Buckley’s Blog

I recently received a Certificate of Completion for a class on Meeting the Challenges of Dementia. This class is part of the process to become certified by the National Association of Retirement Counselors. I am also pursuing certification by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
The Dementia Class was very informative in many respects and a good review as well. The one thing that stood out was how my staff-training on dealing with our clients with Dementia is right in line with the current recommended method. Our staff members use the “Validation Method” when working with our clients, as opposed to the “Reality Method.” The latter instructs a person to continually attempt to correct a Dementia sufferer with reality or hard facts. The example used by the class instructor was a Blue and Green chair. If the client states the chair is Black and Orange, the “Reality Method” would be to insist that the chair is actually Blue and Green. As noted, the client with Dementia will not be able to process this due to their medical disease and the result will be the release of stress chemicals, confusion, frustration and possibly anger.
The “Validation Method,” which we use, instructs the response to the above mentioned scenario as being “Yes, that IS an interesting chair isn’t it?!”
Our goal at Buckley’s is to provide intellectual stimulation to our Dementia clients. Depending on the advancement of their disease, we concentrate on whatever long term memories may still be intact, inviting conversations and recollections on comfortable topics. We also use methods such as playing board games and card games. This kind of stimulation has shown effective in keeping the brain as sharp as possible. My staff members have reported clear instances of improved cognitive abilities during or shortly after such activities. Of course, my staff members are particularly gifted in the area of intellectual stimulation due to their high levels of education, travel, professional careers and life experience.
I was pleased to learn of medical advancements in the understanding and treatment of the over 70 different types of Dementia (the most common being Alzheimer’s).
I look forward to sharing more about my Continuing Education Classes with all of you in the future!
-Buckley