Tailored Care For Misunderstood Behavior Of People Living With Dementia

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.