Dealing with dementia talk at Greenpark

TUAM'S only town centre private nursing home, Greenpark Nursing Home, celebrated their 21st birthday last week as they welcomed world renowned psychologist Cameron J Camp, PhD. Dr Camp, who is a noted practitioner specialising in applied research in gerontology, is a key researcher in his area of expertise, with research including the design of interventions to alleviate problem behaviours and increase the level of functioning of persons with dementia. Camp's philosophy is to see a client with Alzheimer's as a person, not a diagnosis.[private] Opening their doors in 1991, Greenpark Nursing Home has gone on to serve and cater for the people of Tuam and beyond over the last 21 years. With a significant renovation taking place in 2011, Greenpark can now cater for over 50 residents. Providing a purpose built residential care setting that is modern, spacious, and balances the needs of their residents in terms of their accommodation, care and recreational needs, one of the key areas in which they cater for is Alzheimer's and Dementia. Owner and Director of Nursing, Cora McNamara, was delighted to welcome Cameron Camp, noting, 'Mr. Camp is one of the key experts in the area of Dementia and Alzheimer's. His presentation has opened all of our eyes into how we can greater facilitate people who have been diagnosed. It was extremely interesting to hear Mr. Camp's thoughts and get a greater insight into the research he has conducted. He has taught us to look at it from a different view â€â€ What are the abilities that remain, and how can we connect with who is still here?' Presenting on the night to an audience of locals and medical professionals, Dr Camp remarked, 'I feel very privileged to be welcomed by the McNamaras and also to have a chance to experience Galway as I have heard so much about this place.' He added, 'My aim is to flip the system on its ear â€â€ to change people's expectations about what people with dementia are capable of. Our job is to allow this person to be present â€â€ to help them, wherever they are in the journey of dementia, to be connected with a community, to contribute to the best of their ability.' Mr. Camp's current research involves the use of Montessori-based activities as rehabilitative interventions to enable long-term care residents with dementia to effectively lead activities for other residents with dementia; interventions to enable therapists to apply memory improvement techniques.[/private]