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I’ll begin this article with a personal story.

Many years ago, at age 16, I started working at my very first job as a nursing assistant in a nursing home. During one particular evening shift, I was working with two other nursing assistants who were a few years older than me.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw them talking with a resident who was diagnosed with what they then called “senile dementia”. One caregiver pointed out that the resident’s bald head was covered with wrinkles.

They giggled and call him “Pruney Top”. The teasing continued for a few minutes even though the resident was becoming annoyed.

This incident still haunts me to this day. Why? Because it represents emotional abuse, and I did nothing to stop it.

[Read more…] about What To Do If You Suspect Abuse

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

At this time of year, food adds so much enjoyment to our holidays. I’m already dreaming of our traditional family Thanksgiving dinner: ham, mashed potatoes, corn, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, and all the rest of the trimmings.

Because of this, it’s hard to see our memory care residents show little or no interest in food, especially over the holidays. Today I’ll share 8 tips to help you encourage your residents to eat.

• Provide a pleasant environment

As you prepare to begin a meal, stop for a moment and survey the atmosphere in the dining room. Remember that residents living with dementia may become easily distracted. Background noise such as TV, loud voices, inappropriate music, or noisy equipment quickly leads to poor food intake.

[Read more…] about 8 Tips To Encourage Residents To Eat