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 best gift we can give our companions with dementia is time, especially in conversations. When speaking with a companion experiencing dementia, don’t rush to fill the open space. Instead, be patient, watch them, and give them time to respond. Watch for a flicker of understanding that lets you know they are thinking and avoid the tendency to fill the…
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…
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…
The DAWN method of dementia care takes into account that these folks have lived decades of independent lives. Therefore, we need to use caregiving by stealth which allows us to preserve their dignity, self-respect, and sense of control over their lives. Learn more in this video or reach out to Better People Care! https://www.instagram.com/p/CkqgBxPNe15/
Hope is the keyword in caregiving, and even through our own feelings, our highest purpose is to bring hope.
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.
