An interview with Laura Herman, CNA, CCF Dementia Care Navigator, Consultant, and Writer on October 5, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
Laura Herman has been a dementia care professional for 25 years and has been writing and consulting on dementia and caregiving for several years. She’s the co-author of Brick By Brick Bonding: Tools for Family Care, and founder of ABC Dementia, home of Appreciating Behavioral Communication in Dementia. The ABC Dementia Course & Community will be coming soon for family members and caregivers of people with dementia.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I’ve been a dementia care professional for 25 years in pretty much every role from frontline caregiver to memory care administrator. I love working with people with dementia and helping those who support them to understand them better!
Can you tell me more about your advocacy?
People tend to attribute what they call “dementia-related behaviors” to dementia, when, in fact, there are other issues at play. For example, someone might resist care when they’re in pain, act irritable because they’re not sleeping well, or withdraw because they’re dealing with an overwhelming mess of emotions. Humans have many needs that must be met for us to feel – and function – at our best. When we blame behavior on dementia, we don’t look further for solutions. But when we look closer, at the core issue, we can meet the need… and help people feel, think, and function infinitely better.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in dementia awareness and hope for a cure?
Since I was a child, I’ve loved older adults. I’ve always been especially drawn to people with dementia. Working with them came naturally to me, and over time I learned to translate their behavior to others to help identify what it was they needed to thrive.
What type of goals do individuals with dementia have when working with you?
People with dementia can thrive with the right support. Through regular phone calls or check-ins, I help ensure their holistic needs are met and they’re living at their best.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
The ABC Dementia Course & Community provides a series of self-paced lessons that walk you through what you need to know about supporting someone with dementia. You’ll have your affairs in order, a good understanding of the basics, and be ready for what may come. And you’ll become part of a community that’s there to support you for the long run.
What effect can your advocacy have on an individual with dementia?
It can literally make a 100% difference! Living with unmet needs can quickly and drastically spiral out of control. For example, feelings of grief can affect behavior, sleep, and appetite… which can lead to withdrawal from activities, weakness, falls, hospitalizations, medications, constipation, and restlessness. Processing the emotions in the first place could minimize or avoid most of those complications.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your advocacy?
It’s hard to hear from the doctor that “nothing can be done.” I want people to know that there is a lot we can do to improve life for the ones we support, and ourselves in the process! But we don’t know what we don’t know, so educating ourselves, and each other, is key. My goal is to spread the word so we can all feel and function a little better.
What events do you participate in?
Participating in events in person can be a challenge, so I do what I can online and in smaller groups, such as my weekly support and coaching calls. I spread my message through caregiver conferences, podcasts, and my newsletter. Next month I’ll be speaking at the National Family Caregiver Conference, and the ABC Dementia Course & Community is coming soon!
How does your advocacy also assist the caregivers?
We ALL feel and function at our best when our needs are met – it applies to every one of us, whether we have dementia or not. Supporting the caregivers is fundamental. When we are exhausted, ill, burned out, or overly burdened we are much less able to access the patience, flexibility, and creativity we need to support a human being holistically over the long term.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
At ABCDementia, you’ll find my contact info, links to free open support and coaching calls, and the ABC Dementia Course & Community. You can subscribe to the ABC Dementia Newsletter for information and inspiration about behavioral communication and meeting the needs of people with dementia and caregivers.
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
It can be hard and scary to share our stories, but the more we do, the more we realize that we aren’t as alone as we may feel. Every story helps others understand the situation better and understand the need for more funding and better support.
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for dementia?
Honestly, I have never done much in the way of fundraising, and I don’t have any good suggestions in this area. It’s hard to know which charitable organizations make good use of the funds they raise, and which are unduly influenced by pharmaceutical companies or other lobby groups which alter their messaging.
In your opinion what is the key to effective advocacy?
We aren’t going to raise awareness unless we get people’s attention and keep their interest. Facts and figures won’t do it. Our brains tune them out. Real-life stories are key to helping others understand the situation, one person at a time. Stories can help people see that could be me. It could be someone I love. Stories resonate with us and make the unimaginable real.
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the dementia community, what would it be?
We all feel and function at our best when all of our needs are met. So, let’s learn to take care of ourselves, and each other.