Turnagain Social Club: Why Our Caregivers Love What They Do
/Finding social experiences can sometimes get more challenging as you age. However, it’s important to stay connected to others, and a day service can be your solution.
At Turnagain Social Club, you can stay connected with others and get new experiences. We help people with Alzheimer’s by giving them care and support during this rocky time. Although the activities are a great factor of our facility, our staff are the true highlight.
Our staff is made up of trained and supportive caregivers. Our team focuses on taking a positive approach to care that will help welcome everyone and create a great atmosphere. Here is why our caregivers love what they do and how that’s shown at our facility.
Are you interested in learning more about our services? Contact us for more information.
What Is Turnagain Social Club?
Turnagain Social Club is an adult day center that provides therapeutic activities, personal care, supervision, nursing services, transportation, and meals for those who are disabled or seniors ages 55 and older. We want to offer a unique social experience for the Alaska senior population.
Our staff can provide care for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We facilitate mentally engaging activities that help provide stimulation and entertainment. Registered nurses, a dietician, and over 30 caregivers provide critical attention to you and your loved one.
Our club is located in Turnagain in a spacious 7,200-square-foot building that has been fully renovated to meet the needs of our members. There are two floors, six accessible bathrooms, two kitchens, five activity rooms, an elevator, a commercial kitchen, and an edible backyard. We also have beds, patient care lifts, a surveillance system, and a shower to ensure the comfort and safety of all our members.
What Is Different About Our Caregiving Methods?
Our approach to caregiving is what really sets us apart. We want to make sure that our care helps all the needs of our members; this includes transportation.
We understand that getting care or being social can sometimes be stressful, so we offer transportation if you cannot get to our club by yourself. With our transportation services, your family can be reassured that you safely get to and from the day center while they tend to their obligations.
Our caregivers also have different methods of care that will make you feel welcomed and support your needs positively.
The Brain-Change Model
Contrary to prior beliefs, dementia is not part of the normal aging process; it’s a disease. As Alzheimer’s Associations states, dementia is a broad term for several medical conditions resulting from damaged brain cells that trigger a decline in thinking ability. This can cause behavior changes, memory loss, and even degraded motor skills.
The Brain Change Model categorizes the progressive stages of dementia by comparing them to different gems, which have different colors and characteristics attached to them. They include:
Sapphire- True Blue
Diamond- Clear and Sharp
Emerald- On the Go with a Purpose
Amber- Caught in a Moment
Ruby- Deep and Strong Color
Pearl- Hidden Within a Shell
People experiencing dementia can still contribute a significant amount of love, thoughts, and laughter to the world. We recognize their value and work to let them continue expressing that. The Brain Change Model is a great way for us to recognize what stage of dementia you may be in and determine how to better assist you through care and activities.
Want to learn more about our Brain Change Model? Call us today to get more info.
Positive Approach
Our staff focuses on having a positive approach to care. No one can achieve happiness if they focus on the negative, and many people with dementia focus on what they’ve lost.
They have lost the ability to remember things the way they used to. This can affect them in emotionally difficult ways by forgetting who their friends and family are, their ability to drive, find their way home, or feed themselves. Many look at the person who was lost with dementia, not the person still there.
Our focus is on helping them be the person they are and supporting them however we can. We know that how people interact makes a huge difference in how they feel about life and themselves. Our caregivers want to emphasize to our members know that we care about them and that we’re there to help.
We lead activities as a small community that allow our guests to utilize the skills and abilities they’re capable of and reduce any fear of not performing specific functions. Our positive approach helps reduce any confusion or fear of the outside world. We create a relaxed and friendly environment in a fun group setting by leaving the negative behind.
Person Centered
Our caregivers want to make sure that every member is cared for and feels a part of this great community. We make that happen by working with each guest individually to understand their needs and wants.
For example, with our dietician, we can create a personalized meal that fits our guests' needs and ensures they eat nutritious foods. Often, our members will join us in the kitchen. Eating a healthy diet and continuing to do engaging activities help support a healthy brain.
Our low staff-to-patient ratio allows groups to be small and intimate and let members participate in large group activities with others. The low ratio and training enable our caregivers to provide the individualized care that our members need.
Why Our Caregivers Love What They Do
When people are passionate and care about their work, it makes what they do even more meaningful. The way we approach care for our guests is one reason why our caregivers love what they do.
Like the Brain Change Model, our staff sees everyone as the gems they are. Being able to interact with people and get to know them makes the job enjoyable. We want every experience to be a positive one, and that’s the approach that we take with our members.
Another factor that makes caregiving so enjoyable is the members. We love our members and getting to know them. We love our job because of the people we get to be around.
Why Choose Turnagain Social Club?
Besides our fantastic staff, we also have other benefits. Being a day center is a great way to still get out and socialize while still being able to go home and enjoy being around family. This balance helps our members maintain the lives they enjoyed prior to when the dementia may have started.
We also have in-house activities, including:
Audiobooks
Trivia
Sewing/ cross-stitch/ knitting
Cooking activities
Sports
If you’re looking for an experience within the community, we have that too, including:
Go out and shop for the day
Check out the animals and reptiles at the museums
Continue the fun of fishing
Watch your favorite movie playing in theaters
At Turnagain Social Club, we love what we do. By enriching the lives of Anchorage’s growing senior population, we get to look forward to what is next. If you or someone you know is looking for an adult day service in Alaska, please call Turnagain Social Club. We want to provide services supporting our community and protecting our members through educating, caring, and igniting opportunities.
Ready to experience care like no other? Give us a call today!