FANSHAWE COLLEGE

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER PROGRAM

DINA BOONE
PUBLIC EDUCATION COORDINATOR
ALZHEIMER SOCIETY LONDON & MIDDLESEX
 Guidelines and Outline
• Review Classroom Guidelines for Safe Environment
• Overview of Dementia
• Brain Health
• Understanding Brain Changes - 7 A’s
• Behaviour Changes, Contributors and Approaches
– Communication Changes and Approaches
• Living Well with Dementia/Safety
• The Alzheimer Society London & Middlesex
• Resources/GPA Program
 Safety Guidelines
Group Guidelines for a great workshop:
- Feel free to share questions/comments during presentation
- Flexibility to leave room if needed (washroom, etc.)
- Everyone has an opportunity to speak
- Being respectful of all questions, opinions and comments
- Staying focused so everyone can leave on time
- Please turn cell phones to silent mode or off
- Parking Lot: opportunity to talk about unrelated topics or to ask
questions individually after presentation
 Brain Health
• Challenge Your Brain – brain games, learn a new language or
simple changes like brushing your hair with the other hand
• Be Socially Active – talk on the phone, meet someone for coffee
or attend social groups
• Be Active – do things you enjoy, combine social and activity, set
reasonable goals; always with doctor first
• Choose Wisely – see your doctor regularly and have your
numbers checked, healthy food choices, reduce stress and get
plenty of rest
• Protect Your Head – wear a helmet, drive safely, always wear a
seatbelt, use safety rails and eliminate scatter rugs
 What is Dementia?
Dementia
• is not a disease, but a set of
symptoms that accompanies a
disease
• symptoms can include loss of
memory, understanding, and
judgment.
 DEMENTIA UMBRELLA

(Alzheimer’s Research UK Blog)

 What is Dementia?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HobxLbPhrMc
 Alzheimer’s Disease

• is a progressive, degenerative
disease that attacks the brain
and results in impaired
memory, thinking and
behaviour.
 Understanding Brain
Changes, Communication
and Behaviour
 The 7 A’s of Dementia

• Anosognosia (ă-nō′sog-nō′sē-ă)
• Amnesia
• Agnosia (\ag-’nō-zhə, -shə\)
• Aphasia
• Apraxia
• Apathy
• Altered Perception
 Anosognosia
(Loss of Insight)

• loss of ability to realize there is anything wrong

• the part of the brain that allows one to reason is now
damaged
• can be challenges when the person resents being told
what to do or what not to do
 Amnesia
(Loss of Memory)

• first, short-term memory, but eventually long-term

memory affected
• why we will often hear repetitive questions or
statements
• person may forget what they are doing from one step
to the next in an activity and may need simple
directions to stay on track
 Agnosia
(Loss of Recognition)

• includes all senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell

• person may not recognize family members or friends, or
even themselves in the mirror
• person may confuse a toothbrush and a razor side-by-
side on the bathroom countertop (safety concerns)
• Three main types of agnosia
– Visual (objects, faces, words)
– Auditory (sounds)
– Somatosensory (difficult to recognize objects by touch)
 Aphasia
(Loss of Language)

• can include both speaking and understanding

others
• person may not take part in social interactions if
they feel insecure about their abilities to express
themselves and understand others
 Apraxia
(Loss of Purposeful Movement)

• loss of ability to plan, doing things in sequence and

execute certain tasks
• may have trouble understanding directions (back,
front, left, right, up, down, etc.)
• person may have difficulty controlling their body
parts to do familiar tasks, such as making a pot of
coffee or brushing one’s teeth
 Apathy
(Loss of Initiation)

• person does not initiate conversation or activity

• often interpreted as a symptom of depression
• part of the brain that controls initiation of activity is
damaged to the point where it may not occur to the
person to do anything at all
 Altered Perception
(Loss of Visual Perception)
• Loss of depth perception changes the way a person
moves around their environment; it changes the way
the person walks and sits
• loss of depth perception—the ability to see in three
dimensions
• it becomes difficult for the person to judge how high,
deep, long, wide, near or far things are
 Understanding Behaviour

• The presence or absence of “responsive”

behaviours can vary greatly from one person to
another throughout the progression of the disease.
 Understanding Behaviour
A. Antecedents (triggers)
What is happening before the behaviour occurs? Things
to consider:

• Physical & Emotional Health

• Communication
• Environment
• Task
 Understanding Behaviour
Physical health
• Effects of medications
• Impaired vision or hearing
• Acute illness (urinary tract infection, pneumonia or fever)
• Chronic illness (diabetes)
• Dehydration
• Constipation
• Fatigue, hunger, thirst
 Understanding Behaviour
Emotional Health
• Depression
• Helplessness
• Dependency
• Loss of control
• Worry about the future
• Sadness about not seeing family members
 Communication

• Drawing Activity
 Understanding Behaviour

Communication - Overview
• Talking too quickly
• Condescending tone
• Sentences/instructions too long
• Trying to argue logically
• Sounding rushed or agitated
• Lack of eye contact
Communicating with Person with
Dementia

Before you speak:

• Reduce distractions in the environment.
• Make eye contact and use the person’s name.
• Make sure that the person is wearing a working hearing aid
etc., if prescribed.
• Introduce yourself and remind them who you are (don’t
assume…).
 Communicating…2
How to speak:
• Get close enough!
• Speak clearly.
• Speak at slightly slower pace.
• Use short and simple sentences.
• Use closed-ended questions.
• Show respect and patience.
 Communicating…3
How to listen:
• Listen carefully and observe both verbal and non-verbal
communications.
• Be patient and try not to interrupt.
• If the person is having difficulty finding the right words, you
can offer a guess as long as they appear to want some
help.
• Make your communication a two-way process.
• If you don’t understand what is said, avoid making
assumptions.
 Communication
• What is your non-verbal communication saying?
 Understanding Behaviour

Environment
• Too warm/cold
• Excessive stimulation
• Poor sensory environment
• Unfamiliar environment
• Invasion of personal space
• Restraints
 Environmental Resources

• https://www.enablingenvironments.com.au/
• http://dementia.stir.ac.uk/design
• https://www.dta.com.au/resources/key-principles-of-
designing-for-dementia/
Small changes video (Dementia Friendly UK)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz8ACEu7Lho
 TASK

• Peanut Butter and Crackers Activity

 Understanding Behaviour

Task
• Too complicated
• Task not modified for increasing impairments
• Task unfamiliar
 Validation Therapy
• Video Clip – Naomi Feil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZXz10FcVM
• www.findingyourwayontario.ca
 Finding Your Way

4 - free online training modules

http://findingyourwayontario.ca/online-learning/
 Access to Resources Online
http://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/We-can-
help/Resources/Alzheimer-Society-brochures-and-
publications

https://ilivewithdementia.ca/life-with-dementia/

http://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/Get-involved/The-Charter

https://igericare.healthhq.ca/
 WHAT WE DO
The Alzheimer Society London and
Middlesex (ASLM) offers a wide range
of programs and services designed for
individuals with dementia and/or
memory concerns, their family,
caregivers, and health professionals,
as well as the general public.
Our Mission
To alleviate the personal and social
consequences of Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias and to promote research.

Our Vision
A world without Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias.

Our Values
Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and
Excellence
 WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Comprehensive overview of In-Home or in-office assessments Social worker facilitated

dementia, coping strategies, and individualized response. support groups for those
and resources. living with dementia.
individualized response.
 WE’RE HERE TO HELP
(continued)

Innovative programs providing Our trained Social Workers carry Personalized recreation
social and cognitive stimulation. out memory screening for those programs providing socialization
Stay active and social. experiencing memory concerns. and meaningful activity.
stimulation. Stay active and social! meaningful activity.
 WE’RE HERE TO HELP
(continued)

A six-week education We offer a variety of educational resources and https://alzheimerlondon.ca https://alzheimerlondon.ca

program focusing on programs geared towards the community, /finding-your-way/ /medicalert-safely-home/
improving an individual’s healthcare providers and professionals.
cognitive health.
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
(https://alzheimerlondon.ca)
 Speakers Series & other
educational videos

• https://alzheimerlondon.ca/education-zone/
 Thank You
What questions do you have for me?

Please feel free to call our office at

519-680-2404, ext. 247 or email me at:
• dboone@alzheimerlondon.ca