Many Opportunities to Learn

One of the many benefits of my recent retirement as a long-term care nurse leader is the many opportunities to learn. Reading was often about regulations and mostly about COVID the last 2 years. My interest & passion has always been elders and care partners and it was often a struggle to find time to grow those relationships. That is no longer true since “retirement.” Now I enjoy reading, walking our dogs, piano lessons & practice, reading, virtual education and calls with all kinds of interesting elders, and did I mention reading? One additional retirement benefit is that my blood pressure is down.

 We are looking forward to a busy September. Perspectives Coaching will be launching a free course on the Domains of Well-Being as a foundation for elder stories. It’s a great format for anyone’s story, especially when trying to understand the world of living with a dementia cognitive disability. (See more about word choice in 8/26 blog) Perspectives Coaching will continue to use words like elder, care partners, cognitive disability, community without further explanation. Keep a sharp eye out for any words that don’t increase dignity and understanding. If you catch any institutional words sneaking into this web-site please let us know!

Another “looking forward to event” is attending the Dementia Action Alliance Conference this month in Indianapolis.

Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) was started more than 25 years ago by people living with dementia, their care partners, and advocates.  

DAA’s annual conference content and format accommodations for conference participants living with dementia symptoms are immediately obvious. There is a quiet room open for attendees living with dementia. The program includes communication tips during the conference:

1. Speak more slowly to provide additional time to process information

2. Try not to use jargon or acronyms

3. Be mindful of multiple sounds and noise

4. Use appropriate language, word choices

 These are helpful communication tips for me to remember all the time, not just when attending this conference. I look forward to many opportunities to learn, especially from those living with dementia.