What do dance/movement therapy with people with dementia and effective communication skills have to do with one another? Trained in nonverbal communication and movement observation, dance/movement therapists tend to have excellent communication skills. A deeper understanding of these skills can help us be more effective in addressing clinical concerns in DMT with people with dementia. At the same time, these honed skills can help us be more articulate as we advocate for people with dementia and for the unique relevance of dance/movement therapy in addressing their needs.

Learning Objectives:

1.  Articulate how 3 essential communication skills may be applied to improve the lives of persons with dementia.

2. Identify 3 strategies to maintain the attention of a person with dementia within a group setting.

3. Recognize how to successfully advocate for the needs of persons with dementia within a medical model setting.

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 ADTA CE, 1.0 NBCC CE, 1.0 NY LCAT CE

Presenter Bio:

Donna Newman-Bluestein, MEd, BC-DMT, CMA, LMHC is a board certified dance/movement therapist, certified movement analyst, licensed mental health counselor, educator, trainer, supervisor, speaker, and performer. An internationally recognized expert on dance and dementia and a passionate advocate, Donna provides direct dance and dance/movement therapy(DMT) services to older adults and people with mid to late stage dementia; educates the public about the importance of dance and embodied caregiving for people with dementia, and trains caregivers to improve their nonverbal communication skills with people with dementia. Toward that end, she co-authored a train-the-trainer manual, The Dance of Interaction: An Embodied Approach to Nonverbal Communication for Caregivers of People with Dementia.