Have you ever seen a place that takes care of people who have dementia? If not this is what you will see. I think this place is probably typical of the better ones. It may be one of the smaller ones.
The facility has more than one floor of patients. Moving from one floor to another is monitored by alarms on doors to stairways which have to remain unlocked. The elevator has a button cover that has to be unlocked with a key to get an elevator.
On the floor where Kay is there is a TV viewing room and a dining room.Go to the TV room and you will see several of the patients just sitting looking ahead doing nothing. Probably not even watching the TV. Some may be sitting with head bowed sleeping sitting up. Out in the halls papients may walk for exercise or just from boredom.
If you decide to speak to a patient you may get a response. Some are not up to responding Quite a few of the patients never get visitors.
This facility attempts to provide some entertainment for the patients but in spite of this there are 24 hours in a day which leaves many for the patient with nothing to do.
I went to see Kay yesterday and she was sitting in the dining room just sitting. Some thought they were waiting for lunch even though they had just finished and it was 1:30 in the afternoon.
We went to the Patio and we looked at pictures for a while. Then she seemed to be sleepy so I told her I would be back tomorrow. She said that was ok.
The only real way to take care of dementia is to have someone with them one on one 24 hours a day. As that s impossible if you get a chance visit the person you know with dementia and brighten up their day just a little. Who knows, you may need visitors some day too.
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