- Respond to a person’s change in cognition and abilities in a way that is not hurtful or offensive.
- With practice, common reactions to the person living with dementia can become thoughtful responses that improve quality of life.
- Recognize that the person living with dementia is doing the best they can, and that dementia can often rob a person of the impulse control we often take for granted.
- If things are going wrong, step back! Take a moment and let both parties collect themselves.
Teepa Snow: "Until There's a Cure, There's Care"
While researchers continue to search for a cure and better treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease, it’s of vital importance to learn to better support those living with dementia. In the words of educator Teepa Snow, “Until there’s a cure, there’s care.”
Teepa Snow is an internationally renowned leader in dementia care who is working to change how people interact with people living with any type of brain change.
Snow, a graduate of Duke University who received her MS degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, has over 30 years of experience in the field, including working as the OT director in a head injury facility, a clinical specialist in geriatrics for a veteran’s administration medical center, and a restorative care coordinator. She has also served as the director of education and lead trainer for the eastern North Carolina chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. With her education and experience, she has developed a dementia care philosophy that is filled with humor and the idea that being educated on the science behind the changes we see in loved ones will allow us to be more patient and understanding.
Her no-nonsense teaching style integrates easy-to-understand facts about the brain and how it changes with aging with her trademark energetic and enthusiastic teaching style, which makes those in attendance at her lectures feel free to laugh and enjoy the learning process. She also offers free videos and online training courses so that family members who wish to better understand and care for their loved ones can access her wisdom.
Teepa’s training organization, Positive Approach LLC, provides training in what she calls the Positive Approach®. Rather than focusing on statistics, this approach helps people learn how to interpret behavior, react in real-time in a way that puts people first, and encourages people to focus on current abilities instead of what has been lost.
Some Tips from Teepa:
