Positive Approach to Care dementia workshop coming to Albany next month

Dec. 28--ALBANY -- Teepa Snow, founder of Positive Approach to Care, studies dementia and brain change. She will send a representative of her organization, Kathy Tuckey, a certified training specialist, to Albany to host a workshop teaching others how to identify and approach dementia.

The workshop is set for 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. on Jan. 18, with lunch included, at the SOWEGA Council on Aging'sKay H. Hind Senior Life Enrichment Center.

"(Snow) uses the GEMS (Brian Change) model and compares people to gemstones and focuses on retained abilities in order for us to see what is beautiful, and still available, for the person with whom we share time and offer support and care," Erin Whatley Andrews, marketing manager at SOWEGA Council on Aging, said in an email to The Albany Herald.

Snow uses the GEMS model to compare people to gemstones and focus on retained abilities. The Positive Approach website lists the gemstones and the characteristics associated with them:

-- Sapphire: True Blue -- Optimal Cognition, Healthy Brain;

-- Diamond: Clear and Sharp -- Routines and Rituals Rule;

-- Emerald: Green and On the Go With a Purpose -- Naturally Flawed;

-- Amber: Caught in a Moment of Time -- Caution Required;

-- Ruby: Deep and Strong in Color -- Others Stop Seeing What is Possible;

-- Pearl: Hidden Within a Shell -- Beautiful Moments to Behold.

"This one-day conference is a great opportunity for more in-depth knowledge and exposure to a variety of skills and support modifications that will impact (the) quality of life, safety and more," Andrews said in the email. "Continuing education credits will be offered for social workers, professional counselors and nurses."

Andrews said other caregivers may attend the workshop at a reduced charge. At the end of the five-hour beginning-level workshop, participants should be able to:

-- Compare and contrast "normal" aging versus "not normal" aging related to various cognitive functions;

-- Describe the five sensory input and processing systems, highlighting the dominant role of vision;

-- Discuss the rationale that supports the positive physical approach process with people living with dementia;

-- Discuss purpose and value of using hand-under-hand technique with people living with dementia;

-- Discuss the rationale for seeing persons living with dementia as "GEMS" versus other numbering systems.

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