Learn 'positive approach' to Alzheimer's caregiving from nationally known expert

March 04--Be positive. Be practical. And reclaim joy.

These are the caregiving cornerstones for patients and families dealing with Alzheimer's disease, according to nationally known expert Teepa Snow. An occupational therapist, trainer and educator, Snow will be sharing her Positive Approach to Care tips at the annual Alzheimer's Community Care conference set for March 12-13 in West Palm Beach.

Snow, a repeat presenter at this conference and others in South Florida, is one of six speakers on the schedule. The sessions include topics such as the importance of testing for Alzheimer's risk and what's new with Social Security and Medicare.

"Knowledge is power. But there is a lot of bad information out there," said Mary Barnes, CEO and president of Alzheimer's Community Care, a nonprofit serving patients and their families. "We would like people to know when they come to this conference, they get good information."

Conference fees range from $75 to $150 for professionals and the general public. Students and family caregivers receive a reduced rate of $30 for one day, $45 for two.

Promoting skills to cope with Alzheimer's is increasingly important, Snow said, as the number of patients is exploding. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 720,000 Floridians age 65 and older will have Alzheimer's in 2025, an almost 70 percent increase over the present.

"I'm committed to creating dementia-competent communities because of our aging population," said Snow, who has created Positive Approach classes and CDs. "We have to realize we can't hide people away. Families need to stop feeling that they can't take [their loved ones with Alzheimer's] out to church."

Snow, 60, spoke with the Sun Sentinel about how to embrace joy and avoid common caregiving mistakes.

Q: What exactly does your Positive Approach involve?

A: People with Alzheimer's are trying to deal with what they have lost. We need to take a step back and realize they aren't crazy. Our job is to figure out the reason why they are doing what they do, then modify or change things to make the situation better.

Q: Can you give an example?

A: Let's say [you're the patient] ... you aren't eating and I'm worried. So I take a spoon and try to put it in your mouth. But it doesn't feel natural that I'm trying to shove food in your mouth so you say no, maybe start shrieking at me, and I think you might need medication to calm down. But instead, if I just put the spoon in your hand and guide it toward your mouth... your brain will remember that movement and your hand will take over the task.

Q: You have had a long career doing many things, including working in a head injury clinic and with aging veterans. How did you become interested in Alzheimer's?

A: My grandmother had Alzheimer's. And I worked with autistic kids as a teenager. I've always been drawn to people who are challenged and find it fascinating to partner with them, and to find joy with them.

Q: You talk a lot about the importance of people with Alzheimer's and caregivers both embracing joy -- a word many don't associate with such a devastating disease. How can that happen?

A: We can find something in a moment and celebrate that. It could be something as simple as saying, 'Come and dance with me.' When that happens, you see inside the [patient] to that part of them that still exists.

Q: What's the biggest mistake caregivers make?

A: No. 1, they try to do it all. By the time they are exhausted and realize they can't, the disease has progressed, and switching gears is devastating. So build a team early and give yourself permission to step back a little.

Q: What are good ways for us all to improve our brain health?

A: Engage socially and actively with other human beings, and I don't mean in a chat room. Nurturing something, like caring for animals or plants, seems [helpful]. Moving and singing at the same time, or ballroom dancing with a partner and learning new steps, is good. And finally, exercise and eat decently.

dlade@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4295

IF YOU GO

What: Alzheimer's Community Care's Educational Conference

When: March 12-13

Where: Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach

Cost: $75-$150. Caregivers and students reduced rates $30-$45. Includes parking, breakfast, lunch.

Info: 561-683-2700, alzcare.org

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