Providence Monthly: Non-Pharmacological Dementia Care Options

Home Care Assisted Living Respite Care 415.359.9700

Greetings!

September is Alzheimer's awareness month and there are many things you can do to get involved. Wear purple to show your support. Below are details of the annual Walk taking place Sep 21st in San Francisco. And of course spread awareness of the disease.

The annual Walk to End Alzheimer's is taking place Saturday, September 21, 2013 in Mission Creek Park. Click here if you would like to learn more, register or donate.

If you or someone you know needs senior care, we are available 24/7 at 415-359-9700 or at info@providencecare.com.

Non-Pharmacological Approach to Dementia Care

At Providence, our approach to dementia care since inception over 20 years ago has always been to get to know the person within so we can prevent and treat behavioral problems with as little drugs as possible. Our understanding of the person behind the illness makes working with their particular presentation and their "problem behaviors" much easier.

The term coined for this approach is "non-pharmacological" treatment and it has become more commonly accepted as drug treatment doesn't work for many people, and can include side-effects such as sedation, falls and reduced well-being over the long-term.

While often there is a non-pharmacological solution, it is of course critical to rule out any underlying medical issues, such as physical pain, constipation or UTI's that may be causing the person discomfort and must be addressed by a doctor. It is possible that some people may ultimately require some medical intervention at times in order to lead a comfortable life, but we believe it is important to attempt other approaches first.

Behavioral problems are often triggered by unmet needs and a lack of understanding of the individual with dementia. Gathering information about the person whom you are caring for can be vital in understanding, preventing and ultimately treating behavioral problems that may occur in the context of their illness. It is our job as caregivers then to take the time and often by trial and error find a gentle approach to the individual within.

Here are some approaches that we have seen work:

Behavioural therapy
Reality orientation
Reminiscence therapy
Art therapy
Music therapy
Activity therapy
Aromatherapy
Multisensory approaches
Interpersonal therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Pet therapy

A quick glance at the Providence daily calendar has a myriad of approaches from each category on a weekly basis and ultimately each individual might respond to some approaches and not others. We take the time to find out what works for each individual.

Dementia in the News

Why we dont All Succumb to Alzheimer's Disease

Every human brain contains the ingredients necessary to spark AD, but while an estimated 5 million Americans have AD - a number projected to triple by 2050 - the vast majority of people do not and will not develop the devastating neurological condition.

A Free Resource To Cope With The Alzheimer's Epidemic

A free online course by John Hopkins School of Nursing stating mid-October will tackle "person-centered" dementia care.

5 Shocking Chemical Industry Secrets

Courtesy of rodalenews.com

A few years ago, filmmaker Ed Brown brought a glass of ice water to his lips and for the first time in his life, took a moment to think about what else might be in that glass. "It tasted like it was straight out of a swimming pool. I thought, 'Does this even smell right?'"

Then, when his wife experienced two miscarriages, Brown, who was trained as a journalist, decided to take a closer look at the chemicals surrounding us every day. "I thought, 'I'm completely surrounded, and so is she,'" he recalls. "We're surrounded by chemicals, and nobody's thinking about it.

"There's this phrase, acceptable levels...but what happens when all of these levels combine in my body? Are they acceptable then?" he asks.

Those questions led to a documentary that looks for the answers. Here are five of the many unsettling facts about chemicals Brown uncovered in filming Unacceptable Levels, winner of the Health and Environmental Prize at the 30th International Environmental Film Festival in Paris: