A Conversation About Dementia, Dignity, and Innovation
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Rachael Wonderlin, a nationally recognized dementia care Consultant, Educator and advocate. Our conversation centered around something we both care deeply about: improving quality of life for people living with dementia. As the founder of Dementia By Day, Rachael has spent years helping caregivers, organizations, and families better understand the emotional and human side of dementia care. Rachael’s work encourages us to see the person first and the diagnosis second.
Her trademarked phrase: EMBRACE THEIR REALITY™, is the methodology Rachael recommends for people caring for loved ones living with dementia. Her advice? “Take the word, “lie” and throw it away! Live with them where they are.”
An Activity used by Dementia By Day: Flower Box Gardening
One of FAM’s Dementia Care Activities: A Multi-Sensory Session led by our awesome Friend, Ingrid, whose secret sauce is a focus on comedy and games:
The Emotional Rewards of Caring
Profound Empathy
As you navigate the complexities of dementia, you develop a deep, intuitive empathy that allows you to connect with your loved one on a soul-to-soul level, beyond the reach of words.
Moments of Joy
The smallest gestures—a sudden smile, a familiar laugh, or a gentle touch—become monumental treasures, offering bursts of light and genuine happiness in everyday life.
Learning the Power of Presence
- Authentic Connection: Discovering that true connection doesn’t require memory or logic, but rather a shared presence in the “now.”
- Emotional Resilience: Growing stronger through patience and discovering a capacity for love you may never have known you possessed.
- Shared Humanity: Recognizing the enduring spirit within your loved one, which remains vibrant and worthy of celebration despite the challenges.
FAM’s Multi-Sensory Sessions are built on this combination. We have evolved our Multi Sessions since 2016. We began by offering many different sensory experiences from textures and scents to puzzels and games. Today, we lean into the Facilitator’s strengths, focusing on high engagement as the goal. In other words, our Music Therapists incorporate music into the session, actively engaging with our Dementia Care Clients encouraging musical requests, motivating group songs and stimulating memories, while Art Therapists tend to focus on two dimensional creative expression and classic works of artists from Norman Rockwell to Pablo Picasso! Everyone is simply amazed at what they are able to create! Some of our residents expressed a feeling of freedom and success after working on a piece of art.
Here I am, sharing a cloth book with my mother, near the end of her Alzheimer’s journey, a high engagement opportunity that reduced her anxiety and loneliness, stimulated her memory, uniting us one more time:
As technology and care-giving continue to evolve, conversations like these become increasingly important. They remind us that innovation works best when it remains rooted in compassion. Our work is based on love and attention and a cute robot always helps too!
At Fine Art Miracles, Inc., we are grateful for opportunities to learn from leaders, exchange ideas, and continue exploring new ways to support individuals living with dementia and those who care for them. We hope to have a long relationship with Rachael Wonderlin, a true champion for the people we love!