A few years ago a colleague and I decided on KISS as a suitable  acronym to define the approach to our work.  R and I were working together to facilitate an Anxiety and Depression Support Group at our Medical Centre.   His experience in the army and mine in adult education led to an interesting approach to our work.  I know that many patients found our sessions helpful and our Medical Centre found our approach to our work challenging.  It was a very brave undertakinG their behalf to let such an alliance loose on their premises.

This morning KISSS has surfaced as pragmatic  way to approach dementia.  I have complicated things,yet again, by asking another neighbour to pop in and chat with M.  They seemed to have a good time together, until after her departure when M tried to place her visitor.  It soon became clear that M was totally confused about our neighbour.  She thought she was a friend from long ago in another city.  She criticised me for not telling her her the woman had moved into this town.  When I reflect all I have done is repeat a mistake I made yesterday by creating confusion and reminding M of her poor memory

You learn as you go along with dementia.  Clear deterioration is taking place here as M’s short term memory is now extremely poor.   I have just seen her struggle to make a cup of coffee; forget she has made it and repeat the process.   It is possible that this is being caused by: further deterioration; a dip: tiredness: or just a bad time of day -only time will tell.  In the mean time I have to KISSS it or pay the price and  deal with another challenging day like yesterday became.

No prizes for guessing the additional S in the acronym: it is for SHORT.