Seeking to expand its dementia care
\ncapabilities campus-wide, the Wesley Community
\nhas embarked on a training and
\nactivity center program that is funded in
\npart by a $15,000 grant from the Alfred Z.
\nSolomon Charitable Trust.<\/p>\n
The grant is helping the Wesley Community
\ntrain key staff, known as “dementia
\nchampions,” using the Buddies Forever
\nDementia Communication Coaching model
\ndeveloped by Gemini Consulting.<\/p>\n
Officials said the grant will also enable
\nthe Wesley Community to establish the Alfred
\nZ. Solomon Therapeutic Activity Center
\nProgram for residents with dementia in
\nappropriate areas of the campus.<\/p>\n
“Although a floor dedicated to dementia
\ncare is already in place in the Victoria
\nbuilding at the Wesley Health Care Center,
\nthe reality is that residents suffering from
\ndementia in its various stages can be found
\nthroughout our campus,” said Brian Nealon,
\nCEO of the Wesley Community.<\/p>\n
“The training and therapeutic programs
\nwill improve the quality of care provided by
\nour staff and enhance the recognition and
\nunderstanding of residents with dementia.
\nWe are grateful for the support of The Alfred
\nZ. Solomon Charitable Trust to help fund
\nthis important initiative.”<\/p>\n
Nealon said the Buddies Forever Dementia
\nCoaching and Training will help
\nstaff learn how to provide persons with
\ndementia the gifts of pleasure, purpose and
\npeace, while making measurable impacts
\non clinical and operational goals for their
\ncare. The dementia champions will share
\ntheir training and knowledge with staff
\nthroughout the various entities that make
\nup the Wesley Community.<\/p>\n
The interdisciplinary training began in
\nMarch and includes various levels of staff,
\nincluding nursing, housekeeping and nutritional
\nservices.<\/p>\n
The Alfred Z. Solomon Therapeutic Activity Center program will offer strength-based
\nstations that are specific to an individual’s
\nlevel of functionality and interests. Residents
\ncan visit these stations to hold and
\nuse props that are familiar, everyday objects
\ndesigned to engage the mind, including
\njewelry, sewing materials, tools and puzzles.<\/p>\n
Nealon said the first Alfred Z. Solomon
\nTherapeutic Activity Center program will
\nbe designed for and implemented on the
\nsecond floor of the Victoria building at the
\nWesley Health Care Center, which is a dedicated
\ndementia unit. Over time, variations
\nof the Alfred Z. Solomon Therapeutic Activity
\nCenter Program will be implemented
\nthroughout the Wesley Community.<\/p>\n
In addition, Wesley plans to conduct a
\nseries of community lectures and dementia
\nscreenings that will be open to the public.
\nDates and times will be announced in the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
The Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust
\nwas established to benefit nonprofit scientific,
\nmedical, educational, cultural,
\nreligious and charitable organizations by
\nfunding projects and programs in memory
\nof the Trust’s founder, Alfred Z. Solomon.
\nMr. Solomon was a leader in the fashion
\nindustry, a horse racing enthusiast and a
\nphilanthropist from Gansevoort and New
\nYork City.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit www.thewesleycommunity.org.<\/p>\n
The Wesley Community is a 36-acre,
\nnonprofit agency in Saratoga Springs that
\nserves the needs of the elderly, as well
\nas active seniors, adults and pediatrics.<\/p>\n
Sponsored by United Methodist Health and
\nHousing Inc., its continuum of care community
\nprovides independent and enriched
\nliving for seniors, subsidized independent
\nsenior housing, adult day services, shortterm
\nrehabilitation and long-term care, as
\nwell as outpatient therapies available for
\npeople of all ages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Seeking to expand its dementia care capabilities campus-wide, the Wesley Community has embarked on a training and activity center program that is funded in part by a $15,000 grant from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust. The grant is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[57,115],"class_list":["post-16576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news","tag-business-news","tag-saratoga-springs"],"yoast_head":"\r\n