Dementia Education

Is It Really Dementia?

Commentary on New York Times Article “Is It Really Dementia” by Paula Span “Is It Really Dementia?” This is the question in the title of the recent New York Times Article, written by Paula Span.  In the article she states “15-25 percent ‘usually have conditions that can be reversed or at least improved’”. When one… …Continue Reading

Quality of Life for Dementia Residents

The foundation of The Vicarage is built on “the immediate needs of those who already have dementia and those caring for them.” Every aspect of our philosophy of our dementia care relates to creating a higher quality of life for those currently living with the challenges of dementing illnesses. Our commitment to a secure environment,… …Continue Reading

Food and Fluids until the End of Life – Dementia Care

The philosophy of The Vicarage has always been to offer food and fluids until the end of life for its dementia residents.  The Vicarage, however, does not resort to tubes and machines in order to accomplish this task. Instead, like The New York Times article, Food and the Dying Patient, suggests we feed our residents… …Continue Reading

Pets and Dementia Care

The Vicarage prides itself on incorporating pets and dementia care from the day we opened our doors.  We realize how important furry friends are throughout all changes in life, especially the traumatic transition from home to communal living in later life. For those living with progressive neurological  diseases, loss of the ability to speak, remember,… …Continue Reading

Transforming the Quality of Life for People With Dementia Through Contact With the Natural World: Fresh Air on My Face

The Vicarage By The Sea is pleased to announce that it was used as a case study in the article, “From Demedicalisation to Renaturalisation: Dementia and Nature in Harmony”, written by Peter Whitehouse, Danny George, Johanna Wigg (owner of The Vicarage), and Brett Joseph, within this book on nature and dementia. This important book simply… …Continue Reading

Social Care Institute for Excellence

About dementia Dementia is a term that is used to describe a collection of symptoms including memory loss, problems with reasoning and communication skills, and a reduction in a person’s abilities and skills in carrying out daily activities such as washing, dressing and cooking. The most common types of dementia are: Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia,… …Continue Reading

A culture of dementia: Examining interpersonal relationships between elders

by Wigg, Johanna M., Ph.D., Brandeis University, 2006, 171 pages; AAT 3243767 Abstract (Summary) This dissertation project focuses on the lives of elders living with dementia, specifically their relationships with one another. The research includes data collected within one long-term, dementia care facility. The data was collected over a period of approximately six months, including… …Continue Reading

Intimacy among the Socially Dead

Examining Intimacy among Institutionalized Elders with Mid to Late Stage Dementia Johanna M. Wigg Abstract This paper explores intimate relations between elders living with dementia in long-term care settings. By intimate relations, I am referring to holding hands, cuddling, touch, as well as loving relationships lasting months or years. With elderly populations expected to double… …Continue Reading

Moving from person centered-care to community relationships: the UK National Dementia Strategy-and Danny’s success

“Johanna Wigg and Cheryl Golek from The Vicarage by the Sea were a great addition to our presentation as we try to contribute to the cultural transformation ongoing in dementia care. My constant message during the trip was that if we change our view of dementia we will create a more hopeful view of what… …Continue Reading

The Myth of Alzheimers

What You Aren’t Being Told About Today’s  Most Dreaded Diagnosis http://www.themythofalzheimers.com/