The Preserved Abilities Method

05/29/2026

What if a person living with dementia isn't rejecting activities?

What if they're rejecting frustration?

Throughout my career, I've seen family and professional caregivers offer activities with the best of intentions, only to watch the person become frustrated, disengaged, or walk away.

The conclusion is often:

"They don't enjoy activities anymore."

Or:

"Their dementia has progressed too far for activities."

But what if that's not the whole story?

Many activities require specific abilities to be successful. When those abilities change, the activity itself may become confusing, overwhelming, or impossible to complete.

Imagine being handed a task over and over again that you can no longer do successfully.

Most people would eventually stop trying.

Not because they don't want to participate.

But because repeated failure is discouraging.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is assuming that difficulty with one activity means a person can no longer engage at all.

A person who can no longer complete a crossword puzzle may still respond beautifully to music.

Someone who struggles with reading may still enjoy conversation.

A former accountant may still enjoy organizing, sorting, and identifying patterns.

The goal is not simply to find something for a person to do.

The goal is to find opportunities that allow them to experience success.

This idea is one of the foundations of the Preserved Abilities Method™. Rather than focusing only on what has been lost, it encourages us to identify abilities that may still be present and use those strengths to support engagement, communication, and quality of life.

Sometimes the problem isn't the person.

Sometimes it's simply the activity.

Learn more at https://preservedabilities.com

05/25/2026

Pain in dementia does not always look the way people expect.

Sometimes discomfort shows up as:

✔ agitation
✔ withdrawal
✔ refusing care
✔ sleep changes
✔ increased confusion
✔ sudden behavioral changes

Many caregivers know something is wrong.

The challenge is figuring out what.

And sometimes where.

People living with dementia may continue experiencing pain and discomfort — but communication changes can make expressing those needs much more difficult.

One important thing to remember:

Communication changes.

It does not always disappear.

Understanding preserved abilities may help caregivers identify additional ways for someone to communicate discomfort — even for individuals who are minimally verbal or nonverbal.

Because sometimes recognizing concerns sooner can make a meaningful difference.

05/21/2026

05/17/2026

Ability Spotlight: Naturalistic Ability

Some people living with dementia continue to respond strongly to nature, living things, and the environment around them.

What this might look like:

✅ Enjoying time outdoors or near windows
✅ Responding positively to plants, flowers, or animals
✅ Noticing changes in weather or seasons
✅ Feeling calmer in natural environments

In daily life, this can look like:

✅ Enjoying gardening or watering plants
✅ Wanting to walk outside or spend time in fresh air
✅ Connecting with birds, pets, or nature sounds
✅ Becoming more relaxed in quieter, nature-based settings

What this means:

This may be a preserved ability—something that is still there and can be used to support them.

Important to know:

Many abilities can look similar on the surface.
What looks like “wandering”…
may sometimes be a desire to explore or connect with the environment.

That’s why guessing can be difficult.

Understanding which abilities are truly strongest can make a big difference in:

✅ communication
✅ engagement
✅ reducing frustration

You’re not just helping them get through the day—
you’re helping them succeed within it.

05/15/2026

There’s a little-known communication approach called Intensive Interaction that many people have never heard of—but it can be incredibly powerful when supporting nonverbal individuals.

Originally developed to help children with autism build communication and connection skills, Intensive Interaction focuses less on “teaching” communication and more on creating meaningful human interaction.

Instead of relying heavily on words, it uses things like:

👀 Eye contact
🙂 Facial expressions
🤝 Body language
🎵 Rhythm
💬 Tone of voice
🔄 Mirroring movements or sounds
❤️ Shared emotional connection

What’s especially interesting is how strongly this aligns with many preserved abilities often seen in people living with dementia.

Even when verbal language declines, abilities connected to rhythm, emotion, social connection, movement, and nonverbal communication may still remain surprisingly strong.

Sometimes meaningful communication is still happening—
just not in the way we traditionally expect.

This is one reason why focusing only on verbal ability can cause caregivers to miss important opportunities for connection.

05/13/2026

Helpful Tip for Dementia Caregivers:

Schedules and reminders can be incredibly helpful for reducing confusion and anxiety in someone living with dementia.

But something important is often overlooked:

The format matters.

Some people may understand written words better.

Others may respond more to pictures, colors, routines, or step-by-step cues.
A reminder system that works well for one person may not work well for another.

The goal isn’t just providing reminders.
It’s providing them in a way the person can still meaningfully understand and use.

Sometimes small adjustments in how information is presented can make caregiving feel much smoother and less frustrating for everyone involved.

05/03/2026

Preserved Abilities Series | Post 3

Ability Spotlight: Bodily–Kinesthetic Ability

Some people living with dementia don’t lose their need for movement— in many cases, it remains one of their strongest abilities.

What may look like “restlessness” or “wandering”…
may actually be a preserved ability for movement.

What this might look like:

✔ Pacing or walking frequently
✔ Difficulty sitting still
✔ Reaching for or handling objects
✔ Wanting to stay physically active

In daily life, this often shows up as:

✔ Moving from place to place without a clear reason
✔ Becoming agitated when asked to sit for long periods
✔ Engaging more when activities involve the body
✔ Calming during movement-based tasks

What this means:
This may be a preserved Bodily–Kinesthetic ability.

Movement isn’t just a behavior to manage—
it’s something the body still needs.

But here’s where it gets important:

Not all movement is the same.

Sometimes it’s restlessness.
Sometimes it’s discomfort.
And sometimes…

It’s a strength trying to stay active.

When you recognize this ability, you can:

✔ Incorporate structured movement into the day
✔ Reduce distress by allowing safe, purposeful activity
✔ Turn pacing into engagement—not interruption

You’re not just allowing movement—
you’re supporting an ability that’s still there.

05/03/2026

Sundowning can be one of the hardest parts of dementia care.

Pacing, repetition, agitation—it’s often treated as something to calm or stop.

But sometimes, these behaviors are actually attempts to use abilities that are still there.

Pacing may be a need for movement.
Repetition may be rhythm or language trying to stay active.
Agitation may be a need for connection or a sign of overload.

When we look for the ability behind the behavior, care starts to shift.

Instead of just managing symptoms, we can respond in ways that feel more natural—and often reduce stress for everyone involved.

05/02/2026

Hi Preserved Abilities Method followers—if you know someone living with dementia, please consider encouraging their caregivers to follow us on Facebook. We share practical tips on how to use a person’s strengths to improve the caregiving experience and enhance quality of life.

When care focuses on abilities rather than decline, meaningful changes can happen—independence can increase, self-worth can be supported, and behaviors often lessen—and many more benefits

04/29/2026

Choosing Care Matters More Than You Think

When a loved one is living with dementia, the quality of support they receive can make a meaningful difference in their day-to-day experience.

Many families assume all caregivers or care settings approach dementia care the same way—but in reality, training and approaches can vary widely, and they don’t always translate into practical, day-to-day support.

Before hiring a caregiver or choosing a community, it can help to ask a few simple questions:

✅ How do you communicate when someone is confused or distressed?
✅ How do you adapt care to the individual, not just the diagnosis?
✅ What does your training look like beyond the basics?

One thing to listen for:
Caregivers who are well-versed often focus on what a person can still do—not just what has been lost.

That perspective can make a significant difference in communication, engagement, and overall quality of life.

Because in dementia care, it’s not just about support—
it’s about how that support is provided.