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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

PAC Hands-On Skills Session

Getting Connected!

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

PAC Mission: Use our talents and abilities to develop awareness, spread knowledge, and teach skills to transform what exists into a more positive dementia care culture.PAC Vision Statement: Positive Approach® enhances the life and relationships of those living with brain change by fostering an inclusive, universal community.

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Introduction: Objective• Hands-on skill - Getting Connected:

focuses on the basics of Teepa's Positive Physical Approach (PPA) and her Positive Personal Connectors (PPCs) to truly get connected with someone before beginning a task

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

A Dynamic AssessmentTool for a Shared Relationship

Use the Positive Physical Approach™With Someone in an Emerald

State

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Essentials for Communication

-What Helps?-What Hurts?

-What Matters Most?

Relationship then TASK

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Connect-1st – Visually-2nd – Verbally-3rd – Physically-4th – Emotionally-5th – Individually - Spiritually

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Normal Approach-What Uh-Ohs do we sometimes

have when approaching people?-Why does that happen?-What is causing the

surprise/startle?-What can we do differently?

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Alzheimers Disease Progression vs. Normal

Brains

G. Small, UCLA School of Medicine.

Primitive Brain

Primitive Brain

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Amygdalae:

Dangerous Need

Risky Want

Dislike Alert/Aware Like

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Vision ChangesWith each new level of vision change, there is a

decrease in safety awareness.

BIG VISIONCHANGES

© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

1. Loss of Peripheral

Awareness

2. Tunnel Vision

3. Binocular Vision

4. Binocular +

Object Confusion

(discriminating senses)

5. Monocular Vision

6. Loss of Visual Regard

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Left Temporal Lobe Skills1. Vocabulary2. Comprehension3. Speech Production

Right Temporal Lobe Skills1. Forbidden Words2. Social Chit-Chat3. Rhythm of Speech4. Music, Poetry, Prayer5. Automatic, Autonomic

Movements

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

3 Zones of Human Awareness:

Public Space: more than 6 feet away•Visual awareness and social interactions

Personal Space: 6 feet to arm’s length away•Friendly and personal conversations

Intimate Space: within arm’s reach•Intimate touch or connections

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Practice:§ PPA using the 3 zones as a guide:- Get into visual range (public space), pausing at the edge

of personal space at approximately 2 arms length away- Greet with your hand held still by your face and smile- Slowly extend hand for a handshake- After the person you are approaching gives permission by

extending their hand, move slowly into a handshake (entering intimate space)

- Move from handshake to Hand-under-Hand® position- Move from the front to the side, getting into a supportive

stance- Get to or below their eye level- Use a PPC (Positive Personal Connection)

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Person Being Approached:• Practice using the abilities of someone in an Emerald

state:

-Binocular vision: start off looking downward

-Vague in language: missing ¼ words

-Better with step by step cues

-Take some time to process: count to 3 in your head

•Try to provide your partner with honest and authentic feedback considering you were in Emerald state

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Positive Physical Approach™* (PPA™)*

• Stop moving at 6 feet out• Greet: hold your open hand still next to your face, say their

name• Offer hand in a handshake position• With their acceptance, slowly come in from the front within

visual range• Move into supportive stance, turn shoulders• From the handshake, move into Hand-under-Hand®

• Get low: sit, kneel, or stand at or below their level• Make a connection: PPC, then wait for their response• Deliver a message: use V-V-T Cues and a PAS* = if in public space and you start the interaction

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Practice: Verbal Cues

Keep it simpleDirectedMatched to visual cues

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Positive Personal Connections (PPC)

1. Greet or Meet: introduce yourself and use their preferred name: “Hi___I am ___” or “I am___ and you are?”

2. Say Something Nice: indicate something about them of value

3. Be Friendly: share about you, then leave a blank4. Notice Something: point out something in the

environment5. Be Curious: explore a possible unmet like, want,

or need

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

Positive Physical Approach™To the tune of Amazing Grace

Come to the front, go slowGet to the side, get low

Offer your hand, call out their nameThen wait…..

If you will try, then you will seeHow different life can be

For those you’re caring for.

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© Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC – to be reused only with permission.

What Are You Going to Do About It?

What Specific Awareness Do You Want to Work On?What Specific Knowledge Do You Want to Work On?What Specific Skill Do You Want to Work On?

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