Dementia care: Helping patients reconnect and retain identity

Another woman who used to be a piano teacher even managed to play the piano again with some hand-over-hand support, Bielig recalled. “Nobody thought it would be possible because she usually doesn’t move at all and has a very limited field of vision.”

Indeed, even those with advanced dementia who cannot speak can express themselves through facial gestures, eye movements or slight movements of their hands, Bielig added.

For Sahara, one of the best parts of the job is witnessing residents do things nobody thought they could do again. “When we share these stories, it is very rewarding to witness the new hope in family members, especially for people with end-stage dementia,” she said.

Sometimes, family members are so inspired after the sharing session that they also learn to engage their loved ones through non-verbal gestures, Sahara said.

When memory fades and words fail, what is important “is the feeling that we leave our loved ones with – they might not remember our name or who we are, but they still can feel”, she added.