How Can We Think Differently About Dementia Care in Therapy?

Julie D. Ries, PT, PhD, a professor of physical therapy and an international educator on dementia care, joins host J.J. Mowder-Tinney for an honest conversation about elevating therapy for older adults living with dementia. Together we dive into the biases that often shape clinical decisions and explore how shifting your approach can enhance engagement, occupational participation, and outcomes. You’ll walk away with practical strategies that can help boost your confidence and make every interaction count through relationship-building, positive communication, environmental awareness, and leveraging motor learning strategies. Whether you’re new to dementia care or looking to refine your skills, this episode offers a fresh lens—and a few simple mindset shifts—to maximize your impact.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the evidence around therapists’ perceptions of working with older adults with dementia, and strategies to maximize therapeutic engagement and occupational participation of these individuals
• Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address therapists’ confidence and competence in working with individuals with dementia
• Examine pragmatic suggestions for engagement and best therapeutic outcome in working with individuals with dementia