members of staff kept drifting in, but I saw no acknowledgement of her really or efforts to engage with her. I asked what Mum would be doing when breakfast was over, and neither of the staff could tell me. I (politely) made it very clear that I would not be happy if Mum was just going to be left somewhere, sitting alone, when I left.
A senior member of staff was then contacted who was very pleasant with Mum and I. She explained that a music activity was going on. I asked if I could see that, made encouraging noises...and the member of staff escorted Mum down to the room. Once there, she sat down and joined in. I joined in for two minutes or so, and then left her seemingly happily, joining in. The member of staff told me that when they asks Mum if she wants to join an activity, she often says no. From past experience however, I know that Mum's "no" does not always mean "no'!
I'm no expert!! I just hate to think that Mum is not getting the stimulation that she deserves. From what I can see, she's exhibiting many Mid stage characteristics of Alzheimers. What should we expect though from the care home?

Hi, my sister who is only 75 has alzheimer's , she's in a care home now since November last year , my concerns are the same as yours with your mum., no activities, none of the sessions listed in the brochure, sensory room , one to one etc, it's so upsetting to see my sister sat there unhappy , I have taken my concerns to the manager and stressed there is no stimulation for any of the residents they wander about very bored , I would speak to the manager about your concerns , hopefully they will do something, my sister is the same when asked if she wants to take part , but to just sit in and observe what the others are doing is enough as far as I'm concerned, it's so frustrating, hope you get some answers.