AGE-u-cate Training Institute Blog

Validation helps caregivers step into the world of a person with dementia, creating understanding and empathy.

Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, Family Caregiver, dementia, Family, caregivers, compassionate touch, Alzheimer's disease, Hospital Professionals, dementia friendly, understanding, touch

Human needs remain intact regardless of age, situation, or condition.

Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, Senior Care, Caregiver, Alzheimer's disease, understanding, alzheimer's, touch

"Touching as a therapeutic event is not as simple as a mechanical procedure or a drug, because is, above all, an act of communication...the use of touch and physical closeness may be the most important way to communicate to acutely ill (and aged) persons that they are important as human beings..." - Ashley Montagu

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, dementia care, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, compassionate touch, Hospital Professionals, Psychotropic drugs, Ground Breaking

It's hard to believe that I've not had my dad in my life for over 20 years now.  So much of who I am and what I've taught to my children came from my dad.  So, it's appropriate that this blog be a tribute to my dad this Father's Day.

Topics: The Faith Community, AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, Family Caregiver, dementia, Family, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, Alzheimer's disease, Community, children, alzheimer's, Father's Day

Topics: The Faith Community, AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, dementia, compassionate touch, life enrichment, Senior Living, resident care, Pam Brandon, alzheimer's

Montessori's education method for childhood learning was launched in the early 1900s by Maria Montessori.  It calls for free activity within a "prepared environment", meaning an educational environment tailored to basic human characteristics, to the specific characteristics of children at different ages, and to the individual personalities of each child. The function of the environment is to help and allow the child to develop independence in all areas according to his or her inner psychological directives. In addition to offering access to the Montessori materials appropriate to the age of the children, the environment should exhibit the following characteristics:

Topics: dementia care, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, activities, eldercare, Montessori, resident engagement

At least that's what they say here in Texas, when it's 80 degrees one day, and hitting the freezing mark the same night.  We've barely had a winter to speak of this year, so my recent trip to experience the Boston blizzard was an adventure and a treat.  So what does the weather have to do with aging and dementia you ask?

Topics: The Faith Community, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, Senior Care, Aging in the Workplace, dementia, Person centered care, weather changes, person-centered thinking

Feelings linger.

Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, memories, Family

When visiting someone with dementia, be ready for anything. Things can change day- to- day, even moment- to- moment in dementia care. A little preparation can go a long way to help create a positive experience in dementia care. Have a “magic bag” ready that you can pull things out of that may reach through the dementia to the person inside.

Topics: dementia care, The Family Caregiver, Person-centered, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care, culture change, care staff, Caregiver

Healthcare is quickly becoming dementia care. Whether you work in a clinic, long term care, home care, or hospital, you will interact with people dementia.  And these people will likely have speech and language challenges.  Dementia care training often focuses on the underlying impairment when care partners really need practical solutions.  Easy-to-learn dementia communication skills, save both parties frustration. Here are a helpful strategies.

Topics: dementia care, Person-centered, Senior Care Professionals, Memory Care