Mellie’s Post

💡 Teaching Children How to Engage with Loved Ones with Dementia 💡 ● **🗣️ Be honest with your children about what to expect, within reason.**    - Start with questions to gauge their understanding of the situation.    - Educate your children about dementia as a health condition and explain that it is not something they can control.    - Explain that they may need to approach each conversation with their loved one as if starting a new relationship each time. It may feel repetitive and sometimes not make sense, but this approach will help facilitate better communication.    - Emphasize that their loved one’s inability to engage in conversations doesn't mean they care any less. ● **🎭 Explain that sometimes "make believe" is okay.**    - Don't contradict their loved one even if they say something nonsensical or disturbing.    - Frame going along with inaccurate statements as playing make-believe rather than lying. ● **🎨 Have activities or conversation topics planned in advance.**    - Encourage the child to carry the weight of the conversation.    - Give them conversation topics to bring up.    - Consider specific activities they can do together, such as coloring, listening to music, making flower arrangements, puzzles, or singing songs. ● **👀 Have them stay in your loved one's line of sight, in order not to startle them.**    - Remind the child to be aware of their physical position in relation to their loved one.    - Encourage the use of gestures to aid communication. Remember, every situation is different, but these tips can help ensure a healthy, positive relationship between your child and your loved ones, even as dementia progresses. 📚 Below is list of suggested books on the topic from the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Memory Center, Books for Children on Dementia. #DementiaCare #FamilySupport #ChildrensBooks #HealthyRelationships #DementiaAwareness #Caregiving #CompassionateCare #Parenting #CaregiverSupport #MemoryCare #DementiaEducation #MentalHealthMatters 💙

💡 Teaching Children How to Engage with Loved Ones with Dementia 💡 ● **🗣️ Be honest with your children about what to expect, within reason.**    - Start with questions to gauge their understanding of the situation.    - Educate your children about dementia as a health condition and explain that it is not something they can control.    - Explain that they may need to approach each conversation with their loved one as if starting a new relationship each time. It may feel repetitive and sometimes not make sense, but this approach will help facilitate better communication.    - Emphasize that their loved one’s inability to engage in conversations doesn't mean they care any less. ● **🎭 Explain that sometimes "make believe" is okay.**    - Don't contradict their loved one even if they say something nonsensical or disturbing.    - Frame going along with inaccurate statements as playing make-believe rather than lying. ● **🎨 Have activities or conversation topics planned in advance.**    - Encourage the child to carry the weight of the conversation.    - Give them conversation topics to bring up.    - Consider specific activities they can do together, such as coloring, listening to music, making flower arrangements, puzzles, or singing songs. ● **👀 Have them stay in your loved one's line of sight, in order not to startle them.**    - Remind the child to be aware of their physical position in relation to their loved one.    - Encourage the use of gestures to aid communication. Remember, every situation is different, but these tips can help ensure a healthy, positive relationship between your child and your loved ones, even as dementia progresses. 📚 Below is list of suggested books on the topic from the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Memory Center, Books for Children on Dementia. #DementiaCare #FamilySupport #ChildrensBooks #HealthyRelationships #DementiaAwareness #Caregiving #CompassionateCare #Parenting #CaregiverSupport #MemoryCare #DementiaEducation #MentalHealthMatters 💙

When I first started Dementia Careblazers, it was important to me to find a way to give family members access to clear answers and creative solutions to their most challenging situations. That's how this channel was created - by answering the questions I was receiving every day in my clinical practice. I had no idea what I was doing and was incredibly scared, but I committed to turning on my camera and posting a new in depth training video every week. Today, we've reached over 16.8 million views worldwide and have more than 168,000 YouTube subscribers with the majority of our viewers being over the age of 65 years old. I'm proud that all our videos are free—no subscription needed, just internet access. We cover topics such as: - What to do when someone with dementia says "I want to go home." - What to do if the person with dementia doesn't want to bathe/shower. - Helpful products and resources to make caregiving easier - Interview with dementia experts - Breaking news and up-to-date dementia research - and more To access hundreds of free training videos, go to: https://lnkd.in/g9AJkbmz #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiasupport #caregiving #careblazers

Are you struggling to care for a loved one with dementia? Do you feel overwhelmed and under supported? Then join us for an exclusive Sweet Pea Care webinar where we will share practical tips to help families like yours. We're joined by special guest, Beth Britton 💚 Britton (Dementia Author and Campaigner). Beth will provide useful advice on how to navigate the challenges of caring for someone with dementia and answer your questions. Beth Britton is a former carer to her father who had vascular dementia for 19 years. She is an expert content creator who won ‘Best Independent Voice on Older People’s Issues’ and is the author of D4Dementia, one of the foremost dementia blogs in the world. Beth also provides consultancy services to social care providers, including training and mentoring, and has worked with a variety of organisations including the Dept for Health and Social Care, CQC, PHE and NICE. Find out more about Beth's work at bethbritton.com Don't miss out on this informative session that can make a real difference in your caregiving journey. Sign up now! #dementiasupport #dementia #dementiacaregiver #dementiacare #dementiafriendly #alzheimers #alzheimerscare #alzheimerssupport #eldercare #elderlycare https://lnkd.in/dxdRkKfa

Are you struggling to care for a loved one with dementia? Do you feel overwhelmed and under supported? Then join us for an exclusive Sweet Pea Care webinar where we will share practical tips to help families like yours. We're joined by special guest, Beth Britton 💚 Britton (Dementia Author and Campaigner). Beth will provide useful advice on how to navigate the challenges of caring for someone with dementia and answer your questions. Beth Britton is a former carer to her father who had vascular dementia for 19 years. She is an expert content creator who won ‘Best Independent Voice on Older People’s Issues’ and is the author of D4Dementia, one of the foremost dementia blogs in the world. Beth also provides consultancy services to social care providers, including training and mentoring, and has worked with a variety of organisations including the Dept for Health and Social Care, CQC, PHE and NICE. Find out more about Beth's work at bethbritton.com Don't miss out on this informative session that can make a real difference in your caregiving journey. Sign up now! #dementiasupport #dementia #dementiacaregiver #dementiacare #dementiafriendly #alzheimers #alzheimerscare #alzheimerssupport #eldercare #elderlycare https://lnkd.in/dxdRkKfa