1. Tips for working with people who have Dementia

2. Helpful Approaches / Always include them / Include them in conversations about them / Don’t rush / Slow down your overall pacing / Speak slowly (within reason) / Shhhhh….wait for a reply (within reason) / Always include them / Include them in conversations about them / Don’t rush / Slow down your overall pacing / Speak slowly (within reason) / Shhhhh….wait for a reply (within reason)

3. Helpful Approaches / Relax / A hurried/anxious approach can cause anxiety or concern for people with dem. / Don’t startle them - come up from behind them and start talking / Be present - focus on what you’re doing / Relax / A hurried/anxious approach can cause anxiety or concern for people with dem. / Don’t startle them - come up from behind them and start talking / Be present - focus on what you’re doing

4. Helpful Approaches / Give them space / Stand with them not over them / Be at eye level and slightly to one side / “Hi, I’m (Name) - it’s nice to see you” / Avoid “do you remember…” they may not / Give them space / Stand with them not over them / Be at eye level and slightly to one side / “Hi, I’m (Name) - it’s nice to see you” / Avoid “do you remember…” they may not

5. Helpful Approaches / Humor and Gentle Enthusiasm / Infectious and rapport building / Avoid biting sarcasm or other forms of humor that can be mistaken for ridicule / Be gently enthusiastic / Avoid “cheerleader” approach / Can cause stress or anxiety / Humor and Gentle Enthusiasm / Infectious and rapport building / Avoid biting sarcasm or other forms of humor that can be mistaken for ridicule / Be gently enthusiastic / Avoid “cheerleader” approach / Can cause stress or anxiety

6. Helpful Approaches / Touch / Use purposefully and with forethought / Light touch on the shoulder / Can communicate concern/care / Can increase focus/attention / Touch / Use purposefully and with forethought / Light touch on the shoulder / Can communicate concern/care / Can increase focus/attention

7. Helpful Approaches / One Step at a Time / Give directions in step-wise format / Avoid “first we will..then we will…then..” / Keep them concrete / Asking someone to “stand up, pick up the mallet, then sit back down” may be too much / Don’t have to be verbal / One Step at a Time / Give directions in step-wise format / Avoid “first we will..then we will…then..” / Keep them concrete / Asking someone to “stand up, pick up the mallet, then sit back down” may be too much / Don’t have to be verbal

8. Helpful Approaches / One Step at a Time / Give directions in step-wise format / Avoid “first we will..then we will…then..” / Keep them concrete / Asking someone to “stand up, pick up the mallet, then sit back down” may be too much / Don’t have to be verbal / One Step at a Time / Give directions in step-wise format / Avoid “first we will..then we will…then..” / Keep them concrete / Asking someone to “stand up, pick up the mallet, then sit back down” may be too much / Don’t have to be verbal

9. Helpful Approaches / Lots of Praise or Acknowledgment / Should respect their adulthood / Be Flexible / Agitation and wandering / Have fun! / Remember pace. / Lots of Praise or Acknowledgment / Should respect their adulthood / Be Flexible / Agitation and wandering / Have fun! / Remember pace.