Page 45 - BusinessWest March 7, 2022

ceptions and help others realize they are not alone.”
Cardillo called it a true support group, one that has been active for 10 years, the last two years via Zoom, and she welcomes any caregiver to join the group. “And I mean anyone because it’s a virtual group. We have family members from all over the country who join in the discussion.”
going with it.
“It’s an opportunity to engage and say, ‘let’s
talk about your mother and all the wonder- ful things about her,’” she explained. “By going on that journey, it makes them feel good and improves their quality of life.”
Often, a son or daughter will insist on asking the parent with dementia to say their name and then, if they can come up with it, assume they are having a good day. Cardillo said knowing their
“Lots of conversation comes out during these sessions,” Cardillo said, recalling one resident who painted a summer scene. When she asked what that meant to the artist, she reminisced about vacations in Maine many years ago. “It doesn’t matter what they are painting; it’s really an opportunity to share their feelings and tell their stories.”
While staff at local senior communities are trained to look for signs of dementia in residents, it can be more difficult for seniors living at home. Todd usually sees an increase in phone calls after someone comes home for Thanksgiving, assum- ing their mom or dad is doing fine, only to dis- cover things are not going well.
“We encourage people to talk with their par- ent’s physician when there has been a change in behavior,” she said. “The physician is a good resource because they know the baseline health of the parent.”
Past Meets Present
Helping people understand dementia is a constant activity for Cardillo. Seven years ago, she started the Dementia Friendly movement at Armbrook. Through a partnership with the city of Westfield, Armbrook staff train city employees, first responders, local businesses, and the public on how to recognize the signs of dementia and to better communicate with those afflicted with it.
Both Cardillo and Todd acknowledged that dementia can be frustrating for the person and their family. Because there is no cure for demen- tia, the emphasis then becomes on the person’s
Memory
Continued on page 50
“Concentrate on what makes
them happy. Their long-term
memory is still there, so it’s an
opportunity to encourage talking
children’s names doesn’t really matter and can cause embarrass- ment for the parent if they don’t succeed.
“They know you are an impor- tant person in their life, and they know there is an emotional con- nection,” she added. “Words aren’t
about good memories they have.
LORI TODD
Keep Talking
Open communication with families can help them overcome some of the fear and denial that comes with seeing a loved one losing their cognitive abilities. This can also lead to better interactions.
One past practice which is now discouraged was to try to reality-orient an individual with dementia. For example, if a 95-year-old asks to see her mother, the natural tendency is to point out that her mother would have to be 130 years old. Todd recommends, instead of a rebuttal, just
” as important as the emotions.”
At Reeds Landing, people with dementia live among the other residents. While resident assistants are there to help when needed, those with dementia have a daily
routine and feel more included.
“We try to keep them at their highest level of
functioning in more of a home-like setting rather than an institutional one,” Todd said.
People with dementia are capable of learn- ing and in many ways remain the person they have always been, Cardillo added. “There are still moments of lucidity. Just because you have dementia, does not mean you are stupid.”
Programs that encourage a fail-free environ- ment tend to work well for those with dementia, such as the painting program at Armbrook Vil- lage called Memories in the Making.
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