Thursday, May 20, 2010

Our Clients Front and Center

The importance of client-centered care Shepherd House is very uniquely designed to specialize in dementia care and care for people with other memory problems. We emphasize the importance of maintaining independence and memory function through keeping active. Since everyone can be active in various ways, the staff at St. Ann's Center prefers client-centered care which is planning activities according to what our clients prefer to do. Each person has their choice, whether it be quilting, fishing, cards, building birdhouses, caring for plants, playing music, or just relaxing and conversing about the good ol' days.

Shepherd House incorporates three different types of activities per day: physical, mental, and social. Physical activities involve parachute games, silver sneakers fitness classes, and Wii sports/ Wii fitness games to bring back the sport and competition that many of our clients used to enjoy in their leisure time. Mental activities consist of trivia games, word puzzles, group discussions on historical events, and trips down memory lane, discussing a favorite toy as a child or a memory of the end of WWII. Social activities are incorporated into both physical and mental activities by keeping clients in small and personal groups to allow each one the chance at answers, questions, and introducing a variety of topics.

Shepherd House also employs client-centered care when planning outings. Special trips to the Harley Davidson Museum for those who used to ride, the Milwaukee Art Museum for the former art enthusiast, and fishing on Scout Lake for the avid sports person. The list goes on.

Whatever their preferences, Shepherd House has an activity plan for each person! After all, why should people change their lives drastically just to accommodate an inflexible program? We are here for our guests and look forward to their favorite activity as much as they do!

Written by Stacy M. Ory
Shepherd House Staff

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