I'm back from Las Vegas and the huge Aging in America
conference. First off, it's A National Forum on Civic Engagement which is
another word for giving back. Almost 500 people registered for this
all day session, it's capped at 360 of my new, closest friends.
This is where social workers travel to for a vacation. Folks from NYC and Hawaii have stepped up to the mics. There's a lack of money for social programs even when the economy is booming, so you can imagine the lament here. Balancing the lack of funding is the overall hope in the 'new administration'. I'm already feeling that many aging issues are overwhelming for society.
At the break I met Imelda who runs a nursing home for Alzheimers patients. Did I know of new communities based on home-like facilities, housing 10-12 patients per home, connected to other next door homes, all in clusters? No more long dark hallways, Boomers will like these homes because they'll be more comfortable and communal, she offered. I told her of our searching for assisted living and dad's increasing dementia.
Then Imelda spotted Virginia Bell, author of The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimers Care. Virginia quickly probed, "does your father still recognize you?". Of course. "One day he might not, but he'll be able to sense a friend". Imelda agreed. So that's a simple take-away, concentrate on sustaining a relationship as if I was a friend. Any corollaries, Virginia? "Arguing never accomplishes anything." Something else for me to remember.
This is where social workers travel to for a vacation. Folks from NYC and Hawaii have stepped up to the mics. There's a lack of money for social programs even when the economy is booming, so you can imagine the lament here. Balancing the lack of funding is the overall hope in the 'new administration'. I'm already feeling that many aging issues are overwhelming for society.
At the break I met Imelda who runs a nursing home for Alzheimers patients. Did I know of new communities based on home-like facilities, housing 10-12 patients per home, connected to other next door homes, all in clusters? No more long dark hallways, Boomers will like these homes because they'll be more comfortable and communal, she offered. I told her of our searching for assisted living and dad's increasing dementia.
Then Imelda spotted Virginia Bell, author of The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimers Care. Virginia quickly probed, "does your father still recognize you?". Of course. "One day he might not, but he'll be able to sense a friend". Imelda agreed. So that's a simple take-away, concentrate on sustaining a relationship as if I was a friend. Any corollaries, Virginia? "Arguing never accomplishes anything." Something else for me to remember.
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