Caring for someone with advanced dementia is about navigating an evolving relationship, making tough choices, and finding meaning along the way. Advanced-Comfort is a program that supports and guides you to plan compassionate, meaningful care for your loved one with advanced dementia—helping you navigate difficult decisions, enhance their comfort, and find reassurance in the care journey.
By focusing on comfort, dignity, and meaningful care, this approach empowers you to make informed decisions and advocate for what matters most. Using the 6M Care Planning Tool, you’ll learn how to work with healthcare providers to develop a personalized care plan that supports your loved one’s well-being and ensures their needs are met with compassion and respect
Advanced Comfort is a program designed to empower family caregivers like you to be an active partner in your loved one’s care. It teaches you how to use the 6M Care Plan Tool—a structured approach to developing a personalized care plan that prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people with advanced dementia.
Through this program, you’ll learn how to work alongside healthcare professionals to:
Advanced Comfort gives you the tools, knowledge, and confidence to ensure your loved one receives care that is compassionate, personalized, and truly centered on their needs.
Professor, Principal Investigator
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Understanding what matters most to a person with advanced dementia helps ensure that care aligns with their identity, values, and preferences. This includes knowing how they like to be addressed, the people who are most important to them, their cultural or spiritual beliefs, and the routines that bring them comfort. By recognizing these personal details, caregivers and healthcare providers can create a care experience that feels familiar, meaningful, and respectful of the person’s life and legacy.
Engaging in meaningful activities helps people with advanced dementia feel connected, comforted, and valued. While they may no longer engage in activities the way they once did, understanding what brings them joy, whether it is listening to music, feeling different textures, watching familiar movements, or simply being in the presence of loved ones, can help create moments of comfort. Identifying their past interests and how they respond to different activities allows caregivers to support a sense of connection, familiarity, and purpose.
Mealtimes are more than just eating, they are moments of connection, comfort, and routine. Understanding a person’s preferences, such as favorite foods, textures, eating environment, and how they like to be assisted, can help create a more enjoyable and comforting experience. Caregivers can assess what makes mealtimes feel most natural and reassuring, whether it is the pace of eating, the use of certain utensils, or the presence of familiar sounds and routines. Recognizing these preferences can help preserve dignity and reduce stress around meals.
Understanding how medications and treatments affect a person with advanced dementia is essential for ensuring their comfort and well-being. Some medications may cause side effects that lead to discomfort, while others may no longer provide meaningful benefits. Assessing which medications and treatments are necessary, how they are given, and whether they align with the person's needs can help caregivers work with healthcare providers to make informed decisions. Reviewing medications regularly and recognizing signs of discomfort can support a care plan that prioritizes comfort and quality of life.
Mobility is about understanding how people with advanced dementia prefer to be moved and positioned to maintain comfort and security. While they may lose the ability to walk safely, knowing their preferences for movement, positioning, and support can improve their well-being. Caregivers can assess what helps them feel most at ease, whether it’s how they are repositioned, assisted with transfers, or encouraged to engage in small movements. A safe, familiar environment with supportive seating and clear pathways can also contribute to their sense of security. Recognizing and respecting these preferences helps reduce discomfort, prevent stiffness, and preserve dignity.
Personal care activities like bathing, dressing, and toileting can feel distressing for people with advanced dementia if their preferences are not understood. Since they may not be able to express discomfort with words, it is important to recognize nonverbal signs of distress and adjust care to meet their needs. Understanding what makes them feel most at ease, such as water temperature, preferred clothing, or the way they like to be positioned, can help create a more comfortable and dignified experience.
Discover how you can be an active member of the care team and create comfort and quality of life for a loved one with advanced dementia.
Advanced dementia affects memory, communication, and daily life, but a person’s identity and emotions remain. This video explores what happens as dementia progresses and how caregivers can provide comfort and meaningful support.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can feel overwhelming, but you play a vital role in ensuring they receive the best care possible. This video explores how family caregivers can actively participate in shared care planning, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and advocate for their loved one's needs. Learn practical strategies to build a care plan that prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
As a family caregiver, you play a vital role in shaping the care your loved one receives. The 6M Care Planning Tool empowers you to be an active care partner, working alongside healthcare providers to ensure that care is personalized, compassionate, and aligned with what matters most.
Discover how you can be an active member of the care team and create comfort and quality of life for a loved one with advanced dementia.
