Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Within the past 20 years of dementia care, multiple communication techniques have been attempted at effectively redirecting and communicating with those with dementia including: Reality orientation, therapeutic fibs and fantasy validation. The problematic issues that arise from these past techniques include an increase in agitation among the person with dementia (PWD), increasing difficulty with redirection by staff as well as a lack of understanding of â�?�?how to effectively communicateâ�? by family members. The vagueness of these techniques do not allow for a family member to feel confident in their abilities to communicate and therefore lead to a decrease in meaningful moments of connection with the PWD. The IMPROVeâ�?¢ communication technique developed by Silver Dawn founders Tami Neumann and Catherine Braxton successfully provide a simplistic format for communication that can be easily trained to direct care staff, family members, first responders and business owners within a community. The patented technique utilizes the concepts of â�?�?improvâ�? to provide rules of engagement that encourage positive interaction and an increase in meaningful moment creation. A Pre-test and post-test method was utilized when providing the IMPROVe�?©â�?¢ communication training to police, fire, medics, building department personal, local business owners and children within the school settings during a 6 month pilot program developed in Blue Island, Illinois. The findings indicate that the IMPROVeâ�?¢ training increased the populationâ�?�?s confidence level in effectively communicating with a senior and PWD by 41%. Posttests after IMPROVeâ�?¢ training also indicated an increase of 51% in active listening skills by the participant. These figures indicate that a social model of education and training with IMPROVeâ�?¢ can enhance the engagements with PWD dramatically and should be utilized among all forms of communities to encourage meaningful moment creation for families, children and the community at large.

Biography

Email: silverdawnsfc@gmail.com