north mount pleasant www.Nor thMountPl easant . com | www. Par kWes tNe i ghborhoods . com | www. Br i ckyardHomes . com 126 Joy /joi/ noun: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness; the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation; a state of happiness or felicity. Often, we hear “Alzheimer’s” or “dementia” and our thoughts immediately trail to the hollowness we perceive someone must experience as a result of their memory loss. Interesting lives filled with incredible adventures; friends and family; careers and achievements — all forgotten as a result of these illnesses. While the medical community continues to work to unlock the mysteries of Alzheimer’s and dementia, the staff at Mount Pleasant Gardens Alzheimer’s Special Care Center does its part by creating joy among its more than 50 residents. JEA Senior Living’s trademarked program, Meaningful Moments®, is specifically designed to help memoryimpaired residents live their lives to the fullest. This innovative program focuses on residents’ abilities and what they can remember and enjoy, and concentrates on these activities through repetition and continuity. For example, during Bible study held several times each week, residents recite the Lord’s Prayer with administrator Denise Kish, who said, “It’s beautiful to hear their strong, confident voices. Residents who cannot recall short-term happenings perfectly deliver this prayer each day.” Rhymes, songs and muscle-memory activities keep their minds engaged and are crucial to their ongoing happiness and well-being. “Our staff works tirelessly to find the things and hobbies our residents enjoy from periods in their life they can recall with ease,” remarked Kish. “The majority of our residents enjoys karaoke and sing-a-longs – they can remember all the words to songs and hymns from decades ago. The residents love Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra and Otis Redding,” she said. “We focus on this strength, and their participation brings them happiness and a sense of pride.” Takeiah Sadler, program director and certified dementia practitioner, went on to say, “Physically, we also involve them with low-impact games, such as chair soccer and bowling, that support their hand-eye coordination. The simple act of finding pleasure in participating has wonderful health benefits, both emotionally and physically. They keep active and develop friendships.” The Meaningful Moments® program is thorough and begins with an intake evaluation with the resident and their loved ones. Staff learn about the individual’s history, hobbies and passions and create a care plan tailored to each resident, including activities that will stimulate them mentally, physically and spiritually, based on the evaluation findings. One of the key components of the program is the “Biography Board,” which is placed outside of each resident’s room and includes photos and a brief bio for each resident. The board’s purpose is to remind staff to spark conversations that may be of interest to the resident throughout each day. On a deeper level, it serves as a prompt to show compassion and respect to each resident regarding all they have experienced in life — not just see them as the particular memory challenge they are facing. Kish explained, “We have to become a student of our residents – of our loved ones – and find what makes them tick. What are the things that make them happy every day? What gives them purpose? Then we develop a plan that meets their needs and allows them to feel joyful every single day while in our care. It is our priority and our mission.” BY J EANNE TAYLOR Creating Joy through Meaningful Moments® Mount Pleasant Gardens For more information about Mount Pleasant Gardens, visit jeaseniorliving.com/mount-pleasant-gardens, or call 843-216-1001. Photo by Mark Staff Photo.
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