Bronx's Rivers Pilling Residence Nursery School is a sunny and fascinating space with a basinet, musical mobile baby bed, some toys, bottles, reading picture books for reading, and small size clothing.
Last morning, Wilma Rosa was trying to calm down one of the small rates. “What happened, baby?” She cloned and tapped the back of the complaints. “Are you okay? I want you to sleep for a while.”
76 -year -old Rosa is a resident of memory care who has been supported by life and visits a nursery school every day. She had a lot of experience with her baby.
She was the oldest girl of her eight children, and she was responsible for many family members, and she told the facility's life -enrichment director, Cathalindrang, Cathalindran. Later, Rosa worked at a bank with a bank. The story appeared when she hugged the doll.
The actual baby does not live in this immersive environment. There, the fragrance blend contains a scent of tankam. Just like the other new reverse spring was held, and the actual sales were not sold at the corridor store.
In clothing, accessories, and chocolate wooden shelves, the salesperson was trained to effectively interact with residents of dementia, like Doran.
“Great choice” and cheerful cash register -engagement coordinator Andre Ally told the 91 -year -olds who chose the lattice striped muffler. “Ideal for this weather.”
The shoppers handed out a plastic card issued by the residents and went out with a pedestrian with no financial value. “It's very warm,” he said. “And it's a nice size, so you can wear it on any coat.”
David V. Pomeranz, president and highest executive of Riverspring Living, said, “Survivors, memory care, rehabilitation, and nursing homes,” how to recover the normal nature of people who have been very much deprived. I'm looking at my efforts.
He said that taking a group of residents with dementia to the actual store may prove that there is excessive stimulation, and when they have enough. I couldn't just leave. However, the only real store or nursery school gives a comfortable and familiar life experience and denies the feeling that they do not control their lives. “
It is a strategy with supporters and some critics.
A few decades ago, those who take care of people with dementia, both at home and at the facilities, took a very different approach.
They tried “reality” and reminded the patients that today is not Thursday but Tuesday. They couldn't “go home” because their houses were sold. Their spouse had not visited because they died many years ago (repeatedly caused fresh shock and sadness).
“It didn't work,” said Steven Zarit, an emeritus Professor of Pennsylvania and a long -standing researcher for care and dementia. “It didn't help people's memories, it didn't help them, that wasn't useful.”
Instead, the caregiver adopts a strategy called “therapeutic lies” and gently asks a painful question. Where are the loved ones (of the deceased)? “I am convinced that he will come here soon. You know how much traffic you have. Let's go for a walk while waiting.”
The introduction of a purified and shaken robot pet and take care of the baby dolls have expanded their approach. In particular, if the pandemic restricts other types of interactions, some people with dementia enjoyed such an innocent companion.
It seems to be the next step to evoke the past or simply to make people feel like they are participating in the present.
In 2018, the non -profit Glenner Alzheimer's Family Center has developed a Program of the Townsque Air Adult Day, reproducing the main street of a small 1950s in a large warehouse in Churista, California.
It features a retro diner for meals, a library that displays portraits of Ike, a space that imitates a vintage cinema, a 1959 Thunderbird, and an atmosphere like a traditional telephone booth. Franchisie has opened a square of nine similar towns in seven states and is under development.
Lisa Tiburuski, Chief Marketing Officer of Glenner, stated: 。
“It brings very peace so that they can talk about something they remember,” said Tyburski. “We laugh, laugh, and form a friendship.”
Such an environment, including the village of European dementia, creates the entire residential area (but does not imitate the past), provides clinical interests and reliably improve the quality of life. There is evidence.
However, “The environment is really important, and it can be possible or disabled,” he said, a co -editor of the book “Dementia and Place” and a professor at the British Gringe University. Andrew Clark said.
“We need to find a way for people to connect and maintain everyday and everyday activities,” he said. Such an environment may encourage people with dementia to “get involved with people, go out and be closed.”
Some experts have expressed ambivalence and ethical concerns. Dr. Clark supports the shift from reality. “In dementia, there are all kinds of situations that can be better for people's happiness to not say the truth,” he said.
But ethics added, “It's cloudy.” For example, distributing a baby doll to Dr. Zalit will “infant”.
Dr. Jason Karlawish, co -director of Penn Memory Center, said: “If others have” other people, “he starts to be a problem,” he said, making a distance between cognitive and all others.
“I think we can find more creative ways than engaging in meaningful activities,” he added.
Certainly, dementia programs nationwide include interactive drama experiences, opportunities to create art and exploring music, efforts to connect through church congregation, gathering with real children, pets with living animals The number of services such as therapies is increasing. Hundreds of memory cafes meet regularly.
Nancy Buringer, an ethicist and researcher at the Hasting Suspener, pointed out another concern about the environment focusing on dementia.
Participants pay $ 150 a day in a franchise town square. (Medicade, veterans, states and local organizations may assist on day care costs.) RiversPring, which already provides full -to -use interactive programs, has a memory care of $ 15,000 per month.
(In New York City, according to GENWORTH's annual survey for comparison, in 2023 the average of $ 6,500 per month in 2023 was $ 6,500 per month.)
In the village and environment of dementia, “worries are that they will be a flying area for wealthy people,” said Clark.
Or, they become an alternative to the appropriate staffing. According to Pomeranz, Riverspring's nursery and shops were inexpensive. However, the placement of the personnel does not work as intended, and in the environment, employees are required to engage in expansion conversation.
Needless to say, many nursing homes and support facilities are struggling to meet basic needs, such as escort residents, not to say to promote shopping twice a week. Instead of hiring and training sufficient people, administrators may be seduced simply passing through dolls and robopets.
Nevertheless, continuous search for how to stimulate and maintain the lives of the elderly, the growing population, applauds.
“There is no choice but to recover the brain to a state without damage,” said Dr. Barlinger.
However, the caregiver can say, “I meet people where they are and” What is the comfort? ” What is the stress reduced? What brings joy? “She said. “We must always think about this.”
