The Best Friends Staff

by Bell, Virginia; Troxel, David

• ISBN13: 9781878812636
• ISBN10: 1878812637
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Health Professions Pr

Summary

Alzheimer's Association, Lexington, KY. Provides tools for training staff so they can achieve better outcomes and enjoy rewarding experiences. Includes ideas for implementing change, learning exercises and games, tips for making improvements, advice on staff training and retention, and case studies illustrating successful programs. Softcover.

Table of Contents

Training Tool Kits (Contents)	viii
Acknowledgments	xi
Dedication	xiii
Introduction	xiv
The Best Friends Model	1	(16)
Staff with Knack: Being Well Informed	3	(1)
Having Empathy	4	(1)
Respecting the Basic Rights of the Person	4	(3)
Maintaining Caregiver Integrity	7	(1)
Employing Finesse	7	(1)
Knowing It Is Easier to Get Forgiveness than to Get Permission	8	(1)
Using Common Sense	8	(1)
Communicating Skillfully	9	(1)
Maintaining Optimism	9	(1)
Setting Realistic Expectations	10	(1)
Using Humor	10	(1)
Employing Spontaneity	11	(1)
Practicing Patience	11	(1)
Developing Flexibility	12	(1)
Staying Focused	13	(1)
Remaining Nonjudgmental	13	(1)
Valuing the Moment	14	(1)
Maintaining Self-Confidence	14	(1)
Using Cues that Are Tied to the Life Story	14	(1)
Taking Care of Oneself	15	(1)
Conclusion	15	(2)
Staff Recruiting, Training, & Development	17	(30)
A Day in the Life of A Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator	17	(2)
Recruitment and Hiring: Potential Employees	19	(2)
When Staff Fail	21	(1)
Training and Retention: Training Programs that Do Not Work---The Old Idea Care Center	21	(2)
Training Programs that Work---The New Idea Care Center	23	(2)
Ideas for Training Programs that Work	25	(8)
Conclusion	33	(1)
Training Tool Kit	34	(13)
Medical & Scientific Basics	47	(18)
What Does the Word Dementia Mean? Is It the Same as Senility?	47	(1)
What Is Alzheimer's Disease?	48	(1)
What Is the Difference Between Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Age-Associated Memory Loss?	49	(1)
What Are the Related Irreversible Dementias?	50	(1)
What Are the Most Common Irreversible Dementias in Older Adults?	50	(1)
What Are the Related Reversible Dementias?	50	(1)
Should Everyone Who Has Symptoms Get a Thorough Diagnosis?	50	(1)
Are All Persons with Alzheimer's Disease Alike?	51	(1)
Can Alzheimer's Disease Be Inherited?	52	(1)
Can Alzheimer's Disease Be Prevented?	53	(1)
How Can Excess Disabilities Be Prevented?	53	(1)
Do Sudden Changes Suggest Problems Other than Alzheimer's Disease?	53	(1)
What Is the Role of Psychotropic and Other Drugs?	53	(1)
Resources for the Best Friends Staff	54	(1)
Conclusion	54	(1)
Training Tool Kit	55	(10)
The Experience of Alzheimer's Disease	65	(22)
When Staff Don't Get It	65	(1)
The Best Friends Way	66	(1)
To Know Someone, You Must Walk a Mile in His or Her Shoes	67	(1)
Person-Centered Care Is Central	68	(1)
Losses Caused by Dementia Can Evoke a Wide Range of Distressing Feelings and Emotions	68	(1)
Persons with Dementia Can Experience Joy, Love, and Happiness	69	(1)
The Feelings of Persons with Dementia Are as Real as Yours and Mine	69	(1)
Behaviors that Seem Out of Place Are Not	70	(1)
Feelings and Behaviors Can Be Changed by Meeting the Needs of the Person	71	(2)
Conclusion	73	(1)
Training Tool Kit	74	(13)
Assessment & Expectations	87	(24)
Why Existing Assessments Often Fail	87	(2)
The Best Friends Assessment: Review Physical and Mental Health	89	(1)
Review Cognitive Health	89	(1)
Assess Who the Person Is	89	(4)
Assess the Care Environment	93	(1)
Emphasize Remaining Strengths	93	(1)
Do Not Overemphasize Stages	94	(1)
Individualize Care Plans	94	(1)
Assess Frequently as a Caregiving Team---Persons Vary from Day to Day	95	(2)
Assess Combative Behavior Carefully	97	(1)
Set Realistic Expectations	98	(1)
Share Information with Families or Other Visitors	99	(1)
Conclusion	99	(1)
Training Tool Kit	100	(11)
Friendship	111	(22)
Friends Know Each Other's History and Personality	112	(1)
Friends Do Things Together	113	(1)
Friends Communicate	114	(1)
Friends Build Self-Esteem	115	(1)
Friends Laugh Together Often	115	(1)
Friends Are Equals	115	(1)
Friends Work at the Relationship	115	(1)
Friends Show Love and Affection	116	(1)
Friends Can Overcome Social Barriers	117	(1)
Conclusion	117	(2)
Training Tool Kit	119	(14)
The Life Story	133	(28)
Every Program Should Obtain a Person's Life Story Before Admission	135	(1)
The Life Story Should Be Accessible to Staff and Volunteers	136	(1)
Every Dementia Care Program Should Have on File a Written Life Story on Each Staff Member or Volunteer	137	(1)
Use the Life Story to Greet the Person and Improve Recognition	137	(1)
Use the Life Story to Introduce and Reintroduce Residents to Individuals Around Them	138	(1)
Use the Life Story to Reminisce About the Person's Life	138	(1)
Use the Life Story to Provide One-to-One Comforting Care	139	(4)
Use the Life Story to Improve Communication Through Clues and Cues	143	(1)
Use the Life Story to Improve Activities	143	(1)
Use the Life Story to Point Out Accomplishments	144	(1)
Use the Life Story to Prevent Challenging Behaviors	144	(1)
Use the Life Story to Incorporate Past Daily Rituals	145	(1)
Use the Life Story to Broaden the Caregiving Network with Volunteers	145	(1)
Conclusion	146	(2)
Training Tool Kit	148	(13)
Communication	161	(22)
Check the Environment	162	(1)
Remember the Basics of Good Communication	163	(1)
Use the Person's Preferred Name	163	(1)
Make A Good First Impression	164	(1)
Keep Language Simple	164	(1)
Ask Questions Using Discretion	165	(1)
Employ Good Timing	165	(1)
Be Conscious of Nonverbal Communication	165	(1)
Do Not Argue With or Confront the Person	166	(1)
Remember that Behaviors Communicate a Message	166	(1)
Treat the Person as an Adult	167	(1)
Use the Life Story Often	167	(1)
Maintain Caregiving Integrity	168	(1)
Respond to the Person's Emotional Needs	168	(1)
Screen Out Troubling Messages or News	169	(1)
Speak Using Positive Language	169	(1)
Employ Humor	170	(1)
Turn ``No'' into ``Yes,''	170	(1)
Do Most of the Work	170	(1)
Conclusion	171	(1)
Training Tool Kit	172	(11)
Being Together Using Best Friends Activities	183	(30)
An Activity Philosophy	185	(1)
Purpose of Activities	185	(1)
The Art of Activities Is Not in What Is Done; It Is in the Doing	186	(1)
Activities Should Be Individualized and Tap into a Person's Past Interests and Skills	186	(1)
Activities Should Be Adult in Nature	187	(1)
Activities Should Include Pets and Other Animals	187	(1)
Activities Should Recall a Person's Work-Related Past	188	(1)
Activities Should Stimulate the Five Senses	189	(1)
Doing Nothing Is Actually Doing Something	189	(1)
Activities Should Tap into Remaining Physical Skills	190	(1)
Activities Usually Are Initiated by Others	190	(1)
Activities Should Be Voluntary	191	(1)
Everyone Can Still Engage in Some Form of Activity	191	(1)
Intergenerational Activities Are Especially Desirable	192	(1)
Activities that We Think Will Never Work Sometimes Do	192	(1)
Activities Should Appeal to the Staff as Well as to the Person	193	(1)
Personal Care Is an Activity	193	(1)
Activities Can Be Short in Duration	194	(1)
Activities Can Happen Day or Night	194	(1)
Activities Can Fill a Spiritual Need	195	(1)
Activities Are Everywhere	195	(1)
Conclusion	196	(2)
Training Tool Kit	198	(15)
Caregivers as Members of the Best Friends Team	213	(20)
The No-Clue Day Center	213	(1)
The Best Friends Way	214	(1)
Understand that the Definition of ``Family'' Is Changing	214	(1)
Remember that Each Family's Response to Alzheimer's Disease Is Unique	215	(1)
Realize that Placement Does Not Always Make Things Easier, Only Different	215	(1)
Share a Defined Philosophy of Care with Families	216	(1)
Believe that Most Families Are On Your Side	217	(1)
Create a Care Plan for Families	218	(1)
Never Give Advice	218	(1)
Involve Families in Care Decisions and in the Program	219	(1)
Develop Honest, Effective Dialogue	219	(1)
Handle Conflict Appropriately	220	(1)
Encourage Use of Services	220	(1)
Help Families Recast Relationships	221	(1)
Conclusion	222	(1)
Training Tool Kit	223	(10)
Conclusion	233	(6)
Invest in Staff	233	(1)
Treat Staff with the Same Respect that Good Programs Give Their Residents or Participants	234	(1)
Recognize that Staff Have a Desire to Be Part of a Caring Community	234	(1)
Give Staff the Tools that They Need to Build Effective Job and Life Skills	234	(1)
Involve Staff in Decision Making	234	(1)
Recognize that Leadership Is Vital to a Program's Success	235	(1)
Encourage Staff to Be Involved with Residents and Participants Through Group and Individual Activities	235	(1)
Assign a Best Friend to Each Staff Member	235	(1)
The Best Friends Model as a Tool for Change	235	(4)
Notes and References	239	(2)
Appendix A Programs Featured in The Best Friends Staff	241	(10)
Appendix B Professionals Featured in The Best Friends Staff	251	(8)
Appendix C Suggested Resources for Trainers	259	(6)
Index	265