Caring for Senile Dementia in Nursing Homes

How is Senile Dementia Managed in Nursing Homes?

In specialized nursing homes, the primary objective is to preserve the patient's autonomy to the greatest extent possible. A dedicated team collaborates to support the individual, with care plans tailored to each resident's unique needs. These specialized facilities are equipped with infrastructure to ensure the patient's safety, preventing injuries and neglect of their health.

Promoting Physical Activity in Nursing Homes

Whenever possible, residents are encouraged to move freely to avoid confinement or excessive immobilization. Physical activity helps prevent the development of bedsores, and blood clots and promotes better sleep at night. These nursing homes designed for individuals with senile dementia provide dedicated spaces for wandering, allowing residents to stay active. Additionally, sensory impairments, particularly regarding vision and hearing, are addressed.

Behavioral Therapy in Nursing Homes

Therapists employ various methods to address behavioral issues in individuals with dementia. Establishing familiar reference points is crucial for these patients, with therapists consistently reminding them of essential temporal cues like the time of day, the date, and the season. Therapists may also assist residents in completing their sentences, as individuals with dementia often struggle to articulate their thoughts coherently. Occasionally, rearranging their words may help them regain their conversational thread.

Behavioral therapy also emphasizes non-verbal forms of communication, such as touch, taste, smell, silent presence, gestures, and movements. A smile and eye contact play pivotal roles in connecting with these individuals.

Therapists may engage in mimicry exercises where they interact with the dementia patients at the same level. Clear and relatively slow intonation, pitch, tone, and volume of voice are essential when communicating. These exchanges should take place in a calm environment, as individuals with senile dementia require extended pauses and more time for reflection than usual. Consequently, communication should be straightforward and supplemented with touch, which remains crucial in their interaction.