Unlocking Dementia

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Anonymous asked: Have you done any research on aids to assist those in their 50s with memory issues. I have a friend whose father has dementia and she is concerned about her own memory loss. Kathleen Quirk

Dear Kathleen,  

Yes I’m currently teaching younger people and people with very early dementia to use a variety of memory aids - mostly organizational and visual aids (calendars, planners, memory  notebooks), routines, and a spaced recall verbal technique.  And I do Memory Strategies groups that are very helpful for showing people they are not the only one with these concerns!  

Thanks for writing me,

Michelle 

P.S.  Were we friends in the 7th grade many years ago?

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Anonymous asked: Hello Michelle - First, I want you to know how much I enjoyed your book. I read it cover to cover and actually wrote a book review about it published in AT Programs News! I work with caregivers and care service providers who support patients with severe spoeech and cognition challenges.I saw somewhere that you offer training. Wondering when this available and where you are offering it. Thank you for your wonderful work! Randi Sargent

Hi Randi,

Thanks so much for your terrific review in AT Programs News - I appreciate learning about this resource!  And I wanted you to know that the 2nd Edition of the book is in production and I’ve added some resources for ways to make memory books…but if you would please share with me the ones you think are really good, there may be time to add some more in.  There is so much available that it’s easy to overlook or not know about some.  Thanks!  And as for training…my publisher, Health Professions Press, arranges trainings whenever they are contacted and one is requested.  At the moment I’m out of the country for several months, so there is nothing scheduled that I know of.  But there could be if there’s interest!  I’m sure once the new edition is out there will be an effort to market it by offering trainings.  Thanks again - I appreciate your kind words about the book.  

Michelle

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Anonymous asked: when a person continues to ask to go home - how do you answer

If the person is living in residential care (assisted living or nursing home), I would try to redirect the person to an engaging activity that might take their mind off the idea of going home.  I would also recommend making a memory book page that shows their former home with the statement, “I lived in this house for xx years.  Now I live at (facility name).”  The next sentence or page should state something positive about the current living arrangement….”I have many friends here” (with pictures of them) or “My nurse, Mary, takes very good care of me.”  or some other positive statement about the current living situation.  It will be futile to try to get the person to recognize that they no longer live at their previous home…it’s better to redirect them to an engaging activity. 

I hope this is helpful.  Thank you for contacting me.

Michelle

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Anonymous asked: Do you have a source for adult flash cards? Thank you. Joan Plante RN

The memory cards that I recommend are those that you create yourself for the individual based on what it is they need/want to remember. So, if they can’t remember that their daughter is visiting on Saturday, then you’d make a card that says, “My daughter will visit on Saturday.”  I recommend using 3 x 5 inch index cards, and that you print the information in dark letters.  But you could also use post-it notes or a dry erase memo board placed somewhere in the home where the person would be likely to see it frequently.  I hope these suggestions are helpful.  Best wishes, Michelle Bourgeois

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References for my Research in Dementia

Research Articles and Books I have published related to working with persons with dementia and their caregivers (Selected publications)

Bourgeois, M. & Hickey, E. (2009).  Dementia: From diagnosis to management—A functional approach.  New York: Taylor & Francis.

Bourgeois, M. (2007).  Memory Books and Other Graphic Cuing Systems.  New York: Health Professions Press, Paul H. Brookes Publishing. Silver Award, 2008 Mature Media Awards

 Bourgeois, M., Fried-Oken, M., & Rowland, C. (2010). Augmentative and Alternative Communication Strategies and Tools for Persons with Dementia.  ASHA Leader, March, 8-11.

Bourgeois, M. & Hickey, E. (2007).  Dementia.  In D. R. Beukelman, K. L. Garrett, & K. M. Yorkston (Eds.), AAC interventions for adults in medical settings: Integrated assessment and treatment protocols (pp. 243-285).  Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co.

Bourgeois, M. (2006).  External Aids. In D. K. Attix and K. Welsh-Bohmer (Eds.), Geriatric neuropsychological assessment & intervention (pp. 333-346).  New York: Guilford Press.

Youmans, G., & Bourgeois, M. (2009).  Theory of mind in individuals with Alzheimer-type dementia.  Aphasiology, 24:4, 515-534.

Irvine, A. B., Bourgeois, M. S., Billow, M., & Seeley, J.  (2007). Web Training for CNAs to Prevent Resident Aggression.  JAMDA, October, 519-526.

Dijkstra, K., Bourgeois, M., Youmans, G., & Hancock, A. (2006).  Implications of an advice giving and teacher role on language produce in adults with dementia.  The Gerontologist, 46, 357-366.

Glueckauf, R. L., Stine, C., Bourgeois, M., Pomidor, A., Rom, P., Young, M. E., Massey, A., & Ashley, P.  (2005). Alzheimer’s Rural Care Healthline: Linking rural dementia caregivers to cognitive-behavioral intervention for depression.  Rehabilitation Psychology, 50(4), 346-354.

Turkstra, L., & Bourgeois, M. (2005). Intervention for a modern day HM: Errorless learning of practical goals.  Journal of Medical Speech Language Pathology, 13, 205-212.

Bourgeois, M., Dijkstra, K., & Hickey, E. (2005).  Impact of communicative interaction on measuring quality of life in dementia.  Journal of Medical Speech Language Pathology, 13, 37-50.

Dijkstra, K., Bourgeois, M., Allen, R., & Burgio, L. (2004).  Conversational coherence:  Discourse analysis of older adults with and without dementia. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 17, 263-283.

Bourgeois, M., Dijkstra, K., Burgio, L., & Allen, R.S. (2004).  Communication skills training for nursing aides of residents with dementia:  The impact of measuring performance.  Clinical Gerontologist, 27, 119-138.

Hickey, E. M., Bourgeois, M. S., & Olswang, L. B. (2004).  Effects of training volunteers to converse with nursing home residents with aphasia.  Aphasiology, 18, 625-637.

Bourgeois, M., Camp, C., Rose, M., White, B., Malone, M., Carr, J., & Rovine, M. (2003).  A comparison of training strategies to enhance use of external aids by persons with dementia.  Journal of Communication Disorders, 36, 361-379.

Irvine, A. B., Bourgeois, M., & Ary, D. V. (2003).  An interactive multi-media program to train professional caregivers. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 22, 269-288.

Dijkstra, K., Bourgeois, M., Burgio, L., & Allen, R. (2002).  Effects of communication training on the discourse of nursing home residents with dementia and their nursing assistants.  Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 10, 143-157.

Bourgeois, M. (2002).  Where is my wife and when am I going home? The challenge of communicating with persons with dementia.  Alzheimer Care Quarterly, 3, 132-144.

Bourgeois, M., Schulz, R., Burgio, L., & Beach, S. (2002).  Skills training for spouses of patients with Alzheimer’s disease: Outcomes of an intervention study.  Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 8,  53-73.

Dijkstra, K., Bourgeois, M., Petrie, G., Burgio, L., & Allen-Burge, R. (2002).  My recaller is on vacation: Discourse analysis of nursing home residents with cognitive impairments.  Discourse Processes, 33, 53-76.

Burgio, L., Allen-Burge, R., Roth, D., Bourgeois, M., Dijkstra, K., Gerstle, J., Jackson, E., & Bankester, L. (2001).  Come talk with me: Improving communication between nursing assistants and nursing home residents during care routines. The Gerontologist, 41, 449-460.

Bourgeois, M., Dijkstra, K., Burgio, L., & Allen-Burge, R. (2001).  Memory aids as an AAC strategy for nursing home residents with dementia.  Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 17, 196-210.

Allen-Burge, R., Burgio, L., Bourgeois, M., Sims, R., & Nunnikhoven, J. (2001).  Increasing communication among nursing home residents.  Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 7, 213-230.

Hoerster, L., Hickey, E., & Bourgeois, M. (2001).  Effects of memory aids on conversations between nursing home residents with dementia and nursing assistants. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation,. 11, 399-427.

Hickey, E., & Bourgeois, M. (2000).  Measuring health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in nursing home residents with dementia.  Aphasiology, 14, 669-679s.

Palmer, C., Adams, S., Bourgeois, M., Durrant, J., & Rossi, M. (1999).  Reduction in caregiver-identified problem behaviors in patients with Alzheimer Disease post hearing-aid fitting.  Journal of Speech, Language, Hearing Research, 42, 312-328.

Palmer, C., Adams, S., Durrant, J., Bourgeois, M., & Rossi, M. (1998).  Managing hearing loss in a patient with Alzheimer Disease.  Journal of the Academy of Audiology, 9, 275-284.

Bourgeois, M., Burgio, L., Schulz, R., Beach, S., & Palmer, B. (1997).  Modifying repetitive verbalization of community dwelling patients with AD. The Gerontologist, 37, 30-39.

Bourgeois, M., Beach, S., Schulz, R., & Burgio, L. (1996).  When primary and secondary caregivers disagree:  Predictors and psychosocial consequences.  Psychology and Aging, 11, 527-537.

Bourgeois, M., & Mason, L. A. (1996).  Memory wallet intervention in an adult day care setting.  Behavioral Interventions:  Theory and Practice in Residential and Community-based Clinical Programs, 11, 3-18.

Bourgeois, M., Schulz, R., & Burgio, L. (1996). Interventions for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease:  A review and analysis of content, process, and outcomes.  International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 43, 35-92.

Bourgeois, M. (1993).  Effects of memory aids on the dyadic conversations of individuals with dementia.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 77-87.

Bourgeois, M. (1992).  Evaluating memory wallets in conversations with patients with dementia.  Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 35, 1344-1357.

Bourgeois, M. (1991).  Communication treatment for adults with dementia.  Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 34, 831-844.

Bourgeois, M.  (1990).  Enhancing conversation skills in Alzheimer’s Disease using a prosthetic memory aid.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 29-42.

Holland, A., Boller, F., & Bourgeois, M.  (1986).  Repetition in Alzheimer’s Disease:  A longitudinal study.  Journal of Neurolinguistics, 2, 163-178.

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Welcome

Due to the out pouring of responses to Christine Wicker’s Parade Magazine article, I want to create an outlet where I can respond to all of the questions and comments about communicating with people who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

I will be posting my responses and helpful tips in the near future.  I welcome your stories, thoughts and inquiries.  Please leave your comments or email me at msbourgeois@gmail.com.