Solutions to complex problems hiding in plain sight!
Psychosis, anxiety, sleep disturbance, agitation and depression! These are among the most complex behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD’s) associated with dementia that create challenges for care/service providers and reduce overall quality of life for clients. Often we think of these conditions as “solutions refractory” i.e. we’ve tried everything and nothing works!
This workshop focuses on a 180-degree about-face in thinking. Instead of looking to create new solutions to old problems we need to learn ways to better harness our existing resources and people potential to discover ideas that may already be present in the care environment.
- Review the dementia disease process including insights into physical, cognitive symptoms and how they present in a care setting in order to maximize ability and minimize disability.
- Introduction to the person centred philosophy of care.
- In-depth exploration of complex symptoms related to disturbances in perception, mood, circadian rhythm and behavior.
- Use of standardized assessment tools including the importance of the client’s story.
- Introduction to the concept of “positive deviance” and how behavioral interventions can develop from unexpected places, persons, outliers, exceptions to the rule, creativity, trial and error.