There are many moments to interact play-FULL-y.”
Jolene Brackey
Author of Creating Moments of Joy
“Connecting in the Land of Dementia allows the opportunity to see, in one comprehensive space, the numerous activities and opportunities individuals can have with their loved ones through the course of their dementia. Deborah Shouse and the experts she calls upon provide concrete steps to ensure individuals living with dementia and their caregivers will remain able to live a meaningful life.”
Molly Fogel, LCSW
Director of Educational and Social Services, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
“The opportunity to connect through music, dancing, poetry, and more can lift the hopes of all who want to maintain relationships with those they love late into dementia.”
Alicia Ann Clair, PhD
Music Therapist-Board Certified Professor Emeritus, The University of Kansas, Lawrence
Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics.
For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.
© 2016 by Deborah Shouse
All rights reserved. Published 2016.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Publisher: Central Recovery Press
3321 N. Buffalo Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89129
21 20 19 18 17 16 1 2 3 4 5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Shouse, Deborah, 1949– author.
Title: Connecting in the land of dementia: creative activities to explore together / Deborah Shouse.
Description: Las Vegas: Central Recovery Press, [2016]
Identifiers: LCCN 2016019211 (print) | LCCN 2016026281 (ebook) | ISBN 9781942094258
Subjects: LCSH: Alzheimer’s disease--Patients--Care. | Alzheimer’s disease--Patients--Family relationships. | Caregivers. | BISAC: HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases / Alzheimer’s & Dementia. | FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Eldercare. | MEDICAL / Caregiving. | FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Activities.
Classification: LCC RC523.2 .S5395 2016 (print) | LCC RC523.2 (ebook) | DDC 616.8/31--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016019211
Photo of Deborah Shouse by Jane Rogers. Used with permission.
Every attempt has been made to contact copyright holders. If copyright holders have not been properly acknowledged please contact us. Central Recovery Press will be happy to rectify the omission in future printings of this book.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains general information about dementia, behavioral healthcare matters, and related issues. The information is not medical advice. This book is not an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
Our books represent the experiences and opinions of their authors only. Every effort has been made to ensure that events, institutions, and statistics presented in our books as facts are accurate and up-to-date. To protect their privacy, the names of some of the people, places, and institutions in this book may have been changed.
Cover design, interior design, and layout by Deb Tremper, Six Penny Graphics.
This book is dedicated to my parents, Frances and Paul
Barnett, and to my partner Ron’s parents, Mollie and Frank
Zoglin. These wonderful people offered us their support,
ideas, and guidance, plus a little home cooking and the
occasional joke. They showed us the true meaning of love
and creativity in the land of dementia. We miss them, yet
they live on in our hearts and in the pages of this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE: How My Desire for Connection Guided Me through the Land of Dementia
SECTION I: Creativity and Imagination Matter
CHAPTER ONE: Discover the Wonders in the Dementia Jungle
CHAPTER TWO: Make the Most of This Book
Take a New Look at the Yellow Crayon
SECTION II: Meaningful Projects for People Living with Dementia and Their Care Partners
CHAPTER THREE: Strengthen Communications through Creativity
Explore New Ways of Connecting
