Teepa Snow is a dementia care expert and founder of Positive Approach to Care ® (PAC). In this post she talks about the use of medications for behavior management. Teepa has championed the concept of GEMS® to describe people living with dementia.
Tag Archives: dementia
I’m still a person
The physician who hired me decades ago was a leader. It took his entire career but against a great deal of resistance, he built a premier healthcare system. Even so, he always had time for me. Whenever I stopped by, he would always pull up a chair. It was as if my activities and ideas were just as important as his. There’s something else I remember. I became his healthcare provider not long after he developed Parkinson’s Disease. He ended up being a frequent user of the healthcare system he built. He had many falls. […]
Three Pillars of Dignity: Dr. Warren joins Amy Goyer on Facebook Live
Amy Goyer has taken care of her mom, dad, and sister all at the same time. She is the real deal, a sandwich generation caregiver. Amy is author of the book: “Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving”. She also hosts the AARP Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook. Amy and I had a strong connection ever since we met in Hawaii during pre-Covid days. Last week, we finally had a chance to videochat with her caregivers group. We decided to talk about a particularly important topic: dignity. Why dignity? Because it’s one thing to take care of […]
Asleep All Day and Awake all Night
Joan is a retired elementary school teacher. She is the kind that students remember with great fondness. Now she’s 84 years old and life has changed. She has Alzheimer’s Disease and lives with her daughter’s family. Although she can still hold a conversation, she is anxious. She falls asleep for long periods during the day but is frequently awake at night. Then she goes from room to room switching on the lights and searching for her cat. Her PCP prescribes a sedative. However, one night, Joan’s search for the cat leads her outside, and she […]
3 Important No-no’s | Talking to a Person with Dementia /Alzheimer’s Disease
Dad has Alzheimer’s disease. You are a loyal daughter (Jill) who visits often and brings his favorite foods. On one visit, Dad has a big smile when he sees you. “Hi Mary” “Dad, I’m NOT Mary. (Mary is your older sister.) What’s my name?” “Oh, gosh. Where’s Mary?” “Dad, I’m Jill!! Why do you always ask about Mary? Are you trying to get on my nerves?”
The Brain is Like a Computer | Is It just Getting Older, or Is It Getting Dementia?
What is dementia? Here are some simple concepts to start with: The brain does three very important things. Each of these is impacted when a person develops dementia. The brain can be thought of as an amazing, living super computer. Dementia is a general term for diseases that injure the brain over time. An old brain is not the same as an injured brain. Three Important Things a Brain Does The first moments of life are unforgettable. A baby is born and starts crying. From that moment forward, the brain will experience a lifetime of […]