Memories Matter

The dementia care program on the third floor of Deer Lodge Centre has experienced some growing pains over the past few years as it expands to incorporate new units. Throughout these transitions, our staff have also undergone changes. For one thing, there are now more of us: well over 80 nursing staff providing dementia care on the third floor alone.

A commitment to teamwork and a spirit of friendship have helped us maintain a positive morale. As have activities such as Fun Fridays, where staff all dress alike, or in one colour. Fun Friday participants include not only nursing staff but recreation and housekeeping personnel, and even our attending physician.

Eventually we decided it would be fun to create an official third floor staff t-shirt.

We designed, coordinated and presented the t-shirts on World Alzheimer’s Awareness Day on September 21, 2018. We chose the colour purple in honour of Alzheimer’s awareness. The message “Memories Matter” honours the residents residing on the third floor.

Staff came up with the idea of adding a compass to the t-shirt logo—a symbol that depicts not only the support that staff provide to residents of the dementia care program, but also represents the four units which make up the third floor: Tower 3 North, Tower 3 South, 3 East, and 3 West!