Our Philosphy
 Success in the care of mild cognitive impairment and/or dementia patients is often due to what we now know as "the spirit of caregiving!"
It's not uncommon today in the caregiving of the residents, to begin with medications to control behavior. Control of behaviors such as belligerence, striking out and of course wandering. There is a price for this control. It is often paid by the patient. In return for this medicated control, the patient gives up much of what they have left to enjoy in their remaining years. They give up being alert to their surroundings; to the smell of flowers, the sound of windchimes, and the aromas that surround them. Often they must trade in their responsiveness for someone elses peace of mind. Medicated for control, the dementia patient is not always capable of knowing when to respond to the call of their name, a simple question or the companionship of another human being. Imagine for example the tragedy of a patient being visited by their family and not being able to give a human response because of a drug induced fog.
There are however, alternatives to this approach of pharmaceutical control.Saint Patrick's views its clients in residents as vibrant, interesting and often rewarding personalities with faculties enough to enjoy life. We promote the sights, sounds and smells that carry with them the reminders of memories still to be enjoyed. We recognize that our patients are admitted as an individual - with a personal history and background which can be cherished and enjoyed well into middle stages of their condition. Fortunately, the administrators of St. Patrick,s takes a different approach. Our care plan is centered on the resident, rather than on controlling the resident. We view medication as an option of last resort, to be used only in circumstances where the safety of a resident or a caregiver may be at risk, and/or in consultation with the resident's physician. With our patients NOT medicated to control behavior, we learn who this person is during this most unusual phase of their life. We discover what makes our patient happy or sad. Even an assessment of how much memory remains is possible because the patient¹s receptors have not been numbed. In this healthier environment something quite wonderful grows and blossoms.
The True Spirit of Caregiving.
This is a spirit capable of substituting dignity and trust for confusion and fearfulness. Even in an assisted living setting, quality caregiving begins with a bond between caregiver and patient. The key to this bonding is staff-to-patient ratio. Higher staff ratios permit sufficient time to observe the unique personality of each new patient. Extra time allows the caregiver to know their patient as a individual. Taking interest in them as a person means personalized care. Patients who might otherwise be bored can be introduced to subjects which will have interest and stimulation. Even anti-social behavior can be sweetened with an extra measure of attentiveness by one, familiar person in the staff. These are living examples of what can be achieved when the Spirit of Caregiving is permitted to flourish. Patients fresh with the face of living, capable of recognizing and appreciating the simple pleasures of daily life.
Eventually, home care will be relieved by outside professional care. When that time comes, it is comforting to know that a family can seek out a facility like St. Patrick's with a staff trained to deliver a higher level of personalized care. We are proud of the fact that our protocol doesn¹t begin with mood altering medication. We are proud that this protocol cultivates a thriving relationship between the patient and their new caregiver.
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