May 2024 Newsletter
Celebrating National Nurses Month!
Join us in celebrating one of the heroes of geriatric healthcare – our dedicated nurses! As we honor these remarkable individuals during National Nurses Month, let’s acknowledge their commitment, compassion, and expertise in caregiving. Their tireless efforts not only transform lives but also leave a lasting imprint on their workplaces and communities. Keep illuminating the path with your exceptional care and unwavering dedication, nurses – your impact is truly profound!
We’re so thankful to Ingleside at King Farm and Cedar Creek of Bloomington for allowing us to feature some of their incredible nurses during National Nurses Month!
Celebrating Nurses Month: Honoring an Exceptional LPN!
As Nurses Month unfolds, Ingleside at King Farm has the distinct pleasure of celebrating not only the collective dedication and hard work of our nursing staff but also the remarkable contributions of individuals who embody the true spirit of nursing excellence. Among these extraordinary individuals stands Mariam Araga, a beacon of compassion, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to our organization and those we serve.
For an impressive 15 years, Mariam has been an integral part of the Ingleside healthcare family, touching the lives of countless residents with her exceptional care and dedication. Beyond her role as an LPN, Mariam serves as a mentor to new nurses and nursing assistants, offering guidance and support as they navigate the challenges of the nursing profession. Her mentorship reflects her belief in the importance of nurturing the next generation of healthcare providers. What also stands out is Mariam’s unwavering dedication to our residents and their families. She approaches each interaction with empathy, kindness, and warmth, and has a genuine desire to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
As we celebrate Nurses Month and honor the incredible contributions of nurses around the world, Ingleside at King Farm would like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to Mariam and extend our heartfelt appreciation for her service and dedication to our organization and the community we serve.
Here’s to Mariam – a true nursing hero and a shining example of the difference one individual can make in the lives of many.
CELEBRATING NURSES MONTH WITH A DEDICATED DON!
Jennifer Goodman Director of Nursing Cedar Creek of Bloomington Memory Care
What aspired you to work in Memory Care?
I started working in memory care before even I knew it! My father’s parents were in a “convalescent home” or “rest haven’ as it was coined then, in the early 80’s. When my sisters and I would go visit them there, I would witness my sisters walk along the handrail as far away from the residents as possible as the residents would stick their arms and hands out motioning towards my sisters. They (my sisters) were scared of the residents. I, on the other hand would walk right up to the patients and hold their hand or stroke their arm, as if to whisper “it is ok, I will protect you. I will care for you. ” Thus, ignited my passion for the geriatric population.
What drives you regarding working in memory care?
I look at these residents and I don’t see them as they appear now with their many deficits. I see the younger version I have read about in their life story and their medical record. I paint the picture in my mind that they might be seeing. I believe they deserve a dignified existence with love and affection and meaning relationships. I advocate for their rights because often they no longer advocate for themselves. More often than not, families of residents are looking for the old version to surface, the person they once knew their loved one to be. The dementia training has afforded me the tools to meet unmet needs of the resident so that when the families visit they can experience quality time. Less behaviors. More precious memories can be made between the families and the resident when I live up to my potential and carry the heavy load so the families don’t have to be burdened by these trivial things.
Why does your certification mean so much to you?
Simply put: I’m a better individual, a better health professional for having learned more in depth about dementia and related neurocognitive diseases and the winding. Ever-changing paths they take.
“Even if they won’t remember anything I said or did for them…they will always remember how I made them feel. |
”REGISTER FOR OUR MAY WEBINAR
EFFECTIVELY CONNECT AND ENGAGE WITH PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
Join our Director of Education, Denise Scruggs, as she presents this live, interactive webinar!
In this program, we will explore the different methods of communication, including verbal, non-verbal, behavioral, and visual communication. We will offer practical strategies for using each type of communication to effectively connect with and engage persons with dementia.
- Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
- Time: Eastern Time 12:00pm – 1:30pm
- Location: Live-Online (Zoom login provided in registration confirmation email)
- Price: $35.00
- CEU’s: 1.5 hours approved for NCCDP certification renewals
May is National Elder Law Month!
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy convened with the National Council of Senior Citizens, officially proclaiming May as “Senior Citizens Month” to pay tribute to Americans aged sixty-five and older.
During the month of May, elder law attorneys across the country are encouraged to generously contribute their time and expertise by engaging in community outreach, offering invaluable education to older adults, their loved ones, and caregivers on the various support systems available to them.
Elevate your expertise by becoming a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer and teach the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care seminar! Get in touch with Kristine at kristine@nccdp.org today!
Upcoming Seminars:
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care (ADDC) Seminar:
Thursday, May 23: ONLINE- Pacific Time Click HERE To Register!
Friday, May 31: IN-PERSON, Philadelphia PA Click HERE To Register!
Tuesday, June 11: ONLINE- Eastern Time Click HERE To Register
Thursday, June 13: ONLINE- Mountain Time Click HERE To Register!
Tuesday, June 25: ONLINE- Central Time Click HERE to Register!
Thursday, July 11: ONLINE- Central Time Click HERE to Register!
Tuesday, July 23: ONLINE- Eastern Time Click HERE to Register!
Wednesday, August 7: ONLINE- Central Time Click HERE to Register!
Thursday, August 15: ONLINE- Eastern Time Click HERE to Register!
Tuesday, August 20: ONLINE- Pacific Time Click HERE to Register!
Montessori Concepts in Dementia Care Seminar:
Thursday, August 8: ONLINE- Eastern Time Click HERE To Register!
Tuesday, November 12: ONLINE- Eastern Time Click HERE To Register!
Interested in Certification?
Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional Trainer (CMDCPT)
As a Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional Trainer, you will be certified to present our Montessori Concepts in Dementia Care (MCDC) curriculum to professionals across multiple industries within the geriatric healthcare industry.
Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional (CMDCP)
This certification is open to all healthcare professionals, front-line staff, clergy, and other medical professionals who work in and around the geriatric healthcare industry and have at least one full year of paid experience. It focuses on person-centered care, maintaining independence, and avoiding infantilization.
Healthcare Observances:
All Month:
- National Nurses Month
- National Arthritis Awareness Month
- Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
- National Critical Care Awareness & Recognition Month
- National Mental Health Awareness Month
- Women’s Health Month
- Better Hearing and Speech Month
- National Stroke Awareness Month
- Older Americans Month
Weeks:
- May 6-12: National Nurses Week
- May 12-18: National Hospital Week
- May 12-18: National Women’s Health Week
- May 12-18: National Skilled Nursing Care Week
- May 19-25: National EMS Week
Days:
- May 6th: National Nurses Day
- May 8th: National Women’s Checkup Day
- May 8th: National Student Nurses Day
- May 12th: International Nurses Day
- May 18th: National Speech Pathologist Day
- May 20th: World Autoimmune/Auto-Inflammatory Arthritis Day
- May 29th: National Senior Health & Fitness Day
May 30th is International Hug Your Cat Day!
To celebrate, we thought we’d share some of our furry family members with you!
Marvin (pictured above) is a 1-year-old hitchhiker who decided that Amy, our Director of Membership Support Services, would make a good mom- so he hopped into the truck, refused to leave, and took over her house! He is very cuddly and mischievous. When Amy works from home, Marvin often joins our meetings to supervise. He is the baby of the house and requires a lot of attention- he will certainly let you know if he feels ignored!
This is Barry White who sings a deep deep tune (meow) just like his namesake. He often joins our team meetings if he’s not too busy outside being a Hunter Extraordinaire. Rebecca, our Community Relations Manager, found him outside and tried to have animal control come and get him but then a few days later she found him in the same spot! He had decided before she did that he was hers and left her no choice other than to fall in love. He is also the first of 4 fur babies and the boss of the house and the best big brother.
Faith is a brown tabby that showed up on the doorstep of our VP of Certified Training Network Support Services, Kristine Fullman. Although she was very sick and looked awful when she first arrived, Faith is now a healthy, yet slightly overweight cat.
Faith is confident that she has found her forever home and spends her days stalking bugs on the deck, snacking on tuna, and giving her human sisters the skunk eye.
