That way of working is very much a one-way street and can be very draining. Staff take their lead from, and are inspired by, residents' responses and initiatives. The activity is simply the means of introducing a theme. This is why the participants are invited to become club members or guests, depending on which they prefer. Maintain consistency Elderly people with dementia become anxious, confused and distressed when faced with change or any disruption to their routine.
Consistency provides safety, security, and the joy of recognition, and gives confidence.
Therefore, it is vital to plan so that the same facilitators and club members meet on the same day of the week, at the same time, in the same place, having the same seats, following the same format and using the same rituals each time. As you can see, the real value of such programs does not come from the activities themselves, but from the quality of the personal interaction taking place. If we spent as much time on trying to understand behaviour as we spend on trying to manage or control it, we might discover that what lies behind it is a genuine attempt to communicate. When we set out with the intention of changing someone's behaviour, the person often becomes defensive, digs their heels in, and resists any change. This is even more likely to happen if the person has dementia.