Hospital to start Alzheimer's wing
New area to open on January 1
Hillsboro Community Medical Center recently announced some major program changes at HCMC. The Long Term Care Unit will be expanding services to include a Special Care Unit for people with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias.
The 11-bed Special Care Unit is scheduled to open Jan. 1, 2003.
"The board of directors decided this type of service would better serve our community," said Michael Ryan, administrator and CEO at HCMC.
"The need for well-planned, individualized care for people with a dementing illness is great," said Geraldine Hett, director of nursing of the Long Term Car and Special Care Units.
Staff members will receive training in working with people who have Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.
"Our training efforts will focus on methods and techniques that will allow our residents to preserve their dignity and to utilize the life skills they currently possess," Hett said.
The Special Care Unit will provide consistency in residential atmosphere. Residents will be able to tap into past skills and memories that can provide the most normalizing experience appropriate to their current condition.
For instance, residents and staff may browse through the newspaper while drinking coffee, take walks in the secured courtyard, or assist in household tasks that are meaningful to the resident.
"Our staff will use a variety of techniques to limit problem situations. We will use many different strategies to successfully deal with the variety of behaviors that can occur with dementing illnesses, including wandering, poor activities of daily living skills, sundowning, and others," said Hett.
"We are confident that the Special Care Unit will provide residents with a dementing illness the care and comfort they deserve," Hett said.
For more information on the Long Term Care Unit, contact Pam Ratzlaff at 947-2545.s
