Great Article on Caring for Alzheimer’s Patients

03.01.11 / Alzheimer's / Author: nancy
Tags: Alzheimer's, Beatitudes nursing home, research

The New York Times has an excellent article about the latest trend in Alzheimer’s care in nursing homes. The article describes Beatitudes nursing home in Phoenix, which allows Alzheimer’s to eat, sleep, and just about everything else when and how the patients want. The article explains there are sound reasons for doing so:

Research suggests that creating positive emotional experiences for Alzheimer’s patients diminishes distress and behavior problems.

I’m happy to see the research linked in the above quote and especially glad to see nursing homes providing as much comfort and pleasure as possible for Alzheimer’s patients. Obviously, a family caregiver cannot give exactly the same kind of care this nursing home gives. After all, you’re just one person (or only a few people)—you’re on duty round the clock and aren’t part of a team who goes home at the end of an eight-hour shift, turning all responsibility over the next team.  However, with the help of my guide, Help! What Do I Do Now? Caring for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s, you can come much closer to providing this ideal care.