A Little Comfort Goes A Long Way!

Caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimers has its share of challenges, and offering them a comforting environment is always a goal.

Research has found there are a few simple things that can help - like sharing an activity they are familiar with, giving them a treat when they want it, greeting them with a warm hello.

At Kindred Spirits, a private duty, non-medical home care company, founder Kristin Kolasa encourages her caregivers to greet clients with an “over the top” friendly hello. It turns out that an emotional greeting could be a little piece of comfort to them.

New research suggests emotion remains even after cognition deteriorates. In a University of Iowa study, people with brain damage producing Alzheimer’s-like amnesia viewed film clips evoking tears and sadness or laughter and happiness.  Six minutes later, participant had trouble recalling the clips. But 30 minutes later, emotion evaluations showed they still felt sad or happy.  The more memory-impaired patients retained stronger emotions.

Beatitudes, a nursing home in Phoenix, is turning away from typical nursing home rules and allows dementia patients practically anything that brings comfort. One patient, a 96-year-old woman with Alzheimers, was agitated and combative - often striking out at staff members and fellow residents.  Getting her to eat was a problem too.

When the nursing home allowed the woman to sleep, be bathed and eat whenever she wanted (including chocolate), things turned around. At one point she was given a baby doll that she lovingly rocked, caressed and fed.  The doll calmed her and often after feeding  “her baby” she would eat as well.

Industry experts say facilities like Beatitudes are “probably doing some of the best work” and “ virtually have no sundowning,” referring to agitated, delusional behavior common with Alzheimer’s.  Now, many Arizona physicians, medical students and nursing home staff have received Beatitudes training .

Caregivers are an extension of the family and at Kindred Spirits they are trained to create positive emotions. It’s one little thing that can make a big difference in their care.