A few days ago I wrote about my experience with VDT (Virtual Dementia Tour), but I didn’t explain my rationale for participating in it. For this, I need to give some background. When I was a high school English teacher, my work was never finished. I perseverated over every lesson and I truly tried to bring literature to life. I memorized and recited Shakespeare’s soliloquies, made up games like vocabulary baseball, and engaged my students in poetry slams because my father’s words echoed every day in my mind: “If you are going to do a job, do it right or don’t do it at all.” To me, teaching “right,” meant creating excitement about learning, to the best of my ability. I am no longer in a brick and mortar classroom, but I still strive to live up to my father’s mantra. As the Director of Education for CFHDC, it is my responsibility to acquire as much knowledge as I can about dementia and then use this information to develop and build excitement about instructional materials and practices for caregivers.
The VDT enlightened me about a person’s walk with dementia, but it also reinforced the CFHDC’s mission to transform dementia care. Our person-centered strategies focus on creating comfortable environments, effective communication strategies, and suitable activities:
- We create comfortable environments so that an individual’s tastes and needs are met. I was definitely overstimulated and distracted by the lighting, sound levels, and space organization in the VDT. With the CFHDC’s MĪ Care Survey and Plan, we capitalize on a person’s intelligence strengths, present condition, and history to tailor an environment that addresses myriad environmental factors.
- We develop communication strategies that improve individuals’ ability to express and share information. While in the VDT, my vision and hearing was compromised. I needed assistance to understand tasks, but struggled with the paradox of desiring independence and needing help. The MĪ Care Plan matches preserved strengths with communication methods so that caregivers know how to interact with individuals with dementia and individuals’ voices are heard and understood.
- We offer suitable activities that foster joy and cognitive engagement. The VDT reminded me of what it feels like to lose what I often take for granted: feeling comfortable and safe in my own home, and participating in my favorite activities. The MĪ Care Survey and Plan builds a foundation for success by creating an environment conducive to joyful activities and supporting individuals’ communication capabilities so that they can take part in everyday tasks.
It is rare when a day goes by in which I don’t talk to someone who either has a loved one with dementia or knows someone with dementia. Every person has a different story, but each one welcomes conversations about promising research and practices in dementia care. In the coming weeks and months, I will continue to share my learning experiences and how they fuel my work at the CFHDC.
-Melissa
