Alzheimer's Special Care Units
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Staffing
at a ratio of one staff person for every five residents on both the 7 a.m.
to 3 p.m. and 3 to 11 p.m. shifts. On the overnight shift, the ratio can
go as high as one staffer for every nine residents.
- All direct
care staff have received an approved 12 hour training program on Alzheimer's
disease. Other staff, such as kitchen and maintenance workers, receive
a two-hour training program.
- Secure door
systems guard against wandering.
- An enclosed,
safe, outside area allows residents to pace freely.
- There are
dining and activity rooms on the unit.
- There is
a director of the unit.
- There is
full-time activities specialist who works exclusively with patients in
the unit.
- The unit
has scheduled therapeutic activities designed for Alzheimers patients -
at least 60 hours a week for every 40 residents, or 1.5 hours per resident
each week. (The best units have as many as 250 hours a week.)
- The architectural
design is simple and soothing and does not confuse the residents. Some
features include soft bland colors, lighting that is bright but not glaring,
the use of color coding and texture to identify rooms, doorways, and sleeping
areas, floors that are a single, light color and not shiny, no background
clutter, no mirrors.
- There is
a varied menu with many food options, including finger foods.
- The goal
is to have residents free of physical and drug restraints. A consultant
works with the staff to see that medications are not the only way of controlling
agitated residents.
What
to look for in a nursing home without
a special care unit:
- How many
other residents with Alzheimer's disease are there? Ask to speak to their
family members.
- Is there
a simple environment with lower levels of visual stimulation and noise?
- Are doors
and windows secure and does a security system prevent wandering outside?
- Is there
a staffing ratio of at least one staff person for every nine residents
on all shifts?
- What activities
include the Alzheimer's residents?
- Have any
staff been trained specifically in caring for people with Alzheimer's disease?
- What is the
policy on the use of restraints?
***special
note***
The author
of this document is unknown to me. I received this from a nurse visiting
the website who was kind enough to "share". She mentioned the
above are the standards in which their nursing home abides by and felt
families should have this information. She also commented that if nursing
homes are reluctant to answer any of the above questions or CAN'T answer
the above questions, that other nursing homes should be considered.
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