A university employee stopped at the dementia simulation house the other day to deliver something. He seemed to have some curiosity as to what this project is all about, and we chatted for a bit. He told me that his dad, who has dementia, doesn’t even try to pay attention to conversations anymore. He looks at the ceiling. He fiddles with the buttons on his … Continue reading Too Much Going On

Some of you contacted me after yesterday’s post to see what we needed at the Dementia Simulation House and suggested I make an Amazon wishlist…so I did: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1CV6QUULHKJDM?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_uOu3s9h8vCpbz&fbclid=IwAR2AaPGBBpY-h9QoqtKknCyJswDc3wSlbIj969MzFZbQwOn_usyPHAd3Th0 Also, if you’d like to make a financial donation (big or small), you can use this link: https://give.uni.edu/campaigns/26483/donations/new?a=5128769 I am completely overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity of people who want to support our project. Continue reading One More Thing…

I am excited, grateful, and a little bit stressed. We are starting a dementia simulation house at the University of Northern. Every once in a while, you dream about something, and the reality is better than your dream. For a while, I have mentioned my interest in doing dementia simulation to our Dean (who, by the way, is wonderful). We’ve talked about other spaces–conference rooms, … Continue reading It’s Happening!

I accidentally convinced a woman she has dementia. Let me tell you more. She’s perhaps in her 70’s. Her husband (and 7 other family members) have passed away in the last couple years. She sleeps in the same bedroom where her husband died. He fell between the bed and dresser and never got up. Since his death, she’s had some hallucinations at night. While some … Continue reading Dementia Causes Hallucinations (And So Do Other Things)

They are planning a trip to Hawaii. The mention of it makes you stick to your stomach. You don’t think it’ll go well. What if they get separated and she wanders off? Can the two of them get through airport security without a debacle? Who will they call if things fall apart? You aren’t sure if you can step away from your job to go get them if there is a crisis. Continue reading Home for the Holidays

It is scary to have dementia. It is frightening to live in a world that doesn’t make sense and be surrounded by people you don’t know. It’s alarming to realize that you no longer are able to read a clock. It’s terrifying to know you might forget those you love the most. It’s upsetting to not be able to come up with a common word, … Continue reading Having Dementia is Scary

Sometimes we overcomplicate things. We talk about theory, policy, and research. It’s all good stuff, of course, but maybe sometimes we need to back up. Here’s a short video clip of my friend, Kevin, who lives with Lewy Body Dementia. Maybe, like he says, it’s about heart. Continue reading It’s About the Heart