When visiting our dear friends with dementia, we’ve found that engaging a person is easier when there is something on which to focus her attention. There are three broad categories which work well: Shared Interests, Shared Experiences, and Shared Celebrations.
Our Show and Tell visits are very successful in getting the dear friend to connect to a particular topic and even to add to the conversation.
Shared Interests
We’ve used objects such as pets, pottery, jewelry, pictures, collectibles, decorative items, art works and even things from our gardens as props. The same is true with the crafts that we make.
These items inspire comments about what they are, how they are used and why they are special.
Shared Experiences
Lady-Links are trained to relate many of the visits to memories from their childhood experiences, which in turn spark a memory for our dear friends.
Inspecting an antique box of tatting with a shuttle made of ivory.
Shared Celebrations
Everyone has a birthday, so celebrating the birthdays of our dear friend is a great way to connect.
Holidays provide opportunities for special activities, refreshments, and decorations.
Ready for the Mardi Gras party wearing the accessories they made.
Easter Egg Baskets that were given away.
Conversation, even a few words, is treasured when shared by a dear friend. We’ve seen links formed between the present day and the past resulting in delightful discussions. We recognize that the dialogue might be short but it stimulates cognitive and emotional function and helps keep the brain active.
Lady-Links visits are designed to help our dear friends maintain links to keep them mentally involved and emotionally secure while enriching their lives with love and laughter.
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