As a psychologist, I must fall in love with all of my patients in order to work with them. This morning, I had my initial interview with a 90-year old woman who was referred due to depression. I asked my typical psychological assessment questions (“Can you tell me what day it is? Have you … Read more
After working in nursing homes for so long, I sometimes wonder what I’d be like if I had dementia. It seems to me that for a lot of people with dementia, while many details of their personality are lost, what remains is the underlying emotional tone. Of course, most of the people I’m meeting are … Read more
This week I had the chance to meet with a lovely 97-year old lady whom I admire greatly. Despite her dementia, she can be eloquent and is interested in the world around her. She’s always well-dressed, thanks to her aides and to her family, who provide her with fashionable clothing they wash themselves. She’s often … Read more