Keeping those with dementia safe, active and welcome

By Sarah Nigbor

“If people are a little bit aware of what dementia is, it could help keep someone safe,” said Pierce County Dementia Specialist Amy Luther.

This spring, a woman wandered into Quinn Motors in Ellsworth. She was carrying a slip of paper with handwritten directions to La Crosse that she had obtained from former sheriff Greg Place at the gas station. She appeared confused and lost. Employees tried to help her with the directions (they even recognized Place’s handwriting) and she left. However, it wasn’t long before they saw the woman drive by again.

And again. They knew something was terribly wrong and called police, Kevin Quinn said.

Charlie Kummer from Quinn’s actually followed the woman to see where she headed, trying not to scare or alarm her. They found out later she has dementia and had somehow made it to Ellsworth from La Crosse. She had been driving around lost when Place gave her directions at the gas station, which she then took to Quinn’s. Thanks to their curiosity and inquisitiveness, the woman had a happy ending and was reunited with friends who came to get her.

The experience prompted Quinn to reach out to Luther, who works for the county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), to provide their business with training on how to be a “dementia friendly” business. “It was so enlightening and educational,” Quinn said. “Businesses can really set themselves apart.”

Even though Quinn employees hadn’t yet had Luther’s dementia friendly business training, they recognized that something wasn’t right with the lost woman and cared enough to see the situation through to a happy resolution.

The 30-minute training can be adapted to any type of business, Luther said. She defines dementia, provides people with things to con sider to make an environment dementia friendly, what warning signs to look for and ways to act and support people/customers who are living with dementia and their caregivers.

“We want to make dementia friendly communities to keep them engaged in their community, enjoying involvement in things like church, civic groups, community events that they’ve always participated in,” Luther said.

In 2000 in Pierce County, 4,784 people were age 60+, Luther said. That number has increased in 2020 to 9,368, which is nearly double. In comparison, the number of people in Pierce County under age 60 in 2000 was 32,060; that number has in – creased slightly in 2020 to 32,823. Currently, 630 Pierce County and 1,280 St. Croix County residents live with dementia. By 2035, the population living with dementia will nearly double. Nationwide, 5.5 million Americans live with it and that number will also double in the next 10 years.

“In order to care for people, we need to be able to rely on neighbors and friends,” Luther said. “Not thinking that ‘oh, it’s time for them to move to a health care facility. There might not be people able to care for them at a facility, especially with shortages.” Luther’s goal is to de crease the stigma surrounding dementia and to increase people’s general awareness of it. “Many people who hav – en’t experienced it might not realize there’s more to it than just being forgetful,” Luther said. “They might not be aware of the ADRC and the services and support avail – able.” Her goal is to keep them living independently in the place they call home as long as possible. Staying socially engaged helps their cognitive and physical health, positively impacts their brain and de – creases the progression of the disease.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills that makes doing everyday activities difficult, Luther said. More than 60 diseases fall under the dementia “umbrella” and 70% are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Dementia doesn’t just affect memory, Luther said. It can affect communication and language, decision-making, the ability to focus and pay attention, reasoning and judgment, planning and organizing, perception of things around them, behavior and personality or movement and balance.

It’s a common misconception that dementia is a normal part of aging – it’s not”, Luther emphasized. It’s a disease like diabetes or heart disease.

A family member or neighbor may be aware of changes that are happening in someone with dementia before they are. It’s import ant not to hide it or brush it under the rug – support someone seeing the doctor to make sure it’s not depression, anxiety or a medication side effect. “It might be something that is treatable and can be reversed,” Luther said. ” Some deny because they’re aware, or because they don’t perceive it themselves. Some might become fearful about going out because people will notice that they are forgetful, but not if people understand and are supportive.”

What can businesses do?

“Just like that day at Quinn’s, everyone could have been too busy to notice,” Luther said. “Little things made a big difference in that woman’s life. Each person just playing a little part instead of disregarding.” “Everyone is struggling with staff shortages – it’s the post offices, grocery stores, restaurants. We need to work together to support people in our communities regardless of the reasons they need support.”

• Watch for customers who:

• Appear lost or confused

• Spend a long time looking for something

• Ask the same questions repeatedly

• Have difficulty telling you what they need

• Don’t understand directions from you

• Have problems completing a transaction

• Don’t pay for items they have selected

• Are with someone who is providing them direction

• Seem anxious, nervous or unsure of themselves

• Be friendly, make eye contact and smile, Luther said.

“If someone appears mixed up, greet them with a smile, give them a little time to figure out what they are attempting to do, and help them with that process,” Luther said.

Continue to treat them respectfully and offer under standing and reassurance.

Avoid standing too close to them or looming over them.

Avoid rolling your eyes, sigh- ing, talking faster, or looking past them. Speak clearly and slower, asking one question at a time and allowing them time to respond. Listening is a key component to helping someone with dementia feel safe and not overwhelmed, Luther point – ed out. If they change what

they’re saying, go with it and do not correct them if at all possible. Even if they’re accusing you of something you didn’t do, like taking their wallet, apologize and try to redirect the conversation. Do not turn the blame back on them, Luther said. Tell them you’ll help them find it. “Rather than telling some- one or arguing with them,” Luther said. “Instead of worrying about the black and white, go with the gray and acknowledge someone’s feelings. Don’t try to be correct, just be understanding and not dismissive.”

To learn more about dementia friendly business training or how to make your business more welcoming to those with dementia, contact Luther at 715-273-6780. She can also provide information on ADRC services, resources for caregivers, and memory café times and locations. “I can do dementia friendly training with a neighborhood, faith community, civic group,” Luther said. “Dementia Friends is a one hour information session for awareness and increases conversation. I’m also will- ing to do any trainings for EMS, fire, police. The train ing can be molded to any kind of group with the intent of keeping people socially engaged and active in their homes, thus keeping them in their homes longer.

“A lot of people don’t have children or children close by.

Having people aware in your social circle is even more key. If everyone does a little bit, then you could support people more too.”

A business that is considered dementia friendly will display this logo/signage. Photo courtesy of Amy Luther