The Greene County Democrat

Tag: Delane Poague

  • Local agency provides interactive dementia education for nurses and Eutaw seniors

    Local agency provides interactive dementia education for nurses and Eutaw seniors

    By Maya Quinn, editor

    The Alabama Area Agency on Aging recently visited Eutaw, Alabama, to offer educational sessions for nursing home staff and Eutaw seniors. They supplied resources, information, and helpful advice on preventing and caring for people with dementia. Each session included interactive elements that helped participants understand a dementia patient’s condition and perspective.

    The Area Agency on Aging of West Alabama aims to promote independence, dignity, and quality of life for older adults, those with disabilities, and their caregivers. They serve the counties of Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa. They provide a wide range of services in each community, such as caregiver support, insurance counseling, health promotion classes, and advocacy for residents in long-term care facilities.

    Recently, Dementia Friendly Project Coordinator Delane Poague secured the BOLD (Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act) Grant to provide community paramedic dementia training to hospitals and senior centers. Poague and agency representatives Kayla Clark and Karlenne Renna are traveling to West Alabama counties to deliver dementia-friendly training to businesses and host BOLD Memory Cafes for seniors.

    At Greene County Nursing Home, Poague and her colleagues trained nurses in effective and compassionate communication with dementia patients and caregivers. Nurses earned professional development hours for their participation.

    A person wearing disposable gloves is holding their hands together, with cotton balls visible on their palms, next to instructional materials on a table.
    Nurse wearing gloves with cotton balls in the fingertips to simulate neuropathy

    Poague explained that dementia is a disease within the Alzheimer’s umbrella, and those diagnosed face the harsh reality of their brains deteriorating. Those affected can lose all five senses and become nonverbal. The disease may progress gradually or suddenly worsen overnight. “We’re going to have to enter their world,” she said, emphasizing that caregivers must adapt to patients. It’s vital for caregivers to set patients up for success by planning extra time, educating families, and organizing and monitoring medications. Approaching patients from the front, speaking clearly, and patiently waiting for responses with a smile can significantly improve care.

    Purple sunglasses adorned with colorful circular stickers in pink and yellow, placed on a white background.
    Sunglasses with stickers to simulate ocular degeneration

    Patients with dementia might also have other conditions that make daily tasks, like buttoning clothes or tying laces, even harder. To help nurses understand their patients’ perspectives, Poague had nurses wear gloves with cotton balls to simulate neuropathy, and sunglasses with stickers to mimic ocular degenerative I conditions, as peripheral vision often diminishes first. At the end of the activity, she asked nurses how they felt, noting that no one received assistance or extra time to finish tasks. Many expressed frustration and feelings of abandonment.

    The session ended by providing nurses with a framework for recognizing individuals with dementia in emergencies and a care pathway for caregivers. The REACT framework stands for Recognize, Engage, Assess, Connect, and Transfer. An important message was that caregivers must also care for themselves.

    A smiling man wearing glasses and a blue shirt is holding a bouquet of flowers while standing in a community center. He is using a cane for support.
    A woman wearing glasses and a striped shirt is holding a large bouquet of colorful flowers wrapped in brown paper.
    A woman wearing a blue top and cap sits in a chair holding a bouquet of flowers wrapped in brown paper, smiling at the camera. In the background, there is a table with various items and people moving around.

    After the nurse training, the Area Agency on Aging visited the Eutaw Senior Activity Center for a memory cafe session with information, snacks, and bouquet arranging. Flower arranging stimulates the five senses and can evoke memories linked to colors and scents. 

    Poague educated attendees on practices that may reduce the risk of dementia. She encouraged seniors to change their routines slightly, such as switching hands when brushing teeth or hair. She also shared nutrition information about the Brain Diet, also known as the Mediterranean diet. Seniors received handouts before creating their own bouquets to take home. 

    For more information on the Area Agency on Aging of West Alabama, contact (800) AGE-LINE or (205) 333-2990. Their address is 4200 HWY 60 N, Northport, AL 35473. Visit http://www.westalabamaaging.org for upcoming events in your area.