The Alzheimer’s Podcast:
Improving Lives by Teaching Empathy and Compassion
Hello, and welcome to episode 20 of The Alzheimer’s Podcast.
I’m Mike Good of Together in This.
Thank you for joining me for another podcast where my goal is always to empower you to maintain a positive experience, reduce and eliminate the need for medications, and make your time together with those you care for, the best it can be.
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Show Notes:
Today, I’m thrilled to have Dr. Daniel Potts join me.
In this episode, Dr. Potts discusses his inspiration for being a dementia care advocate and how he helps others learn to have empathy and compassion for those living with dementia.
Among other things, we discuss Bringing Art to Life, a collaboration between Dr. Potts’ Cognitive Dynamics foundation and the University of Alabama Honors College. This program unites students with persons with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
During an eight-week art therapy program, the honors students document life-story elements that are used to create memoirs for the participants.
“Most importantly, students develop empathy for those with dementia, and for their caregivers,” the Bringing Art to Life website says.
Without this bridge, these students may never be aware of the challenges families affected by dementia face. And, as Potts says, “They learn it is possible for a meaningful relationship with a person with dementia.”
Dr. Potts is an attending Neurologist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; he’s an author, educator, and champion of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their caregivers.
Dr. Potts is inspired by his father, Lester’s, transformation from saw miller to watercolor artist while in the throes of dementia through person-centered care and the expressive arts. Dr. Potts seeks to make these therapies more widely available through his foundation, Cognitive Dynamics.
- Dr. Potts’ Foundation: Cognitive Dynamics
- Articles by Dr. Potts:
- Dementia Action Alliance
- TinT Article: Instilling Empathy and Compassion for Alzheimer’s
Please feel free to ask questions or leave a comment below:
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