I remember being taught to search for the reason behind a distressed response in the person living with dementia. If we take the time to do so, we often find that it can reveal an unmet need.

Alzheimer’s Disease takes away a lot but it can’t take away someone’s life story. History lessons, love stories and wisdom are often just sitting there waiting for an audience.

Dawn tells me that usually a friend comes to take her out for coffee and she is waiting for her. That friend is me.

One of the lessons that my clients with dementia have taught me is to enjoy the moment. Memory for what occurred a few minutes ago is gone and often the ability to plan ahead is also gone.

Learning new ways to respond to a situation becomes our new role. Afterall, we have a 3-pound (or close enough) brain.

On the one hand, I observed family members relieved to know that yes, something is definitely not normal. On the other hand, cognitive assessment typically focuses on disability, what a person can no longer do. What it often doesn’t pick up on is the remaining ABILITY.

One of the beautiful things about working with people living with dementia is that the walls we tend to put up to protect ourselves begin to disintegrate.