© Imelda Maurer, cdp August 10, 2009
ilmcdp@yahoo.com
My work day started on a great note and I want to provide you the same delight.
Across the country Coalitions on Culture Change are deepening and broadening the involvement of nursing homes in transformational culture change within their State. The link I’m sharing this morning is from the Louisiana Coalition Newsletter, Leader.
KaraLe Causey, President of LEADER (Louisiana Enhancing Aging with Dignity Through Empowerment and Respect) writes on page 1 about the place and importance of choice in her life and how this translates to elders in long-term care settings. You will find the article stimulating and motivating. KaraLe would be as great a novelist as she is administrator. You'll enjoy the article!
On page 2, a Certified Medical Director writes about meaningful and effective activities with residents with dementia.
Page 3 includes descriptions of how some nursing home communities honor the death and dying experience of a resident and the resident’s family by particular practices and rituals. One ritual noted includes leaving a single rose on the bed for 24 hours following the death of a resident. How touching that is, in contrast to the traditional, institutional model in which the bed and room are stripped as soon as the body is removed.
Full disclosure: I have been gifted to know KaraLe since August, 2005 when I volunteered time in her nursing home following Katrina. KaraLe opened a vacant wing at Haven Nursing Center to receive 44 residents from a nursing home in New Orleans. Many of these residents lived at Haven for three or more months before they were able to return to their nursing home in New Orleans.
Thanks, KaraLe, for the wonderful work you and the Louisiana Coalition are doing! See you soon at the Pioneer Network Conference!
Here’s the link. Enjoy!
http://laculturechangecoalition.org/userfiles/Newsletters/2009%20August.pdf
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