Empathetic listening is defined as a method via which you can prevent or manage disruptive or challenging behaviors. Caregivers can benefit from practicing empathetic listening, especially with people living with dementia. The result will be improved communications and reduced stress for both care partners.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Senior Care, dementia, Caregiver, caregivers, Dementia Live, leadership, Stress, Empathetic Listening, Caregiver Tools
Having just returned from Australia, I'll be devoting several upcoming blogs to my research and fact finding with how Australia is advancing in aging and dementia care, as well as dementia and age friendly best practices. I found their award wages for aged care workers to be one significant difference from the US and worthy of discussion.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, dementia care, Senior Care Professionals, Senior Care, dementia, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, leadership, Hospital Professionals, Australia, award wages, Aged care workers
As my mother's Parkinson's Disease progressed, it was very apparent that food and the mealtime experience became more important to her. So much so, that I remember saying "Mom's still finds joy in yummy food". That said, her "yummy" was not always the healthiest, but we wanted her to be happy. We knew that healthy foods were important, but probably not as important as the joy of witnessing her with excitement dig in to a chocolate fudge sundae with extra whipped cream. Now THAT was a quality dining experience!
Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Senior Care, leadership, activities, Mealtime, Eating, Dining, older adults, Joy
I have always been a proponent that if something is just not working well, shifting gears may be a solution. Let's face it - everything is changing fast these days, so much so that it seems as if technology leads the pack in shifting gears at every juncture of our daily lives.
Topics: dementia care, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, caregivers, leadership, Faith Community, elder care, AGE-u-cate Training Instite
We all like to think that have compassion for others don't we? After all, we give care, so we must have empathy. Is there a difference between caring and true compassion?
Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Training, Care Partners, caregivers, Dementia Live, leadership, empathy, Compassion, elderly, families, understanding, AGE-u-cate Training Instite, Dementia Live™️
We all know that the only thing certain about our life is that someday it will end. And yet death continues to be an elusive topic in most families and social circles. Someone recently shared with me that she felt if she brought up the topic with her parents, they might feel like she wanted to hurry things along.
Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, leadership, Faith Community, families, End-of-life, Hospice, Faith, death, Palliative Care
Artist and blogger Phil Davies say the reason most frustrated artist stay frustrated is that they don't know how to practice their drawing and painting skills. Each time they draw or paint a picture, they just hope it turns out better than the last one. If we approach caregiving skills as an art, the question then is can it be mastered?
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, caregivers, leadership, caregiving, Faith Community, professionals, art, families
A survey form the National Council on Aging, UnitedHealthcare and USA Today concluded that most Boomers are optimistic about their future. That is until you ask them about needing help as they age. When it comes to the issues surrounding who will provide caregiving when they no longer are able, optimism turns to fear.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, caregivers, leadership, caregiving, Faith Community, family caregivers, families, long term care, Shortages, home care, boomers
Responding to challenging behavior for people living with dementia is often the greatest triggers of stress, helplessness and frustration for professional and family caregivers. Learning to be an effective dementia care detective incorporates knowledge of behavioral expression and having effective tools to respond, reassure and comfort.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, dementia care, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, Care Partners, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, leadership, Caregiver Training, Dementia Detective, Family Education, Dementia Live Training, Behavioral Expression
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, and coach who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball. One of his famous quotes "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be" couldn't be more appropriate as we look at the paradigm shifts taking place in our aging world.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Aging in the Workplace, leadership, Hospital Professionals, aging, children, health
