We don’t always have to come up with grand things to do with our companions who are experiencing dementia. Going somewhere as simple as the hardware store can create a rich place for sensory and social experiences. Even while some of their cognitive skills are diminishing, their brains still benefit from some stimulation! https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEjYg1OaS6/
The DAWN method taught me the sacred balance between safety and selfhood. I am so grateful to Judy Cornish and all that I have learned. In my experience with my companions with dementia, I have learned first-hand that full-time care is not always the answer. I have seen how the right care, in the right amounts, at the right time,…
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…
Here are some tips regarding stairs. Stairs: stairs are our friend (when we make them safe!). Stairs are an important way for people with dementia to move their bodies in ways that help their hips and legs and arms remain stronger and more capable. But, we must make stairs safe.
Caregiving-by-stealth, even without anosognosia, is how we preserve dignity, autonomy, and self-respect through the dementia journey.
Just in case you found our first good advice blog helpful for the prevention of dementia, here’s “the rest of the story”: • Minimize your use of alcohol and drugs. I haven’t read any research that lends empirical evidence to a link between alcohol and drugs and dementia, but I’ve certainly worked with some folks with dementia who have a…
No one asks to get dementia. And all of us hope to do what we can to prevent it. But before I dive into how we as women can reduce our risk of developing dementia, I must first speak out that there is hope in dementia. I’ve watched it. I’ve lived it. The truth that when we handle correctly the…
