Teri Sellers
Join us this month as we explore Teepa Snow’s GEMS approach to dementia care using video and interactive discussions.
Caring for a person living with dementia is not easy. Not only can challenging situations arise at any moment, but the traditional medical model caregivers might be confronted with by their well-meaning physician exudes a very negative outlook. Commonly used scales, such as the Global Deterioration Scale/Reisberg Scale, exclusively focus on what a person has lost as they transition through the different stages of dementia. Yes, as of the time of this writing, there is no cure for dementia. And yes, all types of dementia are terminal. What none of those scales take into consideration is that people living with dementia can still enjoy a rewarding life. This is particularly the case if their caregiver – or “care partner,” as we like to call them here at Positive Approach to Care (PAC) – is using Teepa Snow’s GEMS® dementia state classification model.
Unlike the traditional models, the GEMS focus on the skills and abilities a person still has, not what they have lost. Instead of looking at people as less, Teepa’s model encourages care partners to see what the person living with dementia still has left and is still able to do.
By being able to recognize a person’s GEMS state and thereby noticing the skills and abilities a person still has, care partners are able to provide the right support and care to help the person shine.
The Alzheimer’s Support Group is open only to PebbleCreek residents who have a loved one with dementia.
Respite Care
We may be able to provide free respite care for those with Alzheimer’s/dementia during the caregiver meeting. This will allow the caregiver the opportunity and peace of mind to attend the discussion group. Please call me with your RSVP no later than Tuesday, April 14.
Monthly Breakfast
A more casual opportunity to meet and share with other caregivers is the first Saturday of each month. We meet at Eagle’s Nest for breakfast and just talk. Getting to know other caregivers can be very supportive and helpful as the journey of this disease can be challenging. RSVP is required by April 2 for the April 4 breakfast.
For information or to RSVP for respite care or the breakfast, please call Teri Sellers at 602-793-0299 or email [email protected].