I first learned the term “anosognosia” (pronounced uh-naa-suh-now-zhuh) when I was studying the DAWN Method. It made an immediate difference in the way I viewed folks living with dementia, and the care that I provided for them. Anosognosia is the “lack of ability to perceive the reality of one’s own condition.” (Healthline.com; Tim Jewell; 2/27/2019). As described in the article…
The world lost a good woman last week. A woman whose life was clouded years ago by prescription drug addiction. A woman whose recent years became a tragic struggle with dementia. She was fifty-eight years old. Her husband and her brother and her Mom gave her the gift of remaining in her own home until she breathed her last, when…
When our loved ones have dementia, we set the stage for positive mood, and we manage mood. Mood management is the first tool in the DAWN Method....for good reason. Here are 10 tips to help get your interactions with your loved ones off on the right "mood" foot: 1. When you step onto your loved one's doorstep, take a deep…
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…
We all feel valued, and part of life, when we are heard. The same is true for people living with dementia. But, changes in language are one of the common symptoms of dementia and change the way folks communicate. For some folks, they have increasing trouble remembering people’s names, which is embarrassing and contributes to social failures. Or maybe they…
The dementia journey can take a tremendous toll on everyone involved. Sometimes, as in this story , dementia brings out the worst in people. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Families on the dementia journey reach out to me when they are desperate, or scared, or exhausted, or there has been something happen that seems bizarre and unsettling. When I…
Proud: showing proper self-respectPompous: having or exhibiting self-importance On this Fourth of July, you will find me standing for our flag. Standing and singing loud when the National Anthem is played. Enjoying fully the celebration of this day. But I will stand and I will sing and I will enjoy, not because I am pompous. No, I will stand and…
A couple of weeks ago, I reminded our readers that people living with dementia are not children. In the blog, “When Knives Are A Good Idea”, I remind us that people with dementia (until very late stage) retain the ability, and the desire, to engage in familiar activities within the home, even activities with an element of risk such as…
In the last months, we have walked alongside three fathers as they have met the end of their days. We have been with families as they have decided to bring in hospice and embrace the new season of comfort care. Every bit of what we have done has been mindful of the importance of those beloved men, those fathers. And…
Older folks are often better “historians” than “visionaries”. I first heard this concept when training to become certified in the Beyond Driving with Dignity (BDD) program for older drivers. Matt Gurwell, founder of the BDD program, taught the importance of understanding this concept in relation to driving safety. Mr. Gurwell had observed that older drivers can more accurately talk about…
