I am honored to have this opportunity to share with you my experiences working with seniors in memory care.
I have enjoyed a long ful lled career developing programs and creating activities to better assist residents with Alzheimers and dementia in assisted living memory care.
I have seen the devastation and e ects it has on the seniors and their families. So, I made it my goal to be an advocate and open a sense of connection through activities for families and their loved ones.
In my experience, memory care is a place where we join their journey and forget about the disease, (if only). Though there are moments where behaviors become a challenge, those are the moments I have to listen and nd the reason behind those behaviors.
Along with the information I gather from the families this is where I do my magic. I not only redirect loved ones into meaningful activities, but also develop unique personal activities while preserving individual dignity. Keeping loved ones engaged with purposeful activities and encouraging independence is key to a happier quality of life.
My everyday mission is to make loved ones lives full of fun activities throughout the day! The best start of my day are my morning greetings and excitement of what the day will bring! Lots goes on behind the scenes, it takes a team to assure a successful day.
Some of the programs I have created are “Made with Love Community Project”. I saw the need and listened to their stories where I learned how important and how much it meant to them to help others.
This is their way of giving back to the community. “Tea Talk Club” is our snack time, perfect to meet new friends and visit with family! We engage in activities such as table talk to encourage friendly conversations among each other. Socializing is a great opportunity to learn more about loved ones; places they’ve traveled, learning about a new culture, trivia, sharing recipes, and other days, we are playing scrabble, or a heated game of bingo.
“I want to share with you a rewarding experience I will never forget. This was when I knew I was where I needed to be as well as the importance of activities
Early in my career I met Aunt Lily. She came from a loving family who were unwilling to give up, but unable to care for their loved one, because her conditions were beyond them. We welcomed Aunt Lily into our community. Part of my duties was to welcome new residents.
I had learned of her conditions, she was bedridden with very little strength and I thought to myself, what can I possibly do for her?. Aunt Lily’s family shared with me how she was a spiritual person and read her Bible every day. So, I did just that! I would open the window to allow the sun rays to shine through and feel the warmth of a brand new day. I would greet her and hold her hand as I read scriptures from her Bible.
I looked forward to our visits and each day I’d ask: “Where are we going today, Aunt Lily?” knowing her conditions.
A few weeks passed by and she showed signs of strength. She even tried to get out bed. I hoped she’d gain her strength back. One morning. I discovered an empty bed. I thought, ”Oh no, where’s Aunt Lily?”
I feared the worse. I asked the staff, where is Aunt Lily? They said, there’s a lady asking for you. She said “you told her she was going somewhere”. I was speechless.
I saw Aunt Lily sitting with a group of ladies enjoying a coffee.
I gave her the biggest hug I could, she turned and looked at me and asked, “Where are we going today?” We laughed and cried tears of joy.
Aunt Lily’s family were so grateful for the remarkable recovery. She lived to be 98 beautiful years.
People enter our world in ways we never would have expected nor the impact they leave behind.
I have to say the hardest part of my career is when they pass away. Letting go of the friendship and the love for them and their families. They will always have a part of my heart.
I know I’m living my purpose while making an impact and I am loving every minute of it!
:)
IN MEMORY OF AUNT LILY: “Where are we going today, Aunt Lily?”