Culture Change in a Secured Dementia Unit - page 2

It's a great idea. I've worked at places where people are dragged out of bed at 6.30 am and back in bed by 1.30 pm so the evening shift wouldn't get mad. I can see it becoming a problem if someone does shift their pattern, sleeps all day and is awake all night. It happened with a Jewish holocaust survivor we had on my unit - he slept through the day because he felt safe and his wife was usually around but at night he got scared and continually cried out for someone to be with him.

I have done this too and my first thoughts when reading your post before you said it were: If your not careful you are going to have weight loss...first....next comes Pressure Ulcers.....Contractures and then Depression....
I would opt more for a Walk to Dine program. Form a small committee lead by an aide who volunteers for it. Next pick out those who need to walk. Have them meet in an area(livingroom) then have the rest of the aides walk them together to the dining room and get a new group and do the same. After they eat they meet back at the Living Room for a special dessert or Smoothies.
You will see your weight loss go way down....your falls go down(people are getting stronger) your depression rate go down(people are socializing) your constipation issues improve.....the list goes on and on....less Pressure Ulcers.....(blood flow)
It's one of the best programs I have ever instituted.

I work in a cert alz. long term care. We do have scheduled meal times and staff does encourage the residents to get up before breakfast but the ones who do not want to or who might start having behaviors are aloud to stay in bed and we just keep trying to get them to come eat. Make sure the careplan reflects the changes and there is nothing wrong with residents eating at 3 am. We let them eat when they are hungry. Offer foods they like. Maybe the setting is the problem. Sitting situations may need to change. Definately offer supplements. We do have one resident who sleeps through breakfast and takes 3 hours getting ready for lunch so she doesn't arrive until 1-2 pm. we order her something from the kitchen. Her family is aware. Her doctor is aware and her careplan is up to date. At home they may have slept in till all hours and they are supposed to be in their home environment.

This all sounded so so familiar to me.....I instituted the Homestead Model that Genesis puts out....I loved it however....the weight loss will be your issue......push smoothies and choc milk. Dementia residents love the sweet taste and will get their calories here.