Activity-Focused
Care
Melanie Chavin, MS
Vice President, Program Services
Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter
Objectives
• Introduce the basic components of activity-focused care:
• Focusing on strengths and abilities
• Viewing every interaction as an opportunity for meaningful
engagement
• Utilizing a positive approach to care
• Provide tips and information about how to promote this
approach in long-term care settings
What do you think of when
you hear the word “activity?”
Activity-Focused Care:
• Is an approach, not a program
• Is focused on individual interests – not “one size fits all”
• Is flexible
• Is concerned with quality interactions
• Is not necessarily focused on traditional activities
• Is not necessarily led by activity staff
• Takes into account remaining abilities and strengths rather than losses
• Views every interaction as an opportunity to connect
It’s an approach, not a program
• It’s not as much about what you do, as how you do it
• Think “interaction,” not “activity”
• Takes naturally occurring events and turns them into
opportunities for engagement
• This approach doesn’t come naturally to everyone; not
everyone has the “knack” (so choose staff wisely)
Focus on the individual
• Avoid “one size fits all” thinking and planning
• Focus on the person, not on the condition
• Don’t make broad assumptions about the interests of older
adults
• Don’t make broad assumptions about what people with
dementia can or cannot do – you may be surprised
Flexibility
• Flexible structure / go with the flow
• We need to look at the world through the eyes of the person
with dementia rather than expect them to see things our way
• Document the need for flexibility – plan for it, expect it BUT...
• Don’t use flexibility as an excuse not to plan or anticipate
needs
Quality interaction
• This is the heart of activity-focused care
• Staff, volunteers should interact frequently and meaningfully
with residents
• Pay attention to nonverbal communication
• Create interaction centers – places where interactions may
naturally occur (artwork, objects, animals, photos, etc.).
• Don’t assume that all staff/volunteers know how to “do” small
talk - some people need encouragement and practice
Non-traditional activities
• How much of your life do you spend in large group activities?
• Think about smaller groups, and 1:1 interactions
• Contrived activities vs. naturally occurring interactions
• Focus should not be on only pre-scheduled, contrived
activities, but also on spontaneous opportunities for
interaction
• Look carefully at scheduled activities – do they reflect the
interests, needs and strengths of the residents?
Activity-focused care is everyone’s
responsibility
• Administration should take the lead in communicating the
importance of this approach, and should model it
• All staff should be encouraged to interact positively with
residents
• All staff should be taught to understand dementia and how it
affects the ability to communicate/reason
• At its heart, this approach is about being kind to people with
memory loss and taking the time to get to know them as
individuals
Abilities and strengths
• The key is to focus on what a person can do, not on what he
can no longer do
• Everyone has talents and strengths, even with a diagnosis of
dementia – tap into them
• Recognize that people with dementia can and do develop new
interests
“Life doesn’t stop when Alzheimer’s starts”
Every interaction is an
opportunity to connect
• Compliments
• Looking at residents and smiling
• Acknowledging people by name
• Engaging people in small talk (and in full conversations)
• Putting yourself in that person’s shoes
• Treating the person as you would want to be treated
Resources
• Pioneer Network: www.pioneernetwork.net;
www.illinoispioneercoalition.org
• Eden Alternative: www.edenalt.org
• Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org
• Books:
• Alzheimer’s disease: Activity-Focused Care by Carly Hellen
• Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer Care by David Troxel and
Virginia Bell
• Dementia Reconsidered by Tom Kitwood