My current focus is to share helpful resources, experience and insights on caring for loved ones with brain change and dementia.  In the early 1990s I started in the field of elder care doing therapeutic activities in a skilled nursing facility in Oakland.  I was hired with very little experience, but with a degree in music and love for elders. Thankfully, I was lucky to be mentored by amazing people — mostly nurses and physical therapists who, by example, showed me how to respond to difficult conditions with creative and compassionate approaches as we worked toward solving the problems that people living with dementia face every day. These mentors inspired me and motivated me to never give up because with team work, we are sure to make a difference. 

What was missing from my experience and training was the perspective of Occupational Therapy. That gap was filled to over flowing by Teepa Snow O.T. and her Positive Approach to Care model for caregivers. Teepa shows us how to partner with loved ones to meet their needs, with an understanding of how the brain is changing. Teepa has many helpful educational videos and books that we use for training and that I highly recommend at www.teepasnow.com. I will be including highlights from Teepa’s newsletters on a regular basis. You can also check out her YouTube channel for effective tips like this one on communicating with loved ones when they are losing language functioning but retaining the ability to get your tone and rhythm of voice: https://youtu.be/0BIZF_4EKp4.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and to celebrate our residents and motherhood in its many forms, we are partnering with our residents in luxurious facials. Can’t wait! Photos to come later. We will infuse some aromatherapy and music therapy in this activity— two of our “go-to” ways of creating a welcoming and calm environment.

I welcome questions and feedback on the topics you are interested in exploring together. 

Best wishes all,

Kelly