Memory Care & COVID-19: How to Safely Engage with Residents

There isn’t a single perfect solution for effective isolation, but there are strategies your community can implement that will provide better communication about how quarantine regulations and social distancing will alter your residents’ daily routines.

Incorporate Visual Aids

For residents who safely yet aimlessly wander, confinement may pose a potential challenge. Hanging a poster inside their rooms can serve as a helpful, nonintrusive reminder for your residents to stay in their rooms. It also can provide information to contact a staff member if they need assistance. Signage should follow a few simple recommendations:

• Feature each resident’s preferred communication style, such as words or pictures
• Display words in a large legible font and bold lettering
• Place the visual aids near the doorway so residents will see the reminder if they attempt to leave the room

Caregivers also should have a consistent script that aligns with the messaging on the signage. Following this script on a daily basis should help lead to better outcomes.

Prepare for Unexpected Emotional Responses

Communication with residents about COVID-19 should be based on their ability to understand as well as their individualized care plans. However, it may be unrealistic to expect residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s to understand. The primary goal should be to minimize change as much as possible and help your residents participate in new routines without a significant impact to their mood or behavior.

Your residents may have unforeseen emotional responses to changing situations, so caregivers should be prepared to safely manage their behavior. For example, a typically gentle resident may become confused and respond in an angry or aggressive manner. Caregivers should practice the following techniques to effectively handle difficult interactions:

• Remain calm at all times
• Speak in a soft, soothing voice
• Validate the resident’s feelings
• Continue to reassure the resident that he or she is safe

Foster In-Room Engagement

There are multiple ways to continue to support your memory care residents with safe, engaging activities that offer self-expression. Each of these activities can function in group settings, which are critical to help manage behavior. Your residents can sit in their wheelchairs in the doorway of their room while the activity is being conducted from the hall, helping them keep their distance while enjoying social engagement.

Art

Arts and crafts are another effective way to provide residents with an opportunity to emotionally express themselves, which is vital during isolation. Choose
art supplies that can be kept right in their rooms for convenience. All you have to do is provide some initial guidance on where to begin and watch your residents create.

As an added bonus, art pieces can be sent to your residents’ loved ones as a way to communicate with the outside world.

Looking for templated resources to make things easier? Direct Supply’s free activity packet features a coloring page, word search and crossword puzzle to engage your residents in multiple ways.

Engagement Kits

Individual engagement kits offer the best of both worlds in art supplies and exercise products. These multifaceted assortments serve as a popular way to keep your residents physically active as well as mentally and emotionally stimulated while in isolation. Learn how to create yours.