What if every person had a biography? What if a resident/client
could be viewed in various stages of life so that staff could see the myriad of
experiences they have lived through?
What difference would it make? Is it possible that capturing life
stories is truly the answer to many of the problems facing assisted living
providers today?
The person-centered care movement is certainly ready for a
more individualized approach. What is
the whole life story beyond the shadowbox next to Sara’s door? Who is Sara
really? (Read more to find out!)
After concentrating on personalizing the delivery and timing
of dining, bathing, and medications, there is now a growing push to make
person-centered care go many steps further.
True person-centered care requires a deeper knowledge of the whole person—well beyond the
social history and standard intake documents that are commonplace.
For those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s
Disease, knowing the whole story is really essential for delivering quality
assisted living or long-term care. The
memory cues that will help motivate a resident are gleened from the
understanding of the person’s family life, work experiences, educational
background, and things they have always loved to do.
Sara’s Story
Sara is in a secured memory care area of your community.
It’s important to know that Sara grew up in Gaylord, Michigan and enjoyed
roller skating and camping with her friends. She remembers trips to the
Wisconsin Dells as a young girl with her mother, who was a school cook (her mom
made the very best sweet rolls). Sara is a graduate of Michigan State
University and she was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. She loves
looking at plants (up close), bird watching, and painting with
watercolors. She has been to Equador and
Prince Edward Island when she was younger.
She has been married for over 50 years and she raised two boys. She has two grandchildren, Laura and Steven,
who are the loves of her life. She has
always taken them to the art museum and the zoo and she still wishes she could
go there more often. She loves hot
chocolate and she dislikes chicken noodle soup.
What changes when we know these things about Sara? It gives us many ways to start a
conversation. We can share photos of
Equador or the Wisconsin Dells. Sara may
be interested in helping others with a craft with her background as a
teacher. Opportunities to be outside
will be welcomed by Sara, who would like to plant the community garden or she
would appreciate helping to refill the bird feeders. An outing to the zoo or the art museum would
be fun. She would probably also enjoy family parties that included her
grandchildren. Sara loves children, and
she would probably enjoy opportunities to visit with the Girl Scout troops that
come into your community. These are just a few of the ways that “processing”
the biography leads to more personalized approaches to service and care. The activity calendar really has Sara on
it---that trip to the zoo and sharing a book about Equador is for her.
Of course, others will enjoy these things as well. It’s just that the life enrichment is truly
planned around the people in your care right now. As the people change, so do the monthly or
annual activities.
Asking the Right Questions, Involving the Family
Gathering the story is much easier when the resident can
share it for themselves. Especially in
communities where people are living independently, there is a chance to begin
the process sooner. Even in assisted
living, there are simple approaches that will help unlock the various chapters
of people’s lives. In small groups or in
1:1 visits, staff can help gather the life story little by little. In memory care settings, it will be important
to work quickly to gain information that could be very valuable later. Also, families can certainly do their best to
share the key biographical information that will be essential for building a
strong relationship. The adult son or daughter can certainly go
into depth on what hobbies and interests their parent has had through the
years, if the organization is asking the right questions and treating the
information like gold. There is no sense
operating with one hand tied behind your back, when this information can be
used.
Dignity and Respect
What is gained when the person feels deeply known? They feel the difference in the way care is
delivered. They are reminded of their
accomplishments and the joys and challenges of life. “They know me. They remember who I am.” Don’t we all want to be seen as a whole
person---with our wants and needs and background known and appreciated? The life story provides the details that are
necessary to make that feeling a reality for residents with or without
cognitive challenges.
Making a Difference in Sales and Marketing Too
The competition is growing and it is fierce. What sets an organization apart from the
pack? Knowing the life story and individualizing service and care is the key way to set yourselves apart. Tapping into that story and personalizing conversations and daily life is key to making someone's day in senior living and memory care. Listen deeply and connect more.
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