Dementia & Alzheimer's Care

client and care team member looking at photo album

When behavior out of the norm begins to surface, the question often arises, “Is this dementia?” Behavior that is not normal, and has an impact on everyday living, could be Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). It is important to seek a diagnosis to gain an understanding of how best to meet an individual where they are, as well as anticipate what they will likely experience next. Dementia is a progressive, uncurable disease that affects one out of six women and one out of ten men over the age of 55, with at least five million cases in the U.S.*

Many families begin to notice changes in their loved one and the caregiving challenges that arise due to this change. Since dementia is progressive, family caregivers or loved ones need a plan to be ready for ongoing change. Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC) is an educational, experiential training that equips family and professional caregivers to journey together.

Our Care Team Partners are ready and equipped to be a lifeline to families on the journey of dementia with a loved one. An assessment is completed by one of our Registered Nurses to build a care plan appropriate for the individual needs of each client. A reassessment is completed every 90 days as care needs evolve. Care Management helps to navigate frequent changes that impact our Care Partners and family members. It is essential that we provide care with a positive approach. Family members and the community are invited to join our PAC training workshops at no cost.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care Offerings

Our flexible and wide range of offerings fill a vital role in the success of our partnerships with families and individuals living with dementia (ILWD).

Companionship – encouragement and support, activities, outings as requested (social isolation and depression are common with increasing decline, but companionship is essential for well-being)
Personal care – bathing, dressing, hygiene assistance and eating assistance
Medication reminders – consistent routine, timely according to planned activity
Nutritional assistance
Exercise – incorporate home health directives in care plan goals
Light housekeeping
Transition care to non-ambulatory or bedbound, repositioning, monitoring of skin integrity, Hoyer lift, transfers
Blood pressure, weight, intake and output, client mental and emotional well-being, changes or concerns recorded for RN review
Support family care—educating as needed including PAC Workshops
Respite care for family members – hours to days
Overnight shifts – flexible duration and discounts for on-call service
Lifeline – Care Management support during client service is provided for Care Partners and families

Each partnership is unique as we consider individuality a priority. We have the ability to tailor your loved one’s nurse managed care to foster independence and quality of daily living. To us, partnership means we Journey Together – whatever that looks like.

Who is Teepa Snow?

“She is an occupational therapist with forty years of clinical practice. She has founded a company and an approach to support and engage people experiencing changes in brain function. Her approach to dementia care and training is changing how many view neurodegenerative conditions and dementias, and how care is delivered throughout the US, Canada, Wales, and across the UK and Europe.

As of 2018, Teepa has delivered over 8,000 training sessions across the US, Canada, and the U.K. She has conducted over 500 webinars. She is featured in more than 35 DVDs and has videos on YouTube that are watched around the globe. Her company serves a wide variety of agencies, organizations, providers, communities, businesses, families, and individuals. Services are available both on-line/virtually, as well as in-person. Many offerings are free or at a minimal cost, while others are more extensive and are more expensive. Teepa continues to offer public and organizational talks across the US and Canada with trips to the UK, Europe, and (soon) Australia. She continues to help PAC Team members develop their talents and skills. She also continues to develop new programs and new offerings to promote a cultural change in how the world views and responds to people with changing brains who are doing their best to live fully and well with supporters who are aware, knowledgeable, and skillful.” Check out Teepa’s website TeepaSnow.com for more information.

How to Talk About the Need to Stop Driving When Dementia Is Involved

Why and How We Use PAC Training

Karen Koudelka and Teepa Snow

As a Certified PAC Trainer, I have been trained by Teepa and her team with re-certifications annually. The positive approach is the foundation for connection with any individual and the principles applied specifically for “individuals living with dementia” (ILWD). I use this term because indeed, they are individuals as is their disease process. The ALZ Association uses the term, “If you have seen one person with ALZ, then you have seen one person with ALZ.” This philosophy keeps the approach for care appropriate, paving the way for a positive care connection and interaction. When leading a workshop, I create experiences that walk us down the path that ILWD walk daily. This creates a heightened awareness that hones our skills and engages our hearts and minds with a mission of positive connection. There is nothing like the experience of positive connection to successfully meet one’s need for a caregiver. Our Care Team Partners are dedicated to this philosophy.

– Karen Koudelka

ALZ Table at Open House 2019 ALZ Fundraiser Lori Myers Branch Coordinator for ALZ Enhancing Life Adult Day Center Owner Eric W

*References

Pennington Biomedical Research Center. FAQ. Institute for Dementia Research & Prevention. Retrieved from http://idrp.pbrc.edu/faq.htm

WHO. (2015). Dementia. World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs362/en/

How may we partner with you?

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