It's no wonder that we have an ever growing quest for simplicity. Not just in our personal lives, but this phrase surrounds many conversations within the business community - especially with those of us in senior care. There is a recurring plea from senior care professionals today with regards to education.. keep it simple. Teach us by showing, because we know that when we learn by doing, we're going to retain that knowledge.
Why is that teaching those who care for those with dementia often is everything but simple? Dementia (and other cognitive impairment) in older adults is anything but simple. A complex web of identifying and managing symptoms is no easy task from any level within the care spectrum. Yet much of what we teach direct care staff has little to do with these 2 basic needs: Understanding and Empowerment.
"We need tools. We need solutions to behaviors. We need simplicity". These are words that I hear almost daily as I speak to administrators, memory care directors, marketing staff and clinical professionals.
AGEucate provides such training programs. We provide the tools to understand the plight of dementia, sensory loss, cognitive impairment. Once you understand what an aging person's life is really like, then here is a tool to empower you to provide better care. To help ease agitation, engage that person with a caregiver or family member. These programs are not complicated, but extremely powerful. Evidenced based programs with the clinical research to back up the methodology and outcomes.
Bring back simple to your communities and see what extraordinary changes will take place in the lives of your residents, patients, staff, caregivers and families. We must all consider the far-reaching consequences of complex medicine in our society today.
Pam Brandon, founder AGEucate LLC, providers of the Virtual Dementia Tour and Compassionate Touch programs.
