Otterbein Perrysburg: Finding New Ways to Give Meaning and Purpose

An elder moved into our neighborhood and had an extremely difficult time adjusting to her new life as a resident in our community. She did not understand why she was there and she showed behavioral and psychological signs of distress.

When we completed her Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory (PELI) assessment, we learned that the resident wasn’t interested in the activities that we typically offer. We took a closer look at the interview and saw that it was important for her to feel needed and helpful.

When we began including the resident in cleaning, folding laundry, and other helpful tasks, she lit up! We found that these helping activities are what she truly enjoys doing.

Positive Outcomes

Now the resident spends most of her day cleaning the house and she is happier than she has been in a long time. She no longer shows distress or discomfort. Some families even thought she worked at our neighborhood and said the house never looked better!

In addition to being excellent example of using information from the PELI to identify meaningful activities, this simple case study also highlights how honoring a resident’s preferences can help make them feel more at home or at ease.

Thank you to Megan Vandyke, Quality of Life Coordinator at the Otterbein Perrysburg Neighborhood, for sharing this story!