Empathy is the ability for one to walk in someone else's shoes. To experience their world so as to gain a deeper understanding of what he/she is experiencing. For those in dementia care, stepping into their world is often especially challenging, as behaviors and emotions can change rapidly and unexpectedly.
The "AHA" moment is HUGE when a care partner can feel the frustrations, anxiety, fear, helplessness and aloneness that living with dementia often perpetuates. This opens a care partner's eyes, thus propelling them to draw on this innate sense of empathy. When care partners receive empathy training it becomes a strong foundational tool to build on critical skills that empower care partners, especially when helping someone who is living with dementia. Some of these critical skills included:
Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute. Creator of the Dementia Live™️ Experience that powerfully simulates what living with dementia might be like, Pam is passionate about creating transformative change in elder care.