Julie Wilkins, Vice President of Clinical Resources at EmpowerMe Wellness, joins Suzanne to talk about their Mindful Living memory program, a formalized approach to addressing the needs of seniors who are experiencing memory loss or a decline in function related to dementia or other cognitive issues. It is based on Claudia Allen's work of the six levels of cognition, which is a test that evaluates the ability of someone to make decisions, maintain independence and safely perform basic skills. Mindful Living is used to identify seniors showing memory problems or decreased ability to function in their residence, determine their functional level, educate on coping strategies, and provide non-pharmacological interventions to enhance quality of life and improve their ability to function. 

Julie explains, “We have developed an individualized approach. So not only do we start with determining what level they're at, but we also take into consideration who their relationships are with, and the depth of those relationships, in addition to what is the structure of their day. Some folks do just fine until the afternoon, and that's when it breaks down, and we have to figure out what triggers the breakdown. 

“If we have a family member that's concerned, we'll bring them in for a screening. We do some assessments: what is their day like, how are they managing in their residence? What things can they do, what things are they having trouble doing? From there we can get an idea if we need to do more specialty testing to delve into really what the cause of the problems are. We need the level screening that I talked about, and then from there, we set goals with the resident and the caregivers and family in mind, so everybody contributes to those goals: What are the important things for them to do? How can we keep their level of independence as much and as long as possible?” 

Follow the links to learn more about Julie Wilkins, the Allen Cognitive Level screen, EmpowerMe Wellness, and the Mindful Living program.

<a href="https://www.onrtherapy.com/julie-wilkins/">Julie Wilkins</a>, Vice President of Clinical Resources at <a href="https://www.empowerme.com/">EmpowerMe Wellness</a>, joins Suzanne to talk about their <a href="https://www.onrtherapy.com/about/mindful-living/">Mindful Living</a> memory program, a formalized approach to addressing the needs of seniors who are experiencing memory loss or a decline in function related to dementia or other cognitive issues. It is based on Claudia Allen's work of the six levels of cognition, which is a test that evaluates the ability of someone to make decisions, maintain independence and safely perform basic skills. Mindful Living is used to identify seniors showing memory problems or decreased ability to function in their residence, determine their functional level, educate on coping strategies, and provide non-pharmacological interventions to enhance quality of life and improve their ability to function. 
Julie explains, “We have developed an individualized approach. So not only do we start with determining what level they're at, but we also take into consideration who their relationships are with, and the depth of those relationships, in addition to what is the structure of their day. Some folks do just fine until the afternoon, and that's when it breaks down, and we have to figure out what triggers the breakdown. 
“If we have a family member that's concerned, we'll bring them in for a screening. We do some assessments: what is their day like, how are they managing in their residence? What things can they do, what things are they having trouble doing? From there we can get an idea if we need to do more specialty testing to delve into really what the cause of the problems are. We need the level screening that I talked about, and then from there, we set goals with the resident and the caregivers and family in mind, so everybody contributes to those goals: What are the important things for them to do? How can we keep their level of independence as much and as long as possible?” 
Follow the links to learn more about <a href="https://www.onrtherapy.com/julie-wilkins/">Julie Wilkins</a>, the <a href="https://allencognitive.com/allen-scale/">Allen Cognitive Level screen</a>, <a href="https://www.empowerme.com/">EmpowerMe Wellness</a>, and the <a href="https://www.onrtherapy.com/about/mindful-living/">Mindful Living program</a>.

Answers for Elders is the North Star in Navigating Senior Care.  Our content is designed to Empower Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging.

Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist seniors, caregivers and their families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health & Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money & Law.

Answers for Elders is the North Star in Navigating Senior Care.  Our content is designed to Empower Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging.
Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist seniors, caregivers and their families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health &amp; Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money &amp; Law.

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Empowering Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging

For Caregivers: If you're caring for a senior loved one, or navigating later life care, we help make the journey so much easier for you and your family.

For Seniors: We help you be proactive to prepare for your aging years ahead, honoring your wishes.

Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health & Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money & Law.

Empowering Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging
For Caregivers: If you're caring for a senior loved one, or navigating later life care, we help make the journey so much easier for you and your family.
For Seniors: We help you be proactive to prepare for your aging years ahead, honoring your wishes.
Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health &amp; Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money &amp; Law.

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