Teresian House Wins Statewide Award

ALBANY, NY (06/05/2009)(readMedia)-- If you spend any time at all within the field of long term care, you'll soon hear the words "resident-centered care." Spend even a little time at Teresian House Center for the Elderly in Albany, and you'll see those words come to life.

Teresian House's rehabilitation specialists created five programs that balance the expectations of professional therapists with the need to provide more holistic, resident-centered therapy. The programs all embody the philosophy of person-centered care, maintaining the dignity and autonomy of each resident and garnered Teresian the "Innovation of the Year Award" from the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging.

Here's a brief look at each program.

Wheelchair Bowl: The annual bowl is a modified flag football game held on the Friday before the Super Bowl. The "field" is marked with masking tape on the floor of the large recreation hall and includes yard lines and end zones, and inflatable uprights are put in place.

Each resident football player is paired with a staff "pusher," all of whom wear football jerseys. Team names mimic the actual teams playing (this year, the Carmels vs. the Steelchairs), and each player wears a handmade felt team jersey. The speech pathologist chooses the sideline cheerleaders, and the occupational therapist selects the halftime cheerleaders.

Now in its sixth year, the Wheelchair Bowl always attracts significant media coverage, both TV and print.

Dancing with the Residents: "Dancing with the Stars," a very popular television show with Teresian residents, takes on a Teresian spin as "Dancing with the Residents" at the start of every new "Stars" season. Resident dancers are chosen based on OT and PT recommendations and paired with a staff partner. During one show, a pair of dancers performed to the Beach Boys' "I Get Around" in motorized wheelchairs. A panel of three judges determines a score for each pair, and Teresian's version of the disco ball trophy is awarded.

Starberry's Place: Starberry is a woodland elf who must care for the elderly animals of the forest in this charming life-size set, complete with a small cottage, trees and flowers that captivate its young audiences at libraries, schools and the onsite daycare. Residents play different characters in each story and introduce songs to sing with the children, who learn why Grandma needs a walker, why Grandpa forgets things and why we sometimes have to repeat things with older people.

Pine Bush Native Species Planting Program: Teresian House has established a native species planting program in conjunction with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve that serves as an intergenerational bridge to the community. Seeds are planted and tended by the residents, and the seedlings are transplanted in the native species garden. Residents are joined by schoolchildren for planting day.

Technology: To promote movement-based activity throughout the facility on a daily basis, the rehab team raised the money to buy a Nintendo Wii system. Residents particularly enjoy Wii bowling, as many are lifelong bowlers and league members. Bowling scores are tracked in tournament form, evoking great interest and competition.

All five programs offer Teresian residents motivation, excitement, satisfaction and hope as well as the desire to persevere in therapy, to challenge themselves beyond their own sometimes limiting expectations and to focus on what abilities remain, not what has been lost.

Founded in 1961, the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) represents nearly 600 not-for-profit and public continuing care providers, including nursing homes, senior housing, adult care facilities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and community service providers.