The Power of Putter

You may know that the Better People Care “tag line”, or motto, is: “Helping Older Folks Live Fully in Their Own Homes.” To be sure, sometimes “their own homes” refers to one of the senior facilities in which folks now live. But moreso, “their own homes” means the homes in which they live within the community.  Homes they often live…

Continue ReadingThe Power of Putter

The Power in a Purr-ito

Colorado State Senator Joann Ginal and a purr-ito named Cheese I wish I had a way to show everyone what happens when you put a kitten, wrapped in their soft blanket “purr-ito”, into the arms of a person with dementia. You see, when we bring appropriate sensory and social stimulation into the day’s experience of someone with dementia, we give…

Continue ReadingThe Power in a Purr-ito

What is the Meaning of Life?

Last week, about twenty residents of a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Greeley, Colorado, held a protest against Covid restrictions on the sidewalks outside their facility.  Their hand-made signs said things like, “Rather die of Covid than loneliness”, and “where are our rights as residents?”. The Governor of Colorado’s statement following this protest was “We absolutely understand how difficult it…

Continue ReadingWhat is the Meaning of Life?

Dementia Mainstreamed

In the 1980’s, the United States education system transitioned from the common practice of institutionalizing children with disabilities, to “mainstreaming” It seems that the goal was “inclusion”; helping children with disabilities be included and welcomed among fellow students who did not have disabilities, and helping students without disabilities become comfortable with kids with disabilities.  I suppose that the idea was…

Continue ReadingDementia Mainstreamed

Life Lessons Beyond Kindergarten

I am very grateful for the valuable life lessons shared with me in my young years. These childhood lessons that form character have a powerful impact, and build a foundation in our lives. Young hearts and minds are the perfect training ground to learn about generosity, respect for others, responsibility, honesty, compassion, the importance of good work and good play,…

Continue ReadingLife Lessons Beyond Kindergarten

I Have a Question

I have a question.  Or maybe it’s a couple of questions.  Questions that I’ve had since the world shut down due to Covid-19.  Questions that need to be asked, and discussed, before it’s too late. You see, my friend Dottie turned 97 today.  I had the privilege of spending time with her because I am an Occupational Therapist; an “essential…

Continue ReadingI Have a Question

Older and Wiser

We believe that our older folks are to be respected, and treated with dignity.  That we should interact with them in such a way that they feel valued.  That they readily sense that we appreciate their history and the lives they have lived…regardless of how that history might have played out.   We have the privilege of spending time every day…

Continue ReadingOlder and Wiser

It Takes A Special Village

©Jill Couch At Better People Care, we believe the best approach to dementia care is a team approach; where several minds and eyes and ears, each training in the DAWN Method, are paying attention to the lives of our friends living with dementia.   And we believe that as we train families, and friends, and neighbors, and church communities, and the…

Continue ReadingIt Takes A Special Village

Dementia Converts

© Jill Couch “I feel that many people see the terms Alzheimer’s, dementia, and any other disease that causes dementia as large umbrella terms for their simple interpretation: “mindless old people walking around.” I, too, felt this way prior to being introduced to the DAWN Dementia Method…and thanks to my wonderful mentors with Better People Care.  I feel that I…

Continue ReadingDementia Converts

Don’t Make Me Angry!

People with dementia sometimes get VERY angry.  And it is no fun for them, or for those of us with them.  And it seems like no matter how hard we try, we struggle to help them get un-angry.  We both end up frustrated and unhappy and feeling hopeless. So it goes when we don’t understand some of the frequent triggers…

Continue ReadingDon’t Make Me Angry!