Tami’s dementia practice centers on her six-point process, which she developed over the course of 25 years of experience, education, and insight. The six points work together to guide and support those caring for loved ones with dementia by creating a meaningful, loving, and compassionate experience.
Help for Dementia Caregivers
Help for Dementia Caregivers: Tami's Six-Point Process
Hover or click on each point to learn more.
Validate
Validate
There is an innate need within all of us to feel heard and understood. This is best achieved by listening, acknowledging, and validating your thoughts, feelings, concerns, fears, and frustrations.
I know how hard it can be to take care of a loved one with dementia and how consuming it can be. I know your world has been turned upside down and you weren’t prepared to take care of someone with dementia. I know the demands, responsibilities, and challenges are constant. Validating what you’re going through builds trust and creates a therapeutic alliance.
Restore
Restore
Caring for a loved one with dementia may cause you to question a lot of decisions you’re forced to make, and you may struggle with self-doubt and caregiver guilt. You may feel overwhelmed with your caregiver responsibilities and need to be reminded that your own identity and self-worth go beyond being that of a caregiver.
Restoring and increasing your self-confidence and decision-making process is a significant component of dementia support and guidance. Self-doubt and caregiver guilt are very common and I help put them into perspective. I walk you through the dementia journey reminding you that dementia is responsible for what you and your loved one are going through. You are not to blame.
Empathize
Empathize
It is important that you know you’re not alone. Empathy allows me to put myself in your shoes. It gives me the ability to acknowledge and understand your situation, feelings, and perceptions from your point of view and communicate my understanding back to you.
I hear the good and bad, the past and present, your concerns and fears, and your conflicting thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I hear the pain, anger, frustration, loss, sadness, and grief. And I also gratefully celebrate the happy, joyful, funny, and memorable times with you. My ability to empathize provides hope and reassurance that will get you through these unsettling and uncertain times.
Reflect
Reflect
Self–reflection is part of the coping, guidance, and support process. One of the most difficult challenges when taking care of a loved one with dementia is dealing with your own feelings and emotions while trying to adapt and adjust to the numerous changes that dementia causes.
You may have conflicting feelings and emotions about what you are going through, and I help you process those feelings and emotions in ways that are meaningful and beneficial. By acknowledging and listening to your feelings and emotions, you gain new insights and perspectives that help you cope and manage your circumstances.
Normalize
Normalize
Normalizing what you are going through is a key component of the dementia support, guidance, and counseling I provide. This involves reassuring you that you are not alone. Your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and challenges are normal. What you are going through is to be expected. The cognitive, physical, social, and behavioral changes that occur in your loved one are normal, and it’s normal to react and feel the way you do. I’ll also educate you about the progression of dementia. This prepares you for what to anticipate and gives you time to put a care plan in place. In addition, it will make you feel better about yourself and what you are going through.
Resolve
Resolve
When clients contact me, they are often desperate for answers and solutions to their immediate situation. As an Alzheimer’s and dementia consultant and educator, I provide tailored strategies and techniques to help you deal with the cognitive, physical, behavioral and emotional changes that occur as a result of dementia.
As a result of my counseling background and training, I know the questions to ask, the history I need to collect, and what to look for when behavioral issues in your loved one occur. With this knowledge, I'm able to increase your awareness and provide insight as to what dynamics might be in play and teach you how to respond.
Validate
Validate
There is an innate need within all of us to feel heard and understood. This is best achieved by listening, acknowledging, and validating your thoughts, feelings, concerns, fears, and frustrations.
I know how hard it can be to take care of a loved one with dementia and how consuming it can be. I know your world has been turned upside down and you weren’t prepared to take care of someone with dementia. I know the demands, responsibilities, and challenges are constant. Validating what you’re going through builds trust and creates a therapeutic alliance.
Empathize
Empathize
It is important that you know you’re not alone. Empathy allows me to put myself in your shoes. It gives me the ability to acknowledge and understand your situation, feelings, and perceptions from your point of view and communicate my understanding back to you.
I hear the good and bad, the past and present, your concerns and fears, and your conflicting thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I hear the pain, anger, frustration, loss, sadness, and grief. And I also gratefully celebrate the happy, joyful, funny, and memorable times with you. My ability to empathize provides hope and reassurance that will get you through these unsettling and uncertain times.
Normalize
Normalize
Normalizing what you are going through is a key component of the dementia support, guidance, and counseling I provide. This involves reassuring you that you are not alone. Your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and challenges are normal. What you are going through is to be expected. The cognitive, physical, social, and behavioral changes that occur in your loved one are normal, and it’s normal to react and feel the way you do. I’ll also educate you about the progression of dementia. This prepares you for what to anticipate and gives you time to put a care plan in place. In addition, it will make you feel better about yourself and what you are going through.
Restore
Restore
Caring for a loved one with dementia may cause you to question a lot of decisions you’re forced to make, and you may struggle with self-doubt and caregiver guilt. You may feel overwhelmed with your caregiver responsibilities and need to be reminded that your own identity and self-worth go beyond being that of a caregiver.
Restoring and increasing your self-confidence and decision-making process is a significant component of dementia support and guidance. Self- doubt and caregiver guilt are very common and I help put them into perspective. I walk you through the dementia journey reminding you that dementia is responsible for what you and your loved one are going through. You are not to blame.
Reflect
Reflect
Self–reflection is part of the coping, guidance, and support process. One of the most difficult challenges when taking care of a loved one with dementia is dealing with your own feelings and emotions while trying to adapt and adjust to the numerous changes that dementia causes.
You may have conflicting feelings and emotions about what you are going through, and I help you process those feelings and emotions in ways that are meaningful and beneficial. By acknowledging and listening to your feelings and emotions, you gain new insights and perspectives that help you cope and manage your circumstances.
Resolve
Resolve
When clients contact me, they are often desperate for answers and solutions to their immediate situation. As an Alzheimer’s and dementia consultant and educator, I provide tailored strategies and techniques to help you deal with the cognitive, physical, behavioral and emotional changes that occur as a result of dementia.
As a result of my counseling background and training, I know the questions to ask, the history I need to collect, and what to look for when behavioral issues in your loved one occur. With this knowledge, I'm able to increase your awareness and provide insight as to what dynamics might be in play and teach you how to respond.
Help for Dementia Caregivers
Counseling
- Are you a caregiver dealing with the changes dementia causes? Tami can provide you with the emotional support and care strategies you need.
- Are you newly diagnosed and in the early stages of dementia? Work with Tami to process this life-altering diagnosis.
- Are you a caregiver in crisis due to your loved one’s difficult behavior or recent hospitalization? Tami can provide tools and solutions.
- Are you struggling with feelings of sadness and grief while caring for your loved one? Tami’s deep understanding of ambiguous loss and anticipatory grief will help you cope and prepare for the future.
Tami is a compassionate counselor who understands your frustrations and concerns.
Online Support Groups
- Held via Zoom, Tami’s support groups provide a safe and compassionate environment to share your experiences, discover helpful tools, and connect with other caregivers.
- Dementia caregiver support groups provide guidance for spouses, partners, adult children, friends, and relatives of loved ones with dementia.
- Coming in September: Early-stage dementia support groups will assist those grappling with a dementia diagnosis plan for the future.
Tami’s online support groups empower you to handle the challenges you face.
On-Site Services
- Available for Northern California clients living in the following counties: Santa Clara, San Benito, San Mateo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz.
- Tami develops a connection with your loved one living with dementia who resides at home or in a care community.
- Tami creates cognitive and physical stimulation activities tailored to your loved one’s interests and needs. These activities are designed to keep your loved one physically, emotionally, and cognitively engaged.
- Tami visits your home to provide counseling, whether you're living with dementia or are a dementia caregiver.
Tami provides your loved one with a sense of purpose and value.
What We’re Hearing…
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