154: Combating Stage Fright in Dementia Care with Adria Thompson MA, CCC-SLP

In this episode, we explore the concept of staging in dementia using scales such as the Global Deterioration Scale, which helps guide our understanding of disease progression. Discover how speech-language pathologists play a vital role in providing support and implementing effective communication strategies while ensuring appropriate goals and documentation. After all, providing speech therapy services for individuals with dementia shouldn’t be scary.

Key Takeaway:

Speech-language pathologists have an essential role in supporting individuals with dementia in all stages. Through understanding staging, SLPs can guide therapy, set appropriate goals, train caregivers, and implement effective communication strategies to enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia.

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Resources

Dementia Assessments and Staging Scales:

• Global Deterioration Scale

  • Reisberg B, Ferris SH, de Leon MJ, Crook T. The Global Deterioration Scale for assessment of primary degenerative dementia. Am J Psychiatry. 1982 Sep;139(9):1136-9. doi: 10.1176/ajp.139.9.1136. PMID: 7114305.

• The Brief Cognitive Rating Scale

  • https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/brief-cognitive-rating-scale

• FAST - Functional Assessment Staging Tool

  • many free resources online

• The FROMAJE--an acronym for Function, Reasoning, Orientation, Memory, Arithmetic, Judgment, and Emotion--Mental Status Guide (FMSG)

  • Dolamore MJ, Libow LS, Mulvihill MN, Olson EM, Sack PG, Engberg KD, Starer P. Mental status guide: FROMAJE for use with frail elders. J Gerontol Nurs. 1994 Jun;20(6):29-35. doi: 10.3928/0098-9134-19940601-08. PMID: 8006352.

• Arizona Battery for Cognitive Communication Disorders

  • https://www.proedinc.com/Products/14815/abcd2-arizona-battery-for-cognitivecommunication-disorders-second-editioncomplete-kit.aspx

• Functional Linguistic Communication Inventory

  • https://www.proedinc.com/Products/14860/flci2-functional-linguistic-communication-inventorysecond-editioncomplete-kit.aspx

Thanks for these great resources, Adria!

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Adria Thompson MA, CCC-SLP

Guest Speaker Bio:

I am a speech language pathologist, dementia educator, and owner of Be Light Care Consulting. I've been an SLP for 9 years in SNFs, assisted living, and memory care communities and co-created a dementia program for therapists in dementia care facilities used across 14 states. Now, with my business I work as a dementia consultant and content creator. I post daily videos on Tiktok, IG, and Facebook for more than 275000 professional and personal caregivers.

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Leigh Ann Porter

Host Bio:

Leigh Ann Porter is a medical SLP in San Jose, California. Building on a passion for education and implementing best practice approaches, Leigh Ann created the Speech Uncensored Podcast to connect medical SLPs with meaningful resources, emerging research, and practical tools. Leigh Ann’s goal is to empower and connect SLPs to enhance our profession and accelerate the research to practice pipeline. One of her passions is learning and sharing simple and impactful therapy techniques. In addition to nerding out on medical speech pathology, Leigh Ann loves hiking at national parks, exploring waterways on her stand up paddle board, and enjoying a delicious meal with friends and family.

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