By Rose Fabrick, Certified Senior Advisor at Concierge Care Advisors
Embracing Compassionate Dementia Care: Lessons from a Caregiver’s Journey
Understanding how the brain functions in a loved one with late-stage dementia is no easy task. The behaviors and symptoms that accompany advanced dementia can vary, and it’s challenging to know how to respond to obsessions, agitation, or repetitive behaviors. However, by working with care professionals and adopting compassionate approaches, caregivers can make a meaningful difference for their loved ones.
This story highlights the resilience and creativity of “Sherry,” a devoted daughter who faced these challenges head-on while supporting her mother.
A Caregiver’s Challenge: Managing Obsessive Behavior
As Sherry’s mother’s dementia progressed, she became fixated on feeding her dogs constantly—even though she was no longer able to care for them. Sherry made the heart-wrenching decision to remove the dogs from the home to protect their health, but even in their absence, her mother remained obsessed with the task. She would ask repeatedly about feeding the dogs, both day and night, creating an exhausting cycle of repetitive behavior.
Eventually, Sherry’s mother needed 24/7 care and supervision, making it unsafe for her to live at home. Working closely with Concierge Care Advisors, Sherry found a compassionate Adult Family Home that could meet both her mother’s emotional needs and financial requirements.
Creative Solutions: Meeting the Person Where They Are
One of the most powerful shifts in dementia care is working with the behaviors rather than fighting them. Sherry and the Adult Family Home staff embraced this philosophy to support her mother.
- Sleeping on the Floor: After spending several days confined to a bed in the hospital, Sherry’s mother was fearful of sleeping on a traditional bed. She insisted on sleeping on the floor, likely because she associated the floor with her dogs and felt safer there. Rather than resisting this preference, the caregivers placed a mattress on the floor so she could sleep comfortably.
- Pillows for the Dogs: In both the hospital and the Adult Family Home, pillows were arranged on the floor to mimic beds for the “dogs” she still believed were with her. This simple accommodation provided reassurance and helped soothe her agitation, preserving her sense of connection to what she valued most.
These thoughtful, person-centered solutions highlight how caregivers can foster peace by meeting individuals with dementia where they are, rather than forcing them to conform to rigid expectations.
Learning from the Experts: Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care
Sherry found immense value in the teachings of Teepa Snow, a renowned dementia care educator. Teepa’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC) techniques are grounded in understanding the neurological changes that occur with dementia and designing care strategies that align with a person’s remaining abilities.
One of Teepa’s powerful lessons involved a woman with dementia who disturbed other residents by shaking a noisy rattle across the chairs in her environment. Rather than taking the rattle away, caregivers learned that the woman had worked as a house cleaner, and she was “cleaning” the chairs with the shaker.
Following Teepa’s advice, the caregivers:
- Praised the woman’s efforts to clean.
- Joined in with soft cloths to help clean the chairs.
- Gently swapped the rattle for a cloth, allowing the woman to continue her meaningful activity without disrupting others.
This example underscores the importance of seeing beyond the behavior to understand its underlying cause, offering compassion rather than correction.
Explore Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care
Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC) offers invaluable insights and practical tools for caregivers. Her strategies focus on creating environments that foster connection, purpose, and dignity for individuals with dementia.
To learn more, visit the Teepa Snow website:
🔗 Teepa Snow – Positive Approach to Care
You can also find training videos on YouTube, offering step-by-step guidance for managing dementia-related behaviors with empathy and creativity.
Compassionate Support for Families
At Concierge Care Advisors, we understand that navigating dementia care is a complex and emotional journey. Our team is here to support you every step of the way, helping you find the best care solutions tailored to your loved one’s unique needs. Whether you’re seeking an Adult Family Home, memory care community, or in-home care services, we provide personalized guidance at no cost to families.
📞 Call us at 855-444-7364 or Contact Us Here to connect with one of our experienced advisors today.
