A Touch of Yellow

 

 ”How wonderful yellow is.  It stands for the sun. ~Vincent Van Gosh

 

 

Here’s an easy idea that will provide a big impact for minimal cost.

In Richmond on Friday, temperatures reached the mid-80s. By yesterday morning (Sunday), they had dropped to the mid-20s! As I wrote my grandchildren yesterday, only God could make a summer day in the middle of winter. But it led me to think about how to bring a bit of that summer feeling inside during these last weeks of winter. Spring fever is starting early!!

The Danish have a word, hygge, which means design that just feels good, that’s comfortable to live with. So to the effort of just feeling good I say . . . Yellow!

Yellow is the first color the eye sees. It reminds us of the sun, it is one of the three primary colors, and it is warm. The easiest, least expensive way to bring yellow into a room is with flowers. What says spring better than daffodils or tulips in bright, happy saffron? You will need just a few simple things: a large glass container (clear is best) filled partway with clear, sparkly gems or marbles; an assortment of sticks or a branch cut from the woods; and a couple bunches of tulips or daffodils. Keep it simple and don’t overthink it—you don’t have to be a professional to create a stunning arrangement. Place your arrangement in the location that gets the biggest visual impact—near the front door!

Residents, staff, and family will all see it and smile. If you place the arrangement on the center table of the foyer or the sideboard, keep it proportional—if it needs volume, add more sticks or a few green leaves. Try this . . . I promise it will work!

Happy almost-Spring!!

The words we don’t say…

  “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

I have had a lot to say about words in the last two blogs but please pay attention to body language and non-verbal cues as well. We inadvertently transmit a lot of information and attitude with a yawn or glare. Part of an overall attitude of respect includes unspoken communication and behavior. Be aware of actions that can seem like impatience, anger, or mocking. Instead, try for soft, gentle gestures, an open attitude or a comforting touch.

Our interpretation of body language, notably the eyes, facial expressions, and hand gestures are instinctive, and many say make up 50–80 percent of what we are communicating. It goes both ways: it reveals what you are meaning and feeling and it reveals what the other person is meaning and feeling. So understanding body language and becoming aware of our own can give us a significant advantage in dealing with others. It happens on both a conscious and unconscious level, so guard your thoughts as well!

Body language should take into consideration the type of person and the situation involved. Two significant factors would be gender and age. Keep in mind that non-verbal signals don’t occur one at a time, but are clustered together—facial expressions, hands, and general posture all work together to convey attitude.

Two of my favorite body languages to practice:

 Direct eye contact when speaking communicates honesty and focused interest and in return reveals active listening.

A smile is a friendly “ice breaker” in any language, conveying warmth, good will, and openness.

And a few to be aware of:

A clutched purse held in front of someone is a signal of nervousness and a form of self-protection.

The rolled eye . . . no need to explain that one!

A clenched fist indicates resistance, aggravation.

Crossed arms are often a sign of defensiveness or discomfort (though it could possibly just indicate that the person is cold).

Crossed arms and legs are likely a sign of defensiveness.

An excellent way to put someone at ease is to practice mirroring. Mirroring another’s body language, pace, and level of speech creates a mutual feeling of empathy, trust, and understanding.

I say it often: Mom was right—please, thank you, a warm smile, and a genuine handshake speak volumes.

Culture Change continues to talk nicely….

“Treat others as you want them to treat you because what comes around goes around.”

No matter the age, sex, or economic status of your everyday conversational partners, talking nicely can be tricky in the workplace, at home, or in social situations. Just think about what your spouse had to say about how those new pants fit or that snarky remark your sister made about your recipe for cranberry sauce, and you have experienced an obstacle to sweet talking.

In my research, I was struck by the observations of families and caregivers about how essential it is to personalize your approach to language. Everyone is an individual with a different comfort level. Try to listen carefully and understand the context of comments that on the surface seem belligerent. Think about it from the resident’s point of view. It is very embarrassing to have to admit that certain activities are just too hard to perform anymore. “Say what you mean and mean what you say” just isn’t an option for some long-term care residents. At the same time, consider your own word choices and the underlying implication (often unintentional, but there nonetheless) an elder or family member might hear.

Karen Schoeneman, a senior policy analyst in the Division of Nursing Homes in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, has published an excellent list of outdated or potentially offensive terms used when conversing with elders. Here are just a few examples (www.pioneernetwork.net/CultureChange/Language/):

Old Word/Phrase	Suggestion
“victim of . . .” or “suffering from . . .”	“has . . .” or “with . . .”
wing, unit	household, street, neighborhood, avenue
allow	encourage, welcome
diaper	pad, brief, disposable brief, brand names, incontinence garment
the elderly	elders; older adults, people, or individuals
patient	resident (some think this is passé), individual, elder
a feeder/the feeders, feeder table	person who needs / people who need assistance with dining, dining table
a diabetic, a quad, a CVA	a person who has (whatever condition)
nurse aide, CNA, nursing assistant, front line staff (sounds like war)	resident assistant, certified resident assistant
admit, place	move in
discharge	move out
lobby, common area	living room, parlor, foyer
nurses’ station	work area, desk
facility, institution, nursing home	home, life center, living center
100-bed facility	100 people live in this home/center
housekeeping, housekeepers	environmental services, homemakers
long-term care industry	long-term care profession or field
eloped, escaped, elopement	left the building, unescorted exiting
dietary services, food service	dining services
problem residents, behavior problems	person with behavioral symptoms
agitated	active, communicating distress
ambulation, wandering	walking

Old habits are hard to break, but now is the time for change.

Culture Change starts with our words…

“Respect is what we owe, love, what we give.” ~Philip James Bailey

 

 

 

I passionately believe in the cultural change that offers dignity to older adults who reside in community care centers and other long-term living arrangements.  At the heart of this nationwide change in attitude and professional practice is effective, respectful communication.  We all have an obligation to spread the good word on the benefits of talking nicely to our elders.

Speaking respectfully is always a good business practice in any occupation.  Why should we care about speaking courteously?

• Because we are professional, dedicated individuals with a passion for serving seniors.
• Because we genuinely care about the people we are responsible for and respect them regardless of their physical or mental status.
• Because it is good business practice.
• But most of all, because in doing so, we become part of a cultural change that respects and honors older adults.

Talking nicely can brighten someone’s day.  It empowers persons with little control over their circumstances to make informed decisions for themselves.  It increases cooperation.  It will make our clients “honored friends.”

 

Paint Is Great………..and Cheap!!

My clients have often heard me proclaim, “Paint is cheap!” There are few ways to transform a space as inexpensively as with a change in the paint color. As we start to climb out of our years of economical opportunities and with new construction on the brink of new growth, now is a great time to create a transition.

This year’s color trends are taking their inspirations from nature. The greens are deep, rich, and lush. (Time to say good-bye to the yellow-tinged greens of the past!) The blues are a calm reflection of water. Reds are saturated and graduated. Neutrals this year are subtle, and influenced by raw materials (think sand, stone, wood).

New colors can quickly and economically enhance and update your space. A few things to remember:

• Always work with your existing upholstery and carpet; everything needs to coordinate.  An investment of a few hours with a professional designer will assure the right selections.
• Think of the mood you want to conjure. Warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) are exciting and energizing. Cool colors (blues and greens) are calming and relaxing.
• When in doubt, test the color on a 4 foot x 4 foot sample sheet. Don’t paint directly onto the wall—that could affect the final color. Attach your sample to the wall you’ll be painting and examine it during different times of the day; as the lighting changes, your color often changes as well.
• Beiges can be the trickiest hues to select—what looked perfectly neutral in a sample can go red or gray in your room. I recommend always looking at a large sample in the space it will be used. The lighter the color, the more it will reflect the colors surrounding it. One of my all-time favorite beiges is Duron’s “Botany Beige.” It’s just about perfect in most spaces.
• Want to make just a small change? Try color blocking one wall with your color.
• Not everyone is a skilled painter; it is a gift. If you don’t possess that particular gift, it’s worth it to invest in someone who can do quality work.

Enjoy yourself, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The world is full of wonderful colors!

New Year Trends for 2012

With the New Year comes a multitude of trends for 2012. Oh, if we only had that crystal ball!

John Andrews of McKnight’s Long Term Care (January 3, 2012) recently compiled a list of furnishing trends for 2012. It is encouraging to know that the overwhelming consensus of my peers is that the American architect Louis Sullivan was right when he said (in 1896) “form follows function.” The furniture first and foremost must be structurally strong, with a firm seat; it must be easy to clean and must fit the needs of its intended function. Manufacturers are listening and providing options and styles that meet these criteria as well as the aesthetic qualities required for the Senior Living home.

The biggest change that we have seen is the move to a more transitional style of furnishings. This made Andrew’s list as well. This style allows the space to maintain its overall traditional feel but not become too formal. We are hearing more and more often that our residents and their families want a more comfortable, relaxed, inviting home. As one gentleman put it, “I don’t want to wear my coat and tie to dinner every night or all day long.” A secondary benefit to this style is that the grandchildren feel more at ease and comfortable while visiting—and after all, isn’t that what space is really for? The relationships within.