At CHCC, healthcare professionals employ a number of different methods to supervise and care for residents. Days are spent helping individuals engage, helping them relax, helping improve their quality of life.
They develop and organize enriching activities that are designed to inspire moments of joy. The training and tools CHCC has access to provides each person under our care a better quality of life through meaningful engagement, including social engagement. Even though dementia is a tragic, progressive disease process, we have a wonderful opportunity to meet each person in the place where they’re at on any given day.
An increasingly important tool in that effort is technology. To help meet the needs of the people who live with memory impairments and improve their day-to-day lives, CHCC employs a number of tech-related tools.
Personalized music
CHCC uses iPods to create individualized music playlists for residents. Those who enjoy music seem to get a huge benefit from being able to listen to music that sparks certain happy memories or transports them to familiar times.
The center received a grant from LeadingAge Washington to purchase the necessary equipment for music therapy.
Community television
A large-screen, smart television in the activity room comes in handy in a variety of ways, such as showing videos or even magazines that bring joy to all.
The smart TV also is used to display song lyrics during chaplain services, to display calming background imagery, to play soothing nature sounds, and to show movies.
Robotic pets
Favorite additions to the care provided at CHCC are the cute and cuddly robotic dog, cat and seals, which offer novel ways of interacting with long-term care residents. They are so fun!
The dog barks, nods and wags its tail, and the cat rolls over, purrs and meows. Residents find the Joy for All Companion Pets quite soothing and relaxing. They can be helpful during chaplain services, for example, by helping soothe residents so they can be more engaged in the service.
Audiobooks
In a dementia care environment, there are people with varying degrees of ability and disability, and sometimes e-books aren’t the best option. Audiobooks, however, provide great engagement for each person.
CHCC uses tablet computers to connect to the Whatcom County Library System and download audiobooks on demand. Long-term care residents can listen to treasured stories while relaxing or engaging in other tasks.
Community music
In addition to personalized, individual music playlists, CHCC’s therapeutic recreation department engages dementia residents through group music sessions and other community events.
There are a number of group programs — performers, piano players, church services and more. Sometimes, technology is a nice complement to something that’s already going on, and it helps to keep people engaged.
The ultimate goal at CHCC is to help improve quality of life, making each day better in notable ways. That sometimes is challenging in a dementia care environment, but the staff continue to learn and grow as they employ different ways of reaching each person.
Technology is helping us connect and build meaningful relationships with our residents. It provides us with a wide variety of tools that often inspire moments of joy. In spite of the challenges and changes of the dementia disease process, it is exciting to see ways in which technology is allowing us to get know each other again.
[ Editor’s note: This article was updated June 20, 2024, to better reflect current programs. ]