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<Informationen Sunnähus Felsenau

In the course of time and by experience we have realised that the changed existence of a dementia patient requires different equipment in a household. Architecture and furnishing is also a part of the handling concept for Alzheimer patients. After all these people live for 10-15 years with this handicap. Homes with long corridors and people walking around dressed in white coats arouse unnecessary fear and uncertainty. 

We want to increase and improve life for the patients and offer them familiar surroundings. 

For  exercise and entertainment we offer a secured garden with animals and flowers, which gives the Alzheimer patient the sense of being out in the open. However, they are guided around and prevented from getting lost. They can observe plants, water and birds and find diversion from their internal disarray of memory remainders.

Thanks to an appropriate grouping of the rooms each resident is able to experience daily life and receive visitors as well. This provides the slow routine of the day  with structure and stimulation. Colours and light give additional orientation. The usual hospital blackboards with many information notes confuse rather than help the dementia patient. 

As a qualified nurse, since 1987 with experience in practice as well as in research on the treatment of the Alzheimer illness, I was more and more motivated to offer quality of life to the dementia patients. The home residents should feel at home as much as possible without feeling tied up. We deliberately try to do this without medicinal immobilising if possible. 

Orientation is ensured as well. As soon as the dementia patient ´s reference person is no longer visible, he/she loses orientation. For the dementia patient , his reference person is like a pilot, who leads him/her through the structureless whirlpool of space and time. The patient constantly checks whether his pilot is still on board. If he sees him, he follows him closely.  

The Alzheimer patient l cannot find his way in a complex system like a flat with several rooms .Once you have realised this connection, you will not be annoyed by patients constantly following you, but you will try to create information tracks for them, for instance by leaving the door open , even in the bathroom. 

Whoever once observed great tits or blue tits with their young in early summer , will have noticed a constant fine chirping in the air .The young birds and their mother are constantly communicating with each other. This acoustic contact gives security. Constant presence of sufficient responsible persons and also the co-inhabitants create this close contact .Whenever a patient wants to have peace and quiet he can withdraw into his ample and bright room. 

From a certain stage onward the dementia patient often cannot distinguish between windows and doors. Therefore we have taken the following safety precautions : 

Lockable tilting windows - no mistaking with the doors. 

Increased balcony balustrades - no possibility of climbing over them. 

High stairway hand rails - no possibilities of falling down .

Garden fences - no possibility of running away.

In the discretely fenced part of the park with view of the river Aare our residents find peace and quiet. Domestic animals, like cats and two dwarf goats mean warmth, familiarity and safety. The open park invites family members and visitors to stay. 

In our flower and vegetable garden our residents can be as active as they please. They may plant flowers, salad and other vegetable; or they may embellish their patch with garden dwarves, geese, mushrooms, hedgehogs etc.. 

In my activity over many years I noticed very soon that the knowledge about the incurableness of the patients discourages the relatives .Many of them are ashamed in front of neighbours and acquaintances of their ill family members. In group discussions with other involved people they learn finally to fight the panic reactions and fears and to reduce them. After this, many people learn that the non spoken communication - the language of gesturing, facial expression and care - is valuable till the last phase of the illness. It is a long farewell from their relative ,in many places, for happy hours experienced without any words - by holding hands, stroking, swaying and singing. Even after long years without speech Alzheimer patients sing songs of their childhood and youth time, when they hear these songs again. 

The meeting of the group of relatives, which takes place regularly in the Sunnaehus, tries to help the relatives not to feel lonely any longer. It should also help them to reduce feelings of guilt, after having given their partner, father or mother to a home. They need the atmosphere of understanding and the belief that they are not inhuman, that they are accepted  by the others and not abandoned to their feelings .Relatives of patients should  know that it is not inhuman, but necessary to care for themselves, too. Finally the Christian commandment is: Love your next one as yourself. If one understands this, then the acceptance of external assistance for the care of the patient cannot be seen as betrayal of the patient any more. My experience shows that the patient feels better, as long as his family is well. In addition, the get-togethers should be open for new ways, such as questions and criticism. If possible a physician will participate at the meetings of relatives in the Sunnaehus  in order to answer questions and point out new ways . 

We offer further information for relatives with a  film show and the presence of the home warden or her representative.

The occupations pointed out below are to serve only as example for our various program. In the Sunnaehus the principle applies: The resident is free to do everything, but needn´t do anything. He must not be under pressure to succeed. There are neither intellectual nor verbal requirements. 

Question games in a circle about different topics. 

Information about regional events. 

Telling Grimm´s fairy tales or other stories, inhabitants being included.

Playing games with small prizes. 

Looking for different objects in the forest and collecting them.

Picnic in the open.. 

Regular walks. 

Various housework. 

Handicrafts  with residents. 

Gymnastics and dancing games with music .

Singing.

Residents are the hosts of Sunnaehus events. 

Assistance with shopping.

Mutual support and assistance of the residents in all situations.

Visits to the market . 

Attendance of theatre and music events.

A larger trip takes place once every year, where a family member can take part. 

Twice a year we organise a bazar selling the resident´s home-made handicrafts. With the profits we finance various trips and meals in the restaurant. 

It contains things of the daily life, which everyone of us hoards in any drawer and defines as " stuff". The chest is searched and resorted by the residents. Some exchange contents of the chest or collect things probably " forgotten " within their surroundings. A female patient had a doll in the chest that embodied  Hans (her son) and to whom she told stories.

IT IS NOT THE DEMENTIA PATIENT THAT ADAPTS TO HIS ENVIRONMENT BUT RATHER THE HOME THAT ADJUSTS TO NORMALITIES OF THE RESIDENTS.  

Some examples: 

Forlornness:            Close contact, touch, washing, promotion of the memory 

Fear:                feeling at home, attention, love, safety, protection 

Distrust:            Confidence, organisation  of the environment  

Amusement:             Laughing together, joy, simply enjoying  the moment. 

Restlessness:            Creating motivation, sharing life, going for walks.

Language loss: Asking "what " instead of "How", learning to be silent, translating, being close to   

                          patients and accompanying them.

We can offer all this in the residential communities of " the Sunnaehus". There is a qualified and technically well trained personnel, who grants care and home for the patients  day and night.

I wish to support families who care for ill relatives at home. 

The prices remain the same as for stationary patients. The date of entry and leaving however must be fixed. A diagnostic paper by the family doctor has to be brought as well as any prescription. The services available to the groups of relatives  are naturally offered to these patient´s relatives too.

Please bring along sufficient clothing for the patient. It can be washed by the house on request. The clothes should be adapted to the weather, comfortable and practical for the patient.

          6 night-gowns 

Morning coat 

Underpants (at least 10 pairs) 

Socks and tights 

Sweaters or blouses for the women / shirts or sweaters for men 

Skirt or dress for the women / trousers for men (at least 5 pairs) 

2 cardigans for women and men 

Skid-proof slippers, 1 pair 

2 pairs of shoes 

If possible, everything should be washable, in order to avoid extra cleaning costs. 

Please label the laundry with names. 

Home doctors:             Dr. med. W. Fehlmann, 5314 Kleindoettingen

Tel. +41 56,250 09 00

Dr. med. P. Boehnel, 5314 Kleindoettingen

Tel. +41 56,245 50 50

Psychiatrist :            Dr. med. Egeo Lotti, 5430 Wettingen

Tel. +41 56,246 38 39

Dentist :            Dr. med. dent. V. Schifferli, 5314 Kleindoettingen

Tel. +41 56,245 62 77

Spiritual welfare: Catholic priest  ´s office  in Leuggern 

 3. Information for visitors

The whole Sunnaehus team would like to indicate to all relatives, friends and acquaintances that 

Each visit is cordially welcome. As we are often out in the afternoon we ´d appreciate it,

if you could announce your visit beforehand. 

Telephone:  +41 (0)56 246 26 00

   3.1 Visiting hours

10 am - 6 pm                visiting hours

 12 pm - 1pm                 rest period

 3.2 Meals

Of course guests who would like to eat with us are welcome.

Costs per meal:  Fr. 10.50

We will be glad to collect you within a radius of 10 km.

 If you travel by train you can order the bus at Koblenz station or call us.  

Would you like to bring something along?  Here are some suggestions:

Face cream, hand cream, showering gel, toilet water,

 small brooches, scarves,  soft toys,

             photos, fairy tale books with drawings, flowers

In Felsenau you will find us following the directions described below:

- from Gippingen - on the right after the timber stock pile of

Company Winkler AG

- from Basel/Koblenz - the second house on the left after the restaurant

                                    "Bahnhof"

   Principle authors

Administration and owner:          Shoshana Hofer Keller

Gerontologist:                              Dr Boehnel

Physician:                                    Dr. W. Fehlmann

Care:                                            Heidi Buergler DNI + Stv. Sh. Hofer 

Care assistant:                           Dressler Susanne

Delegate relatives:                      Gabriella Hess

 

 February 2002

 

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