Specially-designed Activity Kits meet Geriatric Needs at Trinitas Hospital
For geriatric patients, maintaining a link to the world around them is vital to helping them participate fully in life. A cognitive connection to things, people, and events helps older patients be fully engaged with the world. In fact, research has shown that when geriatric patients do not experience interaction with people and things through their bodies and their minds, they may experience depression or dementia.

To help enhance the hospital experience of geriatric patients in its medical surgical units, Trinitas Hospital recently introduced therapeutic activity kits and "boom boxes" for use with CDs and audiotapes designed to help geriatric patients stay alert and aware while they are hospitalized.

"These activity kits are targeted for hospitalized older adults with suspected or confirmed dementia," said Bernadette Pryor, Performance Improvement Coordinator, who added that, "The simple activities used to provide diversion are also valuable for patients with depression or limited family contact." Bernadette, together with Diane Rehill, RN, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, created the activity boxes that were funded in 2005 by a grant from the Trinitas Health Foundation.

The kits are full of stimulating activities such as: word search and crossword puzzles for enjoyment or relaxation, for cognitive stimulation, and to improve problem solving and attention span; catalogs and magazines for relaxation and enjoyment and to improve picture recognition, attention span, and visual memory; flyers to fold and envelopes to stuff to improve attention span and rekindle sense of purpose; coloring sheets and crayons for self expression, visual perception, color discrimination, and improved fine motor movement; checkers and tic-tac-toe for relaxation, sharpening eye/hand coordination, and sequencing; playing cards for relaxation, memory improvement, picture recognition, attention span, and sequencing; videos/DVDs/CDs to help with relaxation and visual and/or auditory attention, and stress ball and plush animals for relaxation, color stimulation, to exercise fingers, and improve attention span.

Literature in the nursing field suggests that therapeutic activities such as these are effective in improving function and behavior in dementia. For those patients who may be hospital bound for long periods and who may not have frequent visits from family or friends, Bernadette further explained, "The activity kits are a welcome relief from loneliness and boredom. They also offer our nurses the opportunity for additional interactions with our patients."

Bernadette and Diane are currently conducting training for nurses who are primary caregivers of the hospital's geriatric population to acquaint them with the activity kits and encourage their use. "Once the activity kits are in use among the appropriate patient population, visible improvements are expected in the day-to-day ability of older patients," Diane noted, adding that, "Through use of the activity kits, we expect they will be less frightened and become more comfortable with their hospital experience. The kits will allow them to continue some of the simple activities they may have done at home."

By recognizing the value of this type of cognitive stimulation and simple activity for hospital bound geriatric patients, Bernadette and Diane demonstrate the level of attention and care that is exhibited regularly among the staff members at Trinitas.

"The integration of these activity kits into the environment in our medical surgical units is another example of our daily commitment to the highest quality of care at Trinitas Hospital," emphasized Bernadette Countryman, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, who added, "We firmly believe in the importance of undertaking every means available to improve the quality of life of our patients while they are in our care."