The Voyage of Father Vincent from the Shores of Ecumen Lakeshore
On a dreamlike summer day on Caribou Lake near Duluth, a canoe cut through the glassy water. Father Vincent James Arimand, 92, was at the front of the boat, his paddle moving effortlessly, his dream coming true.
Father Vincent, a resident of The Shores at Ecumen Lakeshore, had been musing and wishing out loud that he could go canoeing again-- like he did so many times, so long ago. Sandra Dantes of Ecumen Lakeshore at Home, which is the name of our at-home services in Duluth, heard him—and decided to honor his wish and empower him to make it happen.
“I couldn’t help but notice the gleam in his eyes each time he shared his canoeing stories with me,” Sandra said. “He would reminisce about his earlier years and the hundreds of miles he covered while paddling a canoe. I thought, let’s make this happen again.”
Sandra believed he could still do it. She had seen him daily walking the Lakeshore grounds with only minimal assistance. So she found a generous local merchant who donated the use of a brand-new canoe, loaded it on her truck, picked up Father Vincent and his personal aide, Leif Johnson, and headed for the lake.
On that picture-perfect Sunday afternoon, an elated Father Vincent eagerly climbed into the front of the canoe. Leif took the back, and Sandra took the middle seat. They pushed off and glided the lake for several hours-- smiling and singing.
It was a beautiful day. The past was present again. And Father Vincent summed up this way: “If I am dreaming, please do not wake me up!”
Father Vincent isn’t dreaming, he’s living! We look forward to more of Father Vincent’s canoe trips.
Ecumen Awakenings Insights on Going Beyond Drugs to Calm ‘Behaviors’ of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
Shelley Matthes, a nurse and Ecumen's Director of Quality, shares thoughts on going beyond drugs to calm behaviors in care for Alzheimer's and other dementias.
Reframing Our Country's Thinking on Care for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias
A new post by Shelley Matthes, Director of Quality Improvement at Ecumen, on overcoming outmoded thinking related to Alzheimer's care and care for related dementias.
A Solution for Enjoyment from a Customer Who Has Alzheimer's
An example of how customers with Alzheimer's can be extremely helpful in crafting solutions that make their lives better.
AgePower Launch Event at University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, August 13th
An AgePower Launch Event will be held at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management on August 13, from 4:30 - 6 p.m.. This is a great chance to meet in an informal setting, network, learn about AgePower, and discuss innovation opportunity in the aging space.
Presenters will include AgePower organizers and Healthsense CEO A.R. Weiler, who will share more about this growth company's story and what he sees ahead.
4:30-5 p.m. Check-In and Networking
5:00-6 p.m. Presentation, Q&A
To RSVP and for more details go here.
Ecumen Initiative to Reduce Antipsychotics in Dementia Care Receives Aging Services of Minnesota Innovation Award
Ecumen has received Aging Services of Minnesota's Leading Change Innovation Award. The award recognizes Ecumen Awakenings, our program to reduce the use of unnecessary antipsychotic and other medications for residents with dementia.
About a third of all residents in nursing homes are prescribed such drugs. In some cases these drugs are helpful in helping calm disruptive behaviors often related to Alzheimer’s. In other cases, they make them worse or cause the person to live in a zombie-like state. When prescribed for residents who do not have a behavioral diagnosis, they may contribute to a lower quality of life in addition to posing significant health risks.
In 2012, fifteen of Ecumen’s care centers were awarded a three-year Performance Based Initiative Program (PIPP) grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life of care center residents by re-examining and improving the quality of care. Awakenings is an integrated approach focusing on mind, body and spirit that incorporates the involvement of residents and family members, rehabilitative nursing, specialized training on communication and relationship building with residents, and collaboration with psychology, psychiatry and pharmacy professionals.
The result is a comprehensive, holistic approach to improving residents’ quality of life – literally “awakening” a number of patients who have been sedated, lethargic, or experiencing decreased physical and cognitive functioning due to inappropriate use of antipsychotics, hypnotics, anti-anxiety, and other medications.
Since its implementation, the program has met and exceeded all of its formal PIPP outcome goals. In a one-year period nearly 700 psychotropic medications have been either discontinued or decreased among people served in the Awakenings program. Among the dramatic stories of resident “awakenings” is the following example, as told by the center’s Resident Care Coordinator:
One woman, who was non-verbal since her arrival, was on Risperdal and Ativan. Her primary physician was willing to attempt weaning her off of these meds at the request of our nursing staff, and she was eventually weaned off of both drugs. This woman speaks again. She is able to engage with her daughters who visit frequently, and who have said, ‘What a gift you have given our family.’” The woman was initially given these medications as an adjunct therapy for pain management. When she started speaking again I asked her if she still had pain when on Ativan. She stated ‘yes.’ I asked her, ‘You just couldn’t talk?’ She said ‘yes.’
About Aging Services of Minnesota
Aging Services of Minnesota is Minnesota's largest association of organizations serving Minnesota seniors. Its mission is simple – to improve the lives of Minnesota seniors and families by leading change and innovation in the field of older adult services.
Its membership encompasses over 1,000 organizations across Minnesota. Together, it works with over 50,000 caregivers and serves more than 125,000 seniors each year in all of the places they call home, including senior housing communities, assisted living and care centers.
Aging Services members are diverse but share a common focus on person-directed living, missions of service to their communities and choice in older adult services. Aging Services is the state partner of LeadingAge and the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).