A specialized Alzheimers Unit differs from most nursing homes...I will explore the differences and offer helpful hints for selecting the right unit for your loved one.
Within the realm of healthcare settings lies the Alzheimer's Unit. While these units may be attatched to a larger nursing home, they are entirely separate in function, and often appearance.
A dementia unit is not neccessarily an Alzheimers unit, as Alzheimers disease carries with it specific behaviors and problems that a specialized unit is equipped to deal with. Dementia units may be home to some Alzheimers patients, however, in this article I will be discussing true Alzheimer units.
While touring an Alzheimers unit, you should be aware of certain facts. These units are designed the way they are for a reason, and unless you are aware of the reasoning behind the various features, you may not notice.
The floor should be simple, without complicated designs on the carpet. Alzheimers patients often have spatial/visual problems which may be affected by confusing designs on the floor. One common problem these patients also have is while walking from room to room, they may become confused if the flooring changes from carpeting to linoleum or vice versa, and they may be afraid of taking a step. Shadows often present the same problem.
The lighting should be adequate but not blaring.
The noise level should be fairly low, as loud noises and confusion may tend to agitate residents.
In a well planned Alzheimers Unit, the bedrooms will all be color coordinated, with the door and door frames painted to match. This is thought to aid the residents in remembering their room.
Look for extra steps that may have been taken to ensure the safety of the residents. For example, in the bathrooms, often the lids of the trash cans will have a large yellow decal on them, to deter residents from mistaking it for the toilet. Little things like this go a long way in preventing accidents.
Another important factor is whether or not steps have been taken to ensure the safety of wanderers. Is the unit a locked unit? How easy is it for a resident to get out? Are there alarms? These are all good questions to ask, especially if your loved one tends to wander.
The activities department should be providing apropriate stimulation and entertainment on a daily basis. On an Alzheimers unit, the residents decreased cognitive ability must be taken into account. Are the residents just left sitting in front of the television all day?
Ask about the units policy on behavior management. Do they attempt several interventions with a problem behavior, or do they immediatly administer anti-anxiety medication? While medications are often neccessary to ensure the comfort and safety of the resident, often the problem behavior can be remedied with something as simple as a snack, or being toileted.
How do you feel about 'reality orientation'? Reality orientation is basically the attempt to re-orient an Alzheimers patient, back to reality. For example, if they are asking where there mother is, with reality orientation you would tell them (gently) that their mother has passed away. There are many views on this, and different Alzheimer Units handle this differently. Some units operate within the reality orientation realm ("your mother has passed away"...) while others shy away from this approach ("she's sleeping", etc). Many people feel it is cruel and fruitless to subject an already confused person to even more confusion and pain by presenting the truth. I have found this to be true.
Are the staff properly trained? To work on most specialized Alzheimer units, most staff are required to take part in an Alzheimers training class. This class is highly educational and quite beneficial for anyone seeking to work with Alzheimers patients.
There are several wonderful Alzheimer units out there, you just have to do some homework and look around!
