Blog
Keeping reading present in the lives of seniors
There comes a time when it feels like the person experiencing a loss of autonomy no longer wants to do anything. You suggest activities, and nothing seems to please them. We will return to the possible reasons for this state in a future article. If there is one activity that works very well, it's reading.While reading alone can become arduous and boring, reading together becomes much more appealing. Following extensive research conducted with seniors, reading books for people with memory problems have been developed. The important thing is that the person reading and the person following each have their own copy of the book in their hands. A person with cognitive deficits can quickly disengage from an activity, but when you make it an event, it's very different. We suggest a series of books on topics well-known to seniors, ranging from La Bolduc and Maurice Richard to the theme of the sugar shack. These books contain simple stories in which you have to answer questions, sing familiar tunes, and simply discuss. Each person takes turns reading a page to remain engaged in either reading or following along.Do you think your loved one can no longer read? You are probably mistaken. Reading is part of procedural memory (habit memory), and even with cognitive deficits, one can read for a very long time. We must be careful not to attribute intentions to our loved one. They can sometimes surprise us!
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Relaxing body care
Some people are no longer able to have guided discussions because they are no longer capable, they are tired, words no longer come to them, or they no longer always make sense to them. What are we left with? An interesting option is available to us: offering relaxing body care to our loved one. Is it difficult to have such intimate contact? Are you not used to doing it?We can try it and see if the other person likes it and if we are comfortable offering it. In most cases, it is comforting to see the other person smile, calm down, relax. It is also good for the caregiver to offer something other than daily life care. Has our loved one never moisturized their face, hands, arms? There is still time to do so. We get a nice-smelling moisturizer and gently massage the face, neck, hands, and arms. Very gently. Gentlemen also appreciate these contacts even if they are not used to them.Do we have nail polish on hand? What a pleasure it is to be offered a manicure at home! Do we have a little blush? We put some on our loved one and offer them a mirror so they can look at themselves. A quick comb to finish the care? A scalp massage is a pure pleasure if offered gently. It is even possible to offer a gentle shave to the gentleman, or to trim the lady's chin hairs. It costs nothing, requires no experience in the matter, and can make all the difference for the caregiver and their loved one.
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Going Beyond the Life Story
For several decades now, new residents have been welcomed into long-term care facilities with the understanding that it is essential to have an in-depth knowledge of each resident's illnesses, disabilities, and life situations; it is believed that this information is necessary to provide care and services tailored to their needs for support and adaptation, particularly with regard to communication, recognizing individuals, memory, orientation in time and space, and perception of danger.Thus, since then, the personality, culture, and life history of residents have been considered. "Finally," some said. This was indeed a crucial change that helped, and still helps, to reduce challenging behaviors."But what else?" we ask ourselves today, as there is room for improvement, for going further.From summary to anecdoteIndeed, including this personal data in a client's file is an excellent idea; it is essential to adapt how one interacts with people according to who they are, their habits, their fears, etc., because they are in their living environment. This helps to reduce challenging behaviors but also to make the person feel important, to strengthen their self-esteem, and to preserve their dignity.However, the profile described by the family is often very brief and only outlines the broad strokes of the past: their origins, profession, beliefs, etc. But humans are much more complex, and their personality is often shaped by details and anecdotes. Not to mention all the adventures that children are unaware of!It is therefore very interesting to delve deeper into a person's life history to discover more about their past. Reminiscence games and activities are very appropriate. As a bonus, it is generally very soothing and reassuring for seniors with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease to delve back into the past. And, since they are no exception to the rule that everyone's favorite subject is themselves, they will probably be very inclined to participate in the discussion. Non-verbal individuals should not be excluded, as they can share in their own way, depending on the activities offered. You, like the other residents, will then have the opportunity to discover who these people you interact with every day are.Stay open-mindedMoreover, just because a person has never done something doesn't mean it's not something they might enjoy. Our seniors did not live in today's leisure society, and their daily lives were generally filled with tasks and obligations. So, nothing prevents you from offering them activities that are outside their habits, and this in no way contradicts the idea of preserving their identity and not confronting them.In fact, one should not presume someone's past to define them today. People change and evolve; old age and illness sometimes bring surprising changes in interests and desires. Not to mention inhibitions that fall away, accompanied by the fear of being judged and the pressure to conform to a model. Indeed, just because a man spent his life working hard, with machinery and tractors, doesn't mean he won't enjoy painting, with a tiny brush, a work full of detail and finesse. Similarly, a woman who always took care of her family, cooking, knitting, and mending, might not prefer to wield a hammer, saw, and other tools that were inaccessible to her in her youth. So, don't hesitate to suggest activities that may seem, at first glance, incongruous with the life story you have access to! Hidden talents, sometimes deeply buried, may be lurking in some of your residents.
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The Power of Gardening
Gardening is one of the most common passions among seniors. Food self-sufficiency has been ingrained in their values since childhood: they saw their parents tending the garden, then participated in its upkeep and the harvesting of vegetables; they integrated these activities into their daily lives, into their way of life.A study conducted in a retirement home in Finland established a correlation between well-being and participation in gardening activities. The study explains that participants in gardening activities demonstrated much more joy in their daily lives. Among the major changes observed were greater autonomy, a sense of control, a reaffirmed identity, and an increased sense of belonging to a group, breaking the isolation and loneliness often felt in care facilities (Stoneham and Thoday, 1996).Taking care of something living, in this case plants, allows seniors to feel useful and valued; it empowers them! Furthermore, a person with gardening experience will be consulted by their peers, which will strengthen their self-esteem.It should also be mentioned that plants, through their scent and appearance, can trigger pleasant memories. By gardening, a person is thus calmed, creates new memories, and gives new meaning to their life, all while experiencing happy feelings (Browne, 1992; Lewis, 1996).Finally, the study highlights that by integrating gardening into their daily lives, seniors will be able to compare their plants, discuss the subject, and thus regain a role in their living environment.Gardening is therefore a social, reminiscent, and valuable activity... So what are you waiting for to start gardening?
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