Making every moment count for residents with dementia

Communication is a critical part of Ashley Maggio’s role as Connections Club coordinator at Country Meadows of Wyomissing. In addition to meeting with residents every morning to go over plans for the day, she also works with nurses and personal care associates (PCAs) to make sure every detail of their service, from bathing to dressing to activities, is tailored to what each resident wants and needs.

“We have an amazing team. We coordinate and discuss our residents every morning, and we’re in constant communication,” says Maggio.

Maggio came to Country Meadows as a PCA in the Connections Neighborhood in 2013 while she was completing her degree in social work with a minor in gerontology. Her earlier experiences as a home health aide convinced her that she wanted help people who have dementia.

“What I like most about working with residents who have Alzheimer’s or dementia is that I get the opportunity to make them smile and can give them a purpose and a meaning throughout the day,” says Maggio. “This is a very lonely disease, and when we can make those moments for our residents…that is everything.”

After her internship experiences in social work, Maggio knew she wanted a career where she could remain hands-on with the people she was helping. One of the things she liked about Country Meadows in comparison to other organizations where she worked was the amount of education co-workers received to help them be successful. Validation training is especially helpful in enabling co-workers to understand where a resident with dementia may be coming from so they can engage in a caring way.

When Maggio completed her degree in 2015, she was promoted to Connections Club coordinator. In this role she enjoys planning activities that encourage residents to become familiar with the environment and the staff at Country Meadows. Every morning she helps the residents get warmed up, both physically and cognitively.

“My job is to help our residents stay true to themselves and keep doing things that they enjoy,” says Maggio. “I always remind myself and my co-workers that these are people who lived very successful lives. They have traveled and have more life experience than I could dream of. They deserve their dignity and our respect.”

In addition to helping the residents, she knows her work helps family members feel good about where their loved one is living.

“It’s comforting for family members, especially those who may live far away, to know that their mom or dad is out and living life and probably doing far more than they would have done in their private home,” says Maggio.