“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But words DO hurt us when they are demeaning and dehumanizing, separate us from one another, and create an institutional [...]
THE WORDS & LANGUAGE WE USE ABOUT DEMENTIA MATTERS. WORDS MATTER. Individuals with dementia often face social isolation because of society’s widespread negative perceptions, which can [...]
Individuals who are living with dementia and those who support them face many challenges. In addition to their cognitive symptoms and health challenges, they very often deal with stigma, [...]
Changing the culture of aging services starts by having a more person-centered focus. One of the best ways to change our focus is by changing the language we use. WORDS MATTER. Here is a [...]
Many people use the term “elderly” to refer to an older person. “Elderly” is defined as “rather old” or “old-fashioned.” Synonyms for elderly include “aged,” “ancient,” “geriatric,” [...]
As healthcare professionals we are rightfully proud of the work we do for the people we serve. The medical traditionally refers to those we serve as “patients.” “Medical” is defined as [...]
When people hear about Person-Centered Care, they say, “Of course! That’s what we all want for our loved ones and ourselves!” Or they say, “We already focus on the person, so we’re already [...]
Palliative care is defined as, “specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. This type of care is focused on providing patients with relief from symptoms, pain and stress of [...]
People go into nursing because they want to help people and make a difference. Nurses are taught to observe their patients’ verbal and non-verbal cues. Nurses learn to collaborate with [...]
Person-Centered Care is an approach that frames care through the eyes of the person receiving that care. With Person-Centered Care, choices and actions are based entirely on the unique [...]
