Abstract
The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale developed and implemented a unique vocational workshop for a carefully screened population of residents and day care participants diagnosed with early to moderate dementia. The Hebrew Home's multidisciplinary team undertook a three-month planning process to define the populations to be served, select appropriate measurement tools, and train unit-based and day care social work, nursing, and occupational therapy professionals to perform the measurements. Attendee selection methods, program logistics, space requirements, scheduling, staffing, program timetable and a three-year budget were developed. Department of Labor certification, attendee transportation and scheduling vis-a-vis other social and therapeutic activities, clinic and diagnostic testing appointments, meal times and retention process, staffdevelopment, record-keeping, transportation coordination and production qualhty control were accomplished during the first year of operation. The authors provide a description of the programs first year experience as a basis for replication in similar settings.
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