The End-of-Life Namaste Care Program for People with Dementia - Softcover

Simard MSW, Joyce

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1932529349 ISBN 13: 9781932529340

Publisher: Health Professions Press, 2007

Synopsis

The innovative Namaste Care program helps facilities provide gentle end-of-life care, especially for residents with advanced dementia. Because of their profound losses, these individuals are often isolated with limited human contact during the final stages of their lives. This new program reveals simple and practical ways for direct care staff to provide holistic, person-centered care and maintain a human connection. Blending nursing care and meaningful activities, the program promotes peaceful and relaxing end-of-life experiences for older adults. Sensory-based practices, like placement in comfortable armchairs, soothing music, and gentle massage, emphasize comfort and pleasure. Personal information is used to individualize the experiences, making them as enjoyable as possible for participants. Developed by a geriatric social worker and dementia specialist, the program stresses dignity and respect at this vulnerable stage of life. Namaste Care will benefit facilities by improving residents’ quality of life providing programming that meets current regulations for meaningful activities supporting culture change initiatives enhancing opportunities for family involvement and strengthening staff morale Using this practical manual, nursing facilities can easily implement a Namaste Care program with minimal resources and training. Step-by-step advice for staffing, budgeting, and marketing a program is included. Detailed information for creating a Namaste Care room is provided, as well as alternative options for facilities with limited space. Plus, real-life vignettes illustrate the program in practice. Recognizing the spirit within each person, this unique approach is valuable for all settings providing end-of-life care, especially skilled nursing facilities, assisted living settings, and hospices. Namaste is a Hindi greeting honoring the spirit within a person.

About this title

About the Author

Joyce Simard, M.S.W., provides consulting services to skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities. She earned her bachelor of arts in sociology/social work at Ithaca College in New York and her masterâ??s of social work at the University of Minnesota. In addition to Namaste Care, she developed The Memory Enhancement Program (MEP), a unique program for individuals experiencing memory loss above and beyond what is normal for their age and education. Residents in nursing centers, assisted living, and independent living communities who do not need a secured Alzheimer's unit benefit from this program. An internationally recognized speaker, Joyce has given seminars, such as Understanding Alzheimerâ??s Disease, Finding Joy in the Caregiving Experience, and Staff Participation in Meaningful Activities, to families of people with dementia and health care professionals in the United States, Australia, and several cities in Asia. She also provides in-service training on a variety of subjects, including hospice, bereavement, comfort care, and activity programs for people with dementia. Joyce is known for bringing humor and a light touch to serious subjects. She teaches through stories of real experiences from her more than 20 years in health care.

Edition details

• Publisher: Health Professions Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1932529349
• ISBN 13: 9781932529340
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 216