In honor of National Senior Independence Month, we’re taking the opportunity to share ideas about independence in the face of dementia’s challenges. Often, caregivers and families see dementia as something that takes away independence from their loved one. While this may be the case in some respect, especially in the later stages of the disease, it is possible to encourage freedom, agency and independence even in the midst of challenging symptoms.
Rob Low, Community Relations Director at Clarity Pointe™ Pensacola, a memory care assisted living community in Pensacola, Florida, shares, “Independence is often the result of attitude and approach. When we treat the loved ones in our care as though they can’t handle anything on their own, we stifle any chance of them feeling in control of their lives. But when we approach care in a way that encourages their ability to make choices