User:Jscseattle/Best Friends Approach

Best Friends Approach is a philosophy of dealing with and patients. Using the "Approach" means choosing not to challenge patients memory disorders. This is accomplished in many forms. Principally caregivers are instructed to treat the patient with "respect, honor and dignity." A case example uses someone believing Eisenhower is still President. Traditional approaches would help the patient understand who is the current President. In contrast the Approach would acknowledge that the President has "done a great job" avoiding disorientation in the patient. Activities are handled in a similar fashion encouraging round the clock events, food service etc. since dementia patients Cicadian Rythms are notorious for evening and daytime swapping.

Virginia Bell and David Troxell developed this model of dementia care based upon their experiences with persons with dementia, family members and adult day center care while working at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

The model suggests that what a person with dementia needs most of all is a friend, a "Best Friend." This can be a family member, friend, or staff member who empathizes with their situation, remains positive and dedicated to helping the person feel safe, secure and valued. The model teaches caregivers how to have "knack." Caregiving knack is defined as "the art of doing difficult things with ease," or "clever tricks and strategies."

Man individuals, organizations and government agencies have endorsed this philosophy of care including Jack Canfield of the famed Chicken Soup for the Soul series; futurist and noted writer Ken Dychwald; National Institute on Aging founder and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Butler, professionals in the field of aging, and persons with Alzheimer's disease.