Hi All,

I hope everyone has made it through tax season!  

The trees are blooming and I certainly am ready for spring.

Wendy and I have been feeling thankful for all of you. We have gotten so many compliments on your care as of late. Some of you with very heavy loads and willing to take them on and we are thankful! 

We have a new client who has been fairly neglected and no one is certain when the last time he had a bath they are fairly sure it could be close to a year.  After getting to know our new client a bit Jackie rolled up her sleeves and did a great job by getting the water going, setting out clothes for him to wear and then a promise of watching jeopardy afterward. The reward worked and he showered for the first time in ages. I can’t begin to tell you how my heart swelled for him and for his amazing neighbors who took him out of a very neglectful spot. I love what we do. What we do matters and you all go above and beyond and we could not be more thankful!

We also have a significant number of clients whose behavior and communication is changing. I came across this article on https://www.alzheimers.gov It is certainly worth the read and it certainly gives some great insight,

Again we are so thankful for all you do and appreciate you ALL SO MUCH!!!!

Tips for Changes in Communication and Behavior for People With Dementia

Communication can be hard for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias because they have trouble remembering things. They also can become agitated and anxious, even angry. In some forms of dementia, language abilities are affected such that people have trouble finding the right words or have difficulty speaking. You may feel frustrated or impatient, but it is important to understand that the disease is causing the change in communication skills. To help make communication easier, you can:

• Reassure the person. Speak calmly. Listen to his or her concerns and frustrations. Try to show that you understand if the person is angry or fearful.
• Allow the person to keep as much control in his or her life as possible.
• Respect the person’s personal space.
• Build quiet times into the day, along with activities.
• Keep well-loved objects and photographs around the house to help the person feel more secure.
• Remind the person who you are if he or she doesn’t remember, but try not to say, “Don’t you remember?”
• Encourage a two-way conversation for as long as possible.
• Try distracting the person with an activity, such as a familiar book or photo album, if you are having trouble communicating with words.