by Gina Tucker-Roghi,Therapy Resource
One of the most exciting aspects of the Dementia Capable Care Model for me has been the ability to tap into the unique personhood that remains in each of our residents and longs to be acknowledged. Even those at the late and end stages of the dementia process have the ability to connect in a meaningful way. Our skill lies in finding what type of stimulation will awaken our clients, and teaching others effective methods, cueing strategies and techniques to elicit this same positive response.
During a recent dementia training I attended, I was brought to tears watching a video clip of a client who was being met right where he was in his dementia by a therapist using sensory stimulation techniques to bring him to life. To see this individual, who had previously been cared for in body but not in soul, awaken to the therapist’s techniques was a moving experience. The types of stimulation she used were customized to the client, based on his past experiences, interests and habits in order to have the greatest impact. By using stimuli that tie into the client’s long-term and procedural memories, we tap into the strongest and most durable types of memory.
The client’s responses to these powerful and meaningful stimuli are used to promote health and well-being and to prevent many of the complications that are frequently related to dementia. The responses that are elicited might include vocalizations, which can decrease the risk of aspiration; and partial ROM of the trunk, head or extremities, which can prevent contractures and promote improved positioning. In addition to these valuable responses, we are able to tap into the humanity of our clients.
Sharing this gift of human connection with families, loved ones and caregivers is a powerful intervention. The facial expressions, vocalizations and eye contact that are elicited in response to a purposeful stimulation are indications of the client’s remaining abilities to connect to another person. At the end stages of dementia, it can become difficult for families to find ways to interact with their loved ones. The client has usually lost the ability to relate with spoken language. By developing a targeted sensory stimulation program, the therapists also are preventing complications and further decline in the client. This increased sense of purpose in their interactions, as well as the increased sense of connection, will surely result in more rewarding visits for both the client and the loved ones.