A strength-based conversation should be focused on the person. But, sometimes, extra context from carers, partners, and family members can give us information that completely changes the care and support plan.
In this example conversation, we see the difference it makes to have Dorothy’s son included in the conversation.
Otherwise, Dorothy’s assessment could have been an inaccurate reflection of her capabilities, capacity, and living situation.
Professional: “Where do you live, Dorothy?”
Dorothy: “I live here.”
Professional: “Who lives with you?”
Dorothy: “Nobody, but I visit my son on the bus every day.”
Professional: “That’s lovely. How do you use the bus?”
Dorothy: “I go to the stop near my house, and I get my bus pass... I get a bus pass now... it came in the post... no, I had to get it from the post office, with my handbag... and... I get my bus pass... and... tell them I want to see my son... and they bring me... all the way from Cornwall to Cardiff! And the lady or man helps with my bag... and then I have my tea and I go home.”
Dorothy’s son: “Can you show the lady the bus you use?”
Dorothy, pointing to her Zimmer-frame: “Of course! It’s just over there! It’s very convenient that it’s so nearby!”
In this example, Dorothy lives with her son and his family near Cardiff. Dorothy moved in with them after deteriorating in her own home in Cornwall.
Dorothy uses a Zimmer-frame to move on her own from her ground-floor bedroom into the family room and refers to this as the “bus,” using storytelling to make sense of how she has left her own home and come to be in her son’s home. Dorothy calls her bedroom her “own home” as it has all of her familiar items inside it.
Dorothy’s storytelling is common with people living with dementia. Other examples can include:
Storytelling helps people with dementia make sense of the world and what is happening to them.
Listening to their version of events can help you understand how they feel and what they want.
Creating space for them to tell their story may also reveal unmet needs, which can help you better determine their outcomes.
