Staging the Person with Dementia - Chapter 5

In this VIRTUAL PRERECORDED session Dr. Cummings will discus understanding how dementias move through the brain and cause changes in behavior allows families and professionals to determine how much damage the brain has suffered. Identifying a person’s stage of dementia means knowing what behaviors or declines will follow, the amount of time the Person With Dementia is expected to be in each stage, how much brain tissue is remaining, and what to care plan for next.

Since People With Dementia don’t look physically ill until Stage Six of the Disease, the tools give us a better picture of the brain damage and resulting behaviors than relying on long term memory social skills.

Tam Cummings, PhD

“Tam is a nationally recognized gerontologist and dementia expert who has worked with thousands of family and professional caregivers. Known for her direct approach to caregiver education, Tam’s sense of humor and gentle stories of real people facing dementia leave you knowing you are not alone. Tam is dedicated to care of persons with dementia.” Dr. Cummings book: Untangling Alzheimer’s, The Guide for Families and Professionals.