Relevant information:
Rabi Schubert is a qualified massage therapist and aromatherapist with consultation, mind guidance, and skills to celebrate life through sacred rituals, meditation and prayer groups. In April 2003, she was employed by the Nareen Gardens Joint Care Home as a pastoral care assistant for creative service. Her responsibilities include pastoral care for the care home occupants and aromatherapy volunteer training programs from the Australian Government's 'Relief Services' program volunteers.

Editor's Note - This is one of those brilliant inspirational stories (see Boys From The Bush - Issue 28 from the Bush family). Everyone can get from these stories - people who leave work regain their personal self-esteem and look forward to the future, where residents receive a higher level of care, which benefits from improving the health care of older members. For special projects that are less familiar to international readers, I will explain this in particular.

Background

Nareen Gardens Nareen Gardens

Elderly care institution

Nareen Gardens is located in Bateau Bay on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It includes an 84-bed nursing home, an 81-bed lodge, and a temporary accommodation lodge for 26 people, for a total of 191 people to live and care. There are three dementia special units, Rosella, which is part of the hostel with 14 residents, Jasmine is a part of the nursing home with 16 residents, and temporary accommodation cabins.

The first stage of the aromatherapy program

Aromatherapy is divided into two phases. The first phase originated in 2001 at the Nursing Home physiotherapist Dale Bachelor and nursing teacher Jill Hansell, RN. Both Jill and Dale have received a second level certificate in aromatherapy and have a positive impact on both professional and personal aspects of their lives.

The goals and objectives of this plan (first phase) are:

※ Support residents' right to choose adjuvant therapy.
※ Raise residents' needs in the areas of behavioral problems, wound care, physical and emotional pain.
※ Help to maintain the current level of ability of residents to live daily activities.
※ Improve the level of anxiety and fear and improve the quality of life of residents.
※ Through intent and purposeful contact, we will improve our health and relaxation and reach a deeper state.

The positive results of the first phase of the plan include one

※ There are successful effects in wound care, especially tearing the skin and pressing areas.
※ It has a soothing effect on muscle pain and restraint.
※Improvement of behaviors such as resistance, anxiety, anxiety, etc., does have a calming effect.
※ There is a significant improvement in skin integrity due to daily treatment.
※ Maintaining limb movements and activities can alleviate pain.

This program continues to operate and is now part of the standard for residents' formal care.
The second stage of the aromatherapy program

In June 2003, aromatherapy from pastoral care was initiated at the hostel, and they were able to give the 12 cognitive residents the right to participate in the trial group. Most of the residents in this group will be provided with a special prescription doctor who provides a long-term prescription for aromatherapy.

Note 1 “Long-term prescription for aromatherapy” is the overall permissible prescription for aromatherapy treatments for any patient under the care of a special doctor. This method saves the number of times the doctor needs to contact each time the aromatherapy session is required. This is a common application in nursing homes and nursing homes in Australia. Any patient with dementia, severe medical illness, or no cognition is included in the aromatherapy program to inform the participating doctors and their family of the consent report.

Volunteer Aromatherapy Training Program

This trial showed great success (see results) and the plan progressed to the next stage, which is part of the volunteers involved. Greg Colby, head of volunteer services, coordinated the participation of Nareen Gardens because of the government's “healing services” program for long-term unemployed people. Volunteers invest in a 26-week program to get 'work/service points', which equals “training costs,” and volunteers can reinvest in recognized training programs to help them find long-term jobs themselves.

In September 2003, the first 26-week aromatherapy training program began with 10 volunteers. Volunteers assisted the pastoral care mechanism and challenged residents to feel a “leisure time”. This training provides basic massage introductions for hands, feet, neck, shoulders and foot basins. The purpose of training is to develop personal communication and communication skills and to understand the principles of occupational health and safety and control of infectious diseases. It also contains confidential issues and basic rules for the process of providing dignity and respect for older people. In training, volunteers are encouraged to set personal goals and establish their own personal safety coverage.

Volunteers are required to participate in weekly official mission reports and training sessions, and other meetings will be handled informally when needed.

Initially 10 volunteers took this course and they were encouraged to become consultants to guide new members into the program. The program is currently growing to 26 volunteers and is still in operation.


Tools and methods

Most aromatherapy treatments for residents use a standard 3% concentrated plant essential oil in a base cream, grape seed oil, aloe vera gel, or a spray, either way. Through a positive reaction, we continue to conquer and promote "aromatic emulsions" containing 1% concentrated plant essential oils. Due to time constraints, we often use pre-mixed plant essential oils, but individual oils are still formulated for specific conditions or individual needs. During the four-month period, we provided 146 aromatherapy treatments. When the volunteers are given the appropriate posture for the treatment, they are constantly improving and reaffirming: we continue to look for new ways for residents who are in bed or water chairs to adapt and feel comfortable. The “deep cushion” is very effective and can be used by residents to lie on a small table or bedside.

The hand massages we provide to residents and those who are responsible for caring for residents are different from the standard hand massages taught in most aromatherapy courses. Our massage focuses on the palm of the hand (rather than the upper end of the hand) and incorporates a movement that repeats slowly with a "heartbeat" rhythm. The purpose of our hand massage is to connect and relax.

Occupational health and safety

Small recyclable containers, which are usually given oil-removing, are left to the cognizant residents, and the family and the person responsible for the care of the residents are properly cleaned, if made of glass, dried in an oven.

Large containers and wooden digging sticks used by volunteers can only be used once, with the required amount of emulsion on the hands of volunteers. After the digging rod is used, it will be broken into two halves and discarded. Towels are placed across the legs of volunteers and residents to form a symbol of connection. After the towel has been used once, it needs to be rolled up (the towel is not folded when it is delivered from the laundry room), indicating that it has been used.

“If this plan is not the commitment of all employees, this plan will not be possible. I am especially grateful to the two employees, one is to ensure that the prepared towel is given to us, one is to clean and fold every week. Laundry staff with over 70 towels."

Robbie Schubert

Control of infectious diseases

According to the general rules, we do not need to use gloves. If the residents have open wounds or if the volunteers have open cuts or abrasions that cannot be effectively covered, we will 'wear gloves.' The nursing staff will be alert to our infectious diseases. If you need to wear gloves We will use the foot bath instead of trying to massage.

Washing hands must not be overlooked during the massage process, or even when visiting residents. The responsibility for protection is the most important, always paying attention to the possibility of cross-infection.

  in conclusion

Despite the expectation of doping, aromatherapy has been used in Nareen Gardens for nearly three years, and the results are as expected. Specific conclusions include:

※Residents are "more relaxed"
※ Temporary soothing of arthritis pain
※Short relief of tremor
※Helping to fight against grief and loss
※Maintain and improve the level of personal awareness (in terms of dementia residents)
※ Improve social participation
※ Help fight depression and anxiety
※There are positive results when using group support and treatment workshops

One-on-one contact and ample time with residents living alone in the room can enhance the treatment to create a new benchmark for quality of life.

“Special residents are often silent when they are in contact, do not like communication, shyness, and sensitivity. He will be encouraged to watch aromatherapy workshops. During the next workshop, he will be encouraged to try foot bath. He will love the foot bath. In particular, the warm water fills his legs. After that, when he allows a hand massage, everyone will be pleasantly surprised. Some people are unwilling to open up and accept contact, which is a wonderful experience for all of us." An event staff

The simplest and most grateful result is continued pleasure due to safe and respectful contact. This is publicly recognized by residents. Regardless of how determined the caregiver is for the individual's personal care, contact deprivation can establish itself as an important and toxic manifestation of institutionalized life. Massages or “intentional touches” used in aromatherapy treatments have shown many residents' needs for touch deprivation.

Always aware that we have been welcomed by everyone to enter the personal space, this welcome represents a major opportunity (doing useful things) and a huge responsibility (respecting each individual).

Special observation of dementia

We are interested in noting that most residents living in dementia units prefer base oils to base creams. Suppose this is possible because these residents are very sensitive to changes in temperature, so residents are more sensitive to the initial colder base cream and warmer oil on volunteers' warm hands.
Although most residents are considered to lack cognitive skills, they are still responsive when they choose their scent. A week after visiting this unit, residents are now responding to our attendance, getting ready to give them a hand massage or lifting up the treatment positions they usually do in nearby chairs. As we progressed in depth, some demented residents reversed their roles during the treatment and began to follow the same slow pulse frequency and undoubtedly sighs that the volunteers massaged their hands.

Nursing staff are grateful that aromatherapy can have a positive impact on the suffering of residents who suffer from "lightening of the sun's strength" (often insane at night). We now arrange to visit these residents at noon and give aromatherapy treatments to get results. We usually make these residents have a deep sleep, or at least in a very relaxed state. Calm and familiar background music is also used for these patients during the course of treatment. Using this joint approach not only helps with aggression and social prohibition, but also calms the emotional swing.

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The monthly relaxation and meditation team is involved in helping several male patients with Parkinson's disease. They are very grateful for the visible results in the massage and foot bath. After completing such deep relaxation, we often witnessed "I am willing to share a special experience with a person with severe Parkinson's disease and one of the hands holding the hand to keep shaking. The resident can't make a verbal expression. When we first did an aromatherapy hand massage for him, his hand was completely open and relaxed in an open way. He no longer shakes and calms down completely. In the next week, he opens his hand to accept Massage. This may be the first time he has had to make a personal choice for the first time. The relaxation of the jitter after the massage lasts for at least two hours and can continue to grow."

Aromatherapy has reached a significant contribution to improving communication between residents and staff and between residents and those responsible for care.

Complete skin

Many residents increase the likelihood of skin tearing and infection due to lack of skin perfection. A refreshing base cream that blends 3% concentrated myrrh and lavender essential oils has been shown to be very effective in improving skin integrity. Applying it every day actually encourages those residents to do this treatment themselves. This not only improves skin integrity, but it also allows these residents to move their arms, use their fingers, and encourage continued use and bending of muscles, just like using stimuli.

"A hostel resident has a real combat experience because her legs contain excess water, poor blood circulation, ulcers and poor skin integrity. She is usually very depressed. After a few weeks of aromatherapy, her mood It has been boosted, the doctor commented, "It looks like there is a brand new leg." "A hostel nurse

Positive "memory link"

This technique is based on the results of my study of Dr. Tmi Betts and patients with epilepsy in a professional aromatherapy course. Residents give us a "link" to a pleasant memory with a special scent through a method. This has proven to be very effective in managing future physical and emotional pain responses. This technique is usually very effective for dying residents. The smell of this "link" can bring joyful memories with happiness. The experience of relaxing before can be a superior condition for recalling the removal of terrible emotions. We even think that the scent of the link can help to enter a new experience journey full of calm and love, they can really recognize the "down".

Place an electric bedside table lamp containing a small aromatherapy dish in a tempered patient room. This creates a pleasant aroma for residents, families and staff. The oil that is formulated is the smell that was often “linked” to the residents. The aromatherapy table lamp also reminds the staff to pay attention to easing the residents. a nursing home routine

The role of divine witness

When aromatherapy treatments relax residents, they often enter the illusionary journey of their past or “take us to follow them”. We are sacred witnesses that tell a very private story that is usually combined with emotional release. This process is sometimes a very important need for volunteers to face up. Release and shed time is an important opportunity for residents to 'release' and have a more calm experience every day in the future.

"I couldn't cry when my husband passed away six months ago. After you gave me a massage, now I cried. Is this normal?" A hostel resident

Evaluation method

The results of all the evaluations come from one

※Observation staff observation
※Resident detailed plan and care plan
※Event staff reaction
※Report, including special observations of volunteers
※Family reaction
※ Resident response, including some special “scale scale” measurement tables, weekly fixed meetings also stipulate a forum to take helpful assessment information.

Support relationship

Training the person in charge of care, family members and friends doing basic hand massage is an important part of the aromatherapy program. These people will be given the ''scented lotion') of their choice and are encouraged to carry this lotion for their family's intentional massage (intentional touch) whenever they visit. This is an investment in the future. Relieving care is as if the visitor is already familiar with the fact that they can make contact with their favorite residents.

The lack of private space in a nursing home is undoubtedly not helpful in supporting relationships. Encourage family members to find quiet courtyards or garden places and share some private time with their favorite residents.

Once a member of the family becomes a resident of a nursing home, the shift in family function is normal. Nursing home staff began to focus on full-time care of residents with the highest quality, and family members were not involved in the process. The aromatherapy program brings family members back to the care process and they are very grateful for their active participation. The person in charge of the report reported that "the aromatherapy program brought back the intimacy between relatives and learned about the long-term relationship between them."

"Thank you for teaching me how to help my husband with a hand massage. In the past I could only sit and hold his hand. Now I can massage my hands for him: we used to have a wonderful 52-year and 8-month marriage, but recently These two years are very hard. I miss very much that we can always do good communication, and now he is a terminal patient of Parkinson's disease. I also miss the gentle embrace he used to give me. Now help him with his hands. When I massage, I feel more connected with his spiritual and physical aspects. Although it is different from the hug, it is very relaxed.” The wife of the nursing home resident is undergoing training and personal growth. .

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With the experience of some people who take care of the residents, the feeling of “relaxation” is usually accompanied by deep sighs. This process is deeply respectful of the grief expected by the residents, the loss of daily routine work and the accompanying spouses/partners or parents. I think that aromatherapists need to prepare and train for the release of emotions, not to block it, but to encourage and support it. To control the results, we need to manage the problems that belong to our own part, so that our private procedures cut off the treatment time of the person responsible for care.

"A patient who had recently suffered from a severe stroke promised to do his first hand massage. After the massage, his son and wife immediately entered the visit. His son commented, "This is since my father's stroke, we have I have seen the best situation. He has a real smile." Afterwards, the son and wife of the residents gave him a hand massage. They provided them with training workshops and gave them a scented lotion for their next visit. come."

Staff response

Staff who report tasks use specific essential oils and perform neck and shoulder massages to be more effective.

“Aromatherapy has been successfully provided to staff, especially those who are full of tensions, including those who report tasks when a particular resident dies may have a serious trauma.”

Volunteers are encouraged to respond spontaneously to those who ask "when is it my turn" or "I will do anything for massage", even if only 5 or 10 minutes: by encouraging staff to experience aromatherapy treatment The positive result can be an investment in this program in the future. Because they have experienced a part of this program and improved, they are able to handle difficult situations.

“One of the residents experienced a severe iron fall and needed several stitches on her head. When the caregiver knew that the resident was one of my regular aromatherapy customers, they immediately notified me. She is In the innocent shock, while she was waiting for the ambulance, I provided a hand massage. This gave her a chance to talk about and share what she was worried about. Her husband was on the scene and commented on the aromatherapy At the beginning of the treatment, his wife became very relaxed. When the ambulance arrived, she was quite calm. When the nursing staff could continue their responsibility and knew that I could take care of the resident, they were very grateful for my participation. Robbie Schubert

We have achieved our goal of accepting and maintaining aromatherapy programs. Our dream is to extend this program to all locations outside of Nareen Gardens, including the home-based community care of the parties.

Personal observation of two volunteers

“I found that aromatherapy combined with pastoral care helped the residents of Nareen Gardens and myself. This was my third week at Nareen Gardens, and one of the residents told me today that my eyes are smiling. When she turned my eyes into a smile, she told me that I must be here to love.

I realize that I can make other people different, and because of this, I can make a difference, which makes me feel very happy. I love these new experiences "opportunity" friendships and all the experiences that accompany this program. Thanks to Robbie and Greg for giving me this opportunity to grow, learn and be an actor. ”

“I found that aromatherapy combined with pastoral care has become a tool to help caregivers and my own best. I have witnessed aromatherapy to help an elderly man with Parkinson's disease stop uncontrollable jitter. This program has become an outlet for many residents to discuss feelings of sadness, and encourages them to carry out this process by discussing what they love. Aromatherapy has also helped one of the special ladies by combining music, since the death of her husband, She couldn't find courage to entertain (they like to listen to music together). This program supports her, and thanks to the stimulation of aromatherapy, she once again finds happiness in music.

The aromatherapy program has become a tool for regaining self-confidence, self-expression, friendship building and learning new techniques. The pastoral aspect provides a tool for listening to religious stories and taking care of residents and the rest of the team. I am very grateful to have such an opportunity to study here and share what I have learned with others. The use of aromatherapy essential oils has given me proof of their value, thanks to this opportunity to give such a valuable gift to the residents of Nareen Gardens. This plan made me feel quite happy. ”

"God shines in our hearts with great and sufficient achievements that exceed what we ask and think."