A Season of Change

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year, and a great reminder that there is beauty in changes. While we may not like the changes dementia brings, it provides us an opportunity as care partners to grow our communication skills and expand our compassion to provide a better dementia care experience. If you are looking to setup a presentation or training, or for support and coaching at your facility or in your home, please reach out.

I am here to help navigate and provide support. Together we can unlock doors to a better dementia care experience.

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While we just wrapped up our last 3-Part Dementia Care Series for the year, it was a popular request, so stay tuned for more opportunities in 2024!

Upcoming Events and Workshops

Tickets

12th Annual Forget Me Not

Fall Fashion Show

Enjoy an evening of networking, great conversation, music and cocktails, and dinner with a (fashion) show! This 12^th annual fundraiser for Alzheimer's disease education includes raffle prizes, a live auction, a wine and chocolate wall – and so much more. This year, you will even find Sheri modeling on the runway!

Thursday, Oct 12th 5-9PM

Rock Garden

1951 Bond Street., Green Bay, WI

Monthly Memory Café

Join us as we carve pumpkins to be on display during the Jack O Lantern Hike at Barkhausen!

Memory Cafe provides a fun, comfortable environment where people with memory loss, along with their caregiver, can relax. engage, and enjoy the company of others on the same journey. No RSVP necessary, we hope to see you there!

Thursday, Oct 19th 1-3PM

Barkhausen

2024 Lakeview Dr., Suamico, WI

Supplies are sponsored by Barkhausen.

The Language of Dementia and Finding Success

The FISH Approach

As care partners we find ourselves in communication snags with our loved one with dementia. Together we will untangle these challenging situations and explore new tools to help in your caregiving journey.

Saturday, Oct 28th, 2023 at 10:30AM-12PM

The Cottages at Lake Park Senior Living

2006 Lake Park Dr, Marinette, WI

Free Community Event

RSVP to The Cottages at Lake Park (715) 330-5760

The FISH Approach:

Validate instead of Convincing

We've been diving in to the FISH Approach (getting into the water, or stepping into the reality of the person living with dementia), which can reduce communication snags that cause anxiety. This allows us to provide a supporting foundation to start improving the situation instead of causing stress of “being pulled out of the water”.

Last month we dove in to learn more about investigating the reason why, instead of orienting the person living with brain changes. So let's take it one step further.

In our example of "I want to go home", let's say that the person living with brain change is urgently searching for something and said they need to get ready for work/school/take care of the kids.

It is good practice to always circle back and reflect on any answers or responses, a quick "You need to go home to get ready", helps to build trust that you listened and understood what they said.

But they've been retired for 20 years!

Convincing them that they are retired, their children are adults and moved out decades ago, or that they are home, may be a natural response for us living "up here on land." But trying to convince a person with dementia about anything often causes skepticism, paranoia, and we find them digging in their heels deeper.

Take a pause rather than plead.

Let's dive in the water, into their reality.

Giving words to emotions and validating them builds trust in the relationship. It allows us to keep the communication open while we find another way to understand the unmet need and to try to respond again.

“I can see how upset you are”, and “I would be upset too.” We are showing that we understand their feelings and validated them by relating to the situation.

This opens communication to better understand the unmet need and allow us to respond.

Some example unmet needs to consider depending on their response may be:

Are they lacking purpose?

Do they need to release energy or rest?

Are they lonely or scared?

Ready to dive in and learn more about the FISH Approach?

Are you wanting to share this knowledge with your employees or a community group?

Do you have a loved one you are caring for and looking for more 1:1 support?

Contact Dementia Care Solutions to learn about workshops, presentations, as well as support, consulting and coaching opportunities.

Contact Me

Community Events and Resources Related to Brain Changes

Brain Center of Green Bay

The Brain Center is a non-profit, high-impact organization committed to making brains better. The Brain Center serves as a community resource and local “hub” for brain disease and brain conditions. They offer a variety of programs and presentations throughout the community.

Brain and Body Fitness Program

Join the YMCA and Brown County ADRC for the NEW Brain and Body Fitness Program! This 12-week program is designed to support those diagnosed with early onset dementia or dementia-like symptoms, featuring exercises and linguistic activities that support physical and mental wellbeing.