A dementia diagnosis does not cancel adulthood. One of the most damaging mistakes we make in dementia care can happen almost immediately after diagnosis. We forget they are still the boss of themselves. We decide what the person will wear. What they will eat. When they will get up. Where they will sit. What activity they will attend. When…
There are so many opportunities for resident choice. It goes way beyond “the red shirt or the blue one?” Choice is not just “Which one do you want?” It is also “How would you like this to happen?” When we talk about choice in dementia care, the examples are often very small, like “Would you like the red shirt…
Dr. Steven Sabat * has made an important point about dementia care: That is – just because we do not know the reason a person with dementia is doing something does not mean that person does not have a reason. That idea sounds simple. But it asks us to reconsider something very important. When a person without dementia does…
Why Montessori Dementia Care Gets Results – There is an old saying we still use for a reason: the proof is in the pudding. In other words, the true value of something is not found in how impressive it sounds. It is found in what happens when it is put into practice. That is exactly why Montessori dementia care matters….
In dementia care, the environment speaks; it is never silent. Every hallway, doorway, sign, chair, dining table, bathroom, closet, and activity space is communicating something. Sometimes it says, “You are safe.” or “This is where you belong.” or “Come this way.” Sometimes it says, “This is too much. I do not know what to do here.” The challenge is…
Motor Exercise vs. Functional Role in Montessori Dementia Care – If you spend time in any memory care community, you will inevitably see it: a basket of towels placed in front of a resident, who contentedly folds them one by one. This is all about the two tracks for towel folding… For years, folding laundry has been the quintessential…
Caregiver Documentation: Write What Happened, Not What You Think It Means – In dementia care, caregiver documentation is more than a record of the past. It is a communication tool for the next caregiver, the next shift, the care team, and sometimes the family or leadership team. Done well, documentation helps everyone understand what happened, what may have contributed…
When Memory Fails, What Replaces It? When people think about dementia, they often think first about memory loss. That is understandable. Memory changes are among the most visible and recognizable signs of dementia. A person may forget names, dates, instructions, appointments, conversations, or what just happened a few moments ago. But there is a dangerous assumption hidden inside the…
Caregiver Stress Is Real: Why PSWs and Frontline Staff Need a Bigger Toolbox…a Growing Toolbox Personal Support Workers, care aides, and other frontline caregivers carry much of the emotional and physical weight of dementia care. They are the ones helping people wake up, wash, dress, eat, move, settle, participate, and feel safe throughout the day. They are also the…
In long-term care, the phrase “responsive behavior” is everywhere. It appears in documentation, care plans, shift reports, and team discussions. It has helped move the sector away from blaming language like “aggressive” or “difficult,” and toward a more person-centered understanding. But there’s a deeper issue we need to confront: By the time something is labeled a responsive behavior, we are…
A dementia diagnosis does not cancel adulthood. One of the most damaging mistakes we…
There are so many opportunities for resident choice. It goes way beyond “the red…
