I saw a postcard once that read, "The last good thing that may happen in a person's life is a hospice volunteer". For National Volunteer Month help me recognize these special caregivers who are called to the bedside.
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Training, Family, Volunteers, Hospice, support, volunteering, touch
Pet therapy is well-known for comforting people with dementia. Snuggling a four-legged friend brings on a smile, soothes anxiety and encourages physical activity. People connect to memories of their own beloved pets. Can a robotic pet replace the real thing?
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Topics: dementia care, Senior Care Professionals, dementia, caregivers, Pets, touch
Time is precious. Staff is in short supply. Family caregivers are stretched to the limit. Just taking care of the basic needs is hard enough, so five minutes a day seems - IMPOSSIBLE!
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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Person-centered, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Senior Care, Family, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, leadership, Hospital Professionals, education, older adults, staff, communication, touch
Stories are worth sharing
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Senior Care, stories, empathy, touch
Elders in senior care have something to teach us about the importance of touch. Have you ever comforted a crying baby? How did you sooth her? Chances are you held her close, stroking her back while gently rocking her. We feel naturally drawn to comfort infants with caring touch. It is through touch that we convey warmth, safety, love and acceptance.
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Senior Care, ageism, touch
Touch. Imagine not being touched. Imagine for a whole day no one touches you in any way. Imagine no one shakes your hand, pats your arm, gives you a hug, or clasps your shoulder. Now imagine that for a whole week, a month, a year.
People of advanced age can experience this lack of touch – the children are grown and may live far away and their partner may have died. People living with dementia are especially prone to physical contact deprivation leading to a feeling of isolation and depression and ofttimes agitation with them selves due to frustration and apathy.
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Topics: dementia care, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, compassionate touch, touch
