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Nurse Jan Dougherty shares if the Banner MAPS (Memory Assistance and Planning Service) Program can teach an Alzheimer's family member successful care giving methods.
Nurse Dougherty:
It can and it can be very exciting to watch caregivers learn new principles and then the exciting part about MAPS is that they’re there with other people in the same boat as them.
So currently we have a group of about 12 ladies who are encouraging each other each week to try new things. So for example, last week we talked about how to plan and execute activities for their loved ones and what were some of the issues that might often present barriers and how to overcome that.
And last week when we met, we checked in and several of these ladies reported new things that they had tried with their spouses and were just exuberant with that something new work, that they had learned a new approach to invite their loved one into a new activity and they had fun again.
And so they again, coach each other, encourage each other and I think that’s even more powerful because they’re more credible. They live with this disease; I don’t. I am the professional. I provide information, but they have to make it work and so I think the idea of being with other people who understand what you’re going through and having someone like me provide information, they are the ones though that give legs to it and encourage each other to use it and grow with it, which is fabulous.
About Nurse Dougherty, R.N., M.S.:
Registered Nurse Jan Dougherty is the director of family and community services at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and has a master’s degree in gerontological nursing.
View Nurse Jan Dougherty's Videos:
https://www.empowher.com/users/nurse-jan-dougherty
Visit the Banner Alzheimer's Institute:
http://www.bannerhealth.com/_Alzheimers/Alzheimers_Disease_Institute.htm