There is a project currently being tried out in New York City that helps with the treatment of dementia patients overnight. It’s been given the label of a “night camp,” and here, those older folks with dementia of some sort are supervised and led through activities. All of this takes place from 10 pm until the morning–right when most people are asleep.
Many seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and similar forms of dementia suffer from restlessness at night and need to be watched for their own safety. Being kept active by trained caregivers is a simple way to do this. It keeps loved family members in their homes, but gives them supervision in a different location at night. It helps keep seniors safer, and it helps family members to sleep better at night knowing their loved ones are safe.
This program is run by Hebrew Home and it’s been ongoing since 1998. It’s a very rare program, and the Alzheimer’s Association has commented that they know of no other program like this one. There are issues that make this a reality, of course. The cost is expensive–Medicaid pays Hebrew Home $140 each night for the patients that it covers. Transportation costs extra: an average of $74 for a roundtrip to the location and back home, too. But, one of the leading causes of nursing home admissions, the home found, was caregiver sleep deprivation. These were anecdotal studies, but they do serve an important reminder. Being a caregiver to a family member is hard.
It seems unconventional because it is. However, dealing with a loved one with dementia is very difficult, and oftentimes frustrating. The more advanced the problem becomes, the bigger the toll it takes on those that love them person being affected. And what this activity does is provide families with a pressure release valve. There’s no need to provide a night time watch for your loved one if you are worried about them wandering away as they will be cared for and watched over while at the night camp. And if they sleep for a few hours during the day, then there is less care that a family caregiver needs to provide as some of their time together is spent with them being asleep. It is a different way of doing things for sure, but the idea is quite intelligent and it can be very helpful at relieving stress.
If you have a loved one with dementia, odds are that there is not a similar program to that of Hebrew Home’s in your community. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have options to work with, though. In-home care can help provide you with a well deserved break from being the sole caregiver, and respite care is always available, too. These things are great resources and can help you to be a better caregiver yourself. If something simple like this can allow you to give your elderly family member the best care possible, then it is definitely worth considering. Many professional services will even provide a free consultation to help you select what is best for your family.
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