Please note this article by DAI member, Dave Carpenter, was originally published by Dementia Connections. Thank you to the original owners for allowing us to share his content with our audience.
Dave’s journey with young onset dementia and rehabilitation.
About two years ago, I was diagnosed with young onset dementia; suffice to say, it was quite a shock. I’d never even heard of young onset dementia because almost nobody gets diagnosed with a disease this rare at the age of 51.
I live in Toronto, Canada with a population of around 40 million people, and have the unwanted distinction of being one of a mere 23,000 Canadians diagnosed with young onset dementia. Well now, how ‘bout them apples?
Suffice it to say, the first few months post-diagnosis weren’t pretty. I’d all but given up on the notion that I could still lead a viable life while living with dementia. My wife Kristin has been instrumental in advocating for me, as have close friends and family members. I am a lucky guy!
Over time I crawled out of my hidey-hole, spurred on by a legitimate and commonsense approach to help mitigate my diagnosis for the better by way of - dun-da-da! - dementia rehabilitation. “He…Can…Be….Rehabilitated!” in the voice of none other than T.V.’s 70’s Star, Steve Austin, The Bionic Man!
Ok, so let’s dive in….
What got me jazzed about dementia rehabilitation was finding out that I was able to apply many of the same tactics and strategies that I’d been practising before I was diagnosed with young onset dementia. This familiarity with what I had already been doing on my own for my health helped me to reconcile with my condition, both mentally and physically. I just didn't have a name for it. Now, I do.
What Is dementia rehabilitation?
In a nutshell, dementia rehabilitation is a personal-centred approach that aims to help individuals with dementia maintain their independence, and quality of life while maximizing physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities through tailored therapies, support, and environmental adjustments.
Dementia rehabilitation is also a holistic and often multidisciplinary approach designed to support individuals living with dementia at any stage of the condition. It focuses not on curing the disease—since dementia is typically progressive and incurable—but on helping the person live as well and as independently as possible.
Key elements in dementia rehabilitation include:
Cognitive therapy helps people with dementia to rely on their strengths to work around memory or thinking problems. For example: using calendars, reminders, or routines to support daily tasks.
Occupational therapy assists individuals in adapting activities in their daily lives (i.e. dressing, cooking, or bathing) so they can continue participating meaningfully in life.
Physical therapy encourages movement, strength, balance, and mobility to reduce falls and promote physical health.
Speech and Language therapy supports communication and swallowing, especially as these abilities decline.
Psychosocial support provides emotional and psychological care to both the person with dementia and their caregivers, which may include counselling or group therapy.
Dementia rehabilitation is also ‘person-centred meaning it’s tailored to each individual’s values, needs, and life history.
Bottom Line? Dementia rehabilitation isn’t just about coping — it’s about living. It emphasizes what the person can do rather than focusing on what they’ve lost, and in doing so, helps to preserve one’s dignity, autonomy and identity.
Dementia rehabilitation is also a smarter, more personal approach, and yes, a bit techy, but in a good way. Whether it’s keeping one’s mind sharp or making sure you don’t accidentally put your phone in the microwave, there’s something out there to help.
Left: Dave Carpenter Right: Kristin, Josh and Lucy Carpenter.
Dave’s Tips
Tackling my condition via dementia rehabilitation as my co-pilot has reaped many mental, psychological and physical benefits for me and provided a legitimate feeling of self-agency. Likely, it will for you too, if not already on your own rehabilitation plan.
And finally, here’s my personal take on tackling this challenging disease and living your best self in spite of dementia in a practical and targeted way, from what you eat, to your support structure and how you plan take back control by hook and crook.
Number Uno: Exercise. Committing to a regular exercise regime commensurate to your physical health limits is a great way to stave off the progression of those nasty ol’ amyloid plaques in your cabeza (head) and maybe make you feel better than ever, both physically and mentally.
Two: Socialization. Maintaining social relationships with the people you care about the most, despite your diagnosis, is also quite beneficial for staving off dementia in the long term.
Three: You are what you eat…(and don't forget sleep). Meditation and sleep kind of go hand-in-hand when it comes to the efficiency in “firing and wiring” the neurons in your brain, in staving off the build-up of amyloid plaques in your cabeza (head). Think of it as an exceptionally clean legal drug in the war on amyloid plaques.
Four: Giving back. Giving back to others offers numerous benefits that impact both the giver and the receiver. It can boost happiness, reduce stress, and enhance self-esteem. Giving back to others can also improve mental and physical well-being. For example, contributing to a community can reduce stress, increase positive emotions, and lower the risk of physical and mental health conditions
Six: Hobbies. Keeping up with your favourite hobbies is important. My hobbies are photography, fitness, and keeping with my family and rolling with my homies.
About the Author
Dave Carpenter is 52-years old and lives in “The Beach” area of Toronto with his wife, Kristin and two children, Josh and Lucy.
Dave says that when he was diagnosed with such a rare and incurable disease in his early 50’s it 'rocked his world' as it would for any of us. Dave says he eventually found his ballast again, and he's discovered that if you stick with it, dementia rehabilitation pays you back in kind.
Thank you to the original owners, Dementia Connections, for allowing us to share his content with our audience.
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