another interesting but incomplete newspaper report

M1

The Washington Post had another interesting article today, talking about a new website from the Alzheimer's Asssociation—called DICE—about strategies for caregivers to de-escalate dementia behaviors. Supposed to be the first of its kind—but it must not be up and running yet, there was no link provided to any such website, and a Google search also didn't turn anything up. Anyone else heard of this?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/05/26/dementia-caregivers-aggressive-repetitive-behavior/

concerned_sister

a hotlink in the article took me here:

https://diceapproach.com/

M1

Thank you! Missed it. Seems like they might have named the website in the article.... Jeanne C. We might want to look at this and see if it's worth including in our frequently cited…

Iris L.

They mention strategies that have been promoted on these boards like they just discovered them. I was not impressed.

Iris

M1

Looks like you have to create an account etc. Yeah maybe nothing we didn't already know... But perhaps a good reference for new families....

trottingalong

I’m watching my first video on the site. So far I’m finding it interesting and could be helpful for those just beginning the journey. Will have to watch all their training videos to get a better handle on it.

eaglemom

I totally agree with what Iris said. They didn't invent or even reinvent anything that hasn't been said on this board for a long time.

eagle

tigersmom

I find it interesting that most of the medical field, this approach included, thinks all behaviors displayed by PWD can (and the implication is should) be handled without drugs. This is one of the things that bugs me the most about the book “The 36-hour Day.” I don’t think any of these people have actually lived with a PWD.

M1

Agree tigersmom. I think I sometimes come across as a drug pusher, but in some ways I am: broken brains do not lend themselves to adaptive behavioral therapies so much. The behavioral adaptation has to be from the caregivers, and that only goes so far. I very much admit that a lot is trial and error and has to be done cautiously, but I am a big believer in better living through chemistry….

tigersmom

@M1 , I used that same expression, better living through chemistry, to describe where we are to my neighbors a few days ago. It bothers me a lot that DH is now on three medications. We got through the first two years post-diagnosis on donepezil alone. On the cusp of year three, we added citalopram (Celexa) in increasing doses and just recently, we added seroquel. I really wish he did not need them, but I have no doubt he would have been kicked out of daycare without the citalopram. And I don’t think he will be able to continue living at home without seroquel. He may not be able to anyway; the jury is still out. I envy those who live with an easy, compliant, pleasant PWD. Mine is not — at least, not anymore. It is very hard and I feel like there are no good solutions.

M1

Identify completely and understand. So many personality traits that made my partner an exceptional person work against her now. Very engaging and charismatic, but stubborn, persistent, doesn't suffer fools gladly and doesn't want anyone telling her what to do. Don't feel like a failure if you have to use memory care.