Visiting people with dementia and their carers St Paul’s Church Addlestone 23 rd October 2012

Dementia affects the ability to remember and to process information. It can also affect emotions and behaviour Dementia can be very isolating as the person with dementia struggles to make sense of their surroundings/environment We can add to that isolation by the way we regard people with dementia

Person with dementia Or Person with dementia

What might we do Personhood defined by seven essential aspects Memory Reason Feelings Senses Choice Skills Relationships Albert Jewell Crying in the wilderness 2009

Personhood Memory – use of longer term memory can be an aid to communication Reason – Thoughts can get jumbled - being patient not getting frustrated or phased. Still treat them as a thinking human being Feelings – Still have all the feelings but they may get expressed differently or more vividly - take the feelings seriously

Personhood Senses - we are multi sensual beings but we generally rely on mouth to ear communication. - Creative use of other senses touch, smell, sight. Choice - Reducing choice reduces ones personhood – try to continue to offer choice even if it is in the smallest things Skills - Humans are creative and dementia can cause a loss of skills however some such as artistic and musical remain and can develop/be acquired – be creative

Personhood Relationships - We receive much of our personhood from relationships with others. For someone with dementia relationships may be difficult to sustain, however new relationships can be formed and celebrated. Isolation can happen because we think that their ability to form relationships has gone. At a recent seminar I was reminded that someone who has dementia has the pleasure of always meeting new people

Carers Caring role can happen suddenly (following a stroke) or creep up gradually (Alzheimers) Partner or family caring full time can feel very isolated themselves Can be experiencing all sorts of emotions, Can find the caring role physically very tough as well, disturbed sleep, coping with wandering etc Can find that they are no longer recognised by the person they are caring for May have all sorts of needs themselves which are not being met Important to look at supporting them as well

Over to you