Online Dementia Journal 
Teepa Snow 
Today's Voice for Dementia
 
Teepa is an advocate for those living with dementia and has made it her personal mission to help families and professionals better understand how it feels to be living with dementia related challenges and change. Her company, Positive Approach, LLC was founded in 2005 and offers education to family and professional care partners all over the world. Her goal? Making a difference...one mind at a time.
 
OFFERING COMFORT DURING A BUSY TIME OF YEAR 
by Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA   

As has been much advertised, music is so often a blessing and a gift when dementia is a part of life. It can offer comfort and connection for both the person living with dementia as well as the person trying to provide support and care.
 
Music during the holiday season can connect us to old routines and rituals. It can also bring forward old memories and relationships. These can create moments of remembrance and joy or cause feelings of loss and sadness (Sapphire, Diamond, and Emerald states). At some point in the condition, it can also result in time and space travel (Emerald state). A person can actually believe they are in another part or episode of their life and begin seeking out that which would have been present at the moment. For those who live only in moments of time (Amber state), the desire to repeatedly sing, hum, or ask for a certain song, hymn, or rhythm can be frustrating and overwhelming to others who remember it has been sung or played 10 times already (Sapphire, Diamond, and Emerald states). On the other hand, for those living later in the condition (Amber, Ruby, and Pearl states) music and song can be a strong and powerful way to feel the meaning of the holiday without understanding the facts or details around it.
SETTING OUR INTENTIONS 
by Linn Possell, PAC Lead Mentor
 
This is a season when we talk about peace, when we talk about hope, when we gather with loved ones and those with whom we have close connections. This can also be a season that brings stress, expectations, and memories of what used to be. How can we make this season be one of joy rather than sorrow? One way is to set our intentions by being mindful and focusing on what we hope for. Here is a simple meditation to help being your focus to peace and well-being.
Preparation: Take a moment out of your day to be mindful. Find 5 minutes and a comfortable place. Bring your breathing to a slow and steady pace.
Breathe in deeply, hold your breath, and each time you breathe out say to yourself one of the following...
  1. May I be well
  2. May I be happy
  3. May all things go well for me
  4. May I be peaceful
Now take a moment to think of your loved one living with dementia. Hold their image, the sound of their voice, the smell of their cooking or cologne, or feel their hand in your heart. Now breathe in deeply, hold your breath, and each time you breathe out say to yourself one of the following...
  1. May you be well
  2. May you be happy
  3. May all things go well for you
  4. May you be peaceful
The PAC team wishes you well and hopes this simple mediation brings you a sense of well-being, happiness, and peace.
 
A WILD RIDE WITH JAY AND TEEPA 
by Jay Joseph Jones, Director, Shared Syndicate

You may have seen a number of recent articles on WHERE DID YOU GO? through our newsletter and social media outlets over the last couple of months. You may also have been wondering, what has this got to do with Teepa? Why should I even care about this film? Both very good questions. This article, along with a newly released piece of media from Shared Syndicate, aims to answer those questions. It's been a wild ride behind the scenes.

These articles have not been random promotion, quite the opposite in fact. Teepa and Positive Approach® to Care (PAC) have been heavily involved with the project since Director Jay Joseph Jones brought his conception to the table in 2014, which was when he personally reached out to Teepa. Since then, the two have formed an understanding and strong bond on the topic of dementia. Through Teepa's knowledge and practice and Jay's artistic capabilities, Teepa became the lead consultant on the film. 

Read or download the complete article 
 
The 'Making Of' WHERE DID YOU GO?
  

The 'Making Of' WHERE DID YOU GO?

 
              
                       presents
Where Did You Go? 
A Film by Jay Joseph Jones

ONE STORY. A FILM PROFILING LEWY BODY DEMENTIA.
In association with: Teepa Snow and Positive Approach®, Dementia Spotlight Foundation, University of Wolverhampton,
Levenson and Associates, GCPA,

and Pines of Sarasota and Educational Institute  
    
Now that Where Did You Go? has officially begun its film festival campaign, Shared Syndicate needs to raise additional funds to cover the considerable costs involved in getting it out there! (Marketing, submissions, administration, materials, and travel).
 
We need your support! Many of you were so generous with your pledge to donate last year - but we were not able to collect these donations because the number of pledges did not meet the goal that was set.  As a result, we could not collect, as determined by the fundraising platform's guidelines.   
 
Please help Where Did You Go? to fulfill its goals and potential, to reach as large an audience as possible!
 


PAC Approved Certification Dates
for 2017
 

Registration for these events is now open!


TRAINERS

 

Registration for these events opens 
on January 4, 2017

TRAINERS

March 29-30, 2017:  Atlanta, GA 
May 8-9, 2017:  Adrian, MI 
June 15-16, 2017:  San Diego, CA 
July 6-7, 2017:  Antigonish, NS 
July 10-11, 2017:  Minneapolis, MN 
July 24-25, 2017:  Honolulu, HI 
September 14-15, 2017:  Hickory, NC


CONSULTANTS 

August 14-15, 2017:  Orlando, FL 
November 2-3, 2017:  Northwest US


COACHES

March 27-28, 2017:  Dallas, TX 
May 11-12, 2017:  Burlington, MA (Boston Area) 
June 19-20, 2017:  Vancouver Island, BC 
November 9-10, 2017:  Detroit, MI

 
ENGAGEMENT LEADERS
 
  June 29-30, 2017:  Bourbonnais, IL (Chicago) 
August 10-11, 2017:  Davenport, IA 
December 11-12, 2017:  Phoenix, AZ 


NOTE:  All Dates and locations are subject to change



December 2016 
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Close-up top-view photo of calendar with a datum circled by young woman with red nails with a back marker, concept of time management at work

January 11, 2017
Boone, NC

January 12, 2017
Hickory

January 19, 2017
Medicine Hat, AB

January 27, 2016
Marietta, GA

February 2, 2017
Columbus, OH

February 7, 2017
Wausau, WI

February 22, 2017
Macomb, IL

 
 
Book your event today for staff training, family nights, professional referral source events, or refresher workshops .
Call
877-877-1671
or   
Introducing a new opportunity from Teepa and the
Pines of Sarasota
Education and Training Institute

Lifetime Online Video
Viewing Is Now Available 


 
PAC Training increases awareness, knowledge, and confidence among care staff and educates resident families.
Call 
877-877-1671 
or 
 
Positive Approach Partners  
with  
Levenson & Associates 



Mr. Levenson is partnering with us to answer your legal questions. 

Submit a Question

  Check out these new items in the Care Store






HELP OTHERS LIVE WELL

If you know someone working or living with dementia who might benefit from
the teachings of Teepa Snow, please forward this to them now. 

Be knowledgeable. Be prepared. Be positive.
 
If this journal was helpful to you, we would appreciate your feedback.  Please
share your comments and further interest with us.

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