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Decorating/visiting nursing home

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: September 2010 ~ December 2010: Decorating/visiting nursing home users admin

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Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 7:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Hi

I am looking for ideas of how to decorate my dh's great uncle's room. He is in nursing home, in a typical "dorm" type room. I know I could get classroom type decorations for thanksgiving and then christmas (garland and a stocking for Christmas).

Many of you have experience with relatives in a nursing home, so are there any other ideas out there? Or things to avoid?

Also, his uncle is 93 and has slight dementia. He is on the alzhiemers floor, despite the fact that he does not really need to be on that floor (but the up side is the staff really likes him cuz he is so easy and also so nice, so we think he may be getting a bit better care because of that.)

I visit him about 3 times a week. He likes to read the paper and watch wheel of fortune and old musicals like SOuth Pacific (especially because he is a WWII vet who fought in the south Pacific). He can't really do anything interactive such as play cards. Are there any suggestions of things I can do with him? Besides sit and encourage him to talk about anything (he seems most talkative about the 30s and 40s) he does not remember much past the 50s it seems.

Anyways, any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

Also, if there is a better thread for this to be moved to, mods, please do!

Rissa
Member

03-19-2006

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 8:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rissa a private message Print Post    
Julie, I have one suggestion that we got from my mil's social worker. She told us that dementia patients (specifically alzheimer's) tend to go back to a set period of time. For my MIL it was her late teens. So it was suggested to us that all pictures be from that time as it can be very upsetting for the person to see old pictures of themselves when they think they are still young. For the same reason some patients do better with all mirrors removed from their rooms.

With my MIL we spent a lot of time trying to recreate her living room since the idea of being in an extended care home was very upsetting to her. We replaced the chair provided with her own easy chair, the bed quilt with her own blanket, etc.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 9:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Kid's handmade crafts were always a big hit at the retirement home I worked at, especially if the kids delivered them. Hand drawn turkeys or colored holiday pics, that kind of thing. For Christmas, a small table top tree is nice and a wreath on the door (you can buy the stuff to make one at Michaels for pretty cheap too.)

I'm with Rissa, making his room as homey as possible is a good thing. Also, if it's allowed (not sure what rules are on alzheimers floors) a small boom box and cd's or tapes from the 30's and 40's. One thing we do for aunts companion that he loves is to buy the coffee table books (not sure if that's what they are really called, the oversized books with lots of pictures) of different ships (he was in the navy) or from the war he was in. B&N usually has a discount table with those types of books, we've found some great ones for $4 or $5. Or a scrapbook with old family photos.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 9:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Here's a couple of shots of the room and then a shot of his roommate's space. I think I need to "spill" into his space...









Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 9:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Yes Julie, I think that would be a very nice thing to do.

Jmm
Moderator

08-15-2002

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jmm a private message Print Post    
That looks great, you did such a wonderful job and I'm sure that he appreciates it.

Friend
Member

05-21-2008

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 11:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Friend a private message Print Post    
Julieboo, you did a great job of sprucing up his room! I'm sure his roommate would love it if his room got "spilled" on.

Kookliebird
Member

08-04-2005

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 12:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kookliebird a private message Print Post    
My dad really liked to listen to country music. I always turn on CMT when I am there. We sort of watch the videos and talk about the music.

I can't take this personally, but he recognizes Reba McIntyre ("Is that Reba?") but doesn't always know who I am.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 - 8:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
NEW QUESTION:

Would it be tacky of me to send an email out to our other relatives that would have some links to a few books that great uncle might really enjoy? These are picture/history books of his hometown, so not something I would be able to find at my library.

I know he would enjoy these books and we just don't have the disposable income right now to buy more than one...

Christy358
Member

07-10-2007

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 - 10:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Christy358 a private message Print Post    
Not tacky at all. You are just letting them know of a way they can help make his life better if they want to. Often people want to help in some way but just do not know how.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, December 30, 2010 - 7:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Thanks Christy. Anyone have a suggestion how to word it. I just feel like I am asking them for $$, so feel weird. But you are right, I bet they would like to get him something if they knew of something to get....

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Thursday, December 30, 2010 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Julieboo: Maybe something like this - start the email with a traditional greeting & well wishes to all just to ease into it. Then say that you wanted to update everyone on how Great Uncle has been doing - whatever you think is appropriate & necessary to share there. Following that, you could mention that you've been asked by some family members if he needs anything. (If no one has actually asked that, so what? It can be your own little secret.) To which you can answer that he's been enjoying looking at books as well as talking about his hometown. Then say you came across a few book titles (include your links here) that if anyone happens to see them anywhere, you know he'd love. If that seems too blunt, you could try to soften it by then adding that if anyone has old pictures or cards & letters or anything small along those lines that they think he'd enjoy looking at, they would be welcome too - say he loves to get mail. That way it doesn't seem so much like they're being given a shopping list of things to buy.

It's often awkward to discuss what can be done for older family members. No one wants to feel like they're begging or demanding something from others nor does anyone want to feel like they're being criticized or told what to do. But I agree with Christy, most people want to help but often are not sure how so a little guidance will probably be appreciated.

ETA: Tone is important! Try to make it seem like you're being caring & helpful, not critical or demanding, by explaining what he'd like or needs. Of course, with some people you may just end up having to be more upfront about their share of responsibility but it's always best to start out by trying the sweet way.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, December 30, 2010 - 11:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Thanks Calamity. I like the part about the "little secret." I think that'll work!!

Kookliebird
Member

08-04-2005

Thursday, December 30, 2010 - 12:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kookliebird a private message Print Post    
Calamity says it well. My sister keeps in touch with my aunt (in a care facility), even though we are in different states. She keeps sending emails to family members to ask us to write cards / letters for her to receive. All in all, a worthwhile endeavor. The problem is that we get an email about every 2-3 weeks telling us to write a card. After a while, it's kind of annoying to receive the emails telling us what to do. So, tone is definitely important.