AHVRP Highlights
The Friend to Friend Grocery & Pharmacy Shopping Service Program was designed specifically to provide an avenue for patients to get food and medications post discharge to aid in their recovery process. Geriatric Nurse Advisors found that many of their 85 and older patients were re-admitted to the hospital within one week of discharge because they were not eating and they were not taking their medications. They found the root causes to be either no means of tranpsortation or no one to assist with picking up groceries and medications. The Friend to Friend program was developed to meet these needs. In addition, the program assists the seniors to mantain an independent lifestyle without compromising their health. An important by-product of the program has been that this volunteer placement provides an opportunity for family volunteering whereby a parent and school-aged student can serve together! Since the shopping can be done in the evenings or on weekends, it offers volunteer opportunities that fit both parents' and students' schedules.
Musical Bridges Program
Augusta VA Medical Center
Augusta, GA
Janice Kennedy, Chief Patient Advocacy/Community Programs
Musical Bridges is an intergenerational music therapy program designed to create "bridges" between pre-schoolers and the older Alzheimer/dementia residents using music-based activities. The children, with their energy and warm smiles, are able to develop a special relationship, if only briefly, through simple gestures like a handshake and a hug, reaching into the past life of the residents. The music, singing and dancing as reminiscent of a time log ago in the lives of the residents. The Alzheimer/dementia unit is based on the "social model" of care, since it is understood that the residents will never get well. Therefore the mission of program is to provide the highest quality of life possible. Residents are encouraged to stay active and participate in activities that remind them of a time when they were productive adults, working, raising families and serving their country. Music is truly a universal language and Musical Bridges has opened the dialogue for many veterans who once sat in isolation. The children awaken their senses, increase their functionality, and renew their spirits. At the same time, the program increases the children's understanding of generational differences.
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