Category Archives: Uncategorized

Using Stories and Conversation to Create Community

In Community: The Structure of Belonging, author Peter Block suggests that the true vehicle for change is not elected leaders, but groups of people coming together at the local level and deciding, “What will we create today?” Harnessing the power of … Continue reading

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Politics, Payoffs and Drug Approvals

What is the proper stance of the FDA in ensuring that new and innovative drugs are available as soon as possible, while also ensuring that those drugs are reasonably safe and effective? This is the subject of much controversy these … Continue reading

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Prime-Time Parkinson’s

Kudos to actor Michael J. Fox for bringing his life to the public eye. Fox, 51, who has lived with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease for 21 years, will be coming to NBC in a new sitcom about a father of three … Continue reading

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The “Science” of Dementia Research

The more I read about research into the causes and treatments of dementia, the more concerned I am that the frenzy around creating “a world without Alzheimer’s” and the magnitude of funds directed at this goal are causing a lot of … Continue reading

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Time to “Pop the Question?”

I just returned from a rockin’ session in Denver, Colorado. Nearly 50 people attended the 2-day Dementia Beyond Drugs seminar and the energy in the room was palpable. I’m also happy to report that northeast Colorado was sunny, warm and … Continue reading

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Exciting New National Initiative

Ten days ago, a group of about 50 people came together in Washington, DC. Their mission: to create a consensus around better ways to support people who live with dementia. The group consisted of practitioners from community to skilled care … Continue reading

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No Time? Think Again…

I wish I had more time to post on my blog, but I’m just too busy… Interestingly, the New York Times ran two articles yesterday on our complex relationship with time and schedules. In the first, (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/?ref=opinion) Tim Kreider makes … Continue reading

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Our Bellagio Project

If you would like a glimpse of what Emi Kiyota and I worked on for our collaborative project in Italy this past spring, here’s a video interview we filmed at the Center: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXQeRyGuGAY&feature=youtu.be

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More Green House Revelations…

One consequence of opening a new living space like our Green Houses is that it lays bare some aspects of institutional care that never occurred to me before. This seems to happen with regularity these days. Here’s a story, and … Continue reading

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“It Takes a Lot of Planning to Be Spontaneous”

I have often said the above words with regard to creating a long-term care environment rich with spontaneity. While there clearly are benefits to programmed and therapeutic activities, much of the joy in life comes from the ability to respond … Continue reading

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