By JEFF MEYERS
PLATTSBURGH — Randy Rabideau glows with enthusiasm for his job and adds a spark that ignites energy in all those around him.
He is the program director for the Memory Care Unit at Pine Harbour, an advanced-care facility for residents with increased levels of dementia.
Residents in "The Valley," as the unit is affectionately called by staff and residents alike, have made the transition from Pine Harbour Assisted Living facility based on their need for increased personal care.
That means Rabideau must provide activities to help them retain their quality of life while offering them a chance to continue doing things they have always enjoyed doing.
"We do a life history with all of our residents," Rabideau said recently as he prepared for The Valley's annual Fall Harvest Ball for residents and their families. "A lot of what we do for activities is based on their lives before they came here, their likes and dislikes."
"That's how Randy incorporates activity into their daily lives, including lots of hands-on activities," said Marcie Wyand, admissions director and case manager for Pine Harbour. "These residents need an enhanced level of care."
Do-as-I-do
Many of the activities are offered individually for patients who respond better to one-on-one interaction, while group activities are available for those who like working with others, Rabideau noted.
"People can participate in activities if they want to be involved, or they can sit on the sidelines and watch the activities if they're more interested in that," he said. "It is all done on a voluntary basis, on what each resident chooses."
The Valley currently has 14 residents with a capacity to care for up to 20 with levels of dementia that prohibit them from performing many daily functions of life. They require help with such activities as dressing, hygiene and eating, Wyand explained.
"Our staff follow a 'do-as-I-do" philosophy," she said.
Throughout the day, staffers perform hands-on activities that residents can "mimic" to help them both complete daily activities and to preserve their dignity.
For this year's Harvest Ball, for instance, many of the residents participated in decorating the dining facility and choosing the menu for the meal.
"We've been reminiscing with them over the course of a couple of weeks," Rabideau said. "We've talked with them about the kinds of food they like, and the menu is based on what a majority of the residents picked."
The feast included beef-vegetable stew, corn bread made by residents, tossed salad, hot apple cider and homemade apple crisp.
CONSISTENT ROUTINE
The meal was scheduled for 4:30 p.m., an important point when considering that people with dementia function best when following a rigid daily schedule, including when they have their meals.
"Everything is done following a routine," Rabideau said. "Mealtime is exactly the same every day. After breakfast at 9 a.m., we have current-events time where I will read the newspaper to them, or they will read themselves."
Then they will have activity period followed by lunch, and then afternoon activities. The same schedule is followed seven days a week to ensure the routine is consistent.
"We encourage people to participate, and we try to find other activities for the ones who don't participate," Rabideau said. "If I see people not actively participating, I will talk to them about their life interests and try to find something for them."
For instance, a lot of residents like to play bingo, but for those who don't, calling the game may be a better option, Wyand added.
"This is their home," Rabideau said. "What they want, we try to give."
Many of the residents who transferred to The Valley from the main floor sometimes still return to their former residential area to visit with friends they left behind, which helps them to stay connected with their past.
They also take trips out into the community and can spend weekends, holidays and vacations with their families.
Pine Harbour, which now has 52 residents in its main facility, opened on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base as part of a senior-living complex that also includes Lake Forest Senior Living Community. There are also plans to construct and open a fully operational skilled-nursing facility in the future.
E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
