Ohio has the sixth-largest older adult population in the nation, and it is expected to grow by more than 30% by 2030. Meeting the unique needs of older adults requires thoughtful planning and commitment. Morgan Angles, MPH, CHES, and Jennifer Bechtel use these skills to collaborate on helping improve care and reshape perceptions of aging.
As assistant director of The Ohio State University College of Nursing Golden Buckeye Center for Dementia Caregiving and program manager of The Ohio State University College of Medicine Office of Geriatrics and Gerontology, respectively, Angles and Bechtel have worked together to provide education and skills training to care partners across Ohio.
They recently presented “Rewriting the Narrative: Aging, Ability and Empathy in Practice” to a clinic team in The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Neuropsychology department. Bechtel highlighted resources that help clinicians connect patients and families with the care and support they need. Angles shared best practices in dementia care, communication techniques and the mission of the Golden Buckeye Center for Dementia Caregiving, a unique statewide resource center focused on developing and strengthening knowledge, skills and support for family and professional care partners. The center provides virtual and in-person training and education, including Dementia Friends and The Dementia Experience: Building Empathy in Practice through Simulation, screening tool kits, support groups, referral to services and research on effective, cost-conscious ways to support families and caregivers through partnerships with national and community organizations.
They worked together to create dementia training built on a simple idea: When education includes hands-on simulation, empathy becomes something people practice, not just learn about. Participants in “Rewriting the Narrative” moved beyond understanding dementia in theory and experienced in practice some of the challenges people face with cognitive decline and everyday tasks. Each participant received a kit containing items designed to simulate some of the symptoms and challenges associated with aging and dementia, including:
As participants attempted to fill the medication containers, many became frustrated by difficulty seeing clearly and handling the pills without dropping them. The background noise in the headphones also caused stress and led to mistakes. During the discussion afterward, participants said the experience helped them understand that dementia affects much more than memory.
They were amazed by the emotions that arose while completing the task and expressed the desire to work with caregivers to create more supportive and less frustrating environments for patients and their families.
With 42% of Americans over age 55 having a lifetime risk of eventually developing dementia, creating the opportunities to experience and understand the realities of cognitive decline is a powerful step toward change. By developing deeper empathy and awareness of the challenges older adults may face, our society becomes better prepared to deliver compassionate, person-centered, world-class care that evolves alongside the changing needs of our aging population.
