Why?

Why do people think that someone with dementia is "out of it",  "won't notice if I never visit",  "can't tell that I am laughing at them"
Why do people think that it doesn't matter how you approach a person with dementia because they are not with it!
 I recently heard that when a first responder was approached with the possibility of getting dementia training to enable him to take care of someone with dementia, the first responder said, "I don't need that, they are out of it"...So I assume this first responder believes that a person with dementia would not be afraid, or become aggressive because of fear.  That they don't recognize the expression on your face when you think they are "crazy" and not worth worrying about.

This is what we are about!  This is what we are here to change!  

People with dementia are as deserving of consideration and respect as anyone else,  In an emergency situation they will require a little more compassion and kindness because they do recognize something to fear even if they can't respond the way the rest of us would.

If you are a first responder please get some training. If know a first responder, please encourage them to get some training about the best ways to approach a confused person.  Please learn about the diseases that cause dementia and don't be so off handed about it...chances are you will one day be walking in their shoes!  Many of us will find ourselves with one of the diseases that cause dementia.   That doesn't change who we are or what we have done in our lives, it changes how other people treat us.

If you haven't already had our Purple Cities training, take 15 minutes and get it!  Or go get it somewhere else.  There are resources everywhere to learn what everyone needs to know.  PLEASE, help us make the world a safe, comfortable place for people with dementia.  Stop laughing, dementia is not a joke!