Tailored Care For Misunderstood Behavior Of People Living With Dementia

5

12-Tage-Kurs

Tailored Care For Misunderstood Behavior Of People Living With Dementia

Von Eva van der Ploeg, Ph.D.

Was du lernen wirst

When people are diagnosed with dementia, and even in the lead onto this, not only has their cognition changed. We often also see changes in behavior, mood, and even in personality. This is one of the biggest challenges for them and everyone who cares for them. Family members struggle how to respond to this changed person, and professionals are often challenged by behaviors that disrupt their interaction. In English these symptoms are refered to as neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. They include depressive feelings, wandering, and agitation, amongst other things. In Dutch we use a more accurate and easily understandable term, which translates to 'Misunderstood Behavior'. This term leads us away from the cycle that dementia leads to this behavior and thus nothing can be done. It enables us to look into and address the cause. There is so much more possible if we adopt this perspective. In this course, I share the basics of many wonderful methodologies that will make it easier to care for or be around a person with dementia - amongst them Namaste Care, Spaced Retrieval, Function-Focused Care, and Mindfulness. The theory of the methodologies is illustrated with many examples and translated into practices, including meditations and journaling.

Eva van der Ploeg, Ph.D.

Bali, Indonesia

Eva is a research psychologist doing studies in real-life settings and working in practice. She has an MSc. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Public Health. Her practice work is grounded in the teachings of Maria Montessori and Mindfulness, both of which she is a certified trainer and practitioner. She specialises in working with people with dementia...

Lektion 1

Dementia Basics & Misunderstood Behavior

We start the course with a brief introduction on what dementia is and what misunderstood behaviors are. We finish with a 3-minute breathing space which includes three straightforward steps to regulate our breath and, consequently, any feelings of stress or anxiety.

Lektion 2

Person-Centered Care

Kitwood introduced the term person-centered care for people living with dementia decades ago. It is still relevant today. We touch on the basics of this theory, which serves as an introduction to all the methodologies that you get to learn about throughout the rest of the course.

Lektion 3

In Preparation

We start with a reflective practice about the key themes in Kitwood’s theory, to explore how you relate to them and if you would like to add a term. In the next 8 classes, I will introduce a number of different non-pharmacological methodologies that teach how to interact with someone with dementia. There are a couple of essential things to know before we get started. For example, what are "contraindications" for these methodologies to work? Often these require intervention from a healthcare professional. My purpose today is to increase awareness of issues that may cause Misunderstood Behaviors.

Lektion 4

Montessori For Dementia

A general introduction of Montessori for Dementia developed by Cameron Camp. We talk about the philosophy and core elements of the methodology, as well as the four models of care for people living with dementia. We complete this day with my Montessori journaling meditation developed based on the original works of Maria Montessori.

Lektion 5

Montessori Principles

We dive deeper into the 12 principles of Montessori for Dementia. These principles give you practical tools on how to interact with a person living with dementia, especially when you feel challenged. It's illustrated with many practical examples.

Lektion 6

Namaste Care

Namaste Care is closely related to Montessori for Dementia. It is developed by Joyce Simmard and focuses on the later stages of dementia. This is an introduction to the methodology. In line with this loving method, we finish with a metta meditation where we send loving kindness to ourselves and the person who has dementia.

Lektion 7

Spaced Retrieval

Most people think that people who have dementia can no longer learn. If this is true, how do they ‘remember’ where they are supposed to sit at the dinner table when they move into residential care? Today, I will introduce how procedural/ implicit memory works. And how through the application of Spaced Retrieval (developed by Cameron Camp), we can teach people with new dementia procedures, illustrated with an example for when people forget to use their walker.

Lektion 8

Function-Focused Care

Barbara Resnick and Elizabeth Gallick developed Function-Focused Care. Where the previous methodologies were more psychosocial interventions and a learning methodology, this methodology very much focuses on the physical side of care. How do you support a person with physical care tasks? How do you maintain or stimulate independence? We complete this day with a journaling practice about how you can apply this methodology.

Lektion 9

Other Methodologies

After an in-depth exploration of these four non-pharmacological interventions, I just want to honor some of the other interventions that are out there. Think: adaptations of the physical environment, humor therapy, pet therapy, baby therapy, inter-generational learning.

Lektion 10

Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. In today's lesson, I attempt to make it relevant to people who care for someone with dementia.

Lektion 11

Integration

Fed by all these wonderful methodologies, I have developed a model of what tailored care for people living with dementia should look like. After a brief recap of all we have learned so far, I introduce the IAA-model: Inclusiveness through Attention and Appreciation. We also learn about the strategies of Deep Exploration and Distraction.

Lektion 12

Where To Start?

We start this final day with a reflective meditation about everything we have learned during the past 11 days, with a focus on where to start. To finalize the course, I will talk about the how, the when, and the what of applying it.

Neueste Bewertungen

5

11

E

Erika

February 3, 2025

Working with Dementia IS an amazing spiritual adventure. Eva’s work here is well-placed and useful, offering tools and benefits to those cared and loved and those caring and loving.

C

Cream

December 11, 2024

A must for anyone who is caring for a loved one with dementia

H

Heidi

August 10, 2023

I was surprised and gladdened to see a course on dementia care here on IT. This course has several approaches to care for the person with dementia. I learned she also has a course around the caregiver specifically which is what I need most. I need to find out about how others experience grief as they watch their loved one decline in functioning in...

RC

Ruth

December 3, 2021

Excellent, very practical ways to improve caregiving for both the caregiver and person with dementia.

JR

Joan

November 25, 2021

Rare course for people who care for or even just care about others who live with dementia. It was helpful for understanding and being with my mom. 🙏🏻

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