Dementia Education and Care Consulting

Providing dementia education and care is one of the most challenging and rewarding areas of expertise for our team. We understand the options for providing care and the costs and challenges associated with those options.

Having a loved one with dementia can impact the entire family’s physical, emotional and financial well-being. In fact, studies show that more than 60% of caregivers feel overwhelmed.

We continuously educate ourselves about the various aspects of dementia care so that we can help families arrange for the best care and mitigate the emotional and financial tolls associated with dementia. Our well-versed team can help coordinate immediate care needs and develop a plan for future needs.

We take a person-centered care approach, a philosophy of care built around the needs of the individual. Person-centered care is the underlying philosophy of the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations.

We get to know the individual we are serving and that allows us to identify the best care plan. At the core of person-centered care is the self — who you are, your values and beliefs, etc. This essential sense of self remains despite a diagnosis of dementia.

In our work, we recognize that honoring each person’s selfhood is an essential part of providing the right care. At the same time, we understand that the disease affects every family member and ECC’s care recommendations and plans take those needs into consideration as well.

Our dementia education and care approach includes these principles:

• We get to know the person living with dementia. It is important to know the whole person and his/her family, including his/her values, beliefs, interests, abilities, likes and dislikes—both past and present. This information informs everything that we do to serve that person.
• We see the world from the perspective of the individual living with dementia. This approach validates feelings and connects us with the individual in his/her reality. We help family members understand how they can maintain those connections as well.
• We identify a care plan that provides ongoing opportunities for meaningful support and engagement. We support interests and preferences, allow for choice and success, and recognize that even when the dementia is severe, the person can experience joy, comfort, and meaning in life.
• We build and nurture authentic, caring relationships. Persons living with dementia should be part of relationships with people who will treat them with dignity and respect, and where their individuality is supported wherever care is provided.
• We nurture a supportive community that allows for comfort and creates opportunities for success. The right community of care can help alleviate the stresses associated with dementia, ensuring that everyone has the support they need.
• We evaluate the care plan regularly and make appropriate changes. We regularly evaluate best practices and models, share findings, and make changes as needed