A Call To Action
The accelerated approval process of the controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm has brought in mass scrutiny from the caregivers, families, and healthcare providers of the 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. Not only has the drug’s approval process triggered FDA, Congress, and Department of Health and Human Services investigations, but has greatly overshadowed one of the core issues of Alzheimer’s treatment: The lack of nonpharmacological and other solutions to the disease. Oakwood Creative Care’s CEO and President, Sherri Friend, sounded a call to action in her article written for AZCentral, where she focused on the vital importance of offering more innovative and holistic approaches to treating those living with Alzheimer’s.
Not only has the drug’s approval process triggered FDA, Congress, and Department of Health and Human Services investigations, but has greatly overshadowed one of the core issues of Alzheimer’s treatment: The lack of nonpharmacological and other solutions to the disease.
Treatment Beyond A Pill
Discussing the urgent need for advocacy for a comprehensive approach to care, Sherri brings to attention the alarming lack of support given to seniors upon admission to a residential care facility, stating, “The absence of support begins when the patients enter a residential care facility where our loved ones receive an average of 5 minutes of engagement per day, along with just 12 minutes of nursing care.” Oakwood Creative Care serves as just one of a few facilities in the Valley that draws attention to the individuality and quality of care provided, with a special emphasis on creative and cognitive engagement. As a leader in innovative senior care, Oakwood Creative Care is radically changing the way we view Alzheimer’s by focusing on treatments that go beyond a pill.
The absence of support begins when the patients enter a residential care facility where our loved ones receive an average of 5 minutes of engagement per day, along with just 12 minutes of nursing care.
Leading With Creativity
Understanding that the creative center of the brain is one of the last to be affected by Alzheimer’s, Oakwood Creative Care is raising the bar for the standards of senior care by leaving behind the stagnant bingo calls and coloring books often found in residential care settings and replacing them with a plethora of different programs and activities driven towards promoting independence, self-sufficiency, and community. With a research-based, cutting edge, person-directed care model focusing on the strengths, interests, and wellness of each person, Oakwood Creative Care’s unique curriculum allows seniors living with Alzheimer’s to remain engaged in a life full of purpose and meaning — without having to move out of their family home.
Each member of the Oakwood Creative Care team is handpicked for their unique talents, passions, strengths, and creativity. They are engagement specialists who are visual artists, musicians, dancers, historians, storytellers, poets, and fitness instructors who are committed to helping members achieve success, acquire new skills, develop creativity, and foster lifelong learning.
Oakwood’s Engagement Opportunities
A day spent at one of Oakwood Creative Care’s Day Club locations will find Members enjoying various cognitive, fitness, and community engagement sessions, including:
Jam Sessions
Drumming Circles
Music History Classes
Woodworking Groups
History, Culture, & Philosophy Classes
Creative Writing
Storytelling
Poetry
Acrylic & Watercolor Painting
Mixed Media Arts
Sculpting
Gardening
Zumba
Yoga
Tai Chi
Weight & Strength Training
And these are just to name a few! Oakwood Creative Care’s paradigm of thinking is constantly adapting and revolutionizing in order to match the needs and individuality of each Member, as well as their families and care partner teams. This means we strive to bridge the gaps in the continuum of care for seniors living with Alzheimer’s, ensuring there are always support options available that go beyond prescriptions or institutionalized settings.
For more information from Sherri about how Oakwood Creative Care is addressing the lack of critical support for Alzheimer’s patients and their families in the midst of Aduhelm’s controversial approval process, read her full article in the link below:
