Personal stories are a gateway for nursing care at St. Joe’s
It is not surprising that a conversation with someone ‘north of their mid-sixties’ often turns into a walk through the past. A reminder of better days, simpler times. What may be surprising to learn is that delving into someone’s personal history is actually a therapeutic technique for care providers to better connect with those living with dementia.
“The better we know who they are and who they were, the better we can provide care,” says Shelley Wright, Nurse Manager of the Seniors Mental Health Unit at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
Eager to provide the best care for this fragile population, her nurses researched the most successful proven strategies and developed their own approach. What they created is a personal storyboard for each patient on the 24-bed unit. At its centre is the person’s photo. In the surrounding space are details about the individual, like the name of a pet, a wedding date, what he or she did for a living, even favourite foods.
“Knowing a preference for something like ice cream might be a way to work with a person. Talk with them about ice cream or have a bowl of ice cream and next thing you know you’re able to get some things done for them in a very supportive way,” says Wright.
In people diagnosed with dementia, the short-term memory is affected first. As the disease progresses, it’s the long-term memories of childhood or as a young adult, that remain intact longer. Tapping into a nickname as a kid or a special event in their life can build a connection that advances care, and breaks down barriers more quickly.
It also provides comfort to families who may feel helpless or overwhelmed by the impact of the illness. “You know when someone takes the time to get to know you, or someone who is really vulnerable that you care about,” says Wright, “that means a lot to people.”
Families are engaged from the outset to help craft the storyboard and provide those meaningful memories that make their loved one unique. In turn, the care they receive is personalized. “It’s a win for everybody,” says Wright, “for the patient, for the family. And for those of us who are caring.”