This Alzheimer’s Month, PMMA supports residents with Positive Approach

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can change lives. Living with the disease or another form of dementia is challenging for both the person and their loved ones. But there are methods and approaches that help maintain positive relationships and ease the burden a little bit.

As we observe World Alzheimer’s Month this September, PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) is also working to promote Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care® (PAC™), a method that shifts the focus from what someone has lost to what they can still do, experience, and enjoy.

Why we embraced this approach

Teepa Snow is one of the world’s leading advocates in dementia education. Her Positive Approach to Care method is used widely by families, caregivers, senior living communities, and even by famous people living with dementia, such as Bruce Willis who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.

Snow’s method is unique because it focuses on the person, not the disease. It provides caregivers, families, and friends with new tools and practical skills that improve their interactions with the person living with cognitive changes.

One of those practical skills is the Hand Under Hand® technique which promotes trust by allowing the patient to use their motor skills for nonverbal communication, giving them more control over the situation.

PMMA® communities first learned about this approach to dementia care in 2023 when our PAC Certified Independent Trainers taught the skills to our long-term care and memory care teams as well as our residents’ family members.

This year, our trainers are revisiting each PMMA community with a renewed focus on how the program supports smoother interactions and creates meaningful moments with our residents.

“Living with dementia can make everyday moments more challenging, but with the right approach those moments can also be filled with joy,” said Cathy Morris, one of PMMA’s PAC trainers. Morris and co-trainer Tammy Thompson are teaching our teams to slow down, be patient, and put the person ahead of the task. “We encourage our staff to connect with residents as people first. That simple shift creates a positive experience that makes our residents feel seen and valued.”

The team at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, Kan. has been using the PAC method consistently since they first learned about it in 2023. They designated an employee to champion the program and promoted it around the community.

“Our team members utilize the ‘hand over hand’ technique the most,” said Desi Flerlage, executive director. “It happens very naturally during meals times in our dining rooms. We have seen our staff teach family members, CNA students, therapy staff, and any other partners who may assist with eating.”

In August, our trainers held a workshop at Newton Presbyterian Manor in Newton, Kan. not only for team members but also local first responders. Staff says they quickly put the ‘hand over hand’ technique to use and saw how effective it is in putting residents at ease during difficult times.

Many of our communities offer dedicated memory care neighborhoods, providing specially designed programs to meet the ever-changing needs of seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia. PMMA has been a leader in memory care in the senior living industry for a long time, staying on the forefront of advances in care.

This September, as we promote Alzheimer’s month with community walks and special activities, we also want to remember that behind every dementia diagnosis is a person with a unique story. By using the Positive Approach to Care method, PMMA ensures that our teams are equipped to serve each resident with compassion, patience, and dignity.

Learn more about the work of Teepa Snow and her Positive Approach to Care® methods and education by visiting https://teepasnow.com/.

Learn more about our memory care services at https://www.presbyterianmanors.org/memory-care-wichita.