By Michele Smith
the Times
Dementia is Everybody's Business
Memory Care Café supports patients with dementia and their families and caregivers
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November 29, 2018
Michele Smith
Katie Roughton, Director of Nursing at Booker Rest Home, presented an overview of dementia to a group of business leaders, caregivers, and patients when she spoke at the Noble Hunt on Nov. 7. Roughton (left) is shown demonstrating the 'hand under hand' method of achieving control with practice patient Valerie Lockard. "She thinks she is in control. I am not intimidating her," Roughton explained.
DAYTON-Community education can make all the difference in the quality of life for people living with dementia, and for their loved ones. That was the message Katie Roughton delivered to a group of business leaders, caregivers and patients at two workshops in Dayton on Nov. 7.
"This is so you as a community know how to approach a dementia patient who is out and about," she said to those in attendance.
Roughton said there are 85 different types of dementia, and they are caused by structural and chemical changes in the brain, especially in the memory center and learning areas.
These changes can be seen on brain scans, which provide more effective diagnoses than simple tests conducted in a physician's office, she said.
Dementia robs people of their ability to recall recent events and people and causes an inability to reason and exercise good judgement.
"Dementia patients don't process talking. They are watching you visually," she said. "They can get facial expressions, hear the tone of voice and understand some nonverbal language."
Roughton demonstrated the proper way to approach a patient with dementia, giving practice patient Valerie Lockard visual and verbal cues, and walking slowly toward her before actually reaching out to touch.
She said patients with dementia are unable to make their needs known.
"Look, listen, offer, and think. If something doesn't work, step back," said Roughton. "Success comes when caregivers act as detectives, not judges."
Roughton said the course dementia takes is not the same for everyone, and it changes over time.
"It is chronic. There is no fix and there is no cure at this time," she said. "It is hard on everyone."
The Columbia County Health System, Columbia County Aging and Long Term Care and Noble Hunt are sponsoring Memory Care Café, which offers support to people diagnosed with dementia and their care partners. Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month, between 10 a.m. and noon at Noble Hunt, 232 E Main St.
For more information contact Katie Roughton at (509) 382-8349 or by email at katier@cchd-wa.org.
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