Q: How to refresh the thinking around dementia? A: Oppositeland

A senior professional in this sector posed this question to me recently - she felt they had stagnated in their approach and needed a mental jump to find more creative and progressive approaches. We discussed how increasing awareness of dementia - how it progresses, how it affects the individual concerned and those around them, ways to cope - was helpful but had also concentrated on the negative aspects of the disease.

What if we took a thought leap. What if we had to write an article about the positive contribution dementia can offer. To the individual concerned. To their friends and family. To society at large.

Some of the ideas that came out of the brainstorm were:

• those with dementia remind us of how to live in the present moment, free of history and expectations
• we realise the benefits of a non-dementia state and may appreciate them more
• the unusual interpretations can be enjoyed - maybe they show us a whole different way of seeing
• those with dementia still carry memories of times nobody else may be able to remember - giving us a chance to log and preserve those memories

When you have a pressing Problem, why not give yourself a break and look at it from the other side of the mirror for ten minutes. It will probably restore your energy and sense of humour and it may just revolutionise your thinking.

(cartoon from Val Jones, founder of http://www.getbetterhealth.com)