Boomers Today Senior Care Podcast Explores Compassionate Dementia Care

Dementia is still very much a scary thing to many people. But in our fear, we often forget that there is still someone behind the cognitive and physical issues that this disease can cause - and that there are many ways to give them the compassionate care they deserve. On Boomers Today, Senior Care Authority’s podcast, host and CEO Frank Samson invites renowned dementia care educator Teepa Snow to talk about the misconceptions surrounding dementia and how family members can support their loved ones in a way that ensures they maintain their dignity and quality of life.

Listen to the full podcast at https://www.seniorcareauthority.com/blog/teepa-snow-on-the-past-present-and-future-of-dementia-care/

Patience and Empathy is Key

As the founder of Positive Approach to Care (PAC), a dementia training and care philosophy, Snow is intimately familiar with the history of dementia care. In the podcast, she explores the past negativity surrounding dementia, noting that this negativity is caused not by the disease but by the caregiver’s reaction to it. 

Because dementia results in neurological changes that lead to a number of cognitive and physical issues, Snow says it is important for caregivers to acknowledge and adapt to these changes in order to provide empathetic care. 

Getting frustrated with the patient’s memory issues will only diminish them. It makes sense, right? You wouldn’t want to make anyone feel stupid for something they have no control over. And it’s this person-centric approach that’s the key to helping those living with dementia maintain their dignity.

Engaging With Someone With Dementia

Snow also draws upon her 40 years of experience in dementia education to share insights on how family members can support those with dementia. For example, she explains that an individual who appears inactive or reluctant to socialize - like someone who only seems to want to watch TV all day - may have lost the ability to initiate and is dependent on another person to engage with them. Declining brain function can also do that to a person - it’s not just about memory loss.

In this instance, it falls upon the caregiver to present their loved one with simple, easy-to-understand choices; in doing so, the individual with dementia retains their agency. You wouldn’t believe how many possibilities simple engagement would open up.

Throughout the podcast, Snow and Samson also discuss the current trajectory of dementia care, noting the changing needs of families and the healthcare community, as well as increasing demand for resources. With rapidly declining openings in nursing homes, Snow notes that many families are considering assisted living and in-home care options as alternatives for loved ones with dementia.

Get Expert Advice from Boomers Today

If you want to learn more about these resources, you can follow Boomers Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart, and other streaming services. 

The weekly podcast hosts experts on caregiving, elder law, financing, and wellness, offering professional insights into challenges you may encounter as you and your loved ones age.

And of course, there’s more to dementia care than what was covered here. If you want to hear it from Snow herself, you can visit https://www.seniorcareauthority.com/blog/teepa-snow-on-the-past-present-and-future-of-dementia-care/ to listen to the full episode on Boomers Today.

Senior Care Authority City: Petaluma Address: 755 Baywood Drive Website: https://www.seniorcareauthority.com