Dementia Support
Your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia… now what?
Your neurologist or family practitioner has delivered a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or a dementia related diagnosis to you/your loved one. You know that there is currently no cure for this disease. It’s chronic, progressive, and there will be increased need for care supports. Would you please consider giving our team the honor of supporting you/your family? We have a team that would love to assist you, as well as many resources that we can place at your disposal. Initial 60 minute consultations with each team member are free, and Jen’s ongoing support will always be free.
How Our Team Can Help Right Away
Initial plan
Once we receive your call, Missy Harden and Jen Dowda will set up a time to meet with you, virtually or in-person. We desire to get to know your family, understand your unique situation to the best of our ability, and then help you to form a plan for moving forward.
Education and Support
Join with others in a 5 session weekly online support series, Positive Approach to Care® Care Partner Support Series provides education, connection, and support to family care partners of a person living with dementia through a webinar format. Led by Missy Harden, the series will run for five 90-minute weekly sessions. We believe so strongly in the wisdom, guidance and encouragement you will receive from these groups that Dowda Senior Consultants will cover the cost of your participation.
Nutrition support
Experts continually point to the importance of nutrition in brain health and combatting the disease of dementia. Meet with Amy Labadie, to learn how to best support your loved one through their daily diet. As a functional medicine practitioner and physical therapist, she is well positioned to help you/your loved one in this critical area.
Physical Fitness
Staying physically active and strong is indispensable to good brain health. Carolyn Miller, a physical therapist, can suggest appropriate exercises and activities, and can support your loved one by adjusting these as time progresses.
Cognitive Brain Therapy
Rather than simply doing a crossword puzzle every day, your loved one can meet with a Fit Minds Certified Coach, a “Personal Trainer for the Mind.” This amazing new individual cognitive therapy available to your loved one (can be done in person or virtually).
Memories
Despite the brain changes they are undergoing, your loved one is still the same person they have always been. Due to these shifts, however, you can start to lose access to some of your loved one’s story. Sue Jeantheau can create an interview video as a gift for your family, keeping those treasured stories forever.
Continuing Support
Dementia Care Consultation and Care Skill Training
Caring for a friend or family member living with dementia can feel lonely and overwhelming at times. Let us help you identify your strengths and build your care knowledge and skills to best understand and support your loved one’s remaining abilities. Through customized consultation and experiential hands-on training, we can help you shift your approach to care when it comes to difficulties your loved one experiences due to dementia related brain changes: including supportive communication strategies, changes to your home environment, and meaningful ways to fill the day. We will also help you identify areas where more support may be needed and help you find resources to meet those needs. This option is fee-based and we are happy to explain those details in depth.
In-home care services
Sometimes a family reaches a point where they require outside help to assist with care. We have close relationships with several in-home care providers, and can help guide you in receiving this support. We can have Missy meet with the caregiver to give them more specified dementia training catered to the exact situation, so that they can offer the best and most supportive care to your loved one.
Care communities
We know that for many families, the goal is for their loved one to remain at home. We understand this completely. However, in some situations there comes a time when a move to a care community is necessary, for the level of support needed. Should the family determine that a move is needed, we are here to walk you along every step of that challenging path. We are deeply familiar with the memory care communities here in greater Richmond, and we will work with you to find the best fit and help support you through the transition.
Testimonials
“My father was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I had no idea what to do next. Jen and her team have helped my family become more knowledgeable about this diagnosis and have supported us in every possible way imaginable.”
We are here to help.
Please do not walk this journey alone. Allow Dowda Senior Consultants to support you.