As Shakespeare once said, “What’s in a name?” There are many things in a name, like meaning, passion and hope. In the blog today, we will be sharing what HEAL-IUM is all about…the meaning behind the name, our mission, and our hope for the future.
The meaning behind our name, HEAL-IUM. Much like the helium gas that helps a balloon to climb high, we want to help aging individuals rise above dementia. This is not only for the clients we work with, but also for the family, caregivers and anyone else who is involved in supporting that individual. We want to promote healing in all forms because we know that physical, emotional, and financial pressures can cause great stress to families and individuals aging with dementia.
We connected our passion and specialized training for neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) and formed HEAL-IUM. Our mission is to bridge the cognitive and behavioral decline experienced with dementia using behaviorally focused techniques that allow individuals to live a more independent and dignified life at home. Our vision is to revolutionize the current standards of care for those living with neurocognitive disorders through personalized treatment driven through the newest technology and limiting pharmacologic use. The values our company is built upon are respect for all individuals, change in expectations for daily living, a teamwork focused approach to care, and providing hope to families.
According to the World Health Organization, it is noted globally that there are currently 55.2 million people living with dementia and in 2019, the total global societal cost of dementia was estimated to be $1.3 trillion US dollars. As the United States population of age 65 and older continues to grow, so does the number of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Associations facts and figures, 1 in 9 people age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is so prevalent that we have all been touched by it in some way. We also know that the aging process is an inevitable one for all of us, so if you haven’t been affected yet, at some point you will be. We want to see a positive change in the way aging persons with dementia are treated with applied behavior analysis (ABA) services and change the trajectory of care. This is the simple passion behind our movement. We aim to bring about healing for clients and their families by using behaviorally focused techniques that allow for more independent and quality living at home or in their current living environment.
We believe that pharmacologic treatment should not be the sole remedy for individuals with dementia. It’s so important to note that nonpharmacological interventions are not a last resort for managing challenging dementia behavior. Several professional associations and government policies recommend nonpharmacological interventions as the first line of treatment for behavioral changes associated with dementia. The search to find information and research regarding ABA and dementia was challenging in the beginning stages for HEAL-IUM. Many were not aware of the major impact behavioral gerontology (BG) and ABA could have on the aging population. As we have connected with other specialists in the field, we have come to see the amazing foundation they have started and the passion that they have to help those who are aging.
ABA and BG address the symptoms a client, family, or caregiver are experiencing with aging. A few examples of those symptoms could be anxiety or depression. In the early stages of dementia, clients can be taught skills for stress management and behavior modification to help with those symptoms or behaviors. Later in the disease progression, therapies may include using prompts to move a client through a skill of managing more challenging behaviors. The caregiver’s role is important as disease progresses. If a caregiver or family member is involved in supporting the individual with dementia, they help to modify the individual’s challenging behaviors by communicating without intensifying or worsening a situation. Teamwork is essential and core to this entire process of the aging individual with dementia. Behavior changes cannot be made without working together with the client, the family, the caregiver, and all other professionals involved with care. This is a relationship built on trust and respect for all the people involved. Each client is unique and we want them to be as independent in their current living environment as possible.
Going forward we want support for caregivers and clients including community resources and interventions to help combat depression, anxiety and help to increase quality of life. It would be ideal to prevent hospitalizations that could contribute to cognitive decline in the aging client with dementia. We would really like to see more behavioral intervention and less use of medications in order to reduce any challenging symptoms a client may be enduring on a daily basis. ABA and BG are not cures for dementia, but they can provide relief for clients and caregivers along with easing the burden of a process that takes one’s independence, dignity, and memories. Our hope and goal for the future is to create a model based on a comprehensive care center encompassing, not only ABA services, but physical, occupational, and recreational therapies with community resources for clients and caregivers.
We look forward to helping the aging population rise above the challenging symptoms from dementia in their daily lives and increase or maintain their current level of independence for more quality living. If you or someone you know could benefit from our services or if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to view the website for more information or contact us here.
