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They may not know what day it is or remember what they had for breakfast, but their memories of the distant past are often as alive and clear as the day they happened.
For nurses who care for residents living in the Alzheimer's wing of Golden Living Center it's all about keeping those few memories alive, before they're lost forever.
"A lot of them are living in the past," said Cheryl Pierson, LPN. "They have a lot of memories of when they were young and of their families and parents. They have a hard time recalling things that are happening to them now and oftentimes don't realize how old they really are or what's going on."
Pierson and her fellow nurses put a great emphasis on cognitive activities to keep the brain active with the Alzheimer's residents at Golding Living.
Spending a majority of the day playing games, brain teasers, doing work books, puzzles, listening to music and watching movies, Pierson is also the resident's medical nurse, performing doctor's orders and maintaining the resident's health.
"The goal is to keep their cognitive level where it's at, maintain it and not let it decline," Pierson said. "We also have to make sure that they remain healthy. When their medical needs outweigh their social and cognitive needs, then they can no longer remain in the Alzheimer's wing."
Pierson has spent the last 32 years working with residents with Alzheimer's at Golden Living.
She's cared for individuals still in their 50s, and even cared for married couples, each suffering from Alzheimer's.
"The key is to keep a routine," she said. "Alzheimer's is a horrible thing and there is no cure. You can only hope to help keep what memories they have and keep them from declining but sometimes there just isn't anything you can do."
Ann Sowards, who works alongside Pierson as a certified nurses assistant, began her career when her mother was a resident with Alzheimer's.
"I was working at a daycare at the time, but my mom was here and I wanted to be closer to her," Sowards said. "It's like one big family here. You love the residents and they love you. There are no words to really describe it."
They may not know what day it is or remember what they had for breakfast, but their memories of the distant past are often as alive and clear as the day they happened.
For nurses who care for residents living in the Alzheimer's wing of Golden Living Center it's all about keeping those few memories alive, before they're lost forever.
"A lot of them are living in the past," said Cheryl Pierson, LPN. "They have a lot of memories of when they were young and of their families and parents. They have a hard time recalling things that are happening to them now and oftentimes don't realize how old they really are or what's going on."
Pierson and her fellow nurses put a great emphasis on cognitive activities to keep the brain active with the Alzheimer's residents at Golding Living.
Spending a majority of the day playing games, brain teasers, doing work books, puzzles, listening to music and watching movies, Pierson is also the resident's medical nurse, performing doctor's orders and maintaining the resident's health.
"The goal is to keep their cognitive level where it's at, maintain it and not let it decline," Pierson said. "We also have to make sure that they remain healthy. When their medical needs outweigh their social and cognitive needs, then they can no longer remain in the Alzheimer's wing."
Pierson has spent the last 32 years working with residents with Alzheimer's at Golden Living.
She's cared for individuals still in their 50s, and even cared for married couples, each suffering from Alzheimer's.
"The key is to keep a routine," she said. "Alzheimer's is a horrible thing and there is no cure. You can only hope to help keep what memories they have and keep them from declining but sometimes there just isn't anything you can do."
Ann Sowards, who works alongside Pierson as a certified nurses assistant, began her career when her mother was a resident with Alzheimer's.
"I was working at a daycare at the time, but my mom was here and I wanted to be closer to her," Sowards said. "It's like one big family here. You love the residents and they love you. There are no words to really describe it."
Sowards, who has been caring for others all her life as the mother of six children, has worked with Alzheimer's patients form 17 years.
Currently, there are 20 residents with Alzheimer's being cared for by Pierson, Sowards and the rest of the nursing staff. The care facilities maximum capacity in the Alzheimer's wing is 24 individuals.
"No one's immune to it," Sowards said. "You just never know, one day it (memories) could all be gone."
Both nurses admit that while they get a unique sense of gratification from what they do each day, there are those challenging days.
Residents with severe Alzheimer's can even forget how to feed or dress themselves, leaving it up to the nurses to be sure they are completely cared for.
Confusion and changes in routine can leave residents upset and irritated. The team of nurses have to be ready for sudden mood and behavioral changes and often have a plan for such instances.
"I've always like to take care of people," Pierson said. "It's what makes my job rewarding."
