Cat visit in Alzheimer's center
Meet polish practitioners and their experiences!
Mr Artur participates in the classes for the second year. He uses a wheelchair and is reluctant to leave his room. He prefers to watch TV, sometimes he goes out on the terrace for a cigarette.
However, he has been waiting for the cat since early morning. On Thursdays, he carefully washes his face and hands before meeting the cat in order to look presentable. He also has no trouble eating his breakfast. This is extremely important, as a large proportion of Alzheimer's patients are reluctant to take the time for hygiene or to look after their own needs.
Arthur's day is usually similar. He wakes up in the morning, very early - at 5. He cannot sleep. He waits until 7 until the caretaker helps him to get up and get dressed. Then Mrs Ania comes and takes him to breakfast - he is not able to drive his wheelchair himself. After breakfast, he sometimes goes to classes, but more often goes back to his room. He waits for dinner... He looks out the window, sometimes Ms Ania takes him out onto the terrace for a cigarette. After dinner there are films shown in the common room, so he sits with other residents and watches them. At 5 p.m. the caretakers take them to dinner and then to their rooms to sleep. Sometimes he manages to persuade one of them to take him for a cigarette.
There is little time for conversation on this day, and few common topics. The residents are immersed in their own thoughts, often in apathy.
On Thursdays, when the cat comes, Mr Artur wakes up early in the morning. He persuaded his caretaker to come to him earlier - that way, when he gets dressed, he has a moment for the morning toilet. After breakfast, Ms Ania takes him to the main hall, where Mr Artur is waiting for the cat. Tuli arrives in her container and Artur greets her already on the threshold. He talks to Agata, Tuli's handler. He takes the carrier with the cat on his lap and together they go to the room where the intervention is held. At the intervention, there is also Mr Robert. Together they watch the cat, talk about what it does, laugh at the cat's tricks. Agata tells them what Tuli likes, or how she played with her dog this morning. Then they play cards, talk. Tuli watches them attentively, rubs her hands, or points to a card. They also do puzzles and other tasks. Tuli helps as much as she can, usually by dropping the puzzle pieces on the floor. They laugh and try to put the pieces together again. Arthur is in a better mood that day. He wants to talk to Robert and is happy to tell the other residents about the cat. In the common room, instead of looking at the TV, he shows the caretaker the pictures they took during the interventions. He says that Tuli jumped high on the wardrobe today.
Mr Artur, when asked about his daily life and activities "Tuli brings so much joy. Otherwise, I can only go out for a cigarette"
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