You may have read about our friend Sally, who passed away on July 31st of this year. She lived alone in her own home, until the final four days of her life, while she was actively dying. She had dementia and was fiercely independent. Our team had the privilege of helping her live life her way, and die her way. …
Dementia and Depression. A better way to care for our loved ones with dementia.
Most families are concerned that if their loved one with dementia drives, they might get lost. They know that their loved one’s memory is changing, and are concerned that they will forget where they are going and/or forget how to get home. Those are legitimate concerns because we know that one of the primary cognitive skills that change in dementia…
we focus on relating in a dementia-supportive way, on meeting their emotional needs using the tools of the DAWN Method, which means that folks get the real help they need, but in a way that does not undermine their dignity, autonomy, or self-respect.
Some people enter our lives and leave impressions that will remain. Sally was like that. She loved life. She loved people. She loved animals, yoga, walking, music, art, and color. She especially loved her precious family and her lifelong friends. My team and I had the privilege of knowing her in her final years when dementia made care and support…
Did you know that John Wayne’s real name was Marion Robert Morrison, or that Johnny Cash and Billy Graham were dear friends? We did not know this either until we became friends with Mr. J, who was a John Wayne aficionado and a Johnny Cash fan. Did you know that the Fort Collins/Loveland airport is home to AIMS Community College…
It can be a challenge to help our folks with dementia drink enough water. They may forget to drink, may believe they have taken in plenty of water and may refuse to drink when we encourage it. Most people would prefer to enjoy a drink of water, or a favorite beverage, with a companion. This, then, is the first and…
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…
Four years ago, I started Better People Care because I believed we could do better when caring for folks living with dementia. Recently we were selected by the Better Business Bureau to receive the Spark Award! The Spark award recognizes business leaders based on their character, the culture of the business they run, and the community they commit to support. …
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…
