James A Whitworth

Responsive Dementia Care James A Whitworth

Dementia-related behaviors are common with all types of dementia but often start early with Lewy body dementia (LBD). Most experts recommend the use of non-drug options prior to resorting to behavior management drugs which, especially with LBD, can and often does cause other problems. Responsive dementia care is a method for doing this. It uses understanding of how the brain works coupled with empathy, acceptance and a wide variety of alternative therapies to avoid, decrease and/or defuse these difficult behaviors. With the understanding that these behaviors as result of faulty thinking that once present, cannot be changed, care partners and care staff learn to relate with the person living with dementia in such a way that decreases the need for behavior management drugs while increasing quality of life for anyone involved. Necessary reading for all dementia care partners and for anyone working with dementia patients.