BASIC HUMAN NEEDS & VALIDATION TECHNIQUES DUSTY LINN, LCSW, CDP, CVW, BC-AC, PAC TRAINER

VALIDATION TECHNIQUES Understanding Basic Human Needs Understanding Techniques Center/Re-Center Observe & Match Emotion Identify Preferred Sense Non-Threatening Questions Rephrase Extreme Questions and Polarity

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS Love Purpose Self Expression/Individuality

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS Outside of the Physiological needs food, water, shelter, air what else do we require? When our physical needs are met we are alive When our basic human needs we will discuss are met, we EXPERIENCE life Is there a difference? If so, what does that look like?

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS Emotional memories are more strongly remembered by residents with Dementia Definition of success with a resident with Dementia Are there residents who come to mind as we discuss this difference? They need you to be set free from emotional pain and move into resolution

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS Love: Connected to Others Purpose: Connected to the Environment Self-Expression/Individuality: Being Separate

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS Applying it to a Resident with Dementia Not everyone was able to have these 3 things Now they seek it out and are trying desperately to find it They talk about it They reach out for it They ask for it BUT WE DON T UNDERSTAND SO WE DON T RESPOND AND HELP MEET THAT NEED

BASIC HUMAN NEED - LOVE Touch Hand holding Caressing a face I miss him Where is my dog? Crying Hey, hey, help me! Where is my mom?

BASIC HUMAN NEED - LOVE Can look different for everyone In conversation listen for feeling words When interacting watch for them to reach out for you May be non-verbal but will touch your hand or face or hug you Sometimes there is anger and sadness present where they wish love was

BASIC HUMAN NEED - PURPOSE Accomplishment Reason for Existence An aim or goal

BASIC HUMAN NEED - PURPOSE Caregiver Nurturer Job Higher level of education the more they identify with this often Outdoor labor Hobbies

BASIC HUMAN NEED - PURPOSE What if they weren t allowed to do what they always dreamed of doing? What if they wanted to go to college, but couldn t? What if they were always bossed around by parents and/or spouse? What if they feel they never achieved anything worthwhile?

BASIC HUMAN NEED - PURPOSE Listen for words that relate to work Listen for words that talk about meaningful relationships Listen for words related to Depression Useless No hope No point in doing anything

BASIC HUMAN NEED SELF EXPRESSION/INDIVIDUALITY Distinguishing characteristics What makes me ME!!! A separate entity from others

BASIC HUMAN NEED SELF EXPRESSION/INDIVIDUALITY He s such a joker She s a mother to everyone Complainer Hoarder

BASIC HUMAN NEED SELF EXPRESSION/INDIVIDUALITY Making my own decisions about my life Culture Change Honoring preferences Thinking outside the box for activities

BASIC HUMAN NEED SELF EXPRESSION/INDIVIDUALITY Listen for words like mine or me Listen for them talking about things being taken from them I can t I m not allowed

UNDERSTANDING TECHNIQUES The manner in which you use a certain set of skills A basic method of doing something Now that we better understand our elders with Dementia, now what Presence is Powerful Nonjudgmental approach You actively engage where they are at Close your mouth open your eyes, ears and heart

CENTER/RE-CENTER Becoming calm and concentrated Change It Up Exercise

CENTER/RE-CENTER Were you able to spot the difference? We have to program ourselves to notice subtle differences How can we do that if our mind is cluttered?

CENTER/RE-CENTER Slow down Put Away Relax our Body Complete Focus can occur

CENTER/RE-CENTER Slow your breathing Clear your mind envision it if needed Go to a happy place generate a positive feeling Doesn t need to take long

CENTER/RE-CENTER Re-center Shorter version of centering Ever been interrupted? We can multitask, but the purpose is focusing in on the resident Close your eyes Breathe in a couple of times Refocus

OBSERVE & MATCH EMOTION Observe Posture Breathing Eyes Facial Expression Energy Level Emotional State Tone of Voice

OBSERVE & MATCH EMOTION Calibrate Match their emotion and energy Match their speed of conversation We should be about 5 notches below their emotional level Be knee to knee when possible Match emotion both with your face, body, breathing and vocal tone

OBSERVE & MATCH EMOTION LOVE Pleasure Joy Sex ANGER Rage Hate Displeasure

OBSERVE & MATCH EMOTION FEAR Guilt Shame Anxiety SADNESS Misery Grief

OBSERVE & MATCH EMOTION

PREFERRED SENSE EXERCISE Describe a room in your house

IDENTIFY PREFERRED SENSE We each have a preferred sense Visual Auditory Touch Olfactory/Taste

PREFERRED SENSE - VISUAL I see what you mean I am looking closely at the idea We see eye to eye He has a blind spot Show me what you mean You ll look back on this and laugh This will shed some light on the subject It colors his view

PREFERRED SENSE - AUDITORY On the same wavelength Living in harmony It s all Greek to me A lot of mumbo jumbo Turn a deaf ear Rings a bell Music to my ears Unheard of

PREFERRED SENSE - TOUCH I will get in touch with you I can grasp that idea Hold on a second A warm-hearted man A cool customer Thick skinned Scratch the surface I can t put my finger on it Going to pieces

PREFERRED SENSE OLFACTORY & TASTE I smell a rat A fishy situation A bitter pill to swallow Fresh as a daisy A taste for the good life A sweet person An acid comment

PREFERRED SENSE Go back to the description of the room What kind of words did your partner use? What kind of words did you use? What is your preferred sense?

NON-THREATENING QUESTIONS Who What When Where How This technique explores facts and actually avoids feelings This is very appropriate for someone who is Maloriented

NON-THREATENING QUESTIONS Some can be closed ended questions She helped you with that? He took that water cup. Some can be open ended questions Who was the one that bothered your things? How long did that happen? What else is going on?

NON-THREATENING QUESTIONS Many times people don t want to express emotion verbally until they know they can trust you This can take time There s no need to pre-plan your questions Follow their lead Whatever is of most interest to them is what you talk about

NON-THREATENING QUESTIONS Avoid asking why It infers being judgmental Avoid the f word Feel How does that make you feel? Instead: What do you think about that?

REPHRASE Rephrase or repeat in almost the same words Emphasize words they emphasize They just left you here. You are very angry and you want to get out. Speak with almost the same intensity as they do and the same emotion in your voice that they have This gives clarity to both you and the resident about what they are saying It ensure the resident you get them and are listening!!!

EXTREME QUESTIONS AND POLARITY Extreme Questions Always Never Was there a time didn t happen? Have you always been afraid? Do they never listen to you? Do you always feel ignored?

EXTREME QUESTIONS & POLARITY Polarity North & South Poles Best & Worst What was the best time you ever had? What was the worst thing that happened?