Family Education:
Understanding ‘Behaviors’ and Improving Interaction with Individuals Living with Dementia
Having to make the decision to place an elderly or infirmed individual into a facility is challenging as there can often be a great deal of guilt that ensues. If the person also happens to be living with dementia, this can add additional frustration and stress during visits as their abilities to communicate and express themselves changes over time due to brain disease. This half-day program is designed to cover the basics as it relates to the neuroscience of brain changes in those living with dementia, the physical and emotional manifestations of these changes, and how individuals can better interact with and support a person living with dementia. Participants will:
State the changes that occur within the brain of a person living with dementia and the physical and emotional manifestations that can arise due to these changes
Apply new knowledge to understanding the behaviors, actions and needs of the person living with dementia
Using person-centered care strategies and tools, gain insight into how to effectively respond to the various expressions or behaviors of the person living with dementia
Narrate the importance of meeting the person where they are to create meaningful, purposeful engagement
Resources
Dementia Reconsidered by Tom Kitwood
Dancing with Dementia by Christine Bryden
Thoughtful Dementia Care: Understanding the Dementia Experience by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller
The Experience of Alzheimer's Disease: Life Through a Tangled Veil 1st Edition by Steven Sabat