Dementia. Alzheimer’s. Two of the most feared words in the English language. People suffering from dementia are often frightened because they know something is wrong but they just can’t understand it. For family members, dementia is devastating because they see their loved one drifting away from everything they have ever known into a fog of confusion and silence.
Caring for a loved one who is deteriorating due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be a tremendous challenge. One of the traditional solutions is around the clock in-home care where a trained nurse takes care of your loved one throughout the day in their own home. Although this style of care can be effective for residents with dementia, it is extremely expensive and can be well beyond the financial means of most people. In many cases, families of those suffering from dementia eventually turn to nursing home facilities for help in caring for their loved ones.
In traditional nursing home environments, residents with dementia are either placed among the other residents which can be frustrating for all involved or in specialized “wings” of the nursing home. These areas are often referred to a “lock down units” which simply means that people need a key or a code to come and go from the unit. Since dementia patients often like to wander, these units can be frustrating for them because they are small and the locked doors present a barrier to their “freedom”. It is not unusual to see residents with dementia congregating around the locked door just waiting for it to open so they can try to get out.
Two nurses from a Dutch nursing home noticed this problem and theorized that these patients were not being cared for in the most productive way. Thinking outside they box, they sought to change the traditional model of caring for dementia patients. In doing so, they created “Dementia Village” which is a place where elderly dementia residents can live a relatively normal life within a confined “village”. The concept is simple, yet groundbreaking at the same time. Instead of confining residents to their beds or to a lock down unit, they allow residents to roam freely, within limits. There is a single entry to the dormitories that encircle a large courtyard which is always guarded by a caregiver so that residents remain safe.
The dormitory allows the residents to wander around a modified “village” where they are free to do their own grocery shopping, get their hair cut and even go to a bar on their own. While this may seem strange, keep in mind that every employee of the stores in the village is actually a registered care giver, making sure that the residents are safe and cared for.
The village workers use guidance rather than correction. For example, if a resident tries to leave the dormitory they are simply told that the door is broken and they should try another one. This allows the residents to maintain some sense of independence and to move on to the next event. The entire time, though, they are being cared for. Family members are welcome to join their family members in the village or in their rooms in an effort to keep the environment as stable as possible.
This is an innovative effort to provide care for dementia residents and, so far, the residents seem to enjoy themselves. There is still only one ‘dementia village’ in Holland, but it might represent the future of dementia care.
Unfortunately, in the United States and in Maryland, there are too many nursing homes that are more interested in profit than innovation and care of residents. Far too many dementia residents suffer from neglect or abuse because they are forgotten about or restricted to their beds. If your loved one was abused or neglected in a Maryland nursing home, one of our Maryland nursing home abuse lawyers can help. Please call 410-825-ABUSE (2287) or visit our website www.NursingHomeJustice.com.