Untangling the Expressive Arts for Dementia Care with Daniel C. Potts, MD

Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN is a neurologist, author, poet, educator, and champion of those living with Alzheimer's and other dementias and their care partners. His professional life collided with his personal in 2002, when his father, Lester, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He soon found himself on his own dementia journey, and like many other care partners, became adrift in despair, confusion, grief, and helplessness as he watched his father decline. Soon after Lester started attending a day care program for people with cognitive impairment, he began to show a previously unknown talent for painting watercolors. This not only delighted him and his family but also others at the center, and he obtained some local notoriety for his colorful artwork. Not long after, Daniel’s own creativity with words emerged, and his poetry became a necessary outlet to release his sorrow over his father’s illness. The transformations he and Lester experienced through their work inspired him to create his foundation, Cognitive Dynamics, which brings the expressive arts to person-centered care, enabling those with cognitive impairment to find new ways to express themselves. Daniel believes his dementia journey has made him a better physician, and he brings his personal insight and the lessons he’s learned to his practice, where he is passionate about promoting self-preservation and dignity for all persons with cognitive impairment. He is the author of several books of poetry and with his wife, Ellen, has written “A Pocket Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver.” He lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with Ellen and their two daughters. In this episode we discuss confronting dementia from the unique perspectives of both son and physician, how his father’s dementia almost brought him under and the self-care methods that helped him regain and maintain his physical and emotional balance, and how the expressive arts can bring comfort, peace, and joy to those living with a dementia diagnosis. Read Dr. Potts’ AlzAuthors post: https://alzauthors.com/2017/02/21/meet-daniel-c-potts-physician-author-and-dementia-advocate/ Start reading “A Pocket Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver” with Ellen Potts now! https://amzn.to/3nP2IIB Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Dr. Potts Blog: https://danielcpotts.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.potts.92372 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielCPotts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcpotts/ Cognitive Dynamics: www.cognitivedynamics.org About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. We are a WCN Featured Podcast. Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network. Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know. Shop our Store Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.