We have created many dementia care training programs to enable the therapist and other health care providers to promote the greatest level of functioning, safety and quality of life achievable for individuals with dementia.
Our trainings contain information evolved from the concepts of two well known cognitive theories, the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Theory and The Theory of Retrogenesis.
The Allen Cognitive Disabilities theory, created by Claudia Allen, OT, is an information process theory that originated in psychiatry over 30 years ago. This theory was evolved into dementia care by our team and others and it enables the clinician to evaluate a person’s cognitive level by observing function in familiar and unfamiliar activities. The Allen Cognitive Levels actually identify “remaining abilities” which is a catalyst to successful utilization of strengths to facilitate positive outcomes.
The Theory of Retrogenesis was created by Dr. Barry Reisberg. Retrogenesis literally means “back to birth”. This theory hypothesizes that people with Alzheimer’s “reverse develop” as their brains demylenization process follows a rough reverse development pattern. This theory then allows us to approximately correlate dementia stages to developmental age. This does not in any way insinuate that an adult with Alzheimer’s is a child, but this correlation does help us to understand how to modify and simplify activities and the environment to facilitate the right challenge.
Our clinical team collectively has over 60 years of practical, hands on experience in geriatrics. We utilize these theories in our direct care and consulting practices therefore our teachings are a combination of highly regarded theory combined with immense practical experience.
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