Dear friends,

Last month, we held our inaugural Amazing Care Network event in Rhode Island, thanks to Dave Antonelli who introduced our program to his friends and colleagues.  About 30 attended and listened carefully and thoughtfully to the presentation by Pat Bemis on identifying signs of dementia.   Pat is a critical care nurse who has devoted her retirement career to helping people manage care-giving services to patients with dementia.  I’ve received feedback from some of the attendees, and it appears, that consistent with our experiences in other cities, the presentation, and the networking opportunity were valued and appreciated. 

Pat talked about identifying early signs of dementia, ways to promote brain health, and ways of coping with loved ones with dementia.  There were ideas that particularly resonated with me, and I thought you might be interested in the following: 

  • Early warning signs of dementia include confusion with places and time; problems with judgment; social and work withdrawal; difficulty recalling words or following conversations; difficulty planning or solving problems; problems with vision or perception; and changes in personality. 
  • Tips for enhancing brain health include:  regular physical activity; learn something new (I am valiantly working on my quilting techniques, for example, which appear to be a life-long challenge!); meditation, social engagement (the ACN network is good for this!), and my personal favorite, “No Negative Nellies,” meaning and I quote “. . . thinking compassionately about yourself by reversing negative thinking. . .” 
  • Finally, Pat talked about how to create a more supportive environment for those with dementia.  She taught us a simple handshake, which promotes better control for the dementia patient; speaking face-to-face and staying on the person’s left side (“being on her left side helps activate her social right brain”); not arguing (you will lose); not disagreeing with her sense of reality; and offering no more than 2 choices (example, “salad or sandwich for lunch?”) 

Again, my thanks to Pat, Dave Antonelli and the attendees in Rhode Island for making our first event there a success! 

Best, 
Cora