Hopeful Aging The “I’m Still Here” Approach

John Zeisel PhD

Founder

Hearthstone Alzheimer Care &

The I’m Still Here Foundation

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

A new “hopeful aging” paradigm

Engagement

&

Community involvement

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

The Individual to Individual

Mutual Dependence Dilemma

Individual Care

Partner

Care

Burden

inevitable burnout

Respite interrupts the

process temporarily

The Community

Dementia Problem

Fear Stigma

Health care

Costs

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Community & Reciprocity

Individual Partner

Care

Burden

Hopeful community & individual

reciprocal programs can replace the

vicious cycle of individual care &

burden

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

We can (& must)

choose between

Despair &

Hope (c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Hopeful Brain Enablers

100 billion neurons

Hard-wired

skills and memories

Innate curiosity

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Our brains are naturally curious &

creative—made to explore & discover

The interpreter: Makes sense of the world

The actor(s): Perceives, senses, & acts on the world

The comparer: Tests actions against experience

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Our brains make sure we always

feel & say

I’m Still

Here (c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

“Mens sana in

corpore sano” Heart

Body Mind

Hope also lies in staying healthy

What can we do to stay healthy?

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Hope in our abilities that

are always there

The Myths &

The Truths

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Can’t learn

Can make decisions

Can’t decide

Low impulse control

Always an aggressive

phase

Can enjoy Can’t

enjoy – forget

Sense of self

Lose identity (no self)

Can focus No

attention span

Can remember

The Seven Myths of Dementia

Can’t remember

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Can learn Can’t learn

Can make decisions

Low impulse control

Can enjoy Sense of

self

Can focus Can

remember

The Seven Truths

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

The “Despair” Model A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

See the negative

Sadness

Inactivity

Abandonment

Anxiety

Medicalization

Apathy

Aggression

Loneliness

Agitation

Worry about the future

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

The “Hope” Model Embracing the Present

Be sad but live with it

Do things together

Appreciate abilities

Be in the present

Feel less lonely

Less apathy

Less depressed

Less anxious

Less agitated

Less aggressive

Better relationships

See the person

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Two Hopeful Aging Alzheimer’s

Programs

Learning for Life™

• A learning

community where

memory issues are

irrelevant and

students with

dementia learn.

It Takes a Village™

• A neighborhood where all

the public, social,

commercial, and cultural

places open their doors

regularly for safe and

dementia-capable arts &

culture programs.

(c) 2013 Hearthstone Alzheimer Care