St. Paul Elder Services offers a wide range of support for residents, tenants, visitors who receive services and those who receive services in their own homes. Sometimes, these different paths of service intersect in a special way. This can be seen when Larry, a man who utilizes SPES’ Club Gabriel day program for memory care, visits residents in Poppy Path— a neighborhood in St. Paul Home designed to suit the needs of those with memory loss— to read to residents from his favorite books.
Club Gabriel and Poppy Path
Club Gabriel and Poppy Path represent two of many ways that those who are living with memory loss, along with their caretakers, can receive services through SPES’ Passages memory care continuum. No matter where someone is on their memory loss journey, SPES associates are trained to provide person-directed care that celebrates each individual’s unique talents.
Larry has benefitted from attending Club Gabriel, a day program through which people in the early stages of memory loss may come to St. Paul Elder Services for the day with transportation offered. Participants engage in a variety of activities that allow them to build community with one another while receiving an appropriate amount of challenge to aide in retention of cognitive abilities. Caregivers can also take the opportunity to run errands or go to work.
Poppy Path is a neighborhood within St. Paul Home that is uniquely suited for individuals with memory loss. Associates in Poppy Path have training that is specific to dementia and Alzheimer’s; they go beyond the basics of skilled nursing to assist residents in scheduling their days and participating in the best suited activities for each person’s needs and interests.
Intersecting Paths for Person-Directed Life
Ann Van Dyke, a SPES associate who works as a personal care assistant for Club Gabriel, was the first to recognize a mutually beneficial opportunity for Larry and Poppy Path residents. Knowing that Larry has a passion for reading, Ann suggested that Larry begin reading from his own books to interested residents. Ann was also aware of the many cognitive benefits to be gained by listening to Larry’s reading for people living with memory loss. Benefits include language processing and memory recall, which can slow the decline of cognitive functions. Beyond that, residents enjoy it!
Ann’s initiative and Larry’s enthusiasm have brought comfort and pride not only to Larry but the many residents and associates who enjoy the knowledge he shares during his visits. SPES prides itself on a shared leadership approach in which all associates are empowered to drive change and make decisions for the betterment of the organization and the community that relies on it. Opportunities like these are just one way that St. Paul honors the whole person, incorporating the uniqueness of each individual it serves into their daily lives and empowering them to share their gifts with one another.
