In a conversation with a client’s daughter, she brought up the idea that this type of care really is using more of an offensive approach vs a defensive approach. I loved that analogy. Dementia has its own way, so we can not control the environment, but we can manage it. We can manage the environment in a dementia-supportive way so…
Adult children caregivers - tread lightly and sensitively! You only enter their lives as a caregiver when it is obvious that they need your help. But you are entering into a life they have lived independently for decades. We need to be cognizant of the routines & patterns they have and honor that sense of autonomy. We can care for…
This video is a quick reminder to be kind in situations that might be frustrating for you as a caregiver. Our friends experiencing dementia want to take good care of their surroundings and have good intentions in what they do, but often their diminishing cognitive skills get in the way. For example, they might leave a cupboard door hanging open…
When spending time with one of my companions experiencing dementia, it matters how I communicate with them. They are losing contact with the recent past as their memory skills are changing. So when preparing my greeting, I thought about how I could stay in the "moment of now." For example, she will not remember the weather over the past few…
The DAWN method taught me that with dementia, 3 primary skills are being lost, and 3 primary skills are being kept. Knowing this helps us understand the way a person experiencing dementia behaves. Two examples of this are: Losing memory skills - which means they can reminisce well about the past, but lose connection with what just happened. Diminishing rational…
The Dementia-Friendly Movement has helped society be more aware, kind, and friendly to those living with cognitive change. In a personal setting, like family, we must progress this from dementia friendly to dementia supportive. Through the DAWN Method, I learned 6 tools to meet the emotional needs of people living with dementia. Using these skills we can create and manage…
In a recent conversation with a husband whose wife is suffering from dementia, he remarked that she only wants to sit and watch TV anymore. I shared that my training through the DAWN method has helped me understand the reason behind these behaviors and how we can better meet the emotional needs of those living with dementia. Through these tools,…
Anosognosia is the “lack of ability to perceive the reality of one’s own condition.” (Healthline.com; Tim Jewell; 2/27/2019). Because of this, people with dementia have some awareness that things in their lives are changing, but they have no idea how their cognitive changes are impairing their ability to do daily tasks. Check out the video below. May we learn how…
How did we learn to get it right? How did we learn to bring more comfort, peace, and beauty in dealing with Dementia? The DAWN Method. DAWN stands for the Dementia and Altimeter's Wellbeing Network. Check out this video to learn more! Resource mentioned: Caring for loved ones with dementia at home - the dementia roadmap. https://www.instagram.com/p/CmrtVUhjZFr/
If your loved one with dementia appears depressed, please read on. If you feel frustrated because your loved one with dementia was once industrious and now seems lazy, please read on. If your loved one seems apathetic, and you just do not understand why they will not get up out of their chair, read on. I have observed that some…
