The Vanishing Mind: Giving Alzheimer’s Patients Their Way, Even Chocolate

Liberty improves health and well-being. How refreshing that an institution of this nature would choose to set aside the (immediate, though perhaps not long-term) convenience that control offers them to support the self-determination that provides measurable benefits to their clients. “Disregarding typical nursing-home rules, Beatitudes allowed Ms. Nance, 96 and afflicted with Alzheimer’s, to sleep, be bathed and dine whenever she wanted, even at 2 a.m. She could eat anything, too, no matter how unhealthy, including unlimited chocolate. And she was given a baby doll, a move that seemed so jarring that a supervisor initially objected until she saw how calm Ms. Nance became when she rocked, caressed and fed her “baby,” often agreeing to eat herself after the doll “ate” several spoonfuls.” (NYT, Reg. Req.)