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

Emma & Emil

Everyday generation gaps are bridged at St. Ann Center, but do we really know how it happens? I sat back to watch and see for myself how this intergenerational concept works. The other day I watched a group of Shepherd House visitors, battling with memory loss, who come to visit with the daycare children every Monday and Tuesday.

Inside the Dragonfly room of the child care unit, the laughter is plentiful and the painting is Picasso-esque when these two very different groups get together for art. Emma, a wise and intelligent 3 year old, and Emil, a quiet, reserved elderly gentleman were making Halloween masks and enjoying every minute of their time together.

Emma poked away at her purple, pumpkin-shaped construction paper as Emil did the same. When I asked if he enjoyed the time spent with the children he replied, "I wish we could come here everyday!" It's amazing that yarn and paint can be the catalyst for so much happiness.
Written by: Darrell Garrett, intern from Cardinal Stritch