Environment & Communication Assessment Tookit for Dementia Care (Complete)

”[Here are] the long overdue tools needed by speech-language pathologists to determine the appropriate environmental cues for their clients with dementia to maintain a quality life in the nursing home. Thank you for this excellent resource.“–Department of Speech and Hearing Science, The Ohio State University “Reviews” (4/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)“A patient was eating in his room, as he was unable to distinguish between jeans and slacks [no jeans are allowed in our dining room]. Re-arranging his closet with sections for day and for evening attire allowed him to dress appropriately and go to the dining room in the evening. It made a positive impact on his psychosocial wellbeing.”– “Reviews” (4/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)“A unique resource for health professionals who work with individuals with dementia. It combines content information, assessment tools, and practical tips and strategies in a format that is engaging and easy to read. Everyone from beginning clinicians to seasoned professionals will find this manual invaluable in managing patients with dementia and maximizing their functioning in everyday life.”–Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Reviews” (4/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)“In one woman’s bathroom, we added contrasting colors … Prior to this $10 modification of buying new towels and using blue paper, she would use her hand towel for toileting hygiene AND wiping her hands and face. It was a HUGE hygiene issue. Now she demonstrates great hygiene without cuing!!! SUCCESS!!”– “Reviews” (4/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)“One patient … began struggling more with pathfinding to her apartment … I took her shopping on an activities outing and had her pick out the color of flowers she would like to hang … [Now] she can independently recall what color to look for when asked. It has definitely increased her success with pathfinding, especially since she picked a color that is meaningful to her.”– “Reviews” (4/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)“This toolkit is a must have, foundational resource for personalizing the environment while cultivating the possibilities that exist for human growth and meaningful relationships in dementia care settings.–Planetree “Reviews” (4/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)

Margaret P. Calkins, Ph.D., is President of I.D.E.A.S. Inc. (Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society), a consultation, education, and research firm dedicated to exploring the therapeutic potential of the environmentâ social and organizational as well as physicalâ particularly as it relates to older adults who are frail and impaired. She is also Senior Fellow Emeritus of the Institute on Aging and Environmental at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Calkins holds degrees in both psychology and architecture. A member of several national organizations and panels that focus on issues of care for older adults with cognitive impairment, she speaks frequently at conferences nationally and internationally. She has published extensively, and her book Design for Dementia: Planning Environments for the Elderly and the Confused (National Health Publication, 1998) was the first comprehensive design guide for special care units for people with dementia. Dr. Calkins is Director and a founding member of SAGE (Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments), and has been a juror for numerous design competitions