CALL:
(519) 954-2480
Home isn't just a place - It's a feelingTuesday, March 19, 2019
|
||
|
You have a resident, Henry, who insists on “going home”. Henry is adamant that he is “getting out of here” and that you can’t stop him. As the afternoon progresses, he becomes increasingly agitated and more insistent. Henry’s agitation is contagious; other residents are upset that he is upset.
Of course, logic won’t be helpful at this point. Reminding Henry that this is his home and he has lived here for months now is not effective. In fact, the more you try to reason with him and explain that this is his home, the more upset he becomes and the more he wants to leave.
“Going home” is not about the location. It’s more about the feeling Henry is experiencing. Henry is trying to communicate how he feels. He wants to go home because home is a place that represents feeling safe and secure, feeling in charge, feeling productive and knowing what to do. He wants to “get out of here” because he isn’t feeling safe, in charge or productive. He’s not sure what to do, so he figures he should go home where everything will make more sense.
Answering Henry’s emotional plea with logical answers won’t work. Explaining how long he’s lived there or which city he’s in, or the fact that he chose this home when he toured with his son—none of these explanations will be helpful. Instead, he needs someone to address his emotional needs.
The challenging part is that it takes a lot of time, a lot of patience, and a lot of one-on-one focused attention to effectively help Henry. It may take more individual time than your staffing allows, and other residents may have more pressing needs. This is where Warm Embrace comes in. Our caregivers provide one-on-one support to help redirect Henry when he wants to go home.
Better yet, our caregivers proactively address Henry’s needs. Since we know that Henry is more likely to want to go home as the afternoon progresses, we schedule an afternoon visit that starts before he typically becomes agitated. We keep Henry engaged in activities and provide positive reinforcement that confirms for Henry that he’s in the right place and he belongs. When Henry is busy working on a puzzle with his caregiver, or he’s in the courtyard enjoying the sunshine, or he’s joining in the sing-a-long in a chapel, he is less likely to focus on going home.
One-on-one companionship meets Henry’s needs in a non-pharmacological way. We can help to reduce his agitation and no medication is required. Other residents are also relieved when Henry is content and not agitated. Your staff is then free to attend to the needs of all the other residents in their care, knowing that Henry is in good hands.
Which of your residents would benefit from the same support as Henry? |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
Chloe Hamilton 117 November 11, 2024 |
|
|
Lissette Mairena Wong 36 August 7, 2024 |
|
|
Avery Hamilton 4 June 7, 2018 |
