The Preserved Abilities Method

04/23/2026

Preserved Abilities Series | Post 2

What looks like resistance isn’t always something to stop.

It may be a person trying to do something…
in a way that no longer works for them.

When someone:
☑ doesn’t respond
☑ looks away
☑ disengages

…it may not be refusal.

It may be a mismatch between the task…
and the abilities that are still there.

Instead of asking:
“How do I get them to do this?”

Try asking:
“How can I change how I’m presenting it?”

You might:
☑ demonstrate instead of explain
☑ guide through movement
☑ simplify the way the task is introduced

What looks like resistance… can become engagement.

What feels like refusal… can become success.

When we match the approach to the ability, everything changes.
And when we respond differently—so do they. ❤️

04/20/2026

Preserved Abilities Series | Post 1

Some behaviors are attempts to use abilities that are still there.

What looks like “repeating” isn’t always something to stop.

It may be a person trying to use what still works.

When someone repeats:

☑️ words
☑️ phrases
☑️ sounds

…it can be a sign that rhythm and language abilities are still there.

Instead of asking:
“How do I stop this?”

Try asking:
“How can I use this?”

You might:

☑️ respond using the same words or rhythm
☑️ turn it into a simple back-and-forth
☑️ match their tone or pace

What looks repetitive… can become interaction.

What sounds like noise… can become connection.

When we recognize the ability, we respond differently.

And when we respond differently—so do they. ❤️

04/17/2026

Is it just noise… or is it communication?

When someone with dementia starts making sounds, repeating words, or no longer speaking clearly, it’s easy to feel unsure of how to respond.

Many people assume:
“They’re not communicating anymore.”

But that’s not true.

Communication doesn’t disappear—it changes.

What often sounds like “mumbling” or “noise” may actually be an attempt to connect.

There’s an approach called Intensive Interaction that helps caregivers respond in these moments.

Instead of focusing on words, it focuses on:

Responding to sounds
Matching tone or emotion
Being present and engaged

But here’s what many people don’t realize:

This works because people with dementia still have abilities.

Even when words fade, abilities like:

responding to tone and rhythm
expressing emotion
connecting with others
communicating through movement or behavior
…are often still there.

These are called preserved abilities.
And when you respond to your loved one in these ways, you’re meeting them where they are—not where they used to be.

The goal is simple:

Connect first. Communicate second.

Even small moments of connection matter.

And often, they’re still possible—just in a different way.

If you’d like a simple, step-by-step way to recognize how your loved one is still able to communicate, this guide walks you through it:

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWKB94HJ

The Preserved Abilities Method: A Strength-Based Approach to Dementia Care

04/15/2026

Not everyone who loves music has strong musical ability…
and that’s okay.

This is something I see all the time.

A loved one enjoys listening to music, so it’s easy to assume:
“They must be musical.”

But in reality, there’s a difference between enjoying music and having the ability to use music in a meaningful way.

And understanding that difference matters.

Because when we rely on assumptions, we can end up using strategies that don’t actually help.

Here’s what to look for instead:

Does your loved one…
• keep rhythm (tapping, clapping, swaying)
• sing along or recognize lyrics
• respond emotionally when certain songs play
• become calmer or more engaged with music

If so, music may still be a preserved ability—just not in the way we typically think.

The goal isn’t to label someone as “musical.”

The goal is to understand how they respond to music…
and then use that to support communication, engagement, and daily care.

That’s the difference between guessing…
and truly meeting someone where they are.

04/13/2026

She wasn’t losing the ability to feed herself.
She was losing the opportunity.

I worked with a woman who was nonverbal and beginning to struggle during meals.

She could still scoop the food onto her utensil…
But then she would pause.

The utensil would sit there.

She wasn’t bringing it to her mouth.

So what happened?

People stepped in.

They began feeding her—assuming they were helping.

But over time, something changed.

She began doing less…
and less…
until she was no longer feeding herself at all.

It looked like decline.

But it wasn’t.

It was disuse.

When we took a closer look, she was identified as having strong bodily-kinesthetic ability—meaning she could still learn and respond through movement and physical cues.

So we tried something simple.

A communication strategy called touch cueing.

Each time she paused, the caregiver gently touched her arm.

That was it.

No words. No instructions.

Just a physical cue.

And almost immediately…

She lifted the utensil and brought it to her mouth.

Again and again.

Her independence returned.

And more importantly—
she didn’t lose the skill.

This is the difference between assuming someone can’t…
and understanding how they still can.

When we identify preserved abilities,
we don’t just improve care—
we protect it.

If you’re supporting someone with dementia, follow this page.
I share real, practical strategies based on what people can still do.

04/12/2026

Wandering is not always a behavior problem.

Sometimes…
it’s a sign of a strength.

We’re often taught to see wandering in dementia as:

❌ confusion
❌ restlessness
❌ something to stop

But what if we’re looking at it the wrong way?

What if that movement is actually an expression of preserved ability?

For some individuals, wandering reflects Bodily–Kinesthetic ability—
a natural drive to move, explore, and physically engage with the world.

And when that ability isn’t supported…
it shows up in ways we label as “behavior.”

But when it is supported?

Something changes.

✔ movement becomes purposeful
✔ agitation often decreases
✔ engagement becomes more natural

This is the shift:

Not “how do we stop this?”
But—

“How do we support what’s still there?”

Because even in the presence of cognitive decline…
ability remains.

The question is:
are we recognizing it—or trying to suppress it?

Follow for more practical, strengths-based approaches to dementia care.

04/11/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮.

𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀.

Even individuals who are considered “non-verbal” still have ways to express themselves—you just have to know where to look.

This is where identifying 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 becomes so important.

When you understand what abilities are still strong, you can begin to communicate in ways that match them.

For example:

Someone who no longer speaks much may still respond to 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰
Someone who struggles with conversation may still connect through 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵
Someone who seems withdrawn may still communicate through 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

When communication is aligned with what remains…
✨ 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀
✨ 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀
✨ 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻

This is the foundation of a strengths-based approach to care.

It’s not about trying harder to get a response the “old way.”
It’s about changing the way we communicate to meet them where they are.

And when you do…

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 “𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗹” 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹.

04/10/2026

Not all behaviors in dementia are problems.
Some are signs of a preserved ability.

For example:

Someone who likes routine, notices when things are out of place, asks repeated questions about schedules, or becomes frustrated when plans change may still have strong logical-mathematical ability—the ability to recognize patterns, structure, and order.

This is often misunderstood as:
• rigidity
• resistance
• or “being difficult”

But it may actually be a strength.

Strength-based approach:
Instead of constantly changing plans, try:
• keeping a consistent daily routine
• using simple schedules or written cues
• explaining changes step-by-step
• giving a sense of predictability and structure

When things feel organized and expected, anxiety often decreases—and cooperation improves.

This is the foundation of The Preserved Abilities Method™.

04/08/2026

Ready to take a different approach to dementia care?
To purchase a copy of The Preserved Abilities Method™, click here:

The Preserved Abilities Method: A Strength-Based Approach to Dementia Care

04/07/2026

Several years ago, a home care agency told me my mom should be placed on hospice.
They said she had end-stage dementia and wouldn’t live much longer.

Everything they shared focused on what she had lost.

Nothing about what she could still do.

But I knew my mom still had more to give.

So I said no.

Instead, I began using the Preserved Abilities Method™.

It helped me identify her strengths—and use them to guide her care.

And everything changed.

Care became easier.
She became more engaged.
And she seemed happier.

Years later, she’s still here.

Living with dementia…
and still enjoying life ❤️

Ericka Clausen
Englewood, Florida

04/07/2026

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned in dementia care came from a woman in a memory care community during one of our early pilots.

She wasn’t interested in most of the programming.

So when she became upset…
staff had very few options.

Redirection didn’t work.
Activities didn’t engage her.

And too often, the only solution left was a sedating medication.

But when we completed the assessment, something important stood out:

She still had a preserved verbal-linguistic ability.

So instead of trying to redirect her with something generic…

We tried something aligned with that ability.

When she became upset, staff handed her a whiteboard and marker and asked her to copy the words from a poster on the wall.

That was it.

What happened next changed everything.

She immediately calmed down. She took the whiteboard…
and began writing.

She stayed engaged in that activity for 15 minutes.

No resistance.
No escalation.
No medication.

Nothing about her condition changed.

What changed was the approach.

This is the difference when care is aligned with what’s still working.

Instead of trying to manage behaviors…
you give the brain something it can still do.

This is the foundation of The Preserved Abilities Method™

And this is why identifying preserved abilities matters.

Because the right activity…
at the right moment…

can completely change the outcome. ❤️