Best Senior Home Care is very excited to announce our participation in the Brainy Day Activity Program for seniors with dementia. This program consists of activities and games that can be used by a caregiver to engage seniors suffering from dementia in some stimulating and enjoyable activities. We have already begun staff training, and will be introducing the program to our caregivers over the coming weeks and months. Our belief is that this program can help us improve the quality of care we provide to our clients suffering from dementia. What follows is a brief description of the Brainy Day Activity Program and HippoCampus Headquarters, LLC, the company that developed this exciting new program.
Activities to Engage Individuals with Dementia
There are very few games, toys and products devoted to seniors with memory loss that provide appropriate stimulation, reasonable challenges and true enjoyment. Most products are not age-appropriate and tend to be quite juvenile.
The Brainy Day Activity Program was based on a concept developed by a nationally certified activity director with over 20 years of experience with seniors and dementia. The challenge was to find products that were unique, adult, safe, colorful (this appeals to individuals with dementia) and fun, and to create activities that would be appropriate for individuals in early, mid and late-stage dementia. At HippoCampus Headquarters we wanted to provide activities and games that would respect the dignity of seniors with memory loss. Activities that would provide true engagement and laughter and ultimately, provide as much enjoyment for the care provider as the senior with memory loss.
We spent one year searching, discovering and redefining the products and activities. We invited activity professionals, in-home care providers and consumers to participate in focus groups. We wanted these care givers to test the concept, the products and the activities. We refined and tweaked the program a bit more and in August of 2009, The Brainy Day Activity Program was introduced.
The Benefits of Brainy Day
The Brainy Day Activities meet the cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals with memory loss. These activities will help decrease challenging behaviors and reduce boredom. They will provide opportunities for the individual with memory loss to: get in touch with self-awareness, have purpose, make decisions, be successful at challenges, laugh and have fun.
When Choosing a Homecare Provider
Should your loved one be cognitively impaired, look for a homecare provider that has provided Alzheimer’s and dementia care training to their staff. Look for someone like Best Senior Homecare who has embraced the Brainy Day Activity Program… because activities can truly enhance the lives of individuals with dementia.