CARE PARTNERING WITH LAURA AT PARTNERING IN CARE

While most people tend to think that dementia means having to accept what is lost, it is also, and perhaps more importantly, about discovering what’s left. By sharing my knowledge about dementia and dementia care, I help families and professionals re-connect emotionally, knowledgeably, and respectuflly with people who live with dementia so that the quality of life is improved for everyone involved.

Who am I?

In my 30’s my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She lived with the disease for over 13 years. During that time, I learned about dementia the hard way–that is, without any understanding of what she was going through or how I could help.

I did, however, manage to develop a real affection for people who were living with the disease. So after I lost my mother and set out to pursue a literary career, I often accepted gigs on the side to help friends who were dealing with dementia in their families. I liked being with people living with brain change. Their curiosity and kindness made me feel curious and alive and inspired. I had no science-based care skills or knowledge to offer, but because of my mother I had a knack for enjoying their company and helping them enjoy their time with me .

Fast forward to seven years ago, when I accidentally stumbled on Positive Approach to Care® , an organization run by Teepa Snow , an occupational therapist and brain researcher who has devoted more than 40 years of her life to understanding and changing the dynamics of dementia relationships.

Of course no one can change the outcome of dementia, right? It is what it is. But had I known thirty years ago when my mother was still alive what I have learned in the last six years from while becoming a Certified Independent PAC® Trainer, Consultant and Advanced Consultant in dementia care, I could have completely transformed the relationship I had with my mother. I know that now. I have proved it to myself. And that is why I now consult and train and educate families and professionals and medical emergency workers in Santa Fe who want to improve their care skills and relationships with people going through brain changes

1.) EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT CLASSES

Monthly support series of five classes for families and professionals in Santa Fe and on Zoom who want to learn how to partner with someone instead of merely caring for someone. Designed by Teepa Snow‘s Positive Approach to Care® , each class includes video clips by Teepa Snow, and lively personalized discussions about creatively solving individual issues. There are all kinds of fascinating brain facts, practical dementia care tips and interactive skill practices, and the only requirement of participants besides a minimal charge is a commitment to attend all five classes with an open heart.

Our current offering:

2. GROUP WORKSHOPS

As a PAC® Certified Independent Trainer, I offer experiential workshops designed by dementia expert Teepa Snow to help professional emergency medical service folks improve the skills they use to approach, connect, understand, and communicate with people living with brain change.

WORKSHOPS for MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS :

  • What is Normal vs. NOT-Normal Aging?
  • Understanding Dementia in the Brain
  • Understanding The Progression
  • Working with 5 Unmet Needs
  • Where to Look When Someone Gets Lost
  • The Proper Approach
  • The Role of the Amygdullae
  • Starting the Conversation
  • Practical Dementia Specific Skills
  • Securing Your Person’s Environment
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Know Your Agenda Without Showing Your Agenda
  • Job Specific Challenges with Dementia

WORKSHOPS for FAMILIES :

  • What is Normal vs. NOT-Normal Aging?
  • Seeing Dementia From the Other Side
  • How to Get the Family on board
  • Using the 5 Senses
  • Understanding the GEMS ® States
  • Working with 5 Unmet Needs
  • When Dementia Stops By For The Holidays
  • Communicating Without Language
  • The Role of the Amygdullae
  • Starting the Conversation
  • Practical Dementia Specific Skills
  • Securing Your Person’s Environment
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Know your Agenda Without Showing Your Agenda

3. INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS

My goal as a PAC®Certified Advanced Consultant is to help you figure out what you need to accomplish and how you want to accomplish it at the right time. We’ll start with an initial free 30-minute phone conversation to learn a bit about each other and if we decide we can work together, I’ll help you create a written assessment of where you are on the journey: what’s working well for you, what’s not working so well, and what skills you might need to learn next. When needed, I can help you and your loved ones through difficult transitions.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FAMILY CLASS:

“She is a master at organizing, presenting complicated ideas, and creating compelling Power Points.” TD, Oregon

“I would like to express my appreciation to Laura for her time and energy in conducting these sessions. They were educational and helpful to me in learning about this horrible disease that affects so many of us. I highly recommend her to anyone that has someone in their life going through dementia.” JC, Santa Fe

“There is no group Laura can’t reach. She knows how to teach to a large crowd and to smaller groups in hands-on workshops as well as in private one-on-one encounters. “ FR, Oregon

“I felt heard, emotionally held and wisely advised.” SD, New Mexico \

turning an uh-oh moment into an ah-ha moment in class
An uh-oh moment turning into an ah-ha moment

CURRENT EVENTS

  • Offering monthly public talks in Santa Fe for anyone interested in learning more about dementia awareness, knowledge and skills.
  • On-going support groups for families: a) bi-monthly a free Zoom consulting service for care partners around the country with Dr. Kitty Fallon; b) monthly meetings of the Brainiacs and the Intrepid Travelers hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association of Santa Fe; for couples trying to learn more about dementia and dementia care, also hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association.
  • Currently facilitating ongoing Dementia Care Educational Classes through 2024 designed by Teepa Snow for medical professionals and emergency workers

2022-2023 EVENTS INCLUDE

  • Introduced Teepa Snow techniques to the Memory Care staff at Montecito Santa Fe , 2023, and to the Kingston Memory Care Staff 2023
  • Trained 160 employees of the Santa Fe Fire Department in nine one-hour increment classes over a period of three days.
  • Presentation at the Santa Fe County Senior Community Services in March 4, 2022
  • Presentation about brain change for employees at LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) September 2022
  • Presentation on dementia with the Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Association in Colorado 2022
  • Training Santa Fe Emergency Medical Team, Santa Fe Police and Santa Fe Firemen as part of the Alternative Rescue Unit of Santa Fe in October, 2022
  • Training volunteer caregivers at Coming Home 2022
  • Presentations in dementia care at The Celebration in Santa Fe, on March, 2022. Also presented a dementia awareness talk in June of 2022
  • Lecture/discussion at Santa Fe Doorways, Q and A session in Feb., 2022 on dementia awareness and another lecture discussion on dementia communication in July, 2022.
  • Lecture/discussion on dementia and the holidays for Memory Care Alliance in November, 2022 and at various churches in Santa Fe 2022.
  • Re-certified as an Independent Trainer and Consultant in October and September 2022 and 2023 with the Positive Approach to Care® organization
  • Certified as an Independent Advanced Trainer in October 2022 and 2023.
  • Facilitated 5 Never Alone Care Partner CPSS Support Series by zoom with Paula Levy, 2022.
  • A 2023 sponsor in the Walk to End Parkinson’s and an active participant, sponsor, and speaker for the Alzheimer’s Association at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s of 2023 and the Rock To End Alzheimer’s in 2023.

  • With my mother, 1996
    Visiting With my Mother 1989

For Laura’s story of how she acquired her dementia awareness why she loves working with people who are living with dementia, go here.

–With thanks for this recording to THE CELEBRATION of Santa Fe,NM

To see an interview with Laura about her work in dementia care, go here.

Training with Teepa Snow,
Fort Worth, TX, 2020

TO CONTACT LAURA

READING COLORADO: A Literary Road Guide. Due out in April 2023 with a selection from my book, Stygo

REMEMBER ME, a novel published by Henry Holt in 1998 and by Picador and Piatkus in 2000, is based on my attempts to understand and accept the challenges of my mother’s dementia. Although it was written years before I took formal training in dementia care, it was a Barnes & Nobel Discover New Writers selection and a critically acclaimed finalist for the Dublin Award and the Mountains and Plains Bookseller’s Award.

STYGO won the 1994 Colorado Book Award for best design, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Rosenthal Foundation Award for First Fiction, the Mountains and Plains Regional Bookseller’s Award, and was a finalist for the Pen/Hemingway Award.

STYGO is a collection of interlocked stories about people trapped in a dying company town in Colorado. Initially published by MacMurray and Beck in 1994, it was re-issued by Simon and Schuster in 1996, and by McAdams/Cage in 2000.

 

PAC Certified Independent Trainers and Consultants are not employees of Positive Approach, LLC.  Opinions and views expressed by Laura Hendrie, LLC do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Positive Approach, LLC or its employees.  Positive Approach, LLC is not liable for any actions by PAC Certified Independent Trainers or Consultants.