A dear friend's sister, who is a nurse in a home that has both dementia patients and rational ones, suggested watching YouTube videos made by Teepa Snow, who speaks to people about dealing with those with dementia. She is really very good. Kinda southern and homey; I hear she's from West Virginia. And she mostly talks, in the ones I've seen so far, about how to relate. Just marvelous.
On another note, I've finished my hospice training and am - or hope i am - going to be volunteering with people with dementia, in particular with those who are still in their home and whose caregivers need respite. Been there, done that. If I can help anyone a little...
How wonderful, Briegull! I hope to be able to do this - after. We who are still at home caring for our spice need so much more support than is given by so few. Bless you.
I've seen Teepa twice in person and she does, indeed, know her stuff. Her presentation can be a little off-putting because she will talk to the crowd just as a dementia patient will when she's demonstrating how they will react at certain times. It's a bit startling and a bit annoying, but she puts it all out there and then you know what to expect. Her first presentation that I saw was very humorous as well as informative and I enjoyed it much more than the last one. The last one was full of depressing realism and I left depressed. Took me a while to recover my good spirits after that.
Clare-good for you. I also took the hospice dementia care course and have been seeing dementia patients for several years. I do it to give caregivers a break.
Briegull, thanks for giving back...we all know here how important that work is for everyone. You and bluedaze are wonderful!
Teepa Snow is very good and has some great idea/approaches. When I was watching her webinar a few months ago I couldn't help wondering what caregiver (home or facility) has the time to employ some of her approaches (like getting someone to bathe in the morning). I came away thinking if you change the basic approach, then that's a start.