Blog on life at Prairie Valley Seniors Lodge in Summerland, BC
The first week of September has been a dream. We have been treated to warm temperatures and cool evenings. The days are getting shorter and we all know it is only a matter of time before we are once again tucked up warm and cozy inside for winter.
So for now, we are spending every available minute on the patio where we can participate in the neighbourhood activity, enjoy our drinks and snacks, spend time with Moxie the Golden Retriever, and soak up the sunshine.
The overuse of medications, especially anti-psychotic medications in long term care facilities is a valid concern for many families. It is something we are asked about frequently. There is a belief that facilities are able to administer this type of medication at will. However at Prairie Valley Lodge anti-psychotic medications cannot be administered without a full medical and mental health assessment from a doctor or other medical professional. When a family is involved and active in the implementation of the residents care plan the use of any medication without the full understanding and permission of the resident or the family is not a possibility.
Anti-psychotic medications may sometimes play a role in the management of severe responsive behaviours in the dementia patient, but the first course of action is always behaviour intervention. Responsive behaviours often occur with dementia and are usually triggered by grief, loss, fear, pain, anxiety etc. All of which are overwhelming and distressing emotions that cannot be appropriately articulated by the resident at this stage of their disease, and may present as screaming, moaning, and verbal and physical aggression.
To initiate positive behaviour modification it is important that care givers learn as much as possible about the person that they are caring for. For this purpose upon admission we try to discover the Life Story of the resident. Some questions that we ask at this time would be; what brings joy into the persons life, what was their occupation, what were their hobbies, what do they consider their greatest accomplishments? We like to discover their special likes and dislikes, sleeping habits, favourite foods, preferred bath times etc. Family members can assist hugely in the process of sharing the Life Story with the care giver.
The Life Story, or knowing your resident well, (Person Centred Care) is often a simple and practical way to modify the residents responsive behaviours. For example, it can be arranged that a family member or a care giver accompany the resident for a daily walk. This may ease the agitated mind of a person who liked to be outside in the sunshine and feels trapped being confined inside a facility. Some of our ladies at Prairie Valley Lodge like to fold laundry. It makes them feel useful (it is useful!), it gives them a great sense of purpose.
So the answer is that sometimes anti-psychotic drugs are necessary to assist with the management of severe responsive behaviours of dementia. Especially when those behaviours (usually physical aggression) pose a risk to both the patient and those around them. However families should rest assured that medication is not a preferred first line method of intervention, but usually the very last. Often it is used for peace of mind for the resident and in turn their family members. The answer to good dementia management is always a collaborative effort by family members, care staff and GP/medical specialists.
Each year, after dinner, on the BC Holiday Monday we sit outside on our patio, in the warm evening sunshine and cheer home the Ultraman Canada competitors. Ultraman Canada is a 3 day, 514.5 km, individual endurance event. When the athletes are passing Prairie Valley Lodge they have completed a 10 km swim from Skaha Beach to Okanagan Falls, a 420 km bike ride from Skaha Marina to Princeton Arena, and are in the last km of a 84.3 km run from Princeton to the finish line at Memorial Park in Summerland. Volunteers man the route every few hundred metres and ensure the safety of the competitors. It is both uplifting and emotional to watch these athletes make their way to the finish line and each year we do our best to hoot and holler encouragement.
Living in a long term care home doesn’t stop the party! At Prairie Valley Lodge we love to throw a party. Birthdays, holidays and special events are always celebrated with style. Despite a senior’s potential limitations, a day can always be made special with their favourite food and drink, as well as with their friends and family around them. Plus- let’s not forget the birthday cake. Living in long term care does not prohibit a senior from enjoying a glass of their favourite wine or beer with their friends.
You can see from Bill’s photos how proud he is to host his own birthday party this week complete with balloons, banners, and birthday boy badges. He tells us the senior years are the best!
