To Dementia Caregivers

I recently had the privilege of teaching a few classes for the University of Nebraska Lifelong Learning Program.  One class was about dementia, and how to get it right with dementia care, using the tools of the DAWN Method.   My goal with the class was to bring hope, ideas, and real practical tools.  And I did that.  But I also…

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Older Folks And Classic Cars

I think this blog is more of a question than anything else.  More of an invitation for readers, people, and society to ponder with me. When a car shows wear and tear, we repair what needs repairing, replace parts, and give it what it needs to keep working.  When a car gets really old, we call it a classic; we…

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“Oh Versus No”

There are many times in conversation when we say the word “no.”  We are a fact-based, reality-oriented society, after all, so it is natural to say “no” when we need to correct someone or bring pure facts into our conversation. But the word “no” can become a barrier to a peaceable relationship when one of us has dementia.  You see,…

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A Dementia Epiphany

We are not full-time caregivers. We acknowledge that at the end of our designated time with our companions with dementia, we go to our homes.  We are for sure mindful of the demands, fatigue, grief, uncertainty, and mix of emotions that come with being a caregiver.  We do our best to support caregivers equally as much as we support the…

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When Anticipation Is Not A Gift

For those of us with healthy brains, it is fun to anticipate having time with those we love.  It is exciting to plan and organize and prepare for an upcoming vacation.  Sometimes the excitement of anticipation ends up being every bit as thrilling as the actual event itself. We watch the world narrow for our loved ones with dementia, and…

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What Is Strength-Based Dementia Care?

When we understand that not all cognitive skills are lost with dementia, we can provide strength-based care.  People with dementia retain three useful cognitive skills, their intuitive, learning by experience, and mindlessness skills.  When we learn how to use them to their advantage, we can provide strength-based care.   When we provide strength-based care, we are able to provide care that…

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How I will Miss My Favorite Hand Warmer: A Tribute To Our Friend Carol

Our good friend Carol passed away this week, surrounded by friends and family.  Her best friend and care partner loved her through the dementia journey, in their own home, until her last week of life when inpatient hospice was the way to help her be comfortable.   Carol was a remarkable woman; an accomplished musician, a mom of six, one who…

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Cognitive Assessments and Dementia

The typical pattern for how the medical system addresses dementia these days includes a visit to the doctor, and then a referral to a neuropsychologist for a neuropsychological assessment.  This neuropsychological assessment typically involves about three hours of cognitive testing for the person with suspected cognitive change.  A report follows, which outlines the specific areas of cognition assessed and which…

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The Role of Empathy in Dementia Care

Empathy is a cornerstone for how the Better People Care team gets it right with dementia care.  Empathy-the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.Merriam-Webster Dictionary Extending empathy…

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