The Millstone Times November 2019

As We Age

Understanding Dementia with Second Wind Dreams and Dementia Tour By Susan Heckler One in seven Americans over the age of 70 suffers from dementia. About 3.4 million people, or 13.9% of the population age 71 and older, have some form of dementia. As expected, the prevalence of dementia increases dramatically with age, by five percent for those aged 71 to 79 and up to 37.4 percent for those age 90 and older. Second Wind Dreams is an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the perception of aging through the fulfillment of dreams and the offering of educational programs including its flagship, sensitivity training, the Virtual dementia Tour. Founded in 1997, its name resulted from a novel of the same name by P.K. Beville, a geriatric specialist who wrote about people who live and work in nursing homes. Since its formation in 1997, Second Wind Dreams has become involved in more than 400 eldercare communities in 40 states, and Canada. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation who gets financial support by way of individual contributions, memberships, corporations and eldercare industry associations. Additional revenue is generated because of their Second Wind Dreams' educational program, the Virtual Dementia Tour. Their mission is pretty simple – their goal is to change the perception of aging through the fulfillment of dreams and the offering of innovative educational opportunities to caregivers and communities. During a Virtual Dementia Tour experience, trained facilitators guide the participants who are outfitted with patented devices that alter their senses. They then try to complete common everyday tasks and exercises. Caregivers can experience for themselves the physical and mental challenges those with dementia face, and use the experience to provide better person-centered care. It is easier for a caregiver to relate to their patient when put into their shoes. The tour is wonderful for those employed by Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Communities, Hospice, or Home Health Care. Family members may have a better understanding. Proceeds from the Virtual Dementia Tour are used to fulfill the mission of Second Wind Dreams to make dreams come true for elders who live in long-term care. Their Dreams program is the elder population’s version of Make a Wish. Second Wind Dreams makes dreams come true for people living in Senior Living – nursing homes, assisted living communities, public housing, and receiving home healthcare. SecondWind works with these entities to find resources in their local community to make the dreams come true. When you visit the website, they list participants, what their dreams are and how much funding is needed. The dreams run from the simple to the sublime. Looking at the fulfilled dreams and those who are still waiting, it can be as simple as one last dance in the ballroom, a day petting animals, or one last getaway for a hospice patient. Take the tour, grant the dream…show a little love. For more information check out http://www.secondwind.org/

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48 The Millstone Times

November 2019