Patterns in the Dementia Journey

Everyone enters into the dementia journey with their own history, personality, preferences, and habits. Yet, there is always a pattern with the skills that are lost and kept. There is a pattern with how this affects a person’s ability to meet their own needs. I learned this with the DAWN method. This has helped me know how to help those…

Continue ReadingPatterns in the Dementia Journey

Living Well With Dementia

Join us for Living Well With Dementia: a Half Day of Learning! A dementia diagnosis brings fear and uncertainty. Hopelessness, chaos, and exhaustion are often part of the journey. Yet when we know how to work with dementia, we can be proactive and preserve the well-being of both the person living with it and their companions. Join us for a…

Continue ReadingLiving Well With Dementia

A Personal Dementia Story

Sharing my personal perspective today. My dad has dementia, but because I have set up a dementia-supportive and understanding environment, he will always know who I am. He has learned by experience that when I show up, he can trust me and share happy times.  The DAWN method has created this safe space for us to share time together despite…

Continue ReadingA Personal Dementia Story

Weight Loss with Aging & Dementia

It is a topic that brings a lot of concern. Sometimes, the individual is still healthy, eating good meals, and taking care of themselves, but losing weight.  This can be a natural part of dementia/aging for some people, becoming less interested in food and filling up more quickly. Listen to the video for more! Additionally, check out this great article…

Continue ReadingWeight Loss with Aging & Dementia

Strength-Based Care

Our companions with dementia have lost some significant cognitive skills, but we can set the environment up to accommodate those losses and support their strengths. For example, one of my companions has a very important cognitive strength that he gets to live out with our help. He gets to enjoy the beauty of his life and specifically his backyard and…

Continue ReadingStrength-Based Care

Adapting to Changes

A quick story about how what I learned with the DAWN method has helped me better understand the actions of my companions with dementia. What I have learned allows me to suggest things that improve their quality of life and adapt to their changing cognitive state.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctjqva5gNZl/

Continue ReadingAdapting to Changes