Dementia care is more than just providing physical support—it's about fostering deep human connections through empathy. As the number of people living with dementia rises, care providers must go beyond traditional training and embrace an empathy-driven approach that improves well-being for both caregivers and those they support.

 

Sympathy and empathy are two terms often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings and implications in the realm of human emotions and relationships. These differences are not merely linguistic; they carry significant weight when it comes to understanding and responding to the emotions of others.  Let's delve into the disparities between sympathy and empathy,  and why it is so important to differentiate these two approaches in dementia care. 

Describing empathy as a lubricant creates visuals in my head like the annoying squeaky door hinge that finally gets some W-D40.  A lubricant softens rough edges, makes things work better, and a little bit goes a long way.  I think the same is true when we approach situations that we encounter in work and life from a place of empathy.  

I have experienced moments of confusion, like being on a business trip and waking up in an unfamiliar place and needing a moment to orient myself.  One time (or possibly more than once), I forgot where I parked my car at a large shopping mall.  With so many entrances to choose from, I could not remember which one I walked through to enter the mall.  Just a few weeks ago, I went through half of a day believing it was Thursday, and it was Wednesday- an entire HALF DAY!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Institute on Aging states, "abuse can happen to anyone-no matter the person's age, sex, race, religion, or ethnic or cultural background.  Each year, hundreds of thousands of adults over the age of 60 are abused, neglected, or financially exploited.  This is called elder abuse.  

Neurological research substantiates that human beings appear to be "wired" to be empathetic.  In other words, we all have an innate ability to be empathetic.   Would empathy training in dementia care  provide a strong foundation tool for front line staff to help improve the quality of life for those living with dementia?