We’re asked to wear a lot of hats in life like loving husband, model employee, and supportive parent, but one of the most challenging roles to fill is caregiver. Caregivers are often forced to walk fine lines, lines like being available to keep an eye on their dad in case he takes another fall, but giving him the privacy that he wants in his own home. Showing compassion and respect to their mother with memory loss, but making sure she’s eating, even if she doesn’t want to.
It’s no surprise that a lot of caregivers are riddled with senses of worry, uncertainty, and guilt. The good news is: it can get better.
Our In the Moment® program is thoughtfully designed as a team-approach to care delivery. We describe what we offer as Memory Support because we’re intentionally shifting away from outdated Dementia care practices and into a hospitality model.
What gave your mom a sense of purpose before she needed memory care? Did she love to quilt? Was she an avid volunteer? Did she always have a roast in the oven and clean pressed shirts hanging in your dad’s closet? Just because your mother needs memory care, it doesn’t mean she can’t do the things she loves anymore. We’ll find what your mom misses, what she’s searching for, and bring it back into her day to day life.
We believe that your mom should experience a mix of formal, or planned, and informal, or impromptu, interactions every day. Your mom’s days weren’t planned to a T with a calendar and deadlines before she moved into Lighthouse Memory Care, so why should they be now?
If your mom looks forward to her knitting group meeting on Thursday afternoons, she’ll be welcomed with a smile every week, but if she wants to take a walk outside through the garden with a caregiver after dinner just because the sun is shining, or spend some time alone with her crossword puzzle listening to Frank Sinatra songs, well that’s fine too. Our residents’ lives aren’t dictated by calendar appointments.
You might hear us talk about parallel programming. That’s our fancy way of saying that we don’t offer a “one-or-nothing” approach to enrichment. On any given day we might have a volunteer leading a poetry group in one room, another group enjoying popcorn in the living room, and a third folding laundry in the activity room, all at the same time. So, at Lighthouse Memory Care, if your mom doesn’t want to participate in some of the events on the daily calendar, that’s ok. She’ll have options.
Chances are, family-style dining is familiar to your mom. At Lighthouse Memory Care, we eat together in small groups, family style, since that is most familiar to her. If needed, one of our caregivers will sit with your mom or dad during meals and encourage them to eat.
But what if they refuse? What if they get agitated and put up a protest? That’s ok. We understand that sometimes set meal times don’t work well for every resident, and will work with your mom or dad to find the right fit for what and when they want to eat.
We recognize that each person we are privileged to serve is both unique in their life history, as well as in their Dementia journey. We understand the importance of a scheduled rhythm to each day. However, we also encourage our team members to slow down and embrace the impromptu moments that happen as well. We find it’s the spontaneous moments that have high impact for both the care giver and the care receiver. Living In The Moment, is the greatest gift we can give to anyone we serve; during their journey.
