Broadway

4

Have more questions and don't know where to turn?


Join our community and get access to monthly support calls, an online chat forum for questions, and even monthly 1:1 calls with Rachael! CLICK HERE for more information.

“And a one, two, a one, two, three, four,” Tabitha counted out. Her feet tapped rhythmically across the floor as she counted out her dance steps. She swept an unruly piece of hair out of her eyes as her shoulders moved in time with her feet.

Her cane was meant for walking, but mostly Tabitha used it for dancing. “Da, da, da, ta, da, da,” she sang. And then, “Listen! I need six women up here on this line!” she called out to her audience.

Tabitha’s audience was a group of women in wheelchairs. Her enthusiasm, however, was unwavering. “When I was on Broadway, everybody knew you had to work early and stay late,” she explained to a staff member.

Tabitha was a perfect example of a person with dementia who lived in her own reality. In Tabitha’s world, she was still a dancer, and she was proud of this fact.

No one ever tried to convince her otherwise, either. “Tabitha, can you teach me some dance moves?” I asked her. “Sure, honey, now look at this one,” she offered, gliding her feet across the carpet to a tune that no one else could hear.

image

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rachael Wonderlin is an internationally-recognized dementia care expert and consultant. She has a Master’s in Gerontology and is the author of three published books with Johns Hopkins University Press. Rachael owns Dementia By Day, a dementia care consulting and education company.

16 things poster
Get the FREE “16 Things” poster!

You're not alone!

Get personal support from Rachael and connect with other Caregivers when you join our community.

16 Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia

Get the FREE “16 Things” poster for your personal use—or better yet—your dementia care community’s staff break room!

I wrote this poem years ago, but to date, it’s the most popular piece I’ve ever created.

16 things poster
Shopping Cart