When families hear that a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease or dementia, they often respond with feelings of despair that their beloved relative or friend will never be the same again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are perfectly normal reactions, but as a trained Alzheimer\u2019s disease or dementia specialist, I believe that the person they\u2019ve always known is still there to love and celebrate. The key to understanding that is recognizing the significant difference between the person and the disease, and understanding which of the patient\u2019s behaviour is related to the disease process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there might be some outward changes in your loved one\u2019s demeanour, they\u2019re still capable of feeling and expressing emotions very deeply. They\u2019re also able to develop, maintain, and enjoy caring relationships when given the right kind of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is at the very core of protecting the personhood of your loved one. Taking this positive approach to dementia care involves not losing sight of who your loved one truly is. Doing so will make the Alzheimer\u2019s journey much easier for not only the patient, but also for you and your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The importance of protecting your loved one\u2019s personhood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of the foundation on which today\u2019s approach to dementia care is built is based on the research of Tom Kitwood, a clinician and researcher from Great Britain. He coined the term \u201cperson-centred care\u201d to describe his philosophy of protecting the patient\u2019s personhood, which he defined as involving support, respect, and trust given from one person to another in a caring relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr. Kitwood\u2019s insights helps us recognize that a person with dementia is an individual with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding both sides of the person\/dementia equation helps us form care plans that transform this condition into a positive experience. This was the case with Anna*, a much-loved family member who had received what was perceived by her family as a troubling diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anna: a case study in transformative dementia care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Several years ago, we had the pleasure of meeting Anna. She had been diagnosed with dementia and had a history of aggressive behavioural problems. Anna\u2019s family doctor had recommended that she be placed in a locked unit due to her aggressive behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeking another opinion, Anna\u2019s family requested we take her on as a client. We first met with the family to discuss their needs and concerns, as well as fulfill our primary goal: to understand who Anna was by uncovering the person behind the disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of Anna\u2019s life story, we learned that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using this information, we were able to develop a care plan designed to keep Anna happy and productive by focusing on the routines and activities that brought her the most joy and fulfillment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how we framed Anna\u2019s care plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since we started working with Anna, she stopped exhibiting aggressive behavior and has enjoyed her life once again as a teacher. However, the most important result of our work is that Anna is now happy, content, and fulfilled while getting the care she requires. Her new routine also brought peace of mind to her family, who no longer needed to worry about Anna\u2019s well-being, or the risk of her having angry outbursts at a caregiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, Anna\u2019s able to continue enjoying life with support that focuses on who she really is, instead of behaviour that\u2019s related to her diagnosis. She was able to enjoy a fulfilled life, and entertain her family with stories about her students, transforming her condition into an experience that brought a sense of joy to others as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preserving control, dignity, and independence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When speaking to families, I often encourage them to think about what they would want a caregiver to know about them in the event they were diagnosed with dementia and required support. More often than not, their lists include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last point is especially crucial, as it serves as a reminder that no matter how far along the person is in their journey, there will always be a need for a certain amount of control, as well as the dignity that goes hand-in-hand with living independently for as long as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At CareHop, preserving your loved one\u2019s desire to live independently is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that each of our clients is a person who needs to be protected, celebrated, and cared for under any and all circumstances. Preserving their personhood is a large part to getting started along this new journey with joy and fulfillment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m always happy to answer any questions you have about our empathetic approach to elder care. Please reach out to me or anyone on my team anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Name and other details changed to protect the privacy of our client<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When families hear that a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease or dementia, they often respond with feelings of despair that their beloved relative or friend will never be the same again. These are perfectly normal reactions, but as a trained Alzheimer\u2019s disease or dementia specialist, I believe that the person they\u2019ve always […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alzheimers-and-dementia"],"yoast_head":"\n