Connecting Heart to Heart With Older Adults | Naomi Feil

Naomi Feil is a pioneer in the aging field. She grew up in a home for the aged in Cleveland, Ohio, where her father was the administrator and her mother was the head of social services. This unique background gave her insight into the world of the elderly. They were her neighbors and her friends growing up. From this intimate, personal experience Naomi grew dissatisfied with the traditional methods of working with people with dementia. This drove her to develop the Validation Theory; an approach that, rather than trying to bring the person with dementia back to our reality, it is more positive to enter their reality. This approach emphasizes empathy and listening to assist people who are in the final stage of life in completing unresolved issues so they can find peace. Validation restores dignity and self-worth for people with dementia, and decreases stress and brings joy to caregivers. 

I’m really happy you are joining us; I think you'll find Naomi's historical perspective on aging illuminating. But even more than that, her validation techniques offer an approach that can lead to less stress and frustration, while providing an opportunity for interactions that are more rewarding so the everyday becomes easier. 

Discover your inner Age Sage at agesage.co, and join us for the journey!