Empowering caregiving for seniors living with dementia

Abstract

Growing older is beautiful but also challenging because of changes to the body, difficulties in completing familiar tasks, and other indicators which are associated with becoming an older adult. This document is a reflection of my experience during a field practicum at Parkridge Centre, a long-term care home managed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The report provides a brief overview of the agency, its services, programs, and resources. It goes on to provide an overview of the role of the social worker in offering care to seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia in a long-term care home using cognitive behavioral therapy as a tool. The report further examines what dementia is, the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, and how systems theory frames the delivery of services and care to older adults diagnosed with dementia in a long-term care home. The document goes on to examine the role of caregivers looking after older adults with dementia. It relates some of the challenges and successes of my experience, the clinical experience I obtained during the period of my practicum, and how it translates to my work as a social worker providing care to seniors in a long-term care home.