Life Enrichment Success Stories
Meet Ed: Rediscovering His Love of Music
Ed was 79 years old and living in his own home. He had recently been diagnosed with dementia after his sister, Judy, took him to the doctor when Ed’s landscaper informed her that Ed had not paid for his landscaping services for a few months and had not been acting like himself. Judy hired a caregiver to come by each day to help Ed with various household duties and to keep an eye on him. Judy lived out of state, but she called Ed daily and spoke with his caregiver every week as well. One night, Ed fell and when he was trying to use the toilet and fractured his hip.
After surgery, Ed was placed in a skilled nursing facility for rehab. The staff at the facility had to place a bed alarm on him because he frequently tried to get up during the night, forgetting that his hip was broken. Ed was very active and it was difficult for the staff to manage him. The nurse at the facility called Judy and told her about the social worker who had helped Helen with the Life Enrichment program and Judy called and hired the social worker to help Ed. Upon assessment, the social worker learned that Ed had played the trumpet in a big band for his entire career, traveling all over the world. The social worker obtained Ed’s trumpet (and permission from the facility) and brought it to him. Each day, Ed taught the social worker how to clean the trumpet and then they would take a “walk” (Ed in his wheelchair) to the courtyard of the facility and Ed would play his trumpet. He always announced the name of the song before he played. Sometimes, he would look at the social worker while he was playing and she would softly repeat the name of the song and he would nod and continue on playing beautifully. After the first few days, each time Ed and the social worker went to the courtyard a crowd formed and Ed was “on stage” again. He beamed with delight. After he completed his therapy and was able to walk on his own, Judy and the social worker arranged a recital for all of the patients and staff at the facility to enjoy. Tables and chairs were arranged as if it were a night club and Ed proudly began to play louder and more precise than he did in any of the courtyard sessions. The social worker called Judy so she could listen to Ed play during the recital from out of state.
Ed’s story is a success for him as well as for Judy, the other patients and staff. Ed enjoyed being at the facility so much that when he was told he was done with therapy, he asked if he could stay. Each senior has a passion, a story or a talent within them that can be drawn out with individualized attention and consistent motivation. Avana’s Life Enrichment program is designed and facilitated by our master’s level social worker and social work interns so that each of our cherished residents can blossom and shine in their own unique way.
Meet Helen: "I Can Speak Now... She Listens."
Helen suffered a stroke at the age of 90 that left her paralyzed, with slight mobility in her left hand. After extensive therapy, she was able to swallow solid foods, but she was diagnosed as aphasic (unable to speak). She was placed in a skilled nursing facility in a shared room with her husband, Jack, who had been there for several months after having also suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 92. Jack and Helen lived in the room together for two years and then Jack passed away in his sleep. The couple had been married for over 70 years.
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Helen was devastated. When her son arrived from out of state to console her and to plan Jack's memorial service, he realized Helen needed extra help. He asked the staff what to do and they referred him to a social worker who was a specialist in Life Enrichment for seniors. Upon first assessment of Helen’s situation, the social worker spoke to Helen and told her what she was hoping to offer her. She then spoke privately with Helen’s son and obtained detailed information about Helen’s life experiences, pastimes and favorite music, books, colors, places and people. Each day, the social worker visited Helen at the facility and read her stories, flipped through photo albums, accompanied Helen to meals and took her in her wheelchair outside for walks and bird watching. She also brought a CD player and a set of classical music CDs (Helen’s favorite) as well as books on CD about life in the rural south (where Helen grew up) for the staff to play for Helen every afternoon.
The social worker instructed the staff at the facility to dress and groom Helen and have her ready for adventure by the time she would arrive at the facility each morning. Helen began to smile with her eyes and after a couple of weeks, she smiled with her whole face. One day, when the social worker was outside visiting the fountain with Helen, she took Helen’s shoes off and then her socks. She splashed Helen’s feet softly with the water from the fountain and Helen smiled and looked her straight in the eyes and softly
said “thank you” to the social worker. After Helen spoke for the first time since her stroke, the social worker asked her if she would like to speak to her son on the telephone and Helen said out loud “yes”. The social worker called Helen’s son and the two spoke over the phone.
Though her words were few, Helen’s joy was evident. The staff at the facility informed the speech therapist who asked Helen a few questions. Instead of answering the therapists questions, Helen simply said “I can speak now... she listens."
This experience illustrates the value of one-on-one Life Enrichment. Social and group activities are great as well, but nothing can compare to individual attention and connection. This is why Avana’s Life Enrichment program is designed to include daily individual attention and unique activities for each resident. Our masters-level social worker and social work interns are devoted to making each day brighter for our residents.
Meet Betty: Reintroducing an Old Daily Routine Cured Her Anxiety
Betty spent most of her career as a flight attendant. When she was 67 years old she was diagnosed with dementia and slowly declined cognitively until she was unable to care for herself. She began to receive hospice services at home and after a while, her family decided to place her in an assisted living home setting where Betty loved to socialize with the other residents.
Betty seemed to transition well to her new environment, but a few weeks after she moved in, she began emptying her dresser drawers and closet every day and placing all of her clothes, shoes, and other personal belongings on top of her bed. When the staff tried to put Betty’s things away, she became agitated, angry, and combative. This behavior started to affect the other residents and family members began to discuss their concerns with the staff and the hospice team.
Betty’s physician ordered medication to calm Betty's anxiety, but she became lethargic and lost her appetite. Betty’s hospice social worker suggested that the family bring 2 large suitcases to allow Betty to utilize the suitcases to “pack” her clothes, shoes, and other belongings (as she did throughout her career as a Flight Attendant) in the morning and “unpack” them at the end of the day. This allowed Betty to have a familiar routine that made her feel productive, content, and peaceful.
Within a week’s time, Betty's agitation and combativeness decreased and she became social with the other residents again. She no longer required ongoing anti anxiety medications, her appetite came back and she was visibly happier and at peace.
Experiences like this are the reason our social worker and social work interns have created a personalized Life Enrichment Program at Avana. Whether we are discovering an important daily routine or a new creative outlet for our residents, we are dedicated to offering daily experiences that are tailored to each individual's unique needs to truly enrich their lives.