Creating hope while living with dementia.
One story at a time.
Our Philosophy
A dementia diagnosis is not the end of your story.
While dementia affects memory and cognitive function, not all cognitive skills are lost to dementia. Based on the DAWN® Method, cognitive skills lost are understood as well as skills that remain. A dementia diagnosis is not the end of one’s story. It is the beginning of a new way to experience the world together.
Perspectives Coaching provides strength-based, proactive dementia coaching and education. Elders, long-term care and assisted living communities, care partners, and families effected by dementia benefit.
Dementia Education and Coaching
We each have our own story that makes our perspective unique. Coaching begins with preserving and telling an elder’s story. Storytelling is a meaningful partnership that includes an elder and family with Perspectives Coaching support.
Elder Stories
Telling an elder’s story is a fun, creative way to get to know each other. Stories are used during coaching. They become a meaningful gift that preserves memories and supports dementia care coordination.
Community Education
Experiential education includes the DAWN® Method’s proactive, strength-based approach adapted to living in a community. Education includes real life scenarios for participants to evaluate and problem solve.
Individual or Group Coaching
Using the DAWN® Method, dementia coaching options include individual, family, and small groups. Depending on location and preference, coaching is available in-person or virtual.
Aging Well Education
Experiential learning opportunities address alternatives to the “aging as decline” narrative. Participants evaluate their own aging ideas to identify ways to enhance a “growth rather than loss” perspective. Interactive education is both supportive and fun.
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Conference education and keynote presentations are interactive. Participants learn practical communication techniques.
Keynote Speaker
Meet Ruth
Founder & Passionate Educator
Ruth is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in counseling. She is a Certified DAWN® Trainer, Eden Alternative® Associate and Educator, and Certified Life Coach. Working 30-plus years in long-term care provided Ruth opportunities to see the effects of institutionalization. Ruth is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for those who live and work in care communities. Ruth is currently the president of the Colorado Culture Change Coalition.
I was blessed with devoted, highly educated parents. My father was an ordained minister and teacher. He taught by living his life based on sermons he preached. My mom was a gifted musician, language scholar, and therapist. Living with progressive dementia, she taught me what is important. When Mom couldn’t remember what lunch was, she would ask, “Does it really matter anyway?”
- Ruth Minnema, Founder
Our Tools
The DAWN® Method is a strength-based approach to dementia care. It was developed to support people living at home and minimize moving. When companions learn how to work with dementia, conflict can be decreased and relationships become more enjoyable.
The Eden Alternative® Wellbeing Domains are the foundation for an elder’s story. Stories are organized based on the seven domains of wellbeing. Elderhood is embraced as a time of continued growth rather than decline.
Our Purpose of Stories
We seek to redefine care using a storytelling, person-directed approach.
Stories support elders and their care partners to become well known.
We create hope by changing the dementia-as-decline narrative one story at a time.
Storytelling is fun. It creates meaning and preserves memories.
Stories celebrate aging and the wisdom it brings.
Ready to improve well-being in your family or community?
Words from our Perspectives Coaching community.
Featured
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