From Heartache to Breakthrough: How One Woman's Love Revolutionized Dementia Care
Ethelle Lord's dedication to improving the lives of those with dementia began almost twenty-five years ago when her late husband received the diagnosis. Determined to ensure his safety and well-being, Ethelle became his dedicated champion and legal guardian. Throughout their journey, her husband's illness became a powerful teacher, guiding her toward solutions for often-overlooked challenges in dementia care. Inspired by this experience, Ethelle embarked on a path of research and development, creating a comprehensive program to promote human dignity in dementia care while achieving excellence in managing the disease. She studied, wrote, presented, and experienced an intense journey that led her to create the Transactional Dementia Intelligence (TDI) business model of dementia care. And this is her story.
A Personal Challenge
Ethelle's world shifted when her husband was diagnosed with dementia. With no prior knowledge of this condition, she faced a daunting challenge: ensuring her husband's well-being. This journey was not easy. Managing the disease, caring for her husband, and upholding his dignity all presented significant challenges. The existing options felt limited.
However, Ethelle's background as a mental health counselor, combined with her skills in management and leadership, became her guiding light. As a natural problem solver, she couldn't ignore the unanswered questions and unmet needs she encountered in traditional Alzheimer's care. It became clear that the answers she sought had yet to be discovered. This ignited a fire within her: a desire to create something better, something that addressed the gaps she witnessed.
Ethelle's unwavering love for her husband shone like a beacon, guiding her through the challenges of caregiving. With remarkable dedication, she embraced every aspect of his care, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth. Her passion to provide the best possible support ignited a spark of innovation. Ethelle didn't just care for her husband; she revolutionized his care, introducing fresh ideas that impressed doctors and caregivers alike.
The Birth of a New Approach
Years of research and firsthand experience caring for her husband led Ethelle in an unexpected direction, giving her life new meaning. One of her first achievements was becoming the world's first Dementia Coach, opening the door for others to follow. But the most important moment in her journey came from a simple realization: the best care for her husband required a whole-system approach. This insight led Ethelle to create the Transactional Dementia Intelligence (TDI) business model, a holistic system designed to address all aspects of dementia care.
Building Blocks of Transformation
Ethelle's vision extended beyond her husband's care. Her experiences ignited a passion to transform dementia care itself. The model she created serves as a blueprint, focusing on six key pillars:
Care and Support: Respect Comes First. At the heart of TDI lies respect for human dignity. Personalized care plans, open environments, and family involvement ensure every individual flourishes. Specialized dementia coaches empower both caregivers and families.
Training and Education: Learning Never Stops at TDI. Comprehensive training equips everyone involved in care, from professionals to family members, with the latest practices and skills they need. By creating policies that boost job satisfaction, TDI fosters a dedicated and valued workforce.
Teamwork and Management: Stronger Together. TDI thrives on collaboration. Interprofessional teams, families, and management work together seamlessly to create a supportive work environment that prevents burnout. Ethical conduct remains a core principle.
Health and Wholeness: Taking Care of the Whole Person. TDI believes in a well-rounded approach to care, addressing the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of everyone involved, alongside physical health. They encourage natural approaches like healthy diets whenever possible. Open and supportive living environments are also a key factor in promoting health and wholeness.
Adaptability and Growth: Always Evolving. TDI prioritizes adaptability, ensuring care keeps pace with the changing needs of individuals with dementia. They also embrace continuous improvement, making changes that enhance the effectiveness of the model for everyone involved.
Community and Engagement: Spreading the Word, Expanding the Impact. TDI's vision transcends individual care. Through community engagement, they promote their innovative model, highlighting its superior quality of care and operational efficiency. This collaborative approach attracts new partners, fostering a wider network of support for those living with dementia.
Innovative Approach to Dementia Care
This image encapsulates Ethelle's innovations: the International Caregivers Association (ICA) and the Transactional Dementia Intelligence Model (TDI).
Ethelle's TDI program revolutionizes dementia care in several key ways:
Shifting the Focus: The program transitions from a medical-centric approach to a care and social model. It emphasizes natural supplements, essential oils, and a healthy diet alongside appropriate medication use.
Empowering Everyone: Comprehensive training equips every staff member, from owner to janitor, with dementia intelligence. This ensures everyone interacting with individuals with dementia can communicate and care for them effectively.
Stronger Support Systems: Family engagement is a cornerstone. Families are trained to become active care partners, strengthening the support network around the person with dementia.
Addressing Emotional Needs: The program prioritizes emotional support for both individuals with dementia and caregivers. Dementia coaches and even death doulas provide essential guidance, helping staff cope with the emotional challenges of their work.
Elevating Lives with Memory Loss
Memory diseases, affecting millions globally, pose a new challenge for Ethelle: spreading the TDI program worldwide. She understands the devastating effects on families and caregivers who share the emotional toll. TDI, Ethelle believes, is modernizing memory care, as many practices have remained unchanged for several decades.
By fall 2023, Ethelle had completed the TDI design and was preparing to implement it, with the first facility finalizing contracts. Meanwhile, organizations in the US and abroad expressed interest through licensing inquiries. While Ethelle is turning down facilities that don't meet engagement standards, ensuring only committed institutions join, her organization pledges full support to all participating facilities to ensure their success with the program.
Conclusion
Ethelle envisions a future where dementia care facilities operate under the compassionate principles of the TDI program. Her journey shows that with love, determination, and creativity, we can turn difficult situations into powerful forces for positive change. Ethelle believes that addressing systemic issues in dementia care can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia, their caregivers, and loved ones. This, in turn, can create a more positive and supportive environment for everyone involved.
Fueled by research, unwavering compassion, and a commitment to innovation, Ethelle is transforming care for some of society's most vulnerable members. Her remarkable journey, from a concerned wife to a global dementia care innovator, is truly inspiring. The Transactional Dementia Intelligence program embodies her vision, serving as a beacon of hope and a model for compassionate, effective dementia care.
A tireless advocate for dementia care, Dr. Ethelle Lord, M.Ed., DM wears many hats. She's the Founding President of the International Caregivers Association, a Master Dementia Coach, and the visionary behind the TDI℠ model, a transformative approach to dementia care. She lives in Mapleton, Maine, United States.
If you want to learn more about Ethelle’s work with her Transactional Dementia Intelligence business model and how she is bringing dementia care into the 21st century, please visit icacares.com and follow her insights on LinkedIn at Ethelle Lord. Through education and compassion, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected directly and indirectly by dementia.
