Hi, my name is MaryJo Green, and I am the nurse manager for Charity Court, our memory care unit at Nazareth Home Highlands. I have worked here for a little over 13 years in several different roles. I began my career here as the Monday through Friday day shift charge nurse in long-term care, then moved to the weekend house supervisor. Prior to my position now, I was the assistant manager on our rehab unit, Rehabilitation to Home. 

I love my career at Nazareth Home because it is centered around a love for others. I am surrounded by staff who are passionate about making it the best place for our elders to live. Every day I see team members from each department forging deep and authentic relationships not only with one another but with the elders. The relationships we build and our love for our work allows us to create a safe and supportive community that benefits the staff and the elders. 

Working at Nazareth Home allows me to continue to enrich my life through caring and providing compassion to others. In long-term care, you may be the reason the elder smiles or the highlight of their day. And it’s not a one-way street. I have found that working in this setting has enriched my life, as well. By learning the elders’ life stories, I get to hear firsthand knowledge of history, the experiences of living through the great depression, war, technology advancements, and many others. You can read about these subjects, but you don’t feel the emotion unless you listen to someone who was there.

Working at Nazareth Home is a blessing. If you are interested in beginning your career at Nazareth Home, come by our Outdoor Hiring Event at our Highlands campus on July 22 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/294553595285594/.

Summertime means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it means spending endless hours outside soaking up the sunshine. For others, it means staying home in the air conditioning to avoid the intense temperatures. No matter which group you fall into, there’s always an opportunity to educate yourself and learn more about those you love with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

We know it can be tricky sorting through different resources on Alzheimer’s. That is why we put together our top five books for caregivers. Each book gives unique insight, whether it’s focused on the history behind Alzheimer’s or ways to implement the Best Friends approach. Happy Reading!

1. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People With Alzheimer’s Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life
By: Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins

This is an extensive book for families that are new to caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. It covers all aspects of care including emotional issues, financial details, and day-to-day coping with dementia behaviors. You can also find valuable information about nursing homes and other types of residential living in these pages. 

2. The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care, Revised 1st Edition
By: Virginia Bell and David Troxel

We love this book because it’s a program that focuses on adapting to each person’s remaining strengths and abilities. It touches on the essential elements of friendship: respect, empathy, support, trust, and humor which create an effective care model. It discusses how to ensure the highest quality of life for someone with Alzheimer’s by preventing catastrophic episodes and making each day as consistent as possible. 

3. The Forgetting: Alzheimer’s: Portrait of an Epidemic
By: David Shenk

David Shenk, a journalist and NPR commentator, helps every caregiver explore the nature of memory and the history of Alzheimer’s from its discovery to present. He discusses the role of scientists, caregivers, and policymakers in the treatment history of the disease. This book is great for laying a foundation in your understanding of Alzheimer’s. 

4. Alzheimer’s Basic Caregiving – An ABC Guide
By: Kathy Laurenhue 

Kathy combines practicality and lightheartedness to provide advice for family and professional caregivers that’s easy-to-implement. The main topics in this guide include patterns of progression, the logic behind behaviors, and effective communication. 

5. A Dignified Life: The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care – A Guide for Family Caregivers
By: Virginia Bell and David Traxel

Oftentimes feelings of frustration and burnout can accompany the task of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient. In A Dignified Life, David Troxel explains that the best approach involves treating the person like a best friend and working from their strengths, not their weaknesses. If you’re looking to dive a little deeper and go beyond the typical tips, this book is a great place to start. It will take advantage of your instinctive desire to build friendships and tap into the intuitive aspect of caregiving that is part of our every nature. 

After years of providing care, we know that supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s requires more than just a building – it requires love, wisdom, and compassion. We hope these books can help you deepen your understanding of Alzheimer’s and give some insight into our healing mission. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at (502) 459-9681. 

Nazareth Home has been aggressive in fulfilling all known strategies to prevent COVID-19 at both campuses. The safety and well-being of every resident and staff member is our top priority. Last week, Nazareth Home Clifton tested all residents and staff, more than 200 people, as a part of the statewide COVID-19 testing for long-term care. Despite the strict infection control precautions we have had in place since early March, the results concluded 19 staff and 35 residents tested positive for COVID-19.

While most were asymptomatic, we transferred residents who tested positive and had increased symptoms of COVID-19, to an acute level of care. Staff who tested positive are quarantining at home. We are grateful to be part of the Louisville healthcare community, who have been engaged in helping us execute this plan of care.

Nazareth Home Highlands will begin testing residents and staff on June 1.

The communication with family members or responsible parties regarding a resident’s change of condition, including the onset of respiratory symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19 is a responsibility we are always serious in keeping. Last weekend, it became very challenging to be timely in these communications. Many of the elders who were transferred to the hospital last weekend will be moving back to Nazareth Home Clifton this weekend. We are grateful that we can re-establish a communication process that gives everyone more peace of mind.

We are also in regular contact with the employees who tested positive. Many of them are able to return to work on May 31. Our staff and residents are like family, and we are praying for their full recovery.

We appreciate everyone’s continued understanding of the visitation restrictions that are in place. While not being able to visit loved ones is difficult, we encourage families to remain in contact through phone conversations, virtual visits and e-mail.

Through this very challenging time, our staff has shown amazing dedication, and they continue to work to provide care and services to the residents. We remain positive and proactive in our efforts of promoting the health and wellness of our residents and staff.

Thank you for your ongoing support.