JAN/FEB 2014
9
We are dealing with an adult who has
had a rich life experience and still has a
lot of skills underneath the dementia.”
—Virginia Bell, co-author, Best Friends Approach to
Alzheimer’s Care
for people with dementia. “This
has taken all of us,” she said. “I
had the idea more than 30 years
ago. But an idea cannot go anywhere without everyone. It has
taken volunteers, families, professional staff.”
Bell and David Troxel, who was
formerly with the Alzheimer’s
Disease Research Center at Sanders-Brown, published the first of
their five coauthored books in
1996. The second edition of their
first book, Best Friends Approach
to Alzheimer’s Care, is now available in seven languages.
Best Friends always needs volunteers. Each volunteer receives 16
hours of training before starting, plus one hour of continuing
education every month. Training
sessions are held twice a year.
Anyone who is interested in
volunteering is encouraged to
visit Best Friends and sit in with
another volunteer. To become
a volunteer, call Bobby Potts at
(859) 258-2226. Learn more
about Best Friends at www.bestfriendsapproach.com.
ILATES
PP L A C E
ILATES
PP L A C E
Dementia Bill of Rights
Every person diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease or other
dementia deserves:
• To be informed of one’s
diagnosis
• To have appropriate,
ongoing medical care
• To be treated as an adult,
listened to, and afforded
respect for one’s feelings
and point of view
• To be with individuals
who know one’s life story,
including cultural and
spiritual traditions
• To experience meaningful
engagement throughout
the day
• To live in a safe and
stimulating environment
• To be outdoors on a
regular basis
• To be free from
psychotropic medications
whenever possible
• To have welcomed
physical contact, including
hugging, caressing, and
handholding
• To be an advocate for
oneself and for others
• To be part of a local,
global, or online
community
• To have care partners well
trained in dementia care
Our team is
here for you!
Start your
2014
Resolutions TODAY
Gift