VHA Home HealthCare
Caring for someone with dementia? VHA Home HealthCare’s Heart in Mind Activation Therapy is a free online toolkit created for families, personal support workers, therapists, or other health care providers to engage loved ones and clients living with dementia.
Inspired by the Dementia Care Matters Butterfly Model, this toolkit provides easy access to feelings-based communication and activity ideas to empower you to stimulate the body and mind.
Activation therapy is partnering with the person living with dementia to stimulate the body and mind with music, art, exercise, games, and conversation. There are numerous benefits to activating, such as:
- Better quality of life for both the individual and the family
- Enhanced memory
- Reduced depression
- Prevention of social isolation
The program covers a wide range of strategies to enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia including how to: engage feelings, understand personal stories and interests, communicate in their language, and take part in meaningful activities.
Heart in Mind was created by VHA service providers, in collaboration with family caregivers, and with the generous support of Baycrest’s Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation.
