practical living
arranging that assist our residents,
especially those living with dementia, to
have an enjoyable and meaningful time
socialising with others. just through the experience of life with
this condition, can be at risk.
Where did this idea originate? It’s very interesting to watch people
as they’re interacting and socialising
together. Because they have to focus
on, in this case flower arranging, it’s
about utilising the abilities that they
still have. It’s about supporting them.
You’ll notice that people’s likes and
dislikes really come to the fore. I had
the personal experience of assisting
a lady – who was 103, I might add –
and she kept saying to me, “You do it.
You put it in the vase.” I would put it
in the vase, but then she would very
quickly tell me that I’ve put the wrong
colour next to the wrong colour, and
she was very particular about where
those flowers should be placed. I was
able to appreciate that. I was able to
give her a sense of control and choice
and support her. Well, I didn’t give her
that – she was demanding that sense
of control and choice, and I was able to
support her in that.
People can be who they are. That’s the
important part, but certainly there’s a lot
of laughter. In each of those meaningful
moments, some people will be very
focused, while other people will just be
enjoying the social atmosphere of the
group. All of that is really beneficial to
each of those people.
I have to give total credit to our wonderful
lifestyle officers in our homes, particularly
at Bupa Roseville. They have come up
with this, which I think is in keeping with
the interests and the life histories of our
residents at Roseville. We have a majority
of ladies there and for many of them, while
they may not have formally done Ikebana
in the past, they certainly had gardens and
an interest in flowers and flower arranging
and were very houseproud in their lives. It
speaks to them on a number of levels.
How do activities like crafts, dance and
exercise help people with dementia?
These activities are really beneficial for
our residents living with dementia. We
all have many aspects of life that are
meaningful to us, and it’s important that
with a person-first approach, which
we have at Bupa, that we are thinking
about that person first, but generally
speaking, these are things that have been
important parts of a person’s life.
If we think about dance for example,
there’s obviously the physical benefits of
dance – being active and moving – which
for older people is very beneficial, but it’s
also beneficial from a reminiscence point
of view.
I think of my own parents: they were a
generation that visited dances, and many
of our residents can show us a thing or
two on the dance floor. The dancing works
in that it stimulates people’s memories.
People living with dementia still have the
ability to remember those good times from
their past.
Not everyone will like crafts or flower
arranging, but for many residents it’s
something meaningful, even if hasn’t
been an interest in the past. We always
give people those opportunities.
Sometimes people have discovered
they have an artistic side they never
knew before, and that’s also about
achievement. It’s not about the product,
it’s about the process. But it also gives
us, in supporting those people, the
opportunity to appreciate what they can
do, and to thank them for it, and to help
them feel they have a sense of purpose
and are valued. That’s really important
for every person, especially those living
with dementia, where self-esteem,
How does the demeanour of the
residents change after these classes?
You have high school students
volunteering at the home. What has
this taught them about dementia?
I think it’s so important – not only for
the students, but also for our residents,
especially those living with dementia –
to have that intergenerational contact, to
have someone who is willing to support
them. For the person who’s being
supported by that student, it gives them
variety, a new face, someone to know
and to share with. And we guide our
students to use that opportunity to thank
and appreciate those residents, and
perhaps to draw on some reminiscing,
to ask them about their life and what
they’ve achieved. Again, that helps their
self-esteem.
Many of the students may not have
older people in their lives anymore.
Some students may have had someone
living with dementia in their families –
dementia is a condition that touches
many of us – and for young people,
it helps them to understand that the
person living with dementia can still
achieve. And through their supporting
activities like this, it gives a different
viewpoint. It’s not just about my
grandmother who can’t do this or that
anymore. Yes, we know that she’s lost
many of her abilities, but this is focused
on what she can do, what she can
still contribute, and that she is still valued
and we can learn from each other. I think
that’s our biggest impact.
How can aged care staff help residents
with activities like these?
One thing we try to promote with
our team members is to take every
opportunity to make it meaningful for
our residents. Regardless of what you’re
doing for residents, our residents are
with us because they need care and
support. A lot of that is with physical
care, but during those times when we’re
with a resident, it’s about making it as
meaningful as possible for the resident,
and that benefits you too.
What we value is that person, and
knowing that person so well that we can
build that rapport and relationship and
trust with them. In those times when
that person may be distressed, which
does happen, because that’s what the
condition brings, we work with them on
Some people will be
very focused, while others
will just be enjoying the
social atmosphere.
an emotional level and reassure them
that we’re here to help and support them.
But we can only do that when we know
who that person is. We try to understand
what’s going on for them, and that gets
us a long way to understanding what
they’re trying to tell us.
Sometimes they don’t have words
to tell us, but we try to ensure we
understand what’s happening as much
as we can for the person. We often use
our own humanity to do that, our own
experience as a person. I’m making every
moment, every contact point with that
resident meaningful. It could be as little
as passing someone in the hallway and
telling them that they look lovely today.
Seeing a smile on a resident’s face can
make your day as well. ■
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