Positive Approach to Dementia Care with Jenna Mele
Statistics say that over 50 million people worldwide have dementia (WHO, 2019). And the impacts of dementia include: physical, psychological, social, and economical, not only for the people who have it, but also the people who care for them, as well as their families, and society as a whole. My guest today, Jenna Mele, is an occupational therapist who specializes in dementia care and discovered this practice area while she was a care partner for her own grandmother who had dementia. Fueled by her personal experience, Jenna advocates for a more positive approach to care and is passionate about improving the lives of her clients, their families, and other healthcare practitioners who work with people with dementia.
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Show Notes
Sarah and Jenna discuss:
- Realizing that something needed to be done in dementia care
- Having hope with a progressive diagnosis
- Focusing on one client and one family
- Occupational deprivation and lack of balance
- Teepa Snow- Positive Approach to Care
- Relationship is top priority
- Hand-under-hand treatment technique
- Partnering with our clients and their caregivers
- Checking emotions at the door
- The professional and personal impacts of working in dementia care
- Importance of social supports
- Compassion fatigue
- Success stories
- Importance of life history for clients, especially those with dementia
- Advice for practitioners working in dementia care
- Advice for care partners
- Jerry video
- Dementia Resources
- Gem States- Teepa Snow
- My Past is Now My Future- Lanny Butler
- Ensign Dementia Course- Gina Tucker-Roghi
Get in touch with Jenna: