Top ten, 4th of July, activities for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two


Author and dementia healthcare professional,Susan Berg, suggests ways to enjoy the holiday with dementia folks that are stress and failure free.

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here are some easy, yet fun things to do on or near the 4th of July together

I cannot believe the 4th of July is here
Here are some easy, yet fun things to do on or near the 4th of July together

10. Arrange flowers real of fake. You can use red, white and blue flowers to make the bouquet or centerpiece look patriotic.

9. Plan a picnic or a party from beginning to end

8. Have a picnic perhaps using the ideas from your plans. If the person with dementia does not want to go outside, no problem, have the picnic inside.

7. Go to the beach or the park. Go at off times to avoid the crowd. You can always go on different day. Again if you fear a negative reaction to going to the beach, bring the beach to your home. Get some sand, sea shells and other beach paraphernalia.

6 Have a small get together at home. Hire or have someone to assist the ADRD person.

5. Draw some patriotic pictures. You can use paints, magic markers or crayons. Fireworks are easy to draw.

4. Read a patriotic story or poem. Create your own story or poem.

3. Discuss a simple recipe. See how many ingredients you can name. Give hints as necessary. Make a simple dish together.

2. Watch a musical patriotic movie. Suggestions are: Yankee Doodle Dandy and Stars and Stripes Forever
They may have to be watched in segments depending on the attention span of the dementia person Watch the fireworks on TV.

1. Make a list of all the patriotic songs you know. Give hints to the impaired person as necessary. A good book for tips on how to do this is Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful,Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged,Their Loved Ones,and Involved Professionals Then listen to and sing these songs.

Remember all activities are person appropriate. Therefore knowing their likes and dislikes is helpful.
Also you must be flexible. If things do not go as planned, have a backup plan.

Alzheimer's a Cold-Weather Danger

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

There is still at least one cold month ahead

• Stay Safe in Cold Weather

WEATHER ALERT - 9 WAYS TO STAY SAFE WITH DEMENTIA: People can lose body heat fast. That's called hypothermia. Big chills and Alzheimer's are a dangerous combination. Learn 9 ways to stay safe in cold weather.

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Losing too much body heat is a serious problem called hypothermia (hi-po-ther-mee-uh).

Protect people with with dementia from hypothermia during those months when it's cold outside. Check out these tips on how to stay safe. Share it with your family and friends.

Being outside in the cold, or even being in a very cold house, can lead to hypothermia. You can take steps to lower your chance of getting hypothermia.

Robert's storyVermont winters can be very cold. Last December I wanted to save some money so I turned my heat down to 62 degrees

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia is what happens when your body temperature gets very low. For an older person, a body temperature colder than 95 degrees can cause many health problems, such as a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage, or worse.I didn't know that would put my health in danger. Luckily, my son Tyler came by to check on me. He saw that I was only wearing a light shirt and that my house was cold.

Ty said I was speaking slowly, shivering, and having trouble walking. He wrapped me in a blanket and called 911. Turns out I had hypothermia. My son's quick thinking saved my life. Now on cold days, I keep my heat at least at 68 degrees and wear a sweater in the house.

KEEP WARM INSIDE

Living in a cold house, apartment, or other building can cause hypothermia. People who are sick may have special problems keeping warm. Do not let it get too cold inside and dress warmly.

9 Tips for keeping warm inside:

1. Set your heat at 68 degrees or higher.
2. To save on heating bills, close off rooms you are not using.
3. To keep warm at home, wear long johns under your clothes.
4. Throw a blanket over your legs.
5. Wear socks and slippers.
6. When you go to sleep, wear long johns under your pajamas, and use extra covers.
7. Wear a cap or hat.
8. Ask family or friends to check on you during cold weather.
9. Bundle up on windy, cool days

STAY WARM OUTSIDE

A heavy wind can quickly lower your body temperature. Check the weather forecast for windy and cold days. On those days, try to stay inside or in a warm place. If you have to go out, wear warm clothes.

Tips for bundling up:

1. Dress for the weather if you have to go out on chilly, cold, or damp days.
2. Wear loose layers of clothing. The air between the layers helps to keep you warm.
3. Put on a hat and scarf. You lose a lot of body heat when your head and neck are uncovered.
4. Wear a waterproof coat or jacket if it's snowy.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Talk with your doctor about how to stay safe in cold weather. Some illnesses may make it harder for your body to stay warm. Taking some medicines and not being active also can affect body heat. Your doctor can help you find ways to prevent hypothermia.

Tips for talking with your doctor about hypothermia:

1. Ask your doctor about signs of hypothermia.
2. Talk to your doctor about any health problems (such as diabetes) and medicines that can make hypothermia a special problem for you.
3. Ask about safe ways to stay active even when it's cold outside.

WARNING SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA

Sometimes it is hard to tell if a person has hypothermia. Look for clues. 

• Is the house very cold?
• Is the person not dressed for cold weather?
• Is the person speaking slower than normal?
• Is the person having trouble keeping his or her balance?

Watch for the signs of hypothermia in yourself, too. You might become confused if your body temperature gets very low. Talk to your family and friends about the warning signs so they can look out for you. 

EARLY SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA:

• cold feet and hands
• puffy or swolen face
• pale skin
• shivering
• slower than normal speech or slurring of words
• acting sleepy
• being angry or confused

LATER SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA:

• moving slowly, trouble walking, or being clumsy
• stiff and jerky arm or leg movements
• slow heartbeat
• slow, shallow breathing
• blacking out or losing consciousness

CALLING 911

Call 911 right away if you think someone has warning signs of hypothermia.

Tips for what to do after you call 911

• Wrap the person in a warm blanket.
• Do not rub the person's legs or arms.
• Do not try to warm the person in a bath.
• Do not use a heating pad.

FAQS

Your questions answered:

Q. What health problems can make it hard for my body to stay warm?

A. Diabetes, thyroid problems, Parkinson's disease, and arthritis are common problems for older people. These health concerns can make it harder for your body to stay warm. Talk to your doctor about your health problems and hypothermia. Your doctor can tell you how to stay warm even when it's cold outside.

Q. Can medicines lower my body's temperature?

A. Yes. Some medicines used by older people can make it easy to get hypothermia. These include medicines you get
from your doctor and those you buy over-the-counter. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking any medicine.

Q. What can I do to stay warm at home?

A. Try closing off any room you are not using. Also:

• Close the vents and shut the doors in these rooms.
• Place a rolled towel in front of all doors to keep out drafts.
• Make sure your house isn't losing heat through windows.
• Keep your blinds and curtains closed.
• If you have gaps around the windows, try using weather stripping or caulk to keep the cold air out.
• And, it helps to wear warm clothes during the day and use extra blankets at night.

Q. Can I get any help with my heating bills?

A. You may be able to get help paying your heating bill. You can call the National Energy Assistance Referral service at 1-866-674-6327 to get information about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It's a free call. If you have a computer with internet, you can also email them at:
energyassistance@ncat.org.

SUMMARY — WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA

1. Set your heat at 68 degrees or higher.
2. Dress warmly on cold days even if you are staying in the house.
3. Wear loose layers when you go outside on chilly days.
4. Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves.
5. Don't stay out in the cold and wind for a long time.
6. Talk to your doctor about health problems that may make it harder for you to keep warm.
7. Find safe ways to stay active even when it's cold outside.
8. Ask a neighbor or friend to check on you if you live alone.
9. If you think someone has hypothermia:
   • Call 911 right away.
   • Cover him or her with a blanket.
   • Don't rub his or her legs or arms.

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

For information about help in your area, check with your local Area Agency on Aging. Look in your phone book or contact:
Eldercare Locator
Phone: 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)
Website: www.eldercare.gov

For help with heating bills, contact the National Energy Assistance Referral service about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program:
National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline
Phone: 1-866-674-6327 (toll-free)
TTY: 1-866-367-6228 (toll-free)
Website: www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/energyhelp.htm

For more about health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
Phone: 1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)
TTY: 1-800-222-4225 (toll-free)
Website: www.nia.nih.gov/health
Spanish website: www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol

Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This website has health and wellness information for older adults. Special features make it simple to use. 

Share this with friends and family so they can learn the signs of hypothermia and how to prevent it.

SOURCE: 

• Stay Safe in Cold Weather

This free booklet is provided by:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• National Institutes of Health
• National Institute on Aging

Honor veteran's with dementia on Veteran's Day

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

PRLog

Dementia,including Alzheimer disease, affects about 1 in 13 seniors,many of them veterans. As you remember our war heroes on Veteran's Day,think about what you can do for them.They did so much for us



PRLog (Press Release) – Veterans who suffer from various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer disease, often have very specific care needs. It is important that these veterans are cared for by people who understand their condition and have the appropriate instruction and skills.

Therefore encourage family members of veterans to gain the training they need to care for their loved one with dementia.

All people, including those with memory loss, need human contact. They need to be hugged. They need to hear your voice. They may not know you but as long as you know who they are, that's all that matters.

Talk to them about their service to our country. Often they will share stories with you because their time in the service made a huge impression on them

For those in nursing homes and other institutions, make sure veterans with dementia are visited often.

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information
Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

November is Alzheimer's awareness month
What are you doing to find out all you can about this mind robbing disease and related dementias?
Visit this blog often to find out the latest news.
Here is what the president had to say
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we recognize the dignity and courage of the men and women living with Alzheimer's disease. We also honor the devoted family members and caretakers who bring them love and comfort, and we underscore our dedication to finding a cure for this tragic disease

read more

How music can help those with dementia

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

Huffington Post
Leann Reynolds

Celia shares a picture of herself as a 7-year-old girl. Her young mother is leading her in a dance. Then she pulls out a second photograph, taken one week before her mother passed away from Alzheimer's at the age of 78. In this image, they are dancing again. This time, Celia is leading.

"As soon as I felt her lose herself to Alzheimer's, I would bring in my iTunes and play Spanish music for her," said Mrs. Pomerantz. "Then I could convince her to do anything -- we would dance over to the shower or out to get a meal."

Mrs. Pomerantz intuitively found what experts say is useful tool in helping people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

"Music speaks to a person's feelings, so it is a sensory and not intellectual experience," said Martha Tierney of the Alzheimer's Association. "That is partly why it works -- there is no pressure to understand it and they can just experience it."

Tapping into her mother's lifelong love of salsa music by world-renowned musicians such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and Pancho Sanchez, from her native Puerto Rico, Mrs. Pomerantz found a way to interact with her mother even after her mother lost her ability to talk.

"When my mother would hear music, she would give life to the music," she said, adding that her mother became known as the "dancing queen" at her final nursing home. "It brought her back to happy moments of maybe dancing with her own mother, or even her grandmother. It gave her a confidence, peace and serenity." Mrs. Pomerantz chronicled her mother's Alzheimer's in a Kindle book, "Alzheimer's: A Mother Daughter Journey."
While not everyone can rely on a history of family dancing and cultural music, it is important to find out what type of music your loved likes and keep playing it for them.

"I had a client who attacked his wife while they were driving," said Nataly Rubenstein of Alzheimer's Care Consultants in Miami Beach, Florida, explaining that the patient's dementia led him to feel agitated in a car. "It turns out his favorite music was the Bee Gees, and now he sits in the car holding the CD case while listening that music."
After her own mother was diagnosed with Tick's Disease (a form of dementia), Ms. Rubenstein was her primary caregiver for 16 years. She recalled that one day when her mother was in a particularly "nasty" mood, the sound of Tom Jones' "What's Up Pussycat?" on the radio calmed her down.

Despite being an expert in dementia care, Ms. Rubenstein stumbled into this soothing tool to help her mother's combative and belligerent nature, which she said is very pronounced with Tick's disease. However, she cautions caregivers to be extremely sensitive to finding music that their loved one will feel a connection to and not just randomly turn on the radio.

"If it wasn't familiar music to them, then it could aggravate them," she said. (She added half-jokingly: "If I ever get dementia, please dear God, I hope my caregivers don't play rap!")

Alzheimer's robs people of their short-term memory, explained Ms. Tierney, but their long-term memory can remain largely intact. "They maintain vivid memories of the past," she said. "A woman may look at her elderly husband and not recognize him as her husband because he does not look 35 years old anymore. So if you were to play music from that time period it would speak to her current reality."

In addition to finding the right music to soothe a loved one with Alzheimer's, a caregiver needs to also be aware of minimizing other sensory stimulation. "A radio can be too distracting with ads," Ms. Tierney said. "And headphones may work for some, but not others. There should not be a TV on in the same room, or other distracting noise."

That said, many people have found that live music can be particularly welcome for many Alzheimer's patients. This can be in the form of someone singing old camp songs, Christmas carols, church hymns, small symphonies and more.

Find out more about how therapeutic music can be for loved ones with Alzheimer's and other illnesses at the American Music Therapy Association's website, www.musictherapy.org.
"A person with Alzheimer's feels like everything is unfamiliar all of the time," Ms. Tierney said. "Allowing them to spend time with music that they recognize and retain memories of gives them the sense of familiarity in a world that is otherwise extremely confusing."

To learn more about treatment options visit Homewatch CareGivers'
Pathways to Memory page. Pathways to Memory is a program offered exclusively by Homewatch CareGivers and is comprised of two distinct service options: Specialized Dementia Care and Focused Memory Training.

Prevent dementia apathy

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

• Based on the article by Victoria M. Indivero for Penn State.

Apathy strikes 90% of people with dementia, sooner or later. Faster decline and care problems result. Proper stimulation makes all the difference. Learn why. 

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People with dementia are less likely to be apathetic if they live in an appropriately stimulating environment, according to nursing researchers.

According to a report by The Centers for Disease Control, about half the people in nursing homes have dementia. 90% of them experience apathy at some point, one of the most common neurobehavioral symptoms in dementia. Those with mild dementia will decline more quickly into severe dementia if they also suffer from apathy. 

A stimulating environment made all the difference in this revealing study of 5 factors. Specifically, moderate stimulation did the most to lift people out of their apathy, while none or too much made it worse.

Help Them Stay Engaged

Ying-Ling Jao, assistant professor of nursing, Penn State, identified 4 negative consequences of apathy in dementia:

1. Persons with dementia who are also apathetic won't be curious about the world around them;
2. They are not motivated to carry out activity nor engage with those around them, in either a positive or a negative way.
3. The individuals' cognitive function will likely decline faster.
4. Caregivers will have more difficulty with their caregiving and are more likely to become depressed.

Jao observed 40 nursing home residents with dementia. She watched videos of each taken throughout a typical day. Three videos were chosen for each resident from recordings made during a previous study:

• One taken at a mealtime,
• One during a direct interaction between the resident and staff
• One that was randomly selected.

Jao reports her results in The Gerontologist. She said,

'The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between environmental characteristics and apathy in long-term care residents with dementia. My interest in apathy was mainly driven by my clinical observations in nursing homes when I was a nurse practitioner student. I remember that no matter which nursing home I visited, I often saw a crowd of residents sitting in the living room or hallway with no interest in the surroundings and no emotional expression.'

5 Influences on Apathy in Dementia

Jao zoomed in on five key characteristics that affect the quality of life in nursing homes:

1. Environmental stimulation
2. Ambiance
3. Crowding
4. Staff familiarity
5. Light and sounds.

Of the five, clear and strong environmental stimulation associated most strongly with lower apathy in residents. This means an environment without competing background noise, and with a single straightforward stimulus. A good example is music therapy in a quiet room. A strong stimulus is intense, persistent, interesting and out of the ordinary. Even routine activities, such as a regular conversation or meal, count as moderate stimulation. A birthday party is considered strong simulation. 

Strong Stimulation, No Stimulation, Overwhelming Stimulation

Assistant Professor Jao said, 

'Interestingly, our results showed that clear and , dementia viewsstrong environmental stimulation is related to lower apathy, while no stimulation or an overwhelming environment with no single clear stimulation is related to higher apathy.'

'One of the innovative features of this study is that we used the Person-Environment Apathy Rating scale to measure environmental stimulation at an individual level. I believe that the same stimulation may be perceived differently or bring about different responses for different individuals in the same environment based on the individual's characteristics, interests and relevance to the stimulation. In fact, a stimulus may be clear to one person but unclear to another because of differences in hearing or visual abilities, especially in older adults.'

'One of the most important implications of these findings is that they will guide us in designing appropriate physical and social environments for dementia care that helps prevent or decrease apathy. We need more people to care about apathy for older adults with dementia.'

Jao plans to continue this research by replicating the study with a larger sample size and by looking more closely at the quality of interaction and communication between nursing home residents and their caregivers. 

Source:

• Based on the article by Victoria M. Indivero for Penn State.

Reference:

1. Y.-L. Jao, D. L. Algase, J. K. Specht, K. Williams. The Association Between Characteristics of Care Environments and Apathy in Residents With Dementia in Long-term Care Facilities. The Gerontologist, 2015; 

Famous pigs

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information


Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two



Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

Wikipedia

Freddy the Pig is the central figure in a series of 26 books written between 1927 and 1958 by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Consisting of 25 novels and one poetry collection, they focus on the adventures of a group of animals living on a farm in rural upstate New York.

Freddy is introduced as "the smallest and cleverest" of the pigs on the Bean farm. He becomes the central character shortly into the series. Freddy's interests drive the books as he becomes a detective, politician, newspaper editor, magician, pilot, and other vocations or avocations. A recurring villain is the slimy but dignified Simon, who leads a gang of criminal rats. Human characters include Mr. and Mrs. Bean, who own the farm, and the population of local Centerboro, and human villains.

Brooks created his animals for To and Again (1927) (later retitled Freddy Goes to Florida). It took some time before their personalities — and their ability to talk to humans when they chose — were fully developed.

In the remainder of the series, the animals of the Bean Farm lead a highly developed life, variously operating a bank, a newspaper, the First Animal Republic, and Freddy's detective business, which follows the principles of Sherlock Holmes as Freddy knows them from his reading.

Much of the humor in the books derives from the self-referential way in which the author acknowledges the unreality of talking animals, unlike other children's works in which they are accepted as normal. The Bean Farm animals have attained national fame for their ability to talk and read, and the humans they encounter are taken aback at first (though only momentarily) to find themselves conversing with animals. Although the animals and humans do not age, the stories reflect the social conditions at the time of writing, for example, the books published during World War II have scrap drives and victory gardens.

Charlotte's Web is a children's novel by American author E. B. White, about a pig named Wilbur and his spider friend Charlotte, who saves him from slaughter. The book was first published in 1952, with illustrations by Garth Williams.

The novel tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spidernamed Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered by the farmer, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur (such as "Some Pig") in her web in order to persuade the farmer to let him live.

Written in White's dry, low-key manner, Charlotte's Web is considered a classic of children's literature, enjoyable to adults as well as children. The description of the experience of swinging on a rope swing at the farm is an often cited example of rhythm in writing, as the pace of the sentences reflects the motion of the swing. Publishers Weeklylisted the book as the best-selling children's paperback of all time as of 2000

Changing your dementia unit

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

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• The Star

watch this video

Canada's Peel Region took a big risk, with a plan to transform its long-term dementia-care home, hoping that residents - and staff - could find joy and a purpose. Watch what happened! 

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Here is the dramatic journey of a nursing home dementia unit that tries to transform itself from a cold, clinical warehouse for seniors to a home of laughter, warmth and love. Peel Region’s Redstone unit could serve as a blueprint for Ontario nursing homes at the same crucial time as baby boomers move into their vulnerable years.

Excerpt...

Kenroy Foxe leaves his basement apartment in north Brampton, hops into his beat-up Honda and drives south for an afternoon shift at the nursing home where he will inevitably get punched in the head.

Kenroy is tired of being a human punching bag, taking jabs from residents. It’s a job hazard, for sure, but as he weaves his car through traffic, Kenroy starts thinking about the visiting dementia guru from England. His ideas seemed subversive at first but now Kenroy wonders, could they work?

By the time he arrives at the dementia unit, Kenroy has a plan for Fred, the 89-year-old whose fists hit hard. Kenroy does something that could get him fired in another home. It works so well that word of his success grabs the attention of the home’s senior medical director, upending his long-held notions of care.

(Kenroy Foxe works in Malton Village’s Redstone unit, the site of a year-long pilot program called the Butterfly program, which aims to transform care in nursing homes.) 

Kenroy’s epiphany is one of hundreds of small but momentous changes inside the Redstone unit at Peel Region’s Malton Village long-term care home. They could transform the way Ontario cares for its aging population, proving that a warm, lively nursing home is not that difficult to create.

Kenroy just doesn’t want to get hit. The fastest jab belongs to Fred, who doesn’t understand why Kenroy wants to pull down his pants and change his briefs. He gets scared and defensive. His tough side emerges, maybe from his years as a civilian mechanic with the Pakistani military, and he punches Kenroy.

Kenroy has been listening and learning. He decides there’s a better way. So one day in late August, he does what his original training forbids.

He hugs Fred. A big bear hug. Fred hugs him back. “Let’s go to the toilet Fred,” he says. They walk down the hallway, arm in arm.

“He hasn’t hit me since,” Kenroy says.

In September, before a council meeting, Peel's long-term care director Cathy Granger shows a note describing Kenroy's hugging solution to Dr. Sudip Saha, Peel's senior medical director of its five long term care homes. Dr. Saha also holds senior positions within the William Osler Health System, including medical director, division chief of seniors and senior medical director of long-term care.

...Now, Cathy watches Dr. Saha as she reads aloud from the note about Kenroy’s story. His face shifts. The next day, Saha tells her that the Kenroy-and-Fred solution could help people with dementia in Peel’s other homes and hospitals.

“I was pleased,” he says later, smiling. “Very, very pleased.”

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See the complete article:
The Fix
One Peel nursing home took a gamble on fun, life and love. The most dangerous story we can tell is how simple it was to change.

SOURCE:

• The Star

watch this video