Namaste Care
Namaste Care is a program I originally developed for nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Namaste is a Hindu term meaning, "to honor the spirit within" and I felt it was a perfect name for people who, as their verbal abilities diminish, can no longer tell you who they were and who they still are. As the years have gone by and thanks to wonderfully sensitive nursing assistants, I know that Namaste Care can improve the lives of nursing home residents, those who reside in assisted living communities and hospice organizations who may have advanced dementia or another terminal disease or are just lonely and benefit from this program.
Namaste Care is a seven-day-a-week program where residents receive meaningful activities through a "loving touch" approach. Usually led by a nursing assistant, Namaste Care has enhanced the lives of people with advanced dementia or who are at the end stage of any illness by providing a peaceful, non-isolating environment throughout the day that allows them to end their lives with dignity and tranquility. Staff and families have also benefitted from its comforting effects.
IIn 2007, Health Professions Press published my "how to" book, The Namaste Care Program for People with Dementia. (Click here to order.) I also began to speak extensively about Namaste, throughout this country as well as in Asia, Europe. In 2009, I spoke in several cities in Australia and as noted on the Welcome page, I was offered an appointment as an adjunct associate professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, please click to access the Namaste Care web site or e-mail me at joycesimard@earthlink.net