Dementia Care Training Solutions Kenya

18/02/2019

DCTS DAILY TIP : VALIDATION THERAPY
Use validation therapy or therapeutic fibs to respond kindly
Dementia care experts recommend joining your older adult in their reality rather than trying to force them back into ours. Trying to get them to understand facts or our reality usually causes confusion, anxiety, fear, and anger.

Someone with dementia may insist that they’re children waiting for their mother to pick them up, they need to get to the office even though they’re retired, or they’re going to visit a relative who passed away long ago. Instead of telling them that they’re wrong, use validation therapy or therapeutic fibs to kindly respond to their version of reality.

Gently ask an open-ended question about the person they’re going to see or activity they want to do. Or join their reality by saying OK, going along with the scenario for a while, then redirecting to a different activity.

Validating their reality and allowing them to express their thoughts helps them feel calmer and happier.

11/02/2019

DCTS DAILY TIP.

Ignoring symptoms won’t make them go away
When you notice your older adult struggling with memory, thinking or judgment, it’s scary to think that they might have dementia. Because it can be so hard to accept, many people hope that the symptoms will go away on their own or that they’re mistaken.
But the situation isn’t going to fix itself.
The best thing to do is have them see their doctor for a thorough exam. First, there are many treatable health conditions that cause dementia-like symptoms. Second, even if dementia has no cure, early diagnosis means that treatments will be more effective and could delay progression, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life.

06/02/2019

DCTS, TIP OF THE DAY.
Share your challenges and get help
Caregiving, especially dementia care, can be a lonely and exhausting job. Instead of doing everything alone, talk about your challenges and reach out to people who can help.
It can be difficult to seek out or accept help, but caregivers who have gotten help often wish they’d done it sooner – it’s worth a try. Knowing that you’re not the only one going through this or getting a few hours of rest can make a big difference.

05/02/2019

Dealing With Dementia Anger.
1. Take a break. Sometimes just pausing and coming back in 5 or 10 minutes works. Try saying, “Honey, I’m so sorry I misunderstood what you wanted for breakfast. I’ll be back in a few minutes to check in with you.”
2. Look for triggers. Think about what happened right before the outburst. Can you detect a pattern to avoid in the future? Some persons with dementia get very tired in the afternoon, for example, and may get angry if you try to engage them in activities then. Line up more activities in the morning and give them a break in the afternoon.
3. Watch for pain or illness. The person with dementia may have a toothache, arthritis pain, or simply be sick. Dementia expert David Troxel recommends watching for abrupt changes. “If a happy-go-lucky person is suddenly moody and angry, that is usually a good sign that it’s a physical health issue.”
4. Bring up a favorite subject from the person’s life story. Talking about your wife’s childhood, favorite foods, or experiences can sometimes change a bad mood into a good one.
5. Apologizing is tough, but it’s sometimes the best response to anger—even if it’s not your fault! Saying, “Honey, I’m so sorry that I misunderstood you. I’ll do better next time. I love you” can turn that anger into a smile.

05/02/2019

DCTS TIP OF THE DAY
It’s never too late improve brain health:
After finding out that your loved one or someone you care for has dementia, it might seem like improving brain health would be time wasting. But healthy habits can truly help a brain with dementia. It’s possible to slow the progression of the disease, reduce symptoms, and generally improve quality of life.
Getting regular physical exercise, doing things that are mentally stimulating, and participating in engaging activities all help to improve brain health.

04/02/2019

“Don’t forget that you’re human. It’s okay to have a melt down. Just don’t unpack and live there. Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed.” – Unknown
....DCTS

04/02/2019

Why does DCTS offer training to caregivers you may ask? Most of us at some point had an ailing family member and it was our duty to care for them. Be it in giving medications, cooking, cleaning keeping them company or even accompanying them for a walk. Fact is the caregiving community is incredibly diverse. We can agree that there is joy and satisfaction in caring for our loved ones.In the end we all want our loved ones to be properly taken care of while we are away. At DCTS we believe in the need for caregiving awareness, sensitization and training. In addition we recognize the dire need for further research into Alzheimer’s and dementia in Kenya. Dementia caregiving is a world where the ‘normal’ rules don’t apply and we all need guidance learning to support, motivate, and keep people with dementia safe.

04/02/2019

DEMENTIA CARE, DAILY TIP:
It’s not worth it to argue with someone who has dementia
Dementia causes your older adult’s brain to malfunction. When they say things that don’t make sense or are clearly untrue, they believe what they’re saying because it’s what their brain is telling them.
It’s frustrating to hear things that aren’t true and instinctive to try to correct or remind. But that will only lead to both of you arguing or getting upset. And you simply can’t win an argument with someone who can no longer use reason or logic consistently.

28/01/2019

MEALTIME DIFFICULTIES??

 Serve small, frequent snacks and meals, especially easy-to-eat finger foods.
 Find alternative hydration methods to just drinking water. For example, try liquid meals like soup, cereal or the porridge he loves, flavored water and juices. A protein shake can also be interchanged with Ensure.
 Arrange the food on the plate, if the he is having trouble eating, try less food (portion size), and less items. One or two food choices is enough. In addition, if there is one food he really likes, put that on the plate and another food right next to it.
 Increase food flavors – How and what food tastes like changes with time. Salty and sweet flavors tend to weaken first. Later, it may be more difficult for you to taste things that are bitter or sour. His sense of smell could have lessened too.
 Offer food at the same time each day- When someone is on a routine, they’ll be hungrier at mealtime. However, when he is hungry, make sure to serve the bigger portions than when he is not hungry.

26/01/2019

7 Stages & Symptoms...

26/01/2019

It all boils down to.....
1) Regular aerobic exercise
2) Brain / Mental stimulation i.e reading, puzzles
3) Enough sleep- deprivation leads to an increase in amyloid beta that leads to build of of plaques causing alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, says neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice," Lisa Genova. She shares the latest science investigating the disease -- and some promising research on what each of us can do to build an Alzheimer's-resistant brain.

25/01/2019

As it is the norm in the African culture, when a loved one falls ill, gets treated and heads home to recuperate, 90 % of the times the family members will seldom find a trained nurse or caregiver to care for their loved one while they work. Partly because of high costs, and the thought of leaving their loved one with a stranger. In the said homes is a domestic worker or relative. This is a difficult time for both parties. Naturally we expect our loved ones to be taken care of with the utmost care, forgetting that the domestic worker or relative may not have a clue on how best to care for the loved one. Care giver training and sensitization is therefore of a necessity than a need in ensuring that your loved ones receive utmost care. This is where we come in…….Contact DCTS for a free consultation

25/01/2019

The daily care needs of the elderly differ greatly from those of the general population. First, people in the later years of their lives are much more susceptible to a variety of health conditions that require highly specialized care. For instance, alzheimer’s and dementia are much more common beyond age 65. However, alzheimer’s patients can sometimes benefit from in-home care, especially when the condition first appears or when it is only present in one member of a household.

24/01/2019

It is important to have your family member or domestic worker trained.DCTS Kenya, ensures that your caregiver not only understands dementia and its causes but as well
knows proper caregiving techniques..........................Have the peace of mind knowing that your loved one is in good hands at all times even when you're away.

21/01/2019

DCTS (KE): Quality of life equals the quality of care given!!!!!!!

21/01/2019

FAMILY CAREGIVER TRAINING PROGRAM (FCTP) . 6000
1) CORE MODULE: Living with Dementia
• Recognize the symptoms of dementia and its impact on the person with dementia and caregivers.
• Appreciate the principles of Person-Centered Care.
• Communicate effectively with the person with dementia.
• Understand the nature of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
• Identify a range of strategies to cope with the changing behavior of persons with dementia.

2) ELECTIVE MODULE 1: Purposeful and Meaningful Engagement
3) ELECTIVE MODULE 2: A positive Approach to Challenging Behavior

21/01/2019

Domestic Workers Training Program (DWTP) @ Ksh. 7500
1) CORE MODULE: Essentials of Dementia Care
2) ELECTIVE MODULES: Caring for a Person with Dementia
• Everyday Care
• Meaningful Activities
• Fall Prevention
• Managing Mealtimes & Nutrition
• Creating A Comfortable & Safe Environment
• Understanding and management of behavioral problems
@ Ksh. 7500