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Familiarity is the Key to Success

by Benjamin W. Pearce

People with Alzheimer's disease can retain certain living skills that they would normally lose if care givers let them perform those skills regularly. This conclusion is the result of a recent study by researchers of the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Pittsburgh, who found that guiding people with AD to perform certain activities of daily living (ADLs) rather than performing the tasks for them allows them to hang onto those skills they might otherwise lose as a result of the progressively degenerative brain disorder. "Typically, individuals with Alzheimer's disease have not been able to gain access to a great deal of rehabilitative care because it was felt that the disease is a progressively degenerative disease, and they would not benefit from the care," explains Joan Rodgers, leader of the study. "What our study demonstrated is that when people with Alzheimer's disease are provided with the appropriate support they can improve their ability to participate in ADLs. The appropriate support described by Rodgers and her team involves 'behavioral intervention', a research term for cueing.

At Potomac Homes, we have recognized the many advantages inherent in our home-like setting. Our homes seek to imitate the environment that our residents have been accustomed to in living in their own private homes so that the connection to familiar things like their kitchen can keep them as independent as possible. Many of our residents can be seen helping in the kitchen or setting the tables, folding laundry, even helping other residents. The environment is so natural, that many of these tasks that would be impossible for them in other large assisted living environments are encouraged here in our Potomac homes.

Rogers goes on to explain "If nursing staff or an in-home caregiver does things for people that they can do for themselves, you run into a condition called ‘access disability' which is an inability to do things that's caused by the caregiver, not necessarily the disease." Caregivers need to resist the temptation to simply perform these tasks for them because it is often easier and quicker. However, if we can provide cueing to start and finish some challenging tasks, such as dressing, while encouraging them to attempt to complete some portion of the task themselves, it can help build confidence and maintain independence longer.

But this type of intervention puts demands on people and could possibly create an increase in disruptive behavior. The key here is when we ask them to do something, we must be careful to gauge the activity as to determine if they could do it successfully, so we do not get a negative response. This philosophy fits in well with our attempt to enter our resident's reality and create a failure free environment, rather than force them into ours.

We are encouraged by this research and applaud our employees for not only providing the care our residents require, but also recognizing the value of their involvement in the process to improve the quality of their lives. Our residential setting is fostering more independence as an outcome, and make coping with the disease more manageable for our residents.

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