Praying helps ease resident’s behaviours
Friday November 23, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
When a resident who has Alzheimer’s disease began crying out and exhibiting other behaviours, staff members at Kentwood Park noticed she would start to recite prayers.

These behaviours began shortly after the resident moved into the Picton long-term care home about two years ago.

About six months ago, supportive measures specialist and life enrichment co-ordinator Linda Sheppard, along with one of the home’s nurses, recognized the resident’s prayers as being of the Roman Catholic faith.

Upon realizing this, Sheppard arranged for two members of the church the resident had attended to come to the home once per month to pray with her.

This has worked well as a supportive measure, says Sheppard, adding that having the church members spend 10 to 15 minutes praying with the resident calms her, reduces agitation and allows her to sleep better.

“It sooths her and allows her to rest peacefully,” says Sheppard.

While there are other residents of the Catholic faith at the home who get visits from the church members, they’re usually tended to as a group. Because the resident spends much of her time in bed, it also provides her with a social aspect, Sheppard notes.

“When those folks come, we specifically arrange for them to be in a quiet place with her to talk and to pray,” explains Sheppard. “We can see that it gives her peace.”

When the church members aren’t at the home and the resident is exhibiting behaviours, Sheppard will take time to pray with the resident. This has also been helpful in calming the resident.

“Her faith must have been very, very strong at one time,” says Sheppard.

Not only does praying with the church members help calm the resident’s behaviour, it’s also helps the resident’s cognitive skills because it requires a great deal of concentration, memorizing and reciting, Sheppard notes.