People living with dementia are not children.  They have decades of experience and loads of muscle memory attached with the safe and effective use of tools such as knives.  

Until the end stages of dementia where the movement part of the brain forgets how to work and how to help the body move, folks with dementia can likely still safely use implements such as knives.  

And, in fact, we encourage families to engage their loved ones with dementia in some of the activities going on within the home; activities that might require use of a knife, such as chopping vegetables for the dinner being prepared.  

It is rare that folks with dementia have meaningful things to do with their time.  It is rare that they get to feel like they have a sense of purpose, and an ability to contribute.  So, inviting them to sit at the kitchen table or stand at the kitchen counter and chop vegetables for the dinner we are preparing, gives them good doses of meaning, purpose, and if we allow ourselves to relax into the moment, we both enjoy companionship.

(A quick caveat: if a person with dementia has a history of behavioral health issues such as depression or suicide attempts, then of course we invite them into helping us stir the muffin mix or cookie batter, or toss the salad, versus using a sharp knife).

Inviting them to help with activities and chores such as folding clothes, cleaning countertops, scooping snow, sweeping, raking, vacuuming, and mopping are good ideas too.  And let’s not forget the beauty of allowing a child to sit side-by-side with our folks with dementia, maybe reading a great picture book together, talking, laughing, just being together.  

Our folks with dementia are most often capable of safely using a knife, because they have safely used knives for decades.  But the point is not about the knife; the point is about giving them the gift of a sense of meaning, a sense of purpose, and the experience of companionship.  These seemingly small gifts are profound for folks whose worlds are narrowing as their brains become increasingly diminished.  

Ever the advocate,

Jill

©Jill Couch