Although dementia is a common reason for seniors to enter nursing home care, many facilities struggle to meet these patients’ needs. From fun, enriching activities for residents to dementia training courses in Minneapolis for your staff, here are three ways that your nursing home can improve dementia care.
Provide Enriching Activities
One of the best ways to reduce stress and depression for dementia patients is to provide plenty of activities for them to participate in. Provide a variety of games, sports and programs to keep their minds and bodies active. Bingo, bowling, crafts, singing and therapy animals are a few activities that seniors can enjoy.
Train and Educate Staff
Caring for dementia patients requires extra understanding and knowledge. From nurses and personal care aids to janitors and volunteers, all staff who work with these patients should be required to attend dementia training courses in Minneapolis. When staff have a deeper understanding of how a brain with dementia works, they can provide higher quality care and experience fewer conflicts with patients.
Encourage Visits
Spending time with family and friends can help slow memory loss in dementia patients, so encourage as many visits from loved ones as possible. Although visiting in person has become complicated by the pandemic, virtual visits through phone calls and video chats are also great. If a patient doesn’t have family or friends who can visit, consider starting an adopt-a-grandparent or pen pal program at your facility.
