The way things should be.

So far, so good. With Alzheimer-riddled Ron. In his new environs. He feels at home. Literally. He’s relaxed. And no longer agitated. Ron is immersed in good vibes. Gets plenty of fresh air. Lots of mental and physical stimulation. And very minimal medication. Exactly what I have long theorized. That this is the way to treat people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. I’m amazed. But not all that surprised. Nursing homes should operate this way. Even the big nursing homes. They should divide their residents into manageable modules. Maybe five to a module. And assign 3 to 5 well-trained care-givers to each module. So that there can be lots of one-on-one interaction. Stimulation. That’s the key. Human contact. In a positive and loving and easy-going manner. Where everyone is at ease. The residents. The staff. That’s what I see happening at the five-bed care center called Arthur’s Residence. Where Ron has been living for a week. In an idyllic residential neighborhood in a Twin Cities suburb. Anyway, it’s expensive. Running close to $10,000 a month. But still, that’s less than what it cost at swank and big nursing home chains run by big profit-minded corporations. Where Ron’s care was lousy. What a contrast. Now he’s getting superb care. Maybe even stellar. I’ll keep close watch. So will Ron’s daughter and son-in-law. We are operating as a team. With enthusiastic and dedicated professionals. Mostly young people. That’s the way things should be.  Everywhere. Stay tuned. More reports to come. –Jim Broede