Cognitive Rehabilitation Program
Helping Cognitively Impaired Residents Maximize Their Capabilities
Dementia care has been an emerging area of geriatric rehabilitation in long term care facilities due to the high percentage of residents affected by Alzheimer’s disease (Warchol, 2004). On any given day, every long term care facility cares for a number of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia however only those facilities which make a commitment to dementia management experience success (Warchol, 2004).
A successful implementation of a dementia management program has direct impact on increasing funding and the quality of care in long term care facilities.
Cognitive Rehabilitation: The pt Health Approach
Replacing the standard therapeutic model of teaching residents to do what they are unable to do, the pt Health Cognitive Rehabilitation Program approaches dementia care by capitalizing on and enhancing remaining abilities. It is assumed that residents with Alzheimer’s disease are unable to participate in certain tasks due to organically based deficits therefore the caregivers must work within a window of ability (Warchol, 2004). The pt Health Cognitive Rehabilitation Program is designed to stimulate remaining cognitive abilities and promote residents to participate in activities at the appropriate level.
The successful implementation of a dementia management program has direct impact on the quality of care in long term care facilities. The pt Health Cognitive Rehabilitation Program utilizes the skills of occupational therapists to assess cognition and function, and to implement programs that allow cognitively impaired residents to maximize their capabilities.
5 Key Elements to Our Cognitive Program
The program consists of five key elements including
- a sound theoretical foundation,
- comprehensive cognitive assessment tools,
- dementia training for facility staff,
- skilled therapy services,
- specialized programs.
Improving Results for Residents and Family Members
The pt Health Cognitive Rehabilitation Program includes a series of specialized programs that are essential for enabling residents with dementia to maintain function, safety and well-being. The ongoing implementation of these programs will produce improved results on the quality indicators and a positive impression on visiting family members. Each of the specialized programs has a clearly defined purpose, procedures and outcomes measures that are linked to quality indicators. The therapists are involved in establishing resident specific goals and approaches to be integrated into these programs. All of pt Health’s specialized programs are designed as multidimensional programs that include small groups, large groups, individual therapy and independent activities.
To learn more about the pt Health cognitive rehabilitation program, please call us at (877) 696-1620 or email eldercare@pthealth.ca
References
Warchol, K. (2004). An Interdisciplinary Dementia Program Model for Long-Term Care. Topics in Geriatrics Rehabilitation, 20(1), 59-71.