The Dementia Whisperers

Featuring: Laura Wayman

Laura Wayman is an accomplished keynote speaker, author, trainer, and a dedicated Gerontologist.(A.A. degree in Gerontology,

Social Services Designee

Certification)

The Dementia Whispererspresents:

A Loving Approach to

Dementia Care

The Silent Pandemic!

• FACT-Dementia is now one of the world’s fastest growing diseases and it won’t be “going away” anytime soon, with no cure, prevention or ability to slow down the progress as of today.

• FACT-This year, 17 Billion hours of unpaid dementia care was provided by family, friends, and community members – a whopping 37% increase from last year!

• FACT-About 13% of Americans over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and half of those over age 85 will develop some form of dementia.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association’s 2008 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures

Percentage Change in Leading Causes of Death

From 2000 to 2010

Cause 2000 2005 %Change

Heart disease 710,760 649,399 -8.6Breast cancer 41,200 40,870 -0.8Prostate cancer 31,900 30,350 -4.9Stroke 167,661 143,497 -14.4Alzheimer’s 49,558 71,696 +44.7

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NationalVital Statistics Reports, and Reports of the American CancerSociety.A13

Alzheimer’s disease is among the top 10 leading causes of death for people of all ages, and is No. 5 for those aged 65 and older.

Most Seniors are more afraid of contracting Alzheimer’s than of

dying.

Peggy

You May Be Surprised to Know -Primary Family

Caregivers – (Especially a Spouse) Are at Risk…68% of them will die

before the person with dementia-primarily due

to the stress!

Would It Be Okay Today If We Made Your Care Giving

Job Easier?

What is Dementia?

The Word Dementia Comes

From…The Latin Derivative

“Dis”Meaning Away From

And“Mens”

Meaning Mind

Dementia is a List of Symptoms, and Caused

By:

• Illness/Disease• Severe Urinary Tract

Infection• Medications

• Head Trauma or Injury

(There is an estimated 70 different causes of dementia!)

What does Dementialook like?

Confusion/DisorientationDifficulty Tracking or Processing

InformationAnxiety, Fear or ParanoiaSpatial or Depth Perception

DifficultiesShort Term Memory Loss

Short term memory loss caused by a form of dementia is

different!

We all forget things occasionally…

birth

present

childhood

Adolescence

Teen Years

Adult

Middle Age

Senior

Short Term

Memory Loss

Remember

The Good

Ole’ Days?

UnderstandingThe Dementia Wonderland

Frances

Visit The Dementia Challenged In Their Reality,

Let go of the expectation that they can exist as before.

What will happen when you win an argument with someone with dementia!

WhoWhat

WhereWhen

How

Why?Do You

Remember?

No! Don’t!You Can’t…

Why

Avoid Whenever Possible----------

Person’s with dementia struggle making decisions.

Patience, Patience

and even more Patience

Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? What time is it? What time is it? What time is it? What time is it? What time is it? What time is it? Where is my daughter? Where is my daughter? Where is my daughter? Where is my daughter? Where is my daughter? Where is my daughter? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? When can I go home? When can I go home? When can I go home? When can I go home? When can I go home? When can I go home? When can I go home? When can I go home?

Help them to knowthey still have a

valuable place in the world

Lucy

Love

Value

Safety

Security

Speaking and

Understanding the Special

“Dialect” of Dementia

Affirm the Feelings and Language From

The Past.Respond as if it is

“NOW”!!!

April Showers????

It’s Bath Night!

Talking from your heart...

Person’s with dementia react to your feelings…

People may forget what you said…

And they my forget what you

did…But they will

never forget how you made them

feel. …Maya Angelou

Natalie

If you keep doing what you are doing ~

You will keep

getting what

you are getting!

HAVE FUN!

Take time for yourself…

Publisher, John Hopkins University Press

Read Laura Wayman’s book,

Now available on AMAZON.COM