When was the last time you spent a few moments lying on your back, in the grass, watching the clouds drift by?

It had been a while for me.  But last weekend, that’s exactly what I did while enjoying the day with one of my companions with dementia.  And it helped me slow down.  And breathe deeply.  And wonder and chat about the clouds and the shapes they make and the contrast of the colors between the clouds and the sky.  And when our time of enjoying lying in the grass watching the clouds drift by was over, my companion and I went on enjoying our day, both of us a little bit restored, a little bit happier, a little less worn by the reality of life.

This is what good dementia care looks like: relaxing into the reality of someone with diminishing cognitive skills, which means relaxing into moments like lying in the grass watching the clouds drift by. 

But it did not just happen that one day I entered into the life of my friend with dementia and the next day we were enjoying companionable time together.  It was not quite that easy.  

I first helped my companion learn by experience, using her intuitive skills, that when I showed up on the doorstep, it meant happy times.  But this only happened because I skillfully used the tools of the DAWN Method to build a foundation of security in our friendship, and on that foundation, I was able to begin to give my companion the gifts of well-being. 

Yes, there was a tremendous amount of skill involved, and patience.  But anyone can learn the DAWN Method and how to use its tools well.

The amazing thing about good dementia care like this is that because of the sense of security and companionship we share, my companion with dementia gives me at least as many gifts as I give her.  

I regularly tell people who are headed down the path to learning how to use The DAWN Method within their own home, their own situation, with their loved one: “When you get good at this (using the DAWN Method), it will change your life.”

I am changed, and I am grateful.

With you on the path,

Jill